Σάββατο 6 Οκτωβρίου 2018

Characteristics, behaviours and readiness of persons seeking hearing healthcare online.

Related Articles

Characteristics, behaviours and readiness of persons seeking hearing healthcare online.

Int J Audiol. 2018 Oct 05;:1-9

Authors: Ratanjee-Vanmali H, Swanepoel W, Laplante-Lévesque A

Abstract
This study describes characteristics, behaviours and readiness of people who are interested in seeking hearing healthcare (HHC) online. A non-profit clinic was established from which services through a virtual clinic are offered. Most of the patient-audiologist interactions are conducted online. We used online means to invite individuals to take a free online digit-in-noise (DIN) test. Upon failing the test, individuals reported their readiness to seek HHC by using two tools: the line and the staging algorithm. Individuals ≥18 years of age, within the greater Durban area, South Africa, were eligible to participate in the study. A total of 462 individuals completed the online DIN test during the first 3 months. Of those, 58.66% (271/462) failed the test and 11.04% (51/462) submitted their details for further contact from the clinic audiologist. Five individuals proceeded to a comprehensive hearing evaluation and hearing aid trial: all those individuals showed readiness to seek further HHC on the measurement tools. These individuals have reported knowing of their hearing challenges prior to taking the test and have waited for a period of between 5 and 16 years before seeking HHC. A significant association between age and DIN test result was found. This explorative study is the first clinic to utilise digital tools across the entire patient journey in combination with face-to-face interactions in providing HHC. Internet-connected devices provide an opportunity for individuals to seek HHC and for providers to offer initial services to detect, counsel and support persons through the initial engagement process of seeking HHC. This may open up new audiology patient pathways through online hearing screening, assessment of readiness to seek further HHC and enhancement of service delivery using hybrid services by combining online and face-to-face modes of synchronous and asynchronous communication.

PMID: 30289050 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]



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Characteristics, behaviours and readiness of persons seeking hearing healthcare online.

Related Articles

Characteristics, behaviours and readiness of persons seeking hearing healthcare online.

Int J Audiol. 2018 Oct 05;:1-9

Authors: Ratanjee-Vanmali H, Swanepoel W, Laplante-Lévesque A

Abstract
This study describes characteristics, behaviours and readiness of people who are interested in seeking hearing healthcare (HHC) online. A non-profit clinic was established from which services through a virtual clinic are offered. Most of the patient-audiologist interactions are conducted online. We used online means to invite individuals to take a free online digit-in-noise (DIN) test. Upon failing the test, individuals reported their readiness to seek HHC by using two tools: the line and the staging algorithm. Individuals ≥18 years of age, within the greater Durban area, South Africa, were eligible to participate in the study. A total of 462 individuals completed the online DIN test during the first 3 months. Of those, 58.66% (271/462) failed the test and 11.04% (51/462) submitted their details for further contact from the clinic audiologist. Five individuals proceeded to a comprehensive hearing evaluation and hearing aid trial: all those individuals showed readiness to seek further HHC on the measurement tools. These individuals have reported knowing of their hearing challenges prior to taking the test and have waited for a period of between 5 and 16 years before seeking HHC. A significant association between age and DIN test result was found. This explorative study is the first clinic to utilise digital tools across the entire patient journey in combination with face-to-face interactions in providing HHC. Internet-connected devices provide an opportunity for individuals to seek HHC and for providers to offer initial services to detect, counsel and support persons through the initial engagement process of seeking HHC. This may open up new audiology patient pathways through online hearing screening, assessment of readiness to seek further HHC and enhancement of service delivery using hybrid services by combining online and face-to-face modes of synchronous and asynchronous communication.

PMID: 30289050 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]



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Characteristics, behaviours and readiness of persons seeking hearing healthcare online.

Characteristics, behaviours and readiness of persons seeking hearing healthcare online.

