AUDERA PRO Q&A
AudiologyOnline sat down with Karen Morris, an audiologist and product manager for GSI, to learn about their new clinical EP/OAE system, the Audera Pro™.
AudiologyOnline: What is the GSI Audera Pro?
Karen Morris: The Audera Pro is a new clinical EP and OAE system offered by Grason-Stadler. It replaces the recently retired Audera which was first introduced over 20 years ago. The Audera Pro is considered the next generation EP/OAE system for GSI and takes advantage of the many modern advancements in software and hardware design.
AudiologyOnline: What do you mean by modern hardware design?
Karen Morris: The Audera Pro has a small footprint and includes an integrated pre-amplifier which eliminates the bulky amplifier. There are multiple installation options such as placing under a laptop, in a stand, or mounting to the wall to accommodate space limitations. This allows for less clutter and a simple set up. Lightweight patient cables are provided which connect to the patient, and bedside impedance readings can be completed using the remote impedance checker. Finally, the GSI OAE probe has a unique design which does not require cleaning and ensures consistent results with every test. The disposable probe tube eliminates the time required for cleaning clogged probe tips and decreases the errors that may occur when cleaning a probe frequently.
AudiologyOnline: What different test modules are available with the next generation Audera Pro from GSI?
Karen Morris: The Audera Pro offers three test modules in any combination including evoked potentials (EP), auditory steady state responses (ASSR), and otoacoustic emissions (OAE). The OAE module includes both TEOAE and DPOAE.
AudiologyOnline: What Evoked Potential tests and test stimuli are available with the Audera Pro?
Karen Morris: GSI offers a comprehensive battery of evoked potentials test protocols including ECochG, ABR, MLR, LLR, P300/MMN, oVEMP, cVEMP, eABR, and ASSR. The clinician may also customize or create their own protocols. Available test stimuli are CE-Chip and CE-Chirp Octave Bands, as well as traditional click and tone bursts. Speech stimuli (ah, ba, da) are also provided. The ASSR module allows for simultaneous testing of up to eight frequencies (four per ear).
AudiologyOnline: Are there objective tools that can assist in analyzing EP waveforms?
Karen Morris: The Audera Pro includes a variety of objective analysis tools such as cross correlation between two waveforms, automatic signal to noise ratio (SNR), and residual noise (RN) calculations for every waveform. Additional features for interpretation are area and amplitude ratios for ECochG, digital filtering, Bayesian weighted averaging, and splitting alternating waveforms into rarefaction/condensation parts.
AudiologyOnline: What are the available testing options for OAE on the Audera Pro?
Karen Morris: Both TEOAE and DPOAE are standard with the Audera Pro OAE system. The following are available with DPOAE: screening (pass/refer) protocols, diagnostic protocols, customizable protocols, and DP I/O functions. The TEOAE includes screening (pass/refer) protocols, customizable protocols, and spontaneous OAE (SOAE). It is also possible to enter customized normative data into the Audera Pro software.
AudiologyOnline: What is included with Audera Pro EP systems?
Karen Morris: GSI believes in providing everything you need to perform testing at the highest level. Of course, included with every system is the Audera Pro main unit, stand, software, and user manuals. Also provided are three transducers,: insert earphones, headphones, and the B81 bone oscillator, as well as two patient cables that are compatible with disposable snap electrodes or specialty electrodes such as the TM Electrode for ECochG. The remote impedance checker allows for bedside readings. The digital I/O cable is provided for clinicians that perform eABR.
AudiologyOnline: Are there additional options are available for the Audera Pro?
Karen Morris: Amplified speakers are available for clinicians that are interested in performing sound field evoked potentials. An isolation transformer is recommended when connecting the Audera Pro to other electrical equipment such as a printer, speakers, or a cochlear implant PC when performing eABR.
AudiologyOnline: Will there be additions to the Audera Pro in the future?
Karen Morris: Yes. We recently added the GSI Biofeedback EMG monitor for cVEMP testing as well as a VEMP aAnalysis module that automatically calculates the asymmetry ratio. The VEMP analysis module allows for viewing each sweep included in the VEMP waveform and, the optional ability to cull or exclude sweeps from the average and EMG rectification.
AudiologyOnline: Are there training resources available through GSI?
Karen Morris: GSI is committed to offering quality online training for all our products. We have partnered with Audiology Online to present live and recorded courses for CEU credit. A new course, titled “Introduction to Audera Pro”, is coming up at the end of the month. We also offer a variety of educational materials including quick videos on GSI ADVANCE, the education section of our website. GSI ADVANCE is continually updated with new and relevant training opportunities.