New opportunities and challenges for teleaudiology withinDepartment of Veterans Affairs

摘要

Teleaudiology is the delivery ofaudiology services and informationvia telecommunications technologies.In recent years, technologicaladvances have resulted in a dramaticincrease in the possibilities offeredby teleaudiologyfrom diagnostic audiologyand remote hearing aid fittings to downloadable hearing aidapplications and realtime rehabilitation interventions. Teleaudiologyhas the capacity to provide access to audiological services toindividuals living in rural locations, to those in inner urban populationswho cannot afford or access the services of a professional,and to others who choose to selfmanage their hearing impairment.With broader access and new models of service deliverycome vast possibilities but also new challenges and questions forpatients and professionals alike.