PP106 - Counselling During Real-Ear Measurements: The Clinician Perspective

Posters

Location: Halls 4EF

Lead Presenter(s)

Kaitlyn Angelozzi, BA (she/her/hers)

M.Sc. Student
University of British Columbia
Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada

Disclosure(s): UBC Language Sciences: Research Grant (includes principal investigator, collaborator or consultant and pending grants as well as grants already received) (Ongoing)

PDF Slides

Presenter(s)

Lorienne M. Jenstad, PhD (she/her/hers)

Associate Professor
University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Financial Disclosures: I do not have any relevant financial relationships with anything to disclose.
Non-Financial Disclosures: I do not have any relevant non-financial relationships with anything to disclose.

Contributor(s)

CA

Chris Atchison, MA

Research Administrator
University of British Columbia

Financial Disclosures: I do not have any relevant financial relationships with anything to disclose.
Non-Financial Disclosures: I do not have any relevant non-financial relationships with anything to disclose.
Brenda T. Poon, PhD (she/her/hers)

Assistant Professor
University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

Abstract: Research indicates that clients perceive greater benefit from, and have a preference for, hearing aids fitted using real-ear measurement (REM) verification. Furthermore, a large majority of hearing aid candidates either do not have, or do not often wear their hearing aids, and studies have indicated one factor for low hearing aid uptake is lack of counselling and support from the clinician. Through a study design that took elements from concept mapping, including brainstorming, rating, and focus groups, this study investigated experts’ view on what information should be conveyed during REM informational counselling and produced a modifiable script for clinicians’ use.  

Summary:
Real-Ear Measurement (REM) verification is the gold standard for fitting hearing aids, and research indicates that clients perceive greater benefit from, and have a preference for, hearing aids fitted using REM verification to hearing aids fit without REM verification. Despite this, the majority of clinicians do not dispense hearing aids using REM verification. Furthermore, a large majority of hearing aid candidates either do not have, or do not often wear their hearing aids, and studies have indicated that one factor for low hearing aid uptake is lack of counselling and support from the clinician.

In an effort to remedy the lack of counselling, one manufacturer of REM equipment developed a client-friendly screen with visual information to support informational counselling during hearing aid fitting. The availability of this tool is an opportunity to maximize how counselling is conducted and the first step is to better understand the verbal aspect of counselling during hearing aid fitting. Through a study design that takes elements from concept mapping, the study will produce a prioritized list of the key points to be conveyed during REM informational counselling, as well as a modifiable script that clinicians can use when conducting REM informational counselling.

Seventeen audiologists participated in the first stage of the study, which was brainstorming. They were prompted to brainstorm the most important ideas to convey during REM informational counselling. One hundred thirty-six statements were generated. Nine of the seventeen participants rated the one hundred thirty-six statements based on importance relative to the other statements, and feasibility of implementing the idea into a typical first fitting appointment, both with regard to what the first-time hearing aid user may understand, and the time limits of such an appointment. Concept maps will be generated using Excel software. Participants will be shown the maps during a focus group to see what new ideas come up; this will ensure the maps are comprehensive in their representation. Participants will generate labels for the clusters produced by the software; this is to understand the meaning participants take from the represented concepts. Finally, participants will decide on a general order in which the concepts mapped ought to be presented during REM informational counselling. This project will be completed prior to February 15, 2022.

This study is investigating experts’ view on what information should be conveyed during REM informational counselling and will produce a modifiable script for clinicians’ use during REM informational counselling.  Our session will present the modifiable script to the audience, as well as an analysis of the themes of conversation from the focus group. Audience members will be able to identify counselling phrases generated by research participants that are appropriate for use in their own practice, and through engagement with the thematic analysis of the focus group conversations, will be able to evaluate for themselves the importance and feasibility of individual counselling phrases. For newer clinicians in the audience, the modifiable script is an opportunity to critically think about the material to be covered during counselling, as well as a starting point for their own counselling script.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this session, the participant will be able to evaluate the importance and feasibility of counselling phrases.