Audiology and Otology Guidance During COVID 19. From the UK's Audiology Professional Bodies
Association of Independent Hearing Healthcare Professionals, British Academy of Audiology, et al. (2022).
1-12. Retrieved September 13, 2023 from https://www.baaudiology.org/.
This is a guideline providing consensus-based recommendations for providing audiology and otology services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Association of Independent Hearing Healthcare Professionals (United Kingdom); British Academy of Audiology; British Society of Audiology; British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists
<div>In line with local and employer protocols, routine face-to-face appointments in clinic and home settings should now be available. Wax removal services can now also be offered in line with the scope of practice. Audiology is considered a low-risk pathway; however, patients should confirm that they and their household/bubble are well, are not self-isolating, and have no COVID-19 symptoms. <br><br>"A simple statement on an appointment letter or website and signs at clinic entrances might be: “Please DO NOT attend an appointment if you or any member of your household/bubble are suffering from any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 or are self-isolating... If these apply to you, please contact us to discuss it so that we can reschedule your appointment for a different time” (p. 5)."</div>
<div>The following must be observed during a face-to-face appointment:</div>
<ul>
<li>"Best practice hand hygiene.</li>
<li>The use of Type II R facemasks for staff and patients (if tolerated) is required when undertaking close contact work such as otoscopy, impression taking, wax removal, REM, Vestibular testing etc..</li>
<li>Physical Distancing where possible remains best practice unless providing close contact clinical care. If this is not possible the use of physical barriers as agreed with local infection prevention should be considered.</li>
<li>Best Practice respiratory hygiene (“catch it, bin it, kill it”) and avoiding touching your face with your hands are required.</li>
<li>As our patient population often find opaque face masks, usually used as [personal protective equipment] PPE, a barrier to communication it is suggested you perform routine components of the appointment by grouping procedures together where possible to minimize the need for PPE to be worn for long periods of an appointment" (p. 5).</li>
</ul>
<div>The following should be observed after a face-to-face appointment:</div>
<ul>
<li>“Leave enough time to doff any PPE, to clean high touch areas a patient has been in contact with, and to prepare for the next patient.</li>
<li>Clean the environment in line with government guidance” (p. 5).</li>
</ul>
<div>"PPE use in clinical settings is now in line with national guidance for infection control rather than Covid 19 specific advice" (p. 6). A new standard has been developed for clear facemasks; masks complying with this technical standard may be referred to as Type IIR medical masks. Additional measures, such as social distancing, frequent handwashing, and adequate ventilation could be considered to reduce transmission.</div>
