Hearing Health Care Delivery Outside the Booth

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this review article is to discuss how boothless audiometry may help address changes in hearing health care services and provide progressive tools to expand beyond traditional audiology clinic visits. The primary drivers for these changes include the COVID-19 pandemic, our aging population, comorbid effects of unidentified hearing loss, and the critical need for effective communication between patients and providers. This review article highlights key features and technical specifications of boothless audiometry, provides an overview of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved boothless audiometry products, and describes how to leverage these products to increase access to hearing health services across the continuum of health care. Method Boothless audiometry literature was reviewed using PubMed and audiometry technology websites. FDA-approved boothless audiometry products were reviewed, and audiological features were categorized. Civilian and Department of Defense subject matter experts were consulted. Conclusions Boothless audiometry technology introduces opportunities for early audiometric assessment outside of the audiology clinic, in settings where traditional testing has been less possible, or even impossible, such as military environments, clinic waiting areas, schools, and nursing homes. This technology allows health care providers to identify individuals with significant hearing loss early and seek comprehensive services to prevent and treat hearing loss. By expanding the current hearing health care delivery model via boothless audiometry technology, the following benefits may be achieved, which can result in better outcomes overall: increased access to care, early identification and treatment of hearing loss, and reduced impact from the comorbid effects of hearing impairment.