Please
click on any question for more information. Also, feel free
to email us at otogram@tympany.net if you have any additional questions or would like to request
a free demonstration or information about the Otogram.
Q: What
does the Otogram do?
A: Comprehensive audiometry; tympanometry and acoustic reflex;
and otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) available, dependent on
model.
Q:
What if the patient needs help during the test?
A: With the Patient Response System, the patient can press the <
> button on the screen at any time and the test administrator will be paged.
The administrator will also be paged if any abnormal pattern
of responses is detected.
Q:
Does the Otogram perform tests in multiple languages?
A: Yes, currently it conducts tests in English, Spanish,
Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Mandarin, Cantonese, Arabic, Vietnamese and
Korean, and continue to develop additional languages.
A: Patients from 7-100 years old can use the Otogram. Patients with dementia or other cognitive limitations should be referred to an audiologist for manual testing.
A: Automated comprehensive audiograms.
Tympany's patent-pending Otogram allows hearing health professionals
to assist patients in conducting comprehensive, automated
and self-administered diagnostic hearing tests, including
air and bone conduction with masking, speech reception threshold
and speech discrimination tests; tympanometry and acoustic
reflex; and otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) (dependent on
model). The Otogram standardizes results in a computer-generated
report and electronically archives all test results for future
clinical use, including historical comparison.
Q: Does
the Otogram provide the same features as a conventional audiogram?
A: Yes, but with greater benefits to patients, audiologists,
hearing instrument specialists and physicians.
Both the Otogram and conventional testing are: 1) diagnostic
and comprehensive audiograms; 2) reimbursable by Medicare
and other insurers; and 3) monitored and administered by hearing
health professionals.
However, only the Otogram: 1) is automated and largely self-administered;
2) can be given by any staff member in any quiet room (the
Otogram doesn’t require a sound booth); 3) provides
a standardized computer-generated report; 4) reduces staff
time needed to administer the test by 75%, from 15 to 25 minutes
for a conventional audiogram to 5 minutes for the Otogram
audiogram; and 5) allows administration of 3 to 4 simultaneous
tests by a single staff member.
A: Yes. They prefer the convenience, control and simplicity
of the Otogram.
Patients indicate that they prefer taking the Otogram's comprehensive
audiograms to the conventional method for several reasons.
They can go at their own pace; they prefer the doctor's examination
room to the sound booth; and they find the automated test
to be less stressful, more accurate and more friendly and
easy to use.
Q: Are
the automated Otogram tests reimbursable by Medicare and other
insurers?
A: Yes. The Otogram uses the same ICD9 and CPT codes.
These are not new tests. Unlike other new medical devices
and equipment that require new ICD 9 and CPT codes, our tests
require no new codes. The tests conducted by the Otogram fall
within the eight primary ICD9 codes and current CPT codes
used by ENTs. The Otogram merely provides established tests
in a more automated and efficient manner.
Q: Is
the Otogram a replacement product or a new product?
A: The Otogram is completely new and based upon patent-pending
technology.
It is the first fully-automated and self-administered comprehensive
diagnostic hearing testing system to be developed and sold
in the market.
Q: What
need is the Otogram fulfilling and how will its use impact
hearing health?
A: It is revolutionizing diagnostic testing.
The Otogram saves time and money which are the two most valuable
resources in a busy practice. It enables health professionals
to administer more tests more cost effectively and in less
time and to spend more time on treating patients with hearing
loss. The Otogram's automation features allow any staff member
to assist a patient in completing a diagnostic and comprehensive
hearing test. These features decrease the amount of staff
time needed to administer these tests from 15-25 minutes for
a conventional audiogram to 5 minutes for the automated Otogram
test. Additionally, because the testing is automated, any
staff member can conduct 3 or 4 tests simultaneously, which
greatly increases their current productivity. With all of
these time savings and productivity increases, each audiologist
will have an additional 10 hours per week to spend on hearing
health education, treatment and hearing aid dispensing. The
bottom line impact on a practice can easily exceed $100,000.
A: No, it uses its patented ambient noise information management
system.
The Otogram can be administered with or without a sound booth
in any quiet examination room. Studies on ambient noise levels
in physician examination rooms indicate that that these sound
levels across the octave bands of 125 Hz to 8000 Hz range
between 30 dB to 50 dB. ANSI standards allow ambient noise
levels to be between 47 dB and 59 dB when using intra-aural
foam inserts. This is because the intra-aural foam inserts
attenuate between 19.5 dB and 43.5 dB of ambient noise. Consequently,
most physician examination rooms are quiet enough to meet
ANSI standards when using the foam inserts. However, the Otogram
adds additional technology to ensure that the patient’s
test results are accurate.
