The feasibility of audiologists removing earwax.

Although cerumen management (CM) is routinely performed by audiologists in some countries, this is currently not the case in the Republic of Ireland. This study involved surveying the opinions of Audiologists and Ear Nose and Throat specialists (ENTs) in relation to audiologists conducting CM. In total, 20 ENT Consultants (29%) and 51 audiologists (64%) in the public services responded to an online survey. There was agreement that CM should be within audiologists' remit. However, with regard to risk, opinions were significantly different, with 15 ENTs (75%), compared to 14 audiologists (27%), in agreement that CM management by audiologists was more risky to patients. Nevertheless, 62 respondents (87%) supported future CM training for audiologists. The. overall similarities of opinion between the two groups contrasted to previous studies that reported strong opposition from ENTs with regard to audiologists managing earwax.

Audiology telepractice in a clinical environment: a communication perspective.

Access to adequate hearing health care is an obstacle that many individuals face worldwide. The prospect of providing audiology services via the Internet is an attractive and viable alternative to traditional face-to-face interaction between patients and audiologists, thus affording improved access to hearing health care for traditionally underserved populations. This article details our experience of using a web-based system with wireless audiometers and videoconferencing software to administer remote audiological assessments in an active medical practice. It discusses the technological infrastructure used and the pragmatic issues that arise when the Internet, Bluetooth wireless audiometers, and videoconferencing devices are converged into a clinical setting. Patients at a local office of otolaryngologists were recruited to participate in a study in which remote assessment results were compared to those collected from a traditional face-to-face assessment. Preliminary data demonstrated that the assessment results from the two sources were comparable. We conclude that remote hearing assessment over the Internet can be achieved through a distributed system synthesized with Internet, wireless communication, and videoconferencing technologies, supported by appropriate staff.

The impact of telehealth on wait time for ENT specialty care.

Audiology in rural Alaska has changed dramatically in the past 6 years by integrating store and forward telemedicine into routine practice. The Audiology Department at the Norton Sound Health Corporation in rural Nome Alaska has used store-and-forward telemedicine since 2002. Between 2002 and 2007, over 3,000 direct audiology consultations with the Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) Department at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage were completed. This study is a 16-year retrospective analysis of ENT specialty clinic wait times on all new patient referrals made by the Norton Sound Health Corporation providers before (1992-2001) and after the initiation of telemedicine (2002-2007). Prior to use of telemedicine by audiology and ENT, 47% of new patient referrals would wait 5 months or longer to obtain an in-person ENT appointment; this dropped to 8% of all patients in the first 3 years with telemedicine and then less than 3% of all patients in next 3 years using telemedicine. The average wait time during the first 3 years using telemedicine was 2.9 months, a 31% drop compared with the average wait time of 4.2 months for the preceding years without telemedicine. The wait time then dropped to an average of 2.1 months during the next 3 years of telemedicine, a further drop of 28% compared with the first 3 years of telemedicine usage.

Risk versus benefit: Should not audiologists assess this in the context of occupational noise-induced hearing loss in the mining industry?

BACKGROUND: Hearing conservation programmes (HCPs) are an important aspect of occupational health efforts to prevent occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL). In low- and middle income (LAMI) countries, where the incidence of ONIHL is significant, it is important to deliberate on the risk or benefit of HCPs. OBJECTIVES: This article is an attempt at highlighting important strategic indicators as well as important variables that the occupational health and audiology community need to consider to plan efficacious HCPs within the South African mining context. METHOD: The current arguments are presented in the form of a viewpoint publication. RESULTS: Occupational audiology vigilance in the form of engagement with HCPs in the mining industry has been limited within the South African research and clinical communities. When occupational audiology occurs, it is conducted by mid-level workers and paraprofessionals; and it is non-systematic, non-comprehensive and non-strategic. This is compounded by the current, unclear externally enforced accountability by several bodies, including the mining industry regulating body, with silent and/or peripheral regulation by the Health Professions Council of South Africa and the Department of Health. The lack of involvement of audiologists in the risk or benefit evaluation of HCPs during their development and monitoring process, as well as their limited involvement in the development of policies and regulations concerning ear health and safety within this population are probable reasons for this. CONCLUSIONS: Increased functioning of the regulatory body towards making the employers accountable for the elimination of ONIHL, and a more central and prominent role for audiologists in HCPs, are strongly argued for.

