A systematic review of telehealth applications in audiology

Abstract

Hearing loss is a pervasive global healthcare concern with an estimated 10% of the global population affected to a mild or greater degree. In the absence of appropriate diagnosis and intervention it can become a lifelong disability with serious consequences on the quality of life and societal integration and participation of the affected persons. Unfortunately, there is a major dearth of hearing healthcare services globally, which highlights the possible role of telehealth in penetrating the underserved communities. This study systematically reviews peer-reviewed publications on audiologyrelated telehealth services and patient/clinician perceptions regarding their use. Several databases were sourced (Medline, SCOPUS, and CHINAL) using different search strategies for optimal coverage. Though the number of studies in this field are limited available reports span audiological services such as screening, diagnosis, and intervention. Several screening applications for populations consisting of infants, children, and adults have demonstrated the feasibility and reliability of telehealth using both synchronous and asynchronous models. The diagnostic procedures reported, including audiometry, video-otoscopy, oto-acoustic emissions, and auditory brainstem response, confirm clinically equivalent results for remote telehealth-enabled tests and conventional face-to-face versions. Intervention studies, including hearing aid verification, counseling, and Internet-based treatment for tinnitus, demonstrate reliability and effectiveness of telehealth applications compared to conventional methods. The limited information on patient perceptions reveal mixed findings and require more specific investigations, especially post facto surveys of patient experiences. Tele-audiology holds significant promise in extending services to the underserved communities but require considerable empirical research to inform future implementation.