First, the Otogram monitors ambient noise levels every few
milliseconds throughout the test. If at any time the ambient
noise levels exceed those allowed by the ANSI standards when
the tone or word is presented, the Otogram re-presents the
tone or word again after the ambient noise level declines.
Second, if the ambient noise level remains too high for too
long, then the Otogram indicates on the audiogram the best
hearing level it was able to measure after adjusting for the
ambient noise level.
Q: Does
the Otogram provide any instructions for the patient?
A: Yes. The Otogram provides all instructions for the patient
to complete the test. These instructions are presented
in the same language selected for the test. At each phase of the testing process,
the Otogram informs the patient of the requirements to complete
each test. The Otogram provides instructions through simple
verbal commands and on-screen text that guide and coach the
patient through the testing process. The patient responds
by touching pictures and buttons on the screen.
Q: What
if the patient needs help during the test?
A: The Otogram’s patient response system pages the clinician
for help.
Thanks to the Otogram’s patient response system, the
clinician is merely a push-button away if the patient has
any questions during the test. The patient simply touches
the “Help” button in the bottom right corner of
the screen and the clinician is notified through the use of
a pager.
Q: How
does the clinician monitor the progress of the test?
A: The patient response system allows monitoring of testing
progress. The Otogram’s patient response system uses
a wireless paging technology and pager to alert the testing
administrator of the patient’s testing progress and a
web-based interface to allow remote monitoring of the test
progress. The
test administrator is notified when the patient completes
each phase of the automated test and the entire test.
Q: How
does the Otogram provide results of the automated test?
A: In hearing health industry standard formats.
The Otogram standardizes results in a computer-generated.
printed report
that is transferable to electronic medical records for easy
access and historical comparison. The results are shown in
easy-to-read graphs, charts, and measurement of the tests
that follow ANSI specifications for reporting. (click here
for sample report)
A: It takes most patients about 20 minutes for the comprehensive
audiogram. Patients with mild hearing loss can complete the
test in less than 15 minutes, while patients with more severe
hearing loss can take 25 minutes. On average, however, it
takes about 20 minutes to complete the comprehensive audiogram.
An additional 10 to 15 minutes may be required for
Tympanometry, Acoustic Reflex, and DPOAE testing.
A: The Otogram includes tympanometry, acoustic reflex, and
Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE), dependent
on the model. The Otogram integrates the Tympanometer and
DPOAE results into the patient’s standard audiogram report.
Q: Why
does the Otogram use the forehead for bone conduction?
A: This enables standardized, automated testing.
Because the Otogram is automated and self-administered, the
bone vibrator is placed on the forehead so that it doesn’t
need to be moved from the left to the right mastoid during the test.
Tympany uses ANSI standard symbols and researched-based measures
to ensure that the forehead placement yields substantially
equivalent results to mastoid placement.
A: On a remote basis that ensures that the Otogram has no
down time.
Tympany will calibrate the audiometer and transducers on an
annual basis for a fee. When the system is due for recalibration,
Contact Tympany to arrange for shipment of the necessary
components to and from the practice.
Q: Can
the foam ear inserts and rubber probe tips be reused?
A: No. They are disposable to ensure appropriate hygiene.
A new set of foam inserts and/or probe tips should be used for each patient.
To reorder supplies, such as these disposable foam ear tips,
simply visit our website www.tympany.net, call us toll-free
at 866.316.3606 or send us an email at otogram@tympany.net.
A: Patients from 7-100 years old can use the Otogram. Patients
with dementia or other cognitive limitations should be referred
to an audiologist or ENT for manual testing.
“The
reimbursement makes it one of the best practices opportunities
in years. The test results are also simple and easy to
read.” Evan L. Lipkis, M.D Advanced Center for Total Healthcare
Glenview, IL
“We
love the Otogram. It meets our needs to improve
our workflow and provide cost-effective testing on demand.”
Ted
Brown, M.D. Spring Hill,
FL
"It’s
amazing! 24/7 hearing testing capability in 6 languages without a sound
booth! It’s very simple to operate and my patients like it too."
M. Horwitz, M.D. Houston TX
“This is the best product
I have ever seen at any Academy meeting!”
2003
AAO attendee
“We
continue to love the Otogram™ and appreciate
the training and support that Tympany has given us.
I appreciate your fine work.”
ENT
physician
Georgia.
"Our practice is entirely dependent upon the Otogram™ on a daily basis for our core testing needs."
Heidi L. Close, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Des Moines, Iowa
"The
reimbursement makes the Otogram one of the best practice opportunities in years.
We are very pleased with the Otogram."
Lonnie Rutherford, Medical Insurance & Billing
Mt. Shasta, CA
"The
best thing about the test is that I don’t have to stay with the patient throughout
the test and am beeped when the patient needs help."
