What do audiologists need to do to be patient-/client-centered?
You see so many of us, it's a great opportunity for you to make living with hearing loss easier for us. Some of you have created practices that go beyond the focus on the ear and tend to the needs of the person. Many have not.
Below is my list of client-centered actions for audiologists. (If you are a client and your audiologist doesn't perform these tasks, advocate! Show them this list and see whether you are satisfied with the response. This will help others as well.)
1) Be well informed about hearing loss associations and blogs and encourage your client's participation. Recognize that those connections meet a need for support, answers to questions, information about tech development and periodic opportunities to be stigma- and apology-free by being with others like us.
2) Relate to us. Inquire: are we isolating? feeling depressed? frustrated communicating with our partner?
3) Learn from us. Be curious.
4) Ask us what is challenging and try to help fix it.
5) Teach us about assistive devices to augment our hearing devices and about our entitlement to accommodations in public places.
6) Show us voice to text phone apps.
7) Help us understand the meaning of hearing test results so we can use the information to hear strategically. Encourage attendance of a partner or family member.
8) Send us to a realistic hearing environment to check our device's latest adjustment.
9) Inquire about whether we have special fire alarms in our homes made for people with hearing loss.
We know you have financial pressures, but you may not know that being client-centered will save time and help you grow your practice. By being attentive to our needs, we will adjust to our devices more easily and you'll see us less. Satisfaction yields great reviews and referrals.