Hearing loss management and audiology services Flashcards
State the five options for hearing loss management
- Do nothing
- Communication strategies
- Modern technology
- Assistive listening devices
- Amplification
In what situations might you “do nothing” to manage a hearing loss?
-Patient may not realise they have a hearing loss or may not realise its impact on their communication
-Patient may not accept their hearing loss as it is a sign of ageing
-Patient may not like the management options being suggested to them
-Patient may have other things going on in their lives and may not have the energy to take on another thing
-Existing treatment may meet the patient’s needs and cannot be improved upon
What are the two types of communication strategies used to manage hearing loss? Give some examples of each.
- Behavioural- e.g. controlling the sound environment and informing people of hearing loss
- Substitution- replacing auditory signal with lip reading and other visual cues e.g. facing the speaker
How has modern technology been adapted to aid hearing loss management?
-Bluetooth headphones
-Bone conduction headphones
-Set alerts to vibrate or flash light
-Using Zoom/ Skype rather than phoning- allows lip reading and use of other visual cues
-Speech to text apps- can convert what is being said to text
What are the three ways that assistive listening devices help to manage hearing loss? Give examples of each.
- Substitution- e.g. vibrating alarm clocks, watches, smoke alarms
- Amplification- e.g. phones and doorbells with amplified ringers, TV listeners which stream sound from TV to headphones
- Increasing signal to noise ratio- loop systems (deliver sound directly from microphone into hearing aid), streaming accessories (phone, TV streamed directly to hearing aid), radio aids
Name the two main routes which adults in the UK can use access hearing loss services?
- The NHS
- Commercial hearing aid dispensers
What does AQP stand for?
Any Qualified Provider
If an adult goes to their GP with hearing loss where can they be referred?
- NHS Audiology Departments (Direct Referral)
- Commercial Hearing Aid Dispenser providing NHS service (Direct Referral
- ENT (for complex cases and routine cases)
If an adult goes directly to a commercial hearing aid dispenser at which point would they be referred to their GP?
If it was a complex case
In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, what are the routes of referral from the GP?
- NHS audiology departments (Direct Referral)
- ENT (Complex and routine cases)
What is the route of referral for children?
Children are usually referred to audiology or ENT by their GP, other healthcare professional, or education services
What is a requirement of audiologists dispensing hearing aids for a fee?
They must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a hearing aid dispenser
What are the services offered by commercial hearing aid dispensers? Who can benefit from these services?
-Adult clients can self-refer at any time and any age
-Children must be referred onto the NHS unless they are capable of being tested by PTA
-Some hearing aid dispensers offer additional services such as tinnitus management and wax removal
How are audiology services in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales funded?
-Through a traditional health board system
-Health board identifies the level and type of service required for children and adults and commissions these services from NHS organisations
How are audiology services in England funded?
-Clinical Commissioning Group (CCGs) commission audiology services in England through a tender process
-Direct referral hearing services for adult and paediatric services can be contracted to any NHS, private or not-for-profit provider that meets the NHS service requirements under the AQP scheme (required to fit NHS hearing aids using specific protocols)
-The tariff paid per patient is agreed through a tendering process
What kind of inequalities has the CCG tendering process led to?
-Some services do not provide hearing aids for people with mild hearing loss
-Some services provide only one hearing aid if the person has bilateral hearing loss
What are some advantages of NHS audiology services?
-Free
-Patient can request reassessment every 3 years or if their hearing deteriorates
-Modern hearing aids which are manufactured by the same companies which sell to private hearing dispensers
-Hearing aid technology is the same as commercial hearing aids
-Good access to medical support and other services such as tinnitus clinics, hearing therapy and implantable device clinics
-Use of BTE instruments which can be replaced immediately if faulty and does not need to be returned to the manufacturer
-Patients can be seen in their home if they are unable to attend clinics
What are some disadvantages of NHS audiology services?
-Longer waiting times
-Limited hearing aid options
-Unlikely to see the same audiologist at all appointments
-Service often hospital-based- sometimes inconvenient for elderly and disabled patients
What are some advantages of commercial hearing aid dispensers?
-Shorter waiting times
-More likely to see the same audiologist at every appointment- able to build a relationship with them
-Easily accessible services
-Wider range of hearing aid types
-Most up to date hearing instrument technology available
-Good customer choice in terms of appearance of hearing aids
-Most services will visit any client in their home
What are some disadvantages of commercial hearing aid dispensers?
-Initial cost of hearing aids can be up to several thousands of pounds
-Ongoing cost of batteries and servicing
-Cost of replacing hearing aids that are faulty or no longer suitable
-Faulty ITE, ITC and CIC hearing aids must be returned to the manufacturer for repair at which point the wearer may be deprived of sound
-Onward referrals to other services such as hearing therapy can be complicated
What is the current state of worldwide access to hearing aids?
-In most of the world hearing impaired people must purchase their hearing care
-Hearing care provision is better in wealthier countries
