We’ve developed several tools to help the tinnitus patient, who is typically an older adult. We first ask them to complete the Tinnitus Primary Functions Questionnaire. These are 20 questions that my team and I developed and validated to help detail patient experiences. The questions cover four categories: Thoughts and Emotions, Hearing, Sleep, and Concentration.
Don’t Miss a Word: Make the Most of Your Doctor Visits
When a physician or other health care professional verbally provides information that is essential to a patient’s health and wellbeing, every word is valuable. A conversation about a new diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up can be stressful, though, and it may be difficult for the patient to comprehend and process all of the new information.
Where Does Audiology Go From Here?
In this new climate, remote care and telehealth are helping audiologists bridge the gap of hearing healthcare accessibility. Among our network of clinics across the United Kingdom, immediate challenges included a lack of equipment, online accessibility, and experience offering telehealth. We also found that generally only premium hearing aid models included embedded remote care features, so that this service was not available to everyone.