Candidacy

Question 1

How do we assess candidacy?

Answer 1

Audiogram
Client interview (informal assessment of needs, barriers, motivation)
Speech recognition scores
Formal assessment of needs, barriers, motivation

Question 2

What are the key questions we ask when considering candidacy?

Answer 2

What prompted you to come for a hearing test? (Tells you about motivaton)

What do you expect to gain from this visit? (Tells you about expectations)

Question 3

What does APHAB stand for and what does it do?

Answer 3

Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit

assesses disability and uses questions on a 6 point scale (always, almost always, half the time, occasionally, seldom, never)

Question 4

What does HHIE stand for and what does it do?

Answer 4

Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly

Assesses hearing disability and handicap, but may also help to give the client a greater understanding of the impact of their hearing loss

Questions like “Does a hearing problem cause you to use the phone less often than you would like” Yes, sometime, no

Question 5

What are the SAC and SOAC and what do they do?

Answer 5

Self Assessment of Communication

Significant Other Assessment of Communication

Short questionnaires administered together

Counselling tool used to assess the perspectives of the client and their significant other

Assess disability, handicap and QOL

Question 6

What is the 10 Point Readiness Scale and what does it do?

Answer 6

1 = not ready; 10 = ready

Values from 1-7 the client should be able to work on readiness in their own time

Values 8-10 the audiologists and the client should work together

Question 7

What is the Transtheorectical Model/Stages of Change Model?

Answer 7

Stage 1: Pre-contemplation
Stage 2: Contemplation
Stage 3: Preparation
Stage 4: Action
Stage 5: Maintenance

Question 8

What does COSI stand for and what is it?

Answer 8

Client Oriented Scale of Improvement

Assess needs and later measure benefit

Question 9

What to expect with tinnitus and HAs

Answer 9

Small chance of excellent benefit
Large chance of small benefit
Fairly large chance of not much difference
Very small chance of making tinnitus worse

Question 10

Medical contraindications of fitting hearing aids

Answer 10

Sudden onset hearing loss
Hearing loss progresses rapidly
Ear pain
Unilateral or asymmetrical loss of unknown origin
Vertigo
Headaches
Conductive loss
OM or OE
Excess cerumen
Atresia or deformity of the ear canal

NONE are contraindications, moreso need to be considered