Audiology Today
January / February 2022
ONLINE OPINION EDITORIAL | Enhancing Accessibility of Communication Sciences and Disorders Research: Open Access and Self-Archiving
This article provides an overview of two open science practices in communication sciences and disorders. Readers will learn the importance of open access and self-archiving, as well as their benefits and drawbacks.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE | The Value We Deliver to Our Profession
There is a modern-day parable that I’ve seen in multiple online forums. The basic components of the story are as follows: A young man is gifted an old, heirloom pocket watch by his father, who instructs him to take it to a pawn shop and ask what they would pay for it. They offer only a few dollars, citing its scratched face. The father then instructs his son to take it to a watch shop, where he is offered several hundred dollars, due to its high-quality brand but need for repair.
Best Practices for Infant Hearing Aid Fittings
Each year, nearly 6,000 newborns are identified with permanent hearing loss in the United States. For these infants to reach their full communicative potential, audiologists must be committed to providing the highest level of evidence-based care.
Recognizing the Diverse Cultures of Patients and Their Families in the Clinic
One obstacle to cross-cultural understanding is the difficulty of interpreting the meaning and intended context of actions. Within the many cultures, some indicators are obvious, while many more are subtle (or even invisible) for the uninformed observer to recognize or understand.
Prescriptive Target Proximity in Children with Hearing Aids
Studies provide evidence that children with hearing aids who are fitted closer to target have better aided audibility, better speech-perception outcomes, and better language growth relative to children with less proximal fittings.
The Audiologist’s Starring Role in Auditory-Verbal Therapy
The auditory-verbal practitioner is an audiologist, speech-language pathologist, and/or teacher of individuals who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing.
CODING AND REIMBURSEMENT | Audiology and the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System: Background Basics and Program Updates
This article provides an overview of the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) program, current participation requirements, and policy changes included in the Final Calendar Year (CY) 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Rule.
AUDIOLOGY ADVOCATE | Advocating for Diversity in Audiology: The Allied Health Workforce Diversity Act
On November 17, 2021, H.R. 3320, the Allied Health Workforce Diversity (AHWD) Act sponsored by Representatives Bobby Rush (D-IL) and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) was favorably reported out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the next stop will be consideration by the entire House of Representatives. Companion legislation in the Senate (S.1679) is sponsored by Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). This legislation will help to increase the diversity of the audiology workforce and was first championed by the American Academy of Audiology in the previous Congress.
ACADEMY NEWS | Certificate Holder-Audiology Preceptor Program Is Updated
In 2016, the American Board of Audiology (ABA) introduced its first certificate program to complement certification programs. Instead of a certification that measures existing qualifications and may or may not involve passing an exam, a certificate program provides educational content with assessments of knowledge gained.
ON TREND | Smoothing Your Patient’s Transition from Hearing Aids to Cochlear Implants
For children and adults with severe or profound hearing loss who can no longer benefit from hearing aids, a cochlear implant (CI) is oftentimes the best solution, especially when used together with a hearing aid on the non-implanted ear.