Int J Audiol. 2018 Oct 05;:1-9

Authors: Ratanjee-Vanmali H, Swanepoel W, Laplante-Lévesque A

Abstract
This study describes characteristics, behaviours and readiness of people who are interested in seeking hearing healthcare (HHC) online. A non-profit clinic was established from which services through a virtual clinic are offered. Most of the patient-audiologist interactions are conducted online. We used online means to invite individuals to take a free online digit-in-noise (DIN) test. Upon failing the test, individuals reported their readiness to seek HHC by using two tools: the line and the staging algorithm. Individuals ≥18 years of age, within the greater Durban area, South Africa, were eligible to participate in the study. A total of 462 individuals completed the online DIN test during the first 3 months. Of those, 58.66% (271/462) failed the test and 11.04% (51/462) submitted their details for further contact from the clinic audiologist. Five individuals proceeded to a comprehensive hearing evaluation and hearing aid trial: all those individuals showed readiness to seek further HHC on the measurement tools. These individuals have reported knowing of their hearing challenges prior to taking the test and have waited for a period of between 5 and 16 years before seeking HHC. A significant association between age and DIN test result was found. This explorative study is the first clinic to utilise digital tools across the entire patient journey in combination with face-to-face interactions in providing HHC. Internet-connected devices provide an opportunity for individuals to seek HHC and for providers to offer initial services to detect, counsel and support persons through the initial engagement process of seeking HHC. This may open up new audiology patient pathways through online hearing screening, assessment of readiness to seek further HHC and enhancement of service delivery using hybrid services by combining online and face-to-face modes of synchronous and asynchronous communication.

PMID: 30289050 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]



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Characteristics, behaviours and readiness of persons seeking hearing healthcare online.

Characteristics, behaviours and readiness of persons seeking hearing healthcare online.

Int J Audiol. 2018 Oct 05;:1-9

Authors: Ratanjee-Vanmali H, Swanepoel W, Laplante-Lévesque A

Abstract
This study describes characteristics, behaviours and readiness of people who are interested in seeking hearing healthcare (HHC) online. A non-profit clinic was established from which services through a virtual clinic are offered. Most of the patient-audiologist interactions are conducted online. We used online means to invite individuals to take a free online digit-in-noise (DIN) test. Upon failing the test, individuals reported their readiness to seek HHC by using two tools: the line and the staging algorithm. Individuals ≥18 years of age, within the greater Durban area, South Africa, were eligible to participate in the study. A total of 462 individuals completed the online DIN test during the first 3 months. Of those, 58.66% (271/462) failed the test and 11.04% (51/462) submitted their details for further contact from the clinic audiologist. Five individuals proceeded to a comprehensive hearing evaluation and hearing aid trial: all those individuals showed readiness to seek further HHC on the measurement tools. These individuals have reported knowing of their hearing challenges prior to taking the test and have waited for a period of between 5 and 16 years before seeking HHC. A significant association between age and DIN test result was found. This explorative study is the first clinic to utilise digital tools across the entire patient journey in combination with face-to-face interactions in providing HHC. Internet-connected devices provide an opportunity for individuals to seek HHC and for providers to offer initial services to detect, counsel and support persons through the initial engagement process of seeking HHC. This may open up new audiology patient pathways through online hearing screening, assessment of readiness to seek further HHC and enhancement of service delivery using hybrid services by combining online and face-to-face modes of synchronous and asynchronous communication.

PMID: 30289050 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]



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Comparing the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health Core Sets for Hearing Loss and Otorhinolaryngology/Audiology Intake Documentation at Mayo Clinic

Objectives: The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) Core Sets for Hearing Loss (CSHL) consists of short lists of categories from the entire ICF classification that are thought to be the most relevant for describing the functioning of persons with hearing loss. A comprehensive intake that covers all factors included in the ICF CSHL holds the promise of developing a tailored treatment plan that fully complements the patient’s needs. The Comprehensive CSHL contains 117 categories and serves as a guide for multiprofessional, comprehensive assessment. The Brief CSHL includes 27 of the 117 categories and represents the minimal spectrum of functioning of persons with HL for single-discipline encounters or clinical trials. The authors first sought to benchmark the extent to which Audiologist (AUD) and Otorhinolaryngologist (ORL) discipline-specific intake documentation, as well as Mayo Clinic’s multidisciplinary intake documentation, captures ICF CSHL categories. Design: A retrospective study design including 168 patient records from the Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Audiology of Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. Anonymized intake documentation forms and reports were selected from patient records filed between January 2016 and May 2017. Data were extracted from the intake documentation forms and reports and linked to ICF categories using pre-established linking rules. “Overlap,” defined as the percentage of ICF CSHL categories represented in the intake documentation, was calculated across document types. In addition, extra non–ICF CSHL categories (ICF categories that are not part of the CSHL) and extra constructs (constructs that are not part of the ICF classification) found in the patient records were described. Results: The total overlap of multidisciplinary intake documentation with ICF CSHL categories was 100% for the Brief CSHL and 50% for the Comprehensive CSHL. Brief CSHL overlap for discipline-specific documentation fell short at 70% for both AUD and ORL. Important extra non–ICF CSHL categories were identified and included “sleep function” and “motor-related functions and activities,” which mostly were reported in relation to tinnitus and vestibular disorders. Conclusion: The multidisciplinary intake documentation of Mayo Clinic showed 100% overlap with the Brief CSHL, while important areas of nonoverlap were identified in AUD- and ORL-specific reports. The ICF CSHL provides a framework for describing each hearing-impaired individual’s unique capabilities and needs in ways currently not documented by audiological and otological evaluations, potentially setting the stage for more effective individualized patient care. Efforts to further validate the ICF CSHL may require the involvement of multidisciplinary institutions with commonly shared electronic health records to adequately capture the breath of the ICF CSHL. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal. Supplemental digital content is available for this article. Direct URL citations appear in the printed text and are provided in the HTML and text of this article on the journal’s Web site (www.ear-hearing.com). ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: The study was financially supported by a Crawford Post-Doctoral Fellowship (R.A.), the Stichting Het Heinsius-Houbolt Foundation, and by an EMGO+ travel grant (to L. v. L.). The work presented in this article was completed in collaboration between all authors. The first two authors (R. A. and L. v. L.) contributed equally to this work, including data collection, analyses, and the writing process. All authors contributed to the conception and design of the work and reviewed, edited, and approved the final paper. The authors gratefully acknowledge the Mayo Clinic Research and Editing Services for their assistance in manuscript preparation. The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article. Address for correspondence: Razan Alfakir, MD, PhD, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224. E-mail: fakir.razan@mayo.edu Received October 23, 2017; accepted August 14, 2018. Copyright © 2018 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Comparing the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health Core Sets for Hearing Loss and Otorhinolaryngology/Audiology Intake Documentation at Mayo Clinic

