Patient care

ONLINE FEATURE | Newborn Hearing Screenings and Follow-Up: Essential During a Pandemic?

The primary objective of local, state, and federal response to COVID-19 is to minimize mortality and mitigate explosive demand for acute health-care services related to COVID-19 complications, especially those that require care in intensive care units.

Governmental responses have varied from statewide stay-at-home orders to more incremental approaches targeting restrictions in specific industries and locations. Certainly, many of these restrictions are warranted and necessary to achieve the desired public health outcomes.

Topic(s): COVID-19, Pediatric Audiology, pediatrics, Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI), Patient care, tele-audiology

Author(s):

Shelley Moats

Liza Creel

Publication Issue: Audiology Today May/June 2020

Dietary Supplements with vegetables in the background

ONLINE FEATURE | Dietary Supplements Used for COVID-19 Treatment

There are no dietary supplements that will cure or prevent disease. With the 2019 coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, it’s especially important to understand that no supplement, diet, or other lifestyle modification other than physical distancing, also known as social distancing, and proper hygiene practices can protect you from COVID-19.

There is no research to support the use of any dietary supplement to protect against COVID-19. No supplement may claim to diagnose, prevent, treat or cure COVID-19. Consumers and retailers should avoid products that suggest they do.^{1, 2}

Topic(s): COVID-19, Ototoxicity, Patient care, diet, dietary supplements

Author(s):

Robert M. DiSogra

Publication Issue: Audiology Today May/June 2020

Ototoxicity of FDA-Approved Drugs Being Re-Purposed for COVID-19 Treatment

According to the National Institutes of Health’s Center National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, many drugs approved for other uses already have been tested in humans, so detailed information is available on their pharmacology, formulation, and potential toxicity.

Vestibular Testing Safety: COVID-19 and Beyond

All recommendations are made with the best current information and in the context of a multifaceted safety program. When a variety of safety measures are put in place our chance of protecting our patients and colleagues increases.

All safety recommendations assume that

ONLINE FEATURE | Ototoxicity of FDA-Approved Drugs Being Re-Purposed for COVID-19 Treatment

Topic(s): COVID-19, Ototoxicity, FDA, Patient care, Practice Management

Author(s):

Robert M. DiSogra

Publication Issue: Audiology Today May/June 2020

Surgical Monitoring Safety: COVID-19 and Beyond

Because of the potential to aerosolize the virus during drilling in the mastoid cavity, neurotological surgeries present a potentially high risk of contamination. Many audiologists monitor responses during cochlear implant surgeries or may provide intraoperative monitoring for other neurotological surgeries.

All safety recommendations assume that

Our Essential Role in Communication: Resources That Can Help

With May as Better Hearing Month, this is an important time to continue to highlight our essential role in communication and hearing health care.

With this in mind, we have developed information pieces and resources you can use with your patients and/or share with your communities, colleagues, and other health-care providers as you see fit.

COVID-19: Considerations for Treatments Using Quinine Derivatives and Other Ototoxic Compounds

Hydroxychloroquine was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use to treat adults and adolescents with COVID-19.

Managing Stress and Anxiety in an Uncertain Time

How are you feeling since the COVID-19 outbreak? Really…how are you coping in this time of uncertainty? If you are losing sleep, feeling stressed and anxious, and having difficulty concentrating, you are not alone

Caring for and Comforting Our Patients Through Infection Control

Depending on your setting you may already be seeing patients on a reduced or emergency-based schedule. Some are venturing into tele-health practices to handle day-to-day issues focused on patient education, troubleshooting, and perhaps even aural rehabilitation.