Factors affecting the implementation of evidence-based Progressive Tinnitus Management in Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers.

PURPOSE: Progressive Tinnitus Management (PTM) is an evidence-based interdisciplinary stepped-care approach to improving quality of life for patients with tinnitus. PTM was endorsed by Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Audiology leadership in 2009. Factors affecting implementation of PTM are unknown. We conducted a study to: 1) estimate levels of PTM program implementation in VA Audiology and Mental Health clinics across the country; and 2) identify barriers and facilitators to PTM implementation based on the experiences of VA audiologists and mental health providers. METHOD: We conducted an anonymous, web-based survey targeting Audiology and Mental Health leaders at 144 major VA facilities. Quantitative analyses summarized respondents' facility characteristics and levels of program implementation (full PTM, partial PTM, or no PTM). Qualitative analyses identified themes in factors influencing the implementation of PTM across VA sites. RESULTS: Surveys from 87 audiologists and 66 mental health clinicians revealed that few facilities offered full PTM; the majority offered partial or no PTM. Inductive analysis of the open-ended survey responses identified seven factors influencing implementation of PTM: 1) available resources, 2) service collaboration, 3) prioritization, 4) Veterans' preferences and needs, 5) clinician training, 6) awareness of (evidence-based) options, and 7) perceptions of scope of practice. CONCLUSION: Results suggest wide variation in services provided, a need for greater engagement of mental health providers in tinnitus care, and an interest among both audiologists and mental health providers in receiving tinnitus-related training. Future research should address barriers to PTM implementation, including methods to: 1) improve understanding among mental health providers of their potential role in tinnitus management; 2) enhance coordination of tinnitus-related care between health care disciplines; and 3) collect empirical data on Veterans' need for and interest in PTM, including delivery by telehealth modalities.

Promoting Counseling Skills in Audiology Clinical Supervisors: Considerations for Professional Development.

Purpose Clinical supervision for counseling skill development can be variable and can undermine student ability to learn patient-centered care communication. The current study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of consultation and feedback sessions on counseling behavior, in actual clinical practice, among clinical audiology supervisors. We also collected qualitative data on participants' experiences and suggestions for improving the counseling intervention to increase counseling communication in audiology graduate training programs. Method We used a noncurrent multiple baseline design and staggered the counseling intervention to control for effects of concurrent events and passage of time. Results Two participants showed small but reliable increases in counseling behavior, whereas the 3rd participant showed bigger but less stable increases in counseling. Participants reported that brief feedback sessions were helpful; however, they also mentioned barriers to counseling, such as worries with how much time counseling could take when they have back-to-back appointments. Conclusion Clinical audiology supervisors were able to improve their counseling skills in real-life sessions with regular feedback. More structure may be needed to strengthen future counseling skills.

Challenges and Strengths of Multidisciplinary Research in Audiology: The EVOTION Example.

Purpose The EU-funded research project EVOTION has brought together clinical, technical, and public health experts with the aim to offer a solution for the holistic management of hearing loss. This report presents the challenges, strengths, and key take-home messages of working in this multidisciplinary consortium. Method Fifteen consortium members completed an online survey with 6 open-ended questions. Responses were analyzed using a thematic approach. Results Analysis identified 4 main themes: (a) communication, that is, cross-disciplinary communication difficulties but also range of expertise; (b) opportunities, that is, innovation, learning, and collaborations; (c) technology, that is, technical requirements and data collection and management issues; and (d) local constraints, that is, institutional limitations, resources, and planning. Conclusions Although the challenges reported differed by country and specialty, there was consensus about the value, expertise, and opportunities of the project. It is recommended that in future similar multidisciplinary projects in audiology, researchers establish a common language and assess technical requirements and local constraints prior to initiating research activities.

Audiology in Brazil.