Objectives: The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) Core Sets for Hearing Loss (CSHL) consists of short lists of categories from the entire ICF classification that are thought to be the most relevant for describing the functioning of persons with hearing loss. A comprehensive intake that covers all factors included in the ICF CSHL holds the promise of developing a tailored treatment plan that fully complements the patient’s needs. The Comprehensive CSHL contains 117 categories and serves as a guide for multiprofessional, comprehensive assessment. The Brief CSHL includes 27 of the 117 categories and represents the minimal spectrum of functioning of persons with HL for single-discipline encounters or clinical trials. The authors first sought to benchmark the extent to which Audiologist (AUD) and Otorhinolaryngologist (ORL) discipline-specific intake documentation, as well as Mayo Clinic’s multidisciplinary intake documentation, captures ICF CSHL categories. Design: A retrospective study design including 168 patient records from the Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Audiology of Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. Anonymized intake documentation forms and reports were selected from patient records filed between January 2016 and May 2017. Data were extracted from the intake documentation forms and reports and linked to ICF categories using pre-established linking rules. “Overlap,” defined as the percentage of ICF CSHL categories represented in the intake documentation, was calculated across document types. In addition, extra non–ICF CSHL categories (ICF categories that are not part of the CSHL) and extra constructs (constructs that are not part of the ICF classification) found in the patient records were described. Results: The total overlap of multidisciplinary intake documentation with ICF CSHL categories was 100% for the Brief CSHL and 50% for the Comprehensive CSHL. Brief CSHL overlap for discipline-specific documentation fell short at 70% for both AUD and ORL. Important extra non–ICF CSHL categories were identified and included “sleep function” and “motor-related functions and activities,” which mostly were reported in relation to tinnitus and vestibular disorders. Conclusion: The multidisciplinary intake documentation of Mayo Clinic showed 100% overlap with the Brief CSHL, while important areas of nonoverlap were identified in AUD- and ORL-specific reports. The ICF CSHL provides a framework for describing each hearing-impaired individual’s unique capabilities and needs in ways currently not documented by audiological and otological evaluations, potentially setting the stage for more effective individualized patient care. Efforts to further validate the ICF CSHL may require the involvement of multidisciplinary institutions with commonly shared electronic health records to adequately capture the breath of the ICF CSHL. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal. Supplemental digital content is available for this article. Direct URL citations appear in the printed text and are provided in the HTML and text of this article on the journal’s Web site (www.ear-hearing.com). ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: The study was financially supported by a Crawford Post-Doctoral Fellowship (R.A.), the Stichting Het Heinsius-Houbolt Foundation, and by an EMGO+ travel grant (to L. v. L.). The work presented in this article was completed in collaboration between all authors. The first two authors (R. A. and L. v. L.) contributed equally to this work, including data collection, analyses, and the writing process. All authors contributed to the conception and design of the work and reviewed, edited, and approved the final paper. The authors gratefully acknowledge the Mayo Clinic Research and Editing Services for their assistance in manuscript preparation. The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article. Address for correspondence: Razan Alfakir, MD, PhD, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224. E-mail: fakir.razan@mayo.edu Received October 23, 2017; accepted August 14, 2018. Copyright © 2018 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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FDA Approves Marketing of First Self-Fitting Hearing Aid

The U.S. FDA approved the marketing of the first self-fitting hearing aid for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. The Bose Hearing Aid allows users to fit, adjust, and control the device without a hearing health professional. This nod came after the FDA reviewed the results of clinical studies that showed the device's self-fitting features to be comparable with professional fitting in terms of adjusting the amount of amplification, speech in noise testing, and overall performance.

