Apparent cognitive deficits based on MMSE scores obtained in test conditions in which audibility is reduced could result in incorrectly identified cognitive loss if clinicians are not alert to hearing loss when patients are evaluated. Furthermore, health care providers should be cautious when using family report of cognitive impairment to diagnose dementia without accounting for hearing loss because the impression of family members may be based on misinterpretation of the effects of hearing loss.
In the field of audiology, change is inevitable: changes in technologies with hearing devices, changes in consumer knowledge, and changes in consumer-driven solutions. With these changes, the audiologist must adapt to meet the needs of the consumer. There are potential predictors that the audiologist could use to determine who is more likely to pursue and use amplification; by using these data, the audiologists may increase their productivity and increase patient satisfaction. The goal of this article is to investigate the MarkeTrak 10 (MT10) data to determine the trends in adoption and use of hearing aids as well as examine predictive factors that can be used to determine hearing aid adoption.
Verification and validation are objective and subjective measurements of hearing aid function. Many studies have provided rationales for performing these measurements as necessary for hearing aid practitioners to provide the highest level of care. Several researchers have suggested that completing these measurements as part of routine clinical care will reduce the number of return visits, reduce the number of aids returned for credit, and increase patient satisfaction. The purpose of this review article is to provide background, method and rationale for practitioners to use these measurements to improve their practice of hearing healthcare.
The primary goal of amplification is to restore audibility without causing discomfort; for someone with severe-to-profound hearing loss, the reduced dynamic range poses unique challenges in hearing-assistive device fitting. These challenges, including physiological limitation, processing difficulties, technology constraints, and other confounding factors, must be considered when selecting, fitting, and counseling for appropriate amplification. Many of the advanced features in hearing aids do not adequately address the unique characteristics of patients with severe-to-profound hearing loss. This review article will attempt to unravel some of the challenges and associated considerations when fitting adults and children with severe-to-profound hearing loss.
Many disciplines outside of audiology demonstrate robust research activity related to understanding and optimizing the clinical education process. The application of a number of evidence-based clinical teaching principles should allow us to improve student outcomes in audiology. Researchers in our field might consider if and how we should develop our own research literature in clinical education.
Modifications to gains above 2000 Hz in the HA may improve performance for bimodal listeners who perform more poorly in the bimodal condition when the HA is fit to traditional targets.
Many factors go into appropriate recommendation and use of hearing assistive technology (HAT). The aging auditory system presents with its own complications and intricacies; there are many types of age-related hearing loss, and it is possible that the underlying cause of hearing loss can significantly impact the recommendations and performance with HATs. The audiologist should take into consideration peripheral and central auditory function when selecting HATs for the aging adult population as well as when selecting appropriate types of technology including personal sound amplification products, hearing aids, cochlear implants, and other assistive technology. The cognitive ability of the patient plays a central role in the recommendations of HAT. It is possible that the use of HATs could mitigate some of the effects of cognitive decline and thus should be considered as early as possible. Assessment of ability and appropriate recommendations are crucial to consistent use of HAT devices.
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