A Systematic Review of Telehealth Applications in Audiology
Telemedicine Journal and e-Health
Swanepoel, D. W., & Hall, J. W., 3rd. (2010).
Telemedicine Journal and e-Health, 16(2), 181-200.
This systematic review investigates the effectiveness of delivering audiology services (e.g., screening, diagnosis, intervention) via telepractice and patient/client perceptions of audiology telehealth services.
Not stated
Through May 31, 2009
Published, peer-reviewed empirical studies (not further specified)
26
<div>For conducting hearing evaluations, "the diagnostic procedures reported, including audiometry, video-otoscopy, [otoacoustic emissions] OAE and [auditory brainstem response] ABR, confirm clinically equivalent results for remote, telehealth-enabled tests compared to conventional face-to-face versions" (p. 187).</div>
<div>"The very limited information on patient perceptions reveal mixed findings and require more specific investigations, especially post facto surveys of patient experiences" (p. 188) with tele-audiology services compared to in-person service delivery methods.</div>
<div>"Several [hearing] screening applications for populations consisting of infants, children, and adults have demonstrated the feasibility and reliability of screening facilitated through telehealth using both synchronous and asynchronous models" (p. 187).</div>
<div>"The few reported intervention studies using telehealth, such as hearing aid verification and Internet-based treatment for tinnitus, demonstrate reliable and effective applications of telehealth compared to conventional face-to-face methods" (pp. 187-188). Although the findings are promising, further research is needed due to the small number of intervention studies.</div>
