Audiology Connections - 2022 - 26

AN OPTIMISTIC FUTURE FOR AUDIOLOGISTS
Increasing Public Awareness of Hearing Health
For many of us, the COVID-19
pandemic resulted in changes to
both our personal and professional
lives. From a professional standpoint,
it has been interesting to reflect on
how audiology has evolved during
the last year and a half. Audiologists
nationwide shared stories of how they
adapted to ensure continued patient
care in what was
likely the most
challenging
time in any of
our careers.
Graduate
programs
made a
necessary
pivot to provide student education
remotely. The pandemic also resulted
in an increased public awareness
of our profession-and a unique
opportunity for audiologists to educate
the public on the importance of
hearing health care.
One of the most substantial
changes was the increased use of
telehealth to provide patient care.
With social distancing measures in
place, telehealth quickly emerged
as a safe, effective way to counsel
patients on their hearing loss and on
the potential benefits of hearing aids
or cochlear implants. For existing
device users, telehealth provided a
means to troubleshoot equipment
and provide remote programming.
Over time, and with the increased
availability of vaccines, mandates
have relaxed, and in-person visits have
resumed. Although it's no longer a
necessity, patients continue to express
interest in utilizing telehealth because
it has proven to be both efficient and
convenient. Given this demand, it is
hard to imagine the future of audiology
without telehealth at the forefront.
As a clinical preceptor, I felt uniquely
challenged during the COVID-19
pandemic not only to find a way to
safely continue providing care to
my patients but also to do so while
including and engaging student
externs. One of my most rewarding
professional experiences was
working with my colleague, Eric
Nelson, to create a new framework
for student supervision at our
center. This framework consists
of an in-person and a remote
learning plan, acknowledging
that the responsibilities of clinical
supervisors must continue even in
a pandemic.
In terms of public awareness, I did
not immediately consider the impact
that face masks and social distancing
guidelines would have on the ability
to communicate effectively. Once
in-person appointments resumed, I
noticed a significant increase in the
number of patients of all ages who
were interested in obtaining a baseline
hearing evaluation. This was, for many
people, their first interaction with an
audiologist. Patients reported concerns
about hearing, as facial cues and lipreading
were not available. Difficulties
persisted as patients re-entered noisier
social environments.
With increased attention on hearing
and its importance in day-to-day
communication, audiologists have
a wonderful opportunity to counsel
patients on hearing health and
protection, good communication
strategies, and appropriate
amplification options. In doing so,
we can address our patients' needs
and establish trusting relationships,
positively increasing the public's
awareness of our profession.
Maria Pomponio, AuD,
CCC-A, is a clinical
audiologist at Weill Cornell
Medicine, Department
of Otolaryngology, Head
and Neck Surgery.
Audiology Connections - 2022

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