The profession of audiology took root in Brazil nearly a half a century ago and has since blossomed into a flourishing, well-developed field. Currently, audiologists in Brazil work at private institutions, including private medical practices and dedicated speech and hearing clinics. They are also employed in a wide array of public institutions, including community clinics, elementary schools, colleges, and universities. In both the private sector and health clinics, audiologists perform diagnostic evaluations of auditory and vestibular disorders, select and fit hearing aids, and provide aural rehabilitation. At the public level, they assist with workers' health programs, dispense hearing aids, and aural rehabilitation. There is always room to grow, however, and the future of audiology in Brazil holds both challenges and opportunity. The following article will sketch the development of audiology training and practice in Brazil, provide a picture of how the field stands today, and summarize the unique challenges which the profession faces in this large and diverse nation.

Establishing a tinnitus clinic in your practice.

PURPOSE: While tinnitus is very common among the hearing impaired population, specific treatment for tinnitus is not provided in most clinics. This article provides a plan for establishing a tinnitus treatment program that can be implemented in stages at most audiology clinics. METHOD: Preparation for establishing a tinnitus clinic includes having an overall plan regarding the type and degree of tinnitus management. Assessment involves a measurement of tinnitus and of the reaction a patient has to the tinnitus, including the use of handicap questionnaires. Management typically involves some form of counseling and sound therapy. Four problematic areas in tinnitus management are thoughts and emotions, hearing and communication, sleep, and concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Licensed audiologists generally have the essential training necessary to provide counseling and sound therapy to treat tinnitus patients. We introduce 3 levels of treatment implementation, depending on whether the patient is curious, concerned, or distressed. Follow-up and referrals might be necessary in more severe cases. Finally, the development of a tinnitus clinic centers around establishing a need for individual treatment, creating a treatment plan, estimating the need for additional staff and resources, reimbursement options, and assessing the effectiveness of the program.

The Journey to Interprofessional Collaborative Practice: Are We There Yet?

Interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) is a service delivery approach that seeks to improve health care outcomes and the patient experience while simultaneously decreasing health care costs. The current article reviews the core competencies and current trends associated with IPCP, including challenges faced by health care practitioners when working on interprofessional teams. Several conceptual frameworks and empirically supported interventions from the fields of organizational psychology and organization development are presented to assist health care professionals in transitioning their teams to a more interprofessionally collaborative, team-based model of practice.

The Role of the Speech-Language Pathologist in Creating a Model for Interprofessional Practice in an Ambulatory Care Clinic.

There is a need to better coordinate services for children in urban settings who are at risk for communication disorders. This article addresses the barriers to obtaining services and discusses the process for creating a model for interprofessional practice to better serve patients from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

Hearing loss in older adults - From epidemiological insights to national initiatives.

The broader implications of hearing loss for the health and functioning of older adults have begun to be demonstrated in epidemiologic studies. These research findings on the association between hearing loss and poorer health outcomes have formed the foundation for national initiatives on hearing loss and public health. These national initiatives range from the Aging and Cognitive Health Evaluation in Elders (ACHIEVE) clinical trial to the recent passage of the bipartisan Over-The-Counter Hearing Aid Act. Utilizing population health research methodologies to study hearing loss can provide the foundation for initiating top-down approaches to increase the adoption and accessibility of hearing care for older Americans with hearing loss.

Decision-Making in Audiology: Balancing Evidence-Based Practice and Patient-Centered Care.

Health-care service delivery models have evolved from a practitioner-centered approach toward a patient-centered ideal. Concurrently, increasing emphasis has been placed on the use of empirical evidence in decision-making to increase clinical accountability. The way in which clinicians use empirical evidence and client preferences to inform decision-making provides an insight into health-care delivery models utilized in clinical practice. The present study aimed to investigate the sources of information audiologists use when discussing rehabilitation choices with clients, and discuss the findings within the context of evidence-based practice and patient-centered care. To assess the changes that may have occurred over time, this study uses a questionnaire based on one of the few studies of decision-making behavior in audiologists, published in 1989. The present questionnaire was completed by 96 audiologists who attended the World Congress of Audiology in 2014. The responses were analyzed using qualitative and quantitative approaches. Results suggest that audiologists rank clinical test results and client preferences as the most important factors for decision-making. Discussion with colleagues or experts was also frequently reported as an important source influencing decision-making. Approximately 20% of audiologists mentioned utilizing research evidence to inform decision-making when no clear solution was available. Information shared at conferences was ranked low in terms of importance and reliability. This study highlights an increase in awareness of concepts associated with evidence-based practice and patient-centered care within audiology settings, consistent with current research-to-practice dissemination pathways. It also highlights that these pathways may not be sufficient for an effective clinical implementation of these practices.

