What is teleaudiology?
‘Telehealth’, also called ‘remote care’, ‘virtual care’ or ‘telepractice’, refers to delivery of health services from a distance. The term ‘teleaudiology’ is used when this health service refers specifically to audiology services – the delivery of hearing services by an audiologist or audiometrist who is in a different location to the client.
How can teleaudiology be performed?
Teleaudiology covers many different modes of interactions between an audiologist or audiometrist and a client including email, text messaging, phone calls, videoconferencing, websites, apps and web chats. Most hearing care can be provided by teleaudiology, including adjusting a hearing device, counselling or managing tinnitus and other hearing disorders.
Teleaudiology can occur:
- in real time (synchronously) when an audiologist, audiometrist or one of their team members interacts with a client on the phone, videoconference or via an app
- with a time delay (asynchronously) when the interaction takes place for example by email, text messaging, website or via an app
- as a mix of the above (hybrid), where a client receives some hearing services in-person and others by one or more forms of teleaudiology.
Who is teleaudiology for?
Teleaudiology is suitable for anyone who requires hearing services, regardless of age, location, residential arrangements, abilities, or social and economic circumstances. Teleaudiology may also involve another person (a significant other, carer, health professional or trained assistant) to support the client or help the audiologist deliver the service.
To find out if teleaudiology is a good option for your hearing care, talk to a hearing care professional.
Examples of how teleaudiology may benefit you are shown in the animated videos below:
Children and young people
Family and carers
Older adults
Download our information sheets for more information
The following downloadable documents may help you to start a conversation with a practitioner about teleaudiology as an option for your hearing care:
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