"Today's marketing authorization provides certain patients with access to a new hearing aid that provides them with direct control over the fit and functionality of the device," said Malvina Eydelman, MD, director of the Division of Ophthalmic, and Ear, Nose and Throat Devices at the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health in a press release. "The FDA is committed to ensuring that individuals with hearing loss have options for taking an active role in their health care."

The Bose Hearing aid makes use of air conduction through sound vibrations that are captured in the device's microphones. It allows users to adjust the hearing aid through a mobile app, enabling them to control its features to suit real-time and real-world listening environments. Notably, the device comes with a label informing consumers when to consult a hearing health care professional.

Some states, however, may still require consumers to purchase these hearing aids from a licensed hearing aid dispenser. At present, the FDA is still drafting a set of regulations for over-the-counter hearing aids as required by the FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017. These regulations are expected to be reviewed and finalized by 2020. (Read this cover story for more on OTC hearing aids and the FDA regulations.)

The Bose Hearing Aid was reviewed under the FDA's De Novo premarket regulatory pathway for new and low-to-moderate risk products for which there are no prior legally marketed device.


Published: 10/5/2018 2:39:00 PM


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Eargo Wins 2018 Medtech Insight Awards

​Eargo (https://eargo.com/) has received the Best Technology Innovation – Consumer Devices for its air conduction hearing aid Eargo Max and Best Company for Accelerated Growth at this year's Medtech Insight Awards. The judges of Medtech Insight Awards, which honor those who strive to cure, inform, minimize treatment burden, and make human lives better through medical devices and diagnostics, said Eargo has grown their team by more than 200%, brought two products to market, and is on track to launch their third-generation product by 2019. "This technology could really turnaround a difficult market where patient compliance can be a challenge due to issues with 'stigma,'" they said.

Published: 10/5/2018 11:56:00 AM


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FDA Approves Marketing of First Self-Fitting Hearing Aid

The U.S. FDA approved the marketing of the first self-fitting hearing aid for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. The Bose Hearing Aid allows users to fit, adjust, and control the device without a hearing health professional. This nod came after the FDA reviewed the results of clinical studies that showed the device's self-fitting features to be comparable with professional fitting in terms of adjusting the amount of amplification, speech in noise testing, and overall performance.

"Today's marketing authorization provides certain patients with access to a new hearing aid that provides them with direct control over the fit and functionality of the device," said Malvina Eydelman, MD, director of the Division of Ophthalmic, and Ear, Nose and Throat Devices at the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health in a press release. "The FDA is committed to ensuring that individuals with hearing loss have options for taking an active role in their health care."

The Bose Hearing aid makes use of air conduction through sound vibrations that are captured in the device's microphones. It allows users to adjust the hearing aid through a mobile app, enabling them to control its features to suit real-time and real-world listening environments. Notably, the device comes with a label informing consumers when to consult a hearing health care professional.

Some states, however, may still require consumers to purchase these hearing aids from a licensed hearing aid dispenser. At present, the FDA is still drafting a set of regulations for over-the-counter hearing aids as required by the FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017. These regulations are expected to be reviewed and finalized by 2020. (Read this cover story for more on OTC hearing aids and the FDA regulations.)

The Bose Hearing Aid was reviewed under the FDA's De Novo premarket regulatory pathway for new and low-to-moderate risk products for which there are no prior legally marketed device.


Published: 10/5/2018 2:39:00 PM


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Eargo Wins 2018 Medtech Insight Awards

​Eargo (https://eargo.com/) has received the Best Technology Innovation – Consumer Devices for its air conduction hearing aid Eargo Max and Best Company for Accelerated Growth at this year's Medtech Insight Awards. The judges of Medtech Insight Awards, which honor those who strive to cure, inform, minimize treatment burden, and make human lives better through medical devices and diagnostics, said Eargo has grown their team by more than 200%, brought two products to market, and is on track to launch their third-generation product by 2019. "This technology could really turnaround a difficult market where patient compliance can be a challenge due to issues with 'stigma,'" they said.

Published: 10/5/2018 11:56:00 AM


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