Patient management for cochlear implant recipients in audiology departments: A practice review.

OBJECTIVES: To determine and evaluate the time clinics needed to complete the sub-processes involved in the first-fitting and follow-up fitting of people with a cochlear implant. METHODS: Eight HEARRING clinics completed a questionnaire recording how long it took to complete the sub-processes involved in first-fitting and follow-up fitting cochlear implant recipients. The mean times of clinics and procedures were then compared. RESULTS: Questionnaires on 77 patients were completed. Clinics varied widely on time spent on each sub-process in both first- and follow-up fittings. Total first-fitting times were similar across clinics. Follow-up fitting times varied more across clinics although this may have been due to differences in questionnaire interpretation. DISCUSSION: If a patient management plan can help increasingly busy cochlear implant clinics provide high-quality care more efficiently, essential first steps are determining which procedures are generally performed and how long their performance takes. Until reliable data are gathered, constructing a patient management plan or reaping the potential benefits of its use will remain elusive; clinics will have to find what solutions they can to meet rising workload demands. CONCLUSION: The variation in time spent on each sub-process may suggest that some clinics have more efficient workflow procedures. Compiling a best practice for each process could be instrumental in creating a professional process management plan that would increase efficiency without sacrificing quality of care.

Audiology practice management in South Africa: What audiologists know and what they should know.

BACKGROUND: In future, the South African Department of Health aims to purchase services from accredited private service providers. Successful private audiology practices can assist to address issues of access, equity and quality of health services. It is not sufficient to be an excellent clinician, since audiology practices are businesses that must also be managed effectively. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine the existing and required levels of practice management knowledge as perceived by South African audiologists. METHOD: An electronic descriptive survey was used to investigate audiology practice management amongst South African audiologists. A total of 147 respondents completed the survey. Results were analysed by calculating descriptive statistics. The Z-proportional test was used to identify significant differences between existing and required levels of practice management knowledge. RESULTS: Significant differences were found between existing and required levels of knowledge regarding all eight practice management tasks, particularly legal and ethical issues and marketing and accounting. There were small differences in the knowledge required for practice management tasks amongst respondents working in public and private settings. CONCLUSION: Irrespective of their work context, respondents showed that they need significant expansion of practice management knowledge in order to be successful, to compete effectively and to make sense of a complex marketplace.

Establishing a pharmacotherapy induced ototoxicity programme within a service-learning approach.

Pharmacotherapy-induced ototoxicity is growing, especially in developing countries such as South Africa. This highlights the importance of ototoxicity monitoring and management of hearing loss. This article focuses on the establishment of an ototoxicity clinic as a site for the implementation of a service-learning module in the Audiology programme. The clinic offers a unique opportunity of collaboration between pharmacists and an audiologist where pharmacotherapy-induced ototoxicity is uniquely monitored. The Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) provides training to both the disciplines, audiology and pharmacy. The main aim of this article is to describe how ototoxicity monitoring is implemented in the curriculum within such an academic service-learning approach. Through service learning students develop a deeper understanding of course content, acquire new knowledge and engage in civic activity. It simultaneously provides a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary collaboration between the disciplines of audiology and pharmacy. The objectives for this programme are therefore to facilitate learning and to provide a service to the local community by identifying, preventing and monitoring medicine-induced hearing loss in in-hospital and out-patients; as well as to establish inter-disciplinary collaboration between the disciplines and stakeholders for more effective service delivery. The constant interdisciplinary teamwork between the audiologist, pharmacist, physician and nursing staff in the wards results in best practice and management of patients with ototoxic damage.

Impact of an audiology clinic in one general practice.

There is a large demand for the provision of hearing aids. However, there are lengthy delays involved between referral and fitment of National Health Service (NHS) hearing aids. This report shows that a general practice based audiology clinic can lead to an increase in the number of patients referred and fitted with a hearing aid. The introduction of the clinic also led to reduced waiting times for patients to be fitted with hearing aids.