Decision support system for the selection of an ITE or a BTE hearing aid

The purpose of this research is to mine a large set of heterogeneous audiology data to create a decision support system (DSS) to choose between two hearing aid types (ITE and BTE aid). This research is based on the data analysis of audiology data using various statistical and data mining techniques. It uses the data of a large NHS (National Health Services, UK) facility. It uses 180,000 records (covering more than 23,000 different patients) from a hearing aid clinic. The developed system uses an unconventional method to predict hearing aid type for a patient and it can be used as a second opinion by audiologists for complex cases. After modifying the system to take account of the feedback from a professional audiologist, the success rates obtained were in the ranges 63 to 66 percent. In this research an automatic system was developed to choose between an ITE or a BTE hearing aid type with an explanation facility that can be used as a second opinion by audiologist in cases where the choice of an ITE or a BTE hearing aid is not clear cut. This analysis of audiology data and DSS will provide supplementary information for audiology experts and hearing aid dispensers. This type of system may also be of interest to manufacturers of hearing technologies in using as a ready means for their telephone customer services staff to check data, discovering data in audiology records will also be good for general awareness about the suitability of hearing aid type

An Analysis of Interprofessional Education Research Literature and Characterization of Audiology-Inclusive Studies

This project aimed to explore the foundational connection between Audiology and interprofessional education as reflected in published scientific reports, while also identifying the common tools utilized in audiology interprofessional education and interprofessional practice research. Through a comprehensive literature review and analysis of publications encompassing both Audiology and those without, it was observed that studies involving audiology often lacked the utilization of validated interprofessional education surveys. In contrast, publications not focused on Audiology exhibited a higher prevalence of using validated interprofessional education surveys. Within audiology-inclusive publications, two specific questionnaires emerged as frequently employed in interprofessional education research. This analysis identifies the perceived need for an enhanced integration of interprofessional training, assessment tools, and research within the field of Audiology

Hearing health outreach services to Indigenous children and young people in the Northern Territory 2012–13 and 2013–14

Presents analyses on hearing health outreach services provided to Indigenous children and young people in the Northern Territory. Summary This report presents information on ear and hearing outreach services funded by the Department of Health and delivered by the Northern Territory Department of Health between July 2012 and June 2014. The main funding sources for these services are the National Partnership Agreement on Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory and the Healthy Ears—Better Hearing, Better Listening program. The report also includes information on hearing health and middle ear conditions among service recipients. Service delivery In 2013–14, 2,122 outreach audiology services were delivered to 1,764 Indigenous children and young people. In total, from July 2012 to June 2014, 4,054 audiology services were delivered to 2,889 children and young people. Child Hearing Health Coordinators (CHHCs) conducted 697 visits to 675 children in 2013–14—slightly below the target of 700 children set by the Australian and Northern Territory governments. In total, 1,140 children were seen at 1,208 CHHC visits from July 2012 to June 2014. A total of 860 ear, nose and throat (ENT) teleotology services were provided to 766 children and young people in 2013–14. From July 2012 to June 2014, 1,684 ENT teleology services were provided to 1,283 children and young people. Hearing health status among children and young people who received services Hearing loss was present in 55% of children and young people who received outreach audiology services at their latest service in 2013–14. Hearing health status improved for a large proportion of the children and young people who received 2 or more outreach audiology services. Of the 498 children and young people who had hearing loss at their first audiology service, 41% experienced functional improvements in their hearing (with 26% regaining normal hearing capability at their last check, and 15% having their hearing loss status improve from bilateral to unilateral). Among 102 children and young people with hearing impairment at their first audiology check, the severity of impairment improved for 50% at their last check, remained at the same level for 40%, and deteriorated for 10%. Middle ear conditions among children and young people who received services In 2013–14, of the 1,791 children and young people who received an audiology or ENT service, 67% were diagnosed with at least 1 type of middle ear condition (an increase from 61% in 2012–13)—most commonly otitis media with effusion (24%). Of the 781 children and young people who received 2 or more ENT or audiology services from July 2012 to June 2014, the proportion diagnosed with at least 1 middle ear condition between the first and last service decreased, from 79% to 76%. Improvements were seen for those who received 3 or more services since August 2007: the proportion of children and young people diagnosed with at least 1 middle ear condition decreased, from 81% at the first service to 55% at the last service. Among those diagnosed with chronic suppurative otitis media with discharge or dry perforation at an initial service, overall, the results suggest poor progress, with the majority of these children and young people still experiencing the same condition or developing another type of ear disease over the course of their treatment

A Fragmented Profession within the System of Professions: The Experience of the Audiology Professional in the United Kingdom

The main purpose of this study was to explore the lived experience of audiology professionals in the United Kingdom. For the purposes of this study an audiology professional is defined as someone who completed a United Kingdom or International course/training pathway in audiology and who is working in the UK. The definition can include audiologists, hear(ing) care assistants, hearing aid dispensers, hearing therapists and clinical scientists. Audiology professionals working in Higher Education were also included. Working in two different contexts with similar and dissimilar aspects of role descriptions, as well as boundaries of practice led to the research question: What is the experience of audiology professionals in becoming and being an audiology professional in the United Kingdom? The following strands narrowed the focus of the study and helped to identify the appropriate methodological approach: 1. The experience of becoming an audiology professional 2. The experience of being an audiology professional 3. The impact of change in education pathways and service delivery on the audiology professional The research question was explored through an Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods approach starting with interviews of eight participants followed by a survey circulated to the wider profession with 329 respondents. Data analysis consists of interpretive phenomenological analysis of the interviews and descriptive statistics for the surveys. The results from both stages will be discussed in relation to the sociology of professions, specifically Abbott’s (1988) system of professions with elements of Bourdieu’s social world theory (1985). The results sketch a fragmented profession divided by titles, professional organisations, and regulatory bodies as well as many education pathways across the private sector and the NHS

Audiology Services at Remote Area Medical Expeditions in Southern Appalachia

This presentation summarizes the preparation for, and execution of, audiology series provided by East Tennessee State University\u27s Audiology, Program at Remote Area Medical (RAM) expeditiors in the Southern Appalachian region. In 2010 and 2012, ETSU audiology faculty and students evaluatd 281 patients and subsequently fit 178 hearing aids

The role of volunteer support in the community for adults with hearing loss and hearing aids

Objectives: To explore interactions between audiology patients and volunteers, to describe encounters and define the role of volunteers. Methods: Qualitative ethnographic and interview study of volunteer-patient interactions. Ten volunteer participants from two volunteer schemes in South West England were observed and interviewed. Three patient participants were interviewed. Results: Analysis of observational data showed that volunteers provided support relating to local services and hearing aids, but did not engage in discussions about hearing loss. Interviews with volunteers identified gaps in audiology provision, including accessible services and clear information and highlighted a need for more support from audiology services to enable them to fulfil their role. Volunteer interactions with patients mimicked a clinician-patient encounter and volunteers employed strategies and behaviours used by professional audiologists. Conclusions: Audiology volunteers could provide an accessible bridge between health services and the community but their care is limited to focus on hearing aids. Practice implications: Volunteers enable patients to use hearing aids appropriately and are a core element of current care arrangements. However, volunteers express a need for adequate support from audiology services. Volunteers have the potential to increase service capacity and to bridge the gaps between community and audiology healthcare services