Audiology Today March/April 2023
The American Academy of Audiology promotes quality hearing and balance care by advancing the profession of audiology through leadership, advocacy, education, public awareness, and support of research. Dive into the March/April 2023 Audiology Today issue below!
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE | Lies, Damn Lies, and Headlines
Marketing of health-care research and related stories has become ubiquitous. The public relations arms of the numerous stakeholders involved in any health-care issue seek to capitalize on the enthusiasm that we all share for increasing our knowledge. In some cases, when accurate, this can be good as it generates awareness of important health-care topics. In other cases, when misleading, the consequences can be harmful.
Hiring a Diverse Workforce and Why Is It Important?
Having a great job includes more than equitable pay and responsibilities; a diverse work environment is a rising priority. People want to work in spaces that are diverse and reflective of themselves. The recent wave of racial and social unrest is forcing organizations to assess the importance of having a diverse workforce, evaluate, and improve their practices.
Raymond Carhart and the “Gray Fox”
At the time of publication of “Preferred Method for Clinical Determination of Pure-Tone Thresholds,” I had no inkling of the long-term consequences wrought by the addition of that single word, “preferred,” to the title of the paper.
Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids Are Only Partly the Answer
Over-the-counter hearing aids were motivated by a perceived lack of affordability and accessibility in the hearing aid market. This article reviews recent research into hearing aid cost and service delivery models and demonstrates that cost might not be a primary barrier to hearing aid adoption. Data suggest further exploration of remote hearing-health-care services, limited-support service delivery models, and individualization of service models to provide patient-centered care, among others, as potentially critical ways to improve accessibility for many patients.
Incremental Therapy Approach for Children Identified with Auditory Processing Disorder
This article discusses a case study of an 11-year-old boy diagnosed with auditory processing disorder. Evaluation, treatment approaches, and monitored progress throughout therapy are reviewed. The article also illustrates the importance and effectiveness of multiple auditory training techniques that may result in incremental improvements and have the potential to improve an individual’s well-being and future abilities.
Mixed Methods Analysis of Student Perspectives on the AuD Externship
As the externship process continues to evolve, keeping student perspectives in mind to improve standardization and decrease burden and stress is paramount for success. Taking these steps would tremendously improve student experiences, learning, and opportunities throughout the year, ultimately leading to the intended successful and invaluable externship experience.
ON TREND | Remote Hearing Assessments: An Evolution in Hearing Care Accessibility and Patient-Centric Care
Two truths are overly common when it comes to the identification of hearing loss. Firstly, hearing loss is an invisible condition, and is often left undiagnosed for years. Secondly, early detection is a crucial condition in optimizing overall outcomes.
CODING AND REIMBURSEMENT | Medicare National and Local Coverage Determinations: A Tutorial for Audiologists
This article provides an overview of the United States Medicare coverage determination structure at both the national and local levels. The national and local coverage determinations may change periodically. Readers are encouraged to reference the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) website for the most up-to-date coverage policies (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2021b).
AUDIOLOGY ADVOCATE | New Year, New Congress, and New Challenges and Opportunities
2023 marks the start of the 118th Congress and a shift in the balance of power on Capitol Hill. The November 2022 mid-term elections resulted in Republicans taking control of the House of Representatives, holding 221 seats compared to 214 seats held by Democrats.