Audiological Practice in India: An Internet-Based Survey of Audiologists
Authors
Vijayalakshmi Easwar
Faculty of Health Sciences, National Centre for Audiology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6G 1H1 Canada
Sriram Boothalingam
Faculty of Health Sciences, National Centre for Audiology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6G 1H1 Canada
Srikanth Chundu
South of England Cochlear Implant Centre, Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ UK
Vinaya Manchaiah
Department of Vision and Hearing Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, CB1 1PT UK
S Ismail
Amplifon India, Bangalore, India
Keywords:
Audiology, Audiology in developing countries, India, Professional practice, Hearing loss, Hearing aid fitting, Preferred practice guidelines
Abstract
The field of Audiology in India has expanded exponentially in recent years. Audiologists practice in a variety of work places. However, little is known about the practice trends across these several work places. An Internet-based survey probing into Audiology practice was conducted between June and September 2012. The survey focused on four domains, namely, demography, assessment, hearing aid (HA) fitting and protocol usage. A total of 199 audiologists completed the survey. A large proportion of these audiologists were from Southern India. Majority of the respondents provide hearing assessment and HA services for children and adults. Results indicate diverse practice among respondents, even in essential procedures such as otoscopy. Although a large proportion of audiologists reported performing HA fitting in children as well as adults, less than 12 % of them performed real ear or simulated real ear verification during any HA fitting. Implications for the development of preferred practice guidelines in India have been discussed.
Keywords: Audiology, Audiology in developing countries, India, Professional practice, Hearing loss, Hearing aid fitting, Preferred practice guidelines
Author Biographies
Vijayalakshmi Easwar, Faculty of Health Sciences, National Centre for Audiology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6G 1H1 Canada
Audiology India, Registered Non-government Organization, Mysore, India
Sriram Boothalingam, Faculty of Health Sciences, National Centre for Audiology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6G 1H1 Canada
Audiology India, Registered Non-government Organization, Mysore, India
Srikanth Chundu, South of England Cochlear Implant Centre, Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ UK
Audiology India, Registered Non-government Organization, Mysore, India
Vinaya Manchaiah, Department of Vision and Hearing Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, CB1 1PT UK
Audiology India, Registered Non-government Organization, Mysore, India
S Ismail, Amplifon India, Bangalore, India
Audiology India, Registered Non-government Organization, Mysore, India
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