Telehealth, Audiology, & Hearing Aids
Telehealth refers to the delivery of health services — such as hearing hearing healthcare in the form of hearing aid adjustments and counseling — using telecommunication technologies. Essentially, it allows audiologists to provide care remotely rather than requiring patients to visit a physical clinic. Here's how it works:
Key Components
1. Virtual Consultations: Video conferencing tools can be used to conduct virtual appointments. Which allows the discussion of symptoms, review patient history, and offer advice or review treatment plans from a distance.
2. Hearing Aid Adjustments: Audiologists can provide remote adjustments to hearing aids or assist with programming and troubleshooting through telehealth platforms. Many modern, digital hearing aids can connect to apps that facilitate remote adjustments by the audiologist.
3. Follow-up Care and Monitoring: Audiologists can track the progress of treatment, monitor hearing aid performance, and adjust care plans based on ongoing virtual consultations.
Benefits
- Accessibility: Patients in remote or underserved areas can access specialized audiological care without traveling long distances.
- Convenience: Virtual appointments can be more flexible, fitting into busy schedules and reduce the need for travel.
- Continuity of Care: Ongoing management and follow-ups can be done more easily, allowing for timely adjustments and support.
Challenges
- Technology Limitations: The quality of the technology can affect the consultation, and slow internet connection/speeds can outright derail the appointment. In addition, not all hearing aids and smartphone are compatible for telehealth appointments.
- Patient Comfort: Some patients might find it difficult to use telehealth tools, complete the requested task without hands-on assistance, or prefer face-to-face interactions for more personalized care.
- Regulatory and Privacy Issues: Different states have varying regulations concerning telehealth, how it can be used, and where it can be used. Some patients may feel uncomfortable regarding confidentiality and data security over an internet based platform.
Overall, audiology telehealth aims to make audiological care more accessible and efficient. However, it is best used to complement rather than replace traditional in-person services.
Telehealth & Lake Medical Hearing Center
Telehealth appointments are now available for certain types of appointments. Understandably, we cannot clean hearing aids, look in ears to check for wax build-up, complete Real Ear Measurements (REM), complete Electroacoustic Analysis (EAA), run Redux drying treatments, etc. via telehealth. Therefore, only some appointments can be offered in this format. In addition, not all hearing aid technologies support telehealth services. A mobile phone compatible with the specific brand of hearing aids is required for the appointment. Each person wanting telehealth services also needs a strong WiFi connection and needs to be tech-savvy in order to complete an appointment. In short, telehealth has its limitations. However, we also see a significant advantage to offering telehealth services, for appointments regarding counseling and follow-up, as well as, minor hearing aid programming adjustments.
If you are interested in Telehealth services for your hearing aids, please call the office at (352) 483-4327 to learn more.
