Patient Map in the Audiology Process Including Rehabilitation - Coursework Example

Patient Map in the Audiology Process Including Rehabilitation Patient Map in the Audiology Process Including Rehabilitation Audiology is a division of science that deals with aspects related to hearing, balance, as well as the accompanying disorders. It uses various approaches or strategies to determine whether an individual can hear within a certain range. These strategies include hearing tests and electrophysiological tests. Audiologists work with other professionals especially persons who provide hearing devices. There are different appointments within the audiology process. These include direct referrals reassessment, repairs, fittings and follow-ups. It is worth acknowledging that direct referrals usually focus on the advice of previous professionals especially Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists, as well as family doctors. This paper traces the journey of a patient through the audiology process. These include steps within the process, whether care is given to the right person, changes made to the process, problems, benefits, implication of service, and impact of care. Steps within the journey People realize they have hearing difficulties through by themselves while others may acknowledge they have problems through family members, relatives or colleagues. The initials part of their journey is visiting their GP and enquire about appointments to see an audiologist. The GP may ask them some basic questions and conducting Otoscopy to check the presence of wax and some time tuning fork test carried out. The first step of the patient is to see their GP, and book appointments to see an Audiologist. The GP will check their hearing from wax, and may not get it right. The perception of the GP affects the treatment that patients are likely to undergo. The next part of the journey is to Audiology department. The patients get their hearing tested by pure tone audiometry (PTA). Prior to PTA process, the audiologist will take a history from the patient, and conduct Otoscopy that will culminate in the PTA test. The GP may indicate that patients are clear from wax though they are not when the Audiologist checked. The patient goes back to their GP to get the Wax removed, and the audiology may send a letter saying they are unable to conduct the hearing test because the patient has wax. The patient may have forgotten to mention to their GP that they have perforation in their eardrum making the GP refer them to ENT where wax can be removed. Then the patient can go back to Audiology for hearing assessment. It is also likely that an individual may choose private care because opticians may be selling hearing aids. Receiving a hearing aid usually takes roughly 2 weeks within the private sector. However, the NHS provides close to 4-5 days for receiving the aids (Action on Hearing Aid 2012 p. 1). Mathews (2011 p.3) conducted a study to highlight the changes that patients go through from recognizing they have a problem, visiting a GP, referral to audiology department, and getting fitted with a hearing device. Communication was a major inhibitor to improved efficiency within the service sector. The private sector was useful in the identification of hearing problems. However, patients could not purchase aids because of the high cost. The corrective measures include providing personalized services, and hearing services. I noticed that four steps are involved within the journey with the initial step focusing on the patients’ assessment. The audiologists are involved in this stage, and help patients identify hearing problems and other needs. The patients were interviewed through questionnaires that allowed the patients to list the impacts of their hearing problems on their lives (Mathews 2011 p.3). This enabled the audiologist to focus on the patients’ attitudes regarding their problems before the medical appointments. The results of this stage can determine results of the later stages of the journey. The audiologists can use the patients’ close relatives to identify the patients’ needs. This also empowers the family members to understand what the patients experience as far as hearing is concerned (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association 2012, p.1). I also noticed that an additional step in the journey involved the identification of the patients’ hearing aids. It was clear during the process that only the audiologists could conduct this step. The main areas during this stage were determining the patients’ auditory deficits and the strategies affecting interventions through a process termed as analysis the auditory acuteness (Hull 2001, p.15). The audiologists determined the loudest noise that makes the patients uncomfortable. They then help the patients improve their speech reading abilities especially for patients who cannot hear completely. It will also be vital for the audiologist to identify the patients’ dominant languages. This makes them ensure that they use such a language when improving the patients’ speech reading (Sharma 2006, p.127). The audiologists also help patients with problems that are not grave for them to starting hearing again. They achieve this concept using various strategies to increase patients’ communication effectiveness. For instance, the cochlear implant and the hearing therapies can help the patients acquire new listening habits (Tye-Murray 2009, p. 49). The audiologist also assesses the attitudes and the support patients (Valente, Hosford-Dunn 2008, p.399). The information about the positive impacts of the hearing aids on a patient is shared with other patients with the same hearing problems