Purpose: The digital health revolution has brought forward integral technological advancements enabling virtual care as a readily accessible delivery model. Despite this forward momentum, the field of audiology still faces barriers that impede the uptake of virtual services into routine clinical practice. The aim of this study was to gather, synthesize, and summarize the literature around virtual hearing aid intervention studies and the related technology and infrastructure requirements. Method: A scoping review was conducted using MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, Nursing and Allied Health, and Web of Science databases. Objectives, inclusion criteria, and scoping review methods were specified in advance and documented in a protocol. Results: The 11 studies identified through this review related to virtual hearing aid services delivered by a licensed health care provider and/or facilitator(s) specific to hearing aid management, programming, verification, and validation services. Service delivery models varied according to patient population, technology experience, type(s) and time course of care, type of remote location, and technology/support requirements. Barriers and facilitators to implementation-related themes including technology access and function, client sociotechnical, convenience, education and training, interaction quality, service delivery, and technology innovation. Conclusions: This scoping review provides evidence around the technology and infrastructure required for full integration of virtual hearing aid services into practice and according to care type. Low-tech versus high-tech requirements may be used to guide virtual service delivery triaging efforts. Research and development efforts in the areas of pediatrics, clinical support tools, and hearing aid/app-based solutions will support further uptake of virtual service delivery in audiology.
This document was informed by literature reviews conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute’s guide to evidence synthesis (Aromataris & Munn, 2017; https://joannabriggs.org) and includes evidence related to client candidacy, delivery models, modalities of delivery, and outcomes of virtual hearing aid fitting and management. This document provides clinical practice guidance for virtual hearing aid fitting and management processes and technological requirements in the delivery of such services (herein referred to as virtual hearing aid care). Virtual hearing aid care can include services delivered directly to a client by a provider or using facilitator-supported services and specialized equipment, depending on client factors, type of care, and the timepoint in the care process (e.g., initial versus follow-up appointments). This document will address virtual care including the following types of hearing aid care: o Programming o Verification o Validation o Management (counselling and education) Currently, virtual hearing aid care is better suited to follow-up appointments
Rationale There is a growing demand for comprehensive, evidence‐based, and accessible clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) to address virtual service delivery. This demand was particularly evident within the field of hearing healthcare during the COVID‐19 pandemic, when providers were faced with an immediate need to offer services at a distance. Considering the recent advancement in information and communication technologies, the slow uptake of virtual care, and the lack of knowledge tools to support clinical integration in hearing healthcare, a Knowledge‐to‐Action Framework was used to address the virtual care delivery research‐to‐practice gap. Aims and Objectives This paper outlines the development of a CPG specific to provider‐directed virtual hearing aid care. Clinical integration of the guideline took place during the COVID‐19 pandemic and in alignment with an umbrella project aimed at implementing and evaluating virtual hearing aid care incorporating many different stakeholders. Method Evidence from two systematic literature reviews guided the CPG development. Collaborative actions around knowledge creation resulted in the development of a draft CPG (v1.9) and the mobilisation of the guideline into participating clinical sites. Results and Conclusion Literature review findings are discussed along with the co‐creation process that included 13 team members, from various research and clinical backgrounds, who participated in the writing, revising, and finalising of the draft version of the guideline.
Rationale: Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a clinical practice guideline (CPG) around virtual hearing aid practices was developed to fill a knowledge gap within the field of audiology. Details outlining the development and mobilization of this draft guideline were outlined as Phase 1 (described in a paired paper).Aims and Objectives: This study describes Phase 2 of this project as part of the Knowledge-to-Action Framework, including an evaluation of the methodological quality of the guideline and the resulting tailored version of the document (v2.0). Method:The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II instrument was used to assess methodological quality and to guide revisions. Twenty-two clinicians, from a variety of clinical backgrounds, participated in the evaluation. Results and Conclusion:Findings reported across six domains suggest high mean scores, ranging from 78% to 81%, in order of scope and purpose (highest rated), stakeholder involvement, rigour of development, applicability, clarity of presentation, and editorial independence. Specific recommendations made by in international co-creation team during the evaluation informed the final version of the CPG. Future development and evaluation efforts should aim to include greater representation from nontraditional practice contexts to strengthen global applicability.
Caregiver coaching is an expected practice in early intervention. However, little is known about coaching with caregivers of children who are deaf or hard of hearing, receiving services for listening and spoken language (LSL). A systematic review of 7 databases, the gray literature, and consultation with 7 expert LSL practitioners yielded 506 records for full-text review, 22 of which were ultimately included in the review. Our findings are presented as 3 themes: coaching practices, training for coaching, and effectiveness of coaching. Eight models of coaching were identified in the literature, from which we identified commonalities to propose a consolidated model that illustrates the recommendations and process of caregiver coaching found in the LSL literature.
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