Connected Audiological Rehabilitation: 21st Century Innovations

Abstract

Background Tele-audiology provides a means to offer audiologic rehabilitation (AR) in a cost-, resource-, and time-effective manner. If designed appropriately, it also has the capability of personalizing rehabilitation to the user in terms of content, depth of detail, etc., thus permitting selection of the best content for a particular individual. Synchronous/real-time data collection, store and forward telehealth, remote monitoring and mobile health using smartphone applications have each been applied to components of audiologic rehabilitation intervention (sensory management, instruction in the use of technology and control of the listening environment, perceptual and communication strategies training, and counseling). In this article, the current state of tele-audiological rehabilitation interventions are described and discussed. Results The provision of AR via tele-audiology potentially provides a cost-effective mechanism for addressing barriers to the routine provision of AR beyond provisions of hearing technology. Furthermore, if designed appropriately, it has the capability of personalizing rehabilitation to the user in terms of content, depth of detail, etc., thus permitting selection of the best content for a particular individual. However, effective widespread implementation of tele-audiology will be dependent on good education of patients and clinician alike, and researchers must continue to examine the effectiveness of these new approaches to AR in order to ensure clinicians provide effective evidence-based rehabilitation to their patients. Conclusions While several barriers to the widespread use of tele-audiology for audiologic rehabilitation currently exist, it is concluded that through education of patients and clinicians alike, it will gain greater support from practitioners and patients over time and will become successfully and widely implemented.

Hörimplantate im Zeitalter der Digitalisierung

“…Saunders und Chisolm [89] definierten 4 Anwendungs-und Entwicklungsbereiche der "Tele-Audiologie" (vgl. Einleitung), die im Rahmen der Nachsorge konzeptuell Anwendung finden, um diesen Anforderungen durch Einsatz digitaler Medien gerecht zu werden.…”

“…Diese erwachsen aus der Evidenz der auditorischen Rehabilitation von Eins-zu-Eins-Situation und bieten die Möglichkeit eines auditorischen oder audiovisuellen Trainings. Computerbasierte Anwendungen steigern nachweislich die Motivation zum Hörtraining, was wahrscheinlich der größte Nutzen dieser Anwendungen auf dem Weg zur Verbesserung der Sprachwahrnehmung ist [5,89].…”

Amplification and aural rehabilitation in resource-constrained environments

“…There are examples of telecare practice in all areas of aural rehabilitation, as outlined by Saunders and Chisolm. 22 Table 1 provides an example of tele-aural rehabilitation services that are already available and taking place around the world. [23][24][25] It is important to note that these are single examples and many more currently exist.…”

“…[23][24][25] It is important to note that these are single examples and many more currently exist. The interested reader is referred to papers by Saunders and Chisolm, 22 and Pichora-Fuller and Levitt, 26 for more comprehensive reviews.…”

The effect of osteoporosis on cochlear function in postmenopausal women: An observational study

“…Because of postural kyphosis, balance problems are frequently observed by gravity center change. The quality of life of the elderly population is negatively affected by pain and physical disability [1][2][3].…”