to give them hope. After the identification of patients’ attitudes, the concerned professionals will have to classify them based on their attitudes. For example, positively motivated patients are dealt with differently from those who still face denial (Alpiner & McCarthy 2000, p. 379). Appropriateness of the care The most suitable individual provide patients’ care would be the Audiologist. However, sometimes the appropriate persons are absent and cannot participate in the rehabilitation process. This is because the hospitals have few audiologists and supporting professional may have other commitments elsewhere during process. The adults’ aural rehabilitation is effective when the audiologists are available all the time. Changes made to the program I will eliminate the steps that increase costs in carrying out the process. I will increase the time needed for individual consultation since the process is critical for the success of the rehabilitation. I will ensure that the facility has a wide choice of hearing aid equipment for patients. I will incorporate needs of different individuals during their rehabilitation. Patients will have a right to choose providers when seeking audiology services. The use of an integrated approach helps in eliminating hearing impairment related conditions. Various changes are required to make the process valuable. The first change includes the alteration of the appointment schedules. The audiologist will have more time for patients. The other change I would make is the formation of support groups. The support group changes the patients’ attitudes towards their problems. This is because patients discover that they are not the only ones having the problems through the support groups. They also help the patients to know how they will handle their problem through other patients’ experiences (Gelfand 2009, p.465). I will also look at community-based services whereby community organizations carry out outreach programs to enlighten the masses on the suitable equipments for use in reducing hearing loss. In England and Wales, community organizations conducted tests to the population to check for the vulnerability of the people to suffer from hearing loss. Engaging patients in the campaigns eliminate certain steps of the journey for the rehabilitation program. This was the case in the UK, in which information obtained while serving the community aided in carrying out scientific research on issues related with hearing impairment. Community based services will also eliminate the need for consultations prior to enrolling patients in the program. This is because the services empower patients to take a lead role in the treatment of their condition (Eley & FitzGerald, 2010, P.204). Lastly, community based services are helpful in situations where patients have difficulty of accessing rehabilitation facilities. The flexibility of patient referral pathway for direct referral makes this attainable (Gelfand 2009, p.465). Problems for the patient A significant challenge that patients face is the long waiting list because of the limited personnel and resources especially the audiologists. Additionally, the rehabilitation centers are located in places where patients have difficulties to access as indicated by Hosford-dunn, Roeser & Valente (2008, p. 5). This means that the transport costs may be excessive, and difficult to meet. The program fails to address critical issues that inhibit success in the rehabilitation of patients. For instance, it is failing to provide special attention to illiterate patients. It is also difficult to induce illiterate patients to the program because of their limited understanding of the program. Besides, patients develop a negative attitude towards the program in cases where they feel neglected (Wicker, 2001). Lastly, the program does not address the needs of patients who lack the capacity to purchase hearing devices. Benefits for the patient A significant benefit pertains to free hearing aids especially when one visits the NHS. Additionally, the NHS allows people to visit the facilities regardless of the time. AQP does not force an individual to adhere to the traditions of treatments in therapies. Furthermore, the journey is shorter. A study conducted by the center for disease control in 2009 in the US, established that the program has both immediate and long-term benefits to patients. It was established that authorities could use the guidelines of the program for formulating legislation for people with disabilities. In the short term, the program ensures that patients receive special attention from their audiologists. Consequently, the use of feedback allows patients to give their responses to their doctors (Wicker, 2001). Feedbacks enable doctors to use their views when formulating programs that could be used when addressing the challenges of the future. The program cuts costs for rehabilitating the patient. Moreover, the families of the patients recognize the conditions affecting their loved ones (Sandlin, 2000, p. 572). Implications of the service The limitations of the service are evident when audiologists depend on the goodwill of the patient when designing program. The service is only effective when carried out systematically. This means that skipping a particular stage in the journey for therapy is suicidal (Wicker, 2001). Additionally, therapists are restricted from conducting duties that compromise the effectiveness of the program. This is because therapists are mandated to observe the law in their duties Therapists face difficulties when conduct research when they have less information about the condition affecting the patient. Secondly, it only recommends therapies when the patient is suffering. Thirdly, adults suffering from hearing loss feel comfortable to express themselves in groups of people facing the same challenge (McBride, Letowski & Mermagen, 2008, p. 1). An additional contra-induction is evident in loss of hearing that can create imbalance in the body’s system (Tye-Murray, 2009, p, 4). The flexibility of the program allows patients to engage directly with their audiologists when solving their challenges. Additionally, the program broadens the patient’s knowledge. The program also helps in reducing the rise in number of cases of people suffering from hearing loss. Subsequently, the program is devising strategies for preventing the development of the condition in young adults (Nichols, 2006, p. 68). It also gives audiologists sufficient time when dealing with patients during assessments. Impact in the care for the patient Positive aspects of care Primary care in GP eliminates contradictions in treatment procedures. Services are provided to several people in the population within the shortest time possible. In a Norwich university hospital, 320 patients were treated within a short time. The program is helpful in communities where people have difficulties in assessing medical facilities. According to (Cardiff Audiology Team ND), the program reduces the waiting time to a period less than six weeks. Patients use devices that help them improve their hearing, and undergo training to improve hearing. The training has positive impacts on the lifestyles of the patients. There are adults who have improved their communication skills using the program. The program allows for personal adjustments in situations where the patient shuns therapy. People in the society are enlightened on the methods used in carrying out the program. This helps in standardizing treatment for the condition (Hull, 2001). Moreover, the therapist coordinates with the families of the patients in administering treatment. Lastly, the program integrates the use of manual and technology in enhancing communication. Negative implications The use of technological gadgets in enhancing communication creates bodily imbalances to the sensory organs (Nichols, 2006, p. 66). There are patients who suffer from hearing loss yet they are unaware of their conditions, and the program fails to be useful. Conclusion There are different appointments in audiology especially direct referrals reassessment, repairs, fittings and follow-ups. It is worth acknowledging that different appointments within the audiology process begins when the patients notices that he has a hearing problem by themselves or through friends and colleagues. The initial step entails visiting the GP, and booking appointments with the audiology department. The duration of the steps vary depending on the whether the patient visits the NHS or AQP. Additionally, the appropriateness of the care is dependent on the ability of audiologists to conduct the process comprehensively. The changes that should be made to the program entail reducing the waiting time because patients acknowledge that this is a problem. The benefits for the patient include improve hearing after receiving the aids and going through rehabilitation. Lastly, the implication of service is both positive as evident in improved general condition, and negative as apparent in bodily imbalances. Reference List Action on Hearing Aid 2012, waiting for a hearing test? Available at http://www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/your-hearing/look-after-your-hearing/waiting-for-a-hearing-test/what-will-happen-if-you-go-to-a-private-hearing-aid-dispenser.aspx Alpiner, G, & McCarthy, P, 2000, Rehabilitative audiology: Children and adults, Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2012, Adult Aural/ Audiologic Rehabilitation. Available at http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/Adult-Aural-Rehabilitation/> Cardiff Audiology Team ND, The Patient Journey through Adult Audiology Services. Eley, K. FitzGerald, J. 2010, Direct general practitioner referrals to audiology for the provision of hearing aids: a single centre review. Radcliffe Publishing Gelfand, S, 2009 Essentials of audiology, New York, Thieme. Hosford-Dunn, H., Roeser, R. J., & Valente, M 2008, Audiology: practice management, New York, Thieme. Hull, H 2001, Aural rehabilitation: Serving children and adults, Australia, Singular/Thomson Learning. Hull, R. H 2001, Aural rehabilitation: serving children and adults, Australia, Singular/Thomson Learning. Mathews, L 2011, Seen but not Heard, RNID McBride, M., Letowski, T., & Mermagen, T 2008, Effects of hearing protection on verbal communication in military relevant environments, IIE Annual Conference. Proceedings, 1101-1106. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/192464832?accountid=45049 Nichols, A 2006, "Hearing loss: Perceptions and solutions", Nursing homes, vol. 55, no. 10, pp. 66-69. Sandlin, R, 2000, The textbook of hearing aid amplification, San Diego, Calif: Singular Thomson Learning. Sandlin, R. E. 2000, The textbook of hearing aid amplification. San Diego, Calif, Singular Thomson Learning. Sharma, K, 2006, Aural rehabilitation of hearing impaired children, New Delhi: Sarup. Tye-Murray, N 2009, Foundations of aural rehabilitation: children, adults, and their family members, Clifton Park, NY, Delmar Cengage Learning. Tye-Murray, N, 2009, Foundations of aural rehabilitation: Children, adults, and their family members, Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning. Valente, M., Hosford-Dunn, H., & Roeser, R 2008, Audiology: Treatment. New York: Thieme. Wicker, S. 2001, Audiology and Hearing Aid Center: A business plan, Central Michigan University. Read More