Tele-Audiology in the United States: Past, Present, and Future

Introduction

The above quote seems at the root of much of the technological revolution we are experiencing today. This is the stuff of which dreams are made as well as the inspiration for avant-guard thinking such as science-fiction. Who would have imagined 50 years ago that we would someday talk into little plastic boxes without wires and communicate with someone hundreds of miles away? It is thrilling to stand on the threshold of progress with the hopes of adapting modern and future technology to improve the quality of life for countless patients in need of medical evaluation and treatment.

As an audiologist I have given much thought to how technology can be inculcated into healthcare delivery systems for patients with hearing and or balance disorders. Most audiology healthcare providers are located in metropolitan and urban areas where population is denser and where there is access to a continuum of healthcare providers and services (ASHA, 2006). However, it is interesting to note that the prevalence of hearing impairment is greater in rural areas (Holt, Hotto, & Cole, 1994). Projections are that audiologists will be in demand for the foreseeable future (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2008) with an estimated increase of 10% over the next six years. As patients tend to have a longer life expectancy than in the past, there will be an increasing need for audiological services. As universal newborn hearing screening compliance increases there will be additional requirements for pediatric audiologists with specialized training in evaluating and managing children with hearing disorders.

Telehealth/telemedicine seems to possess inherent capabilities of delivering hearing healthcare to remote areas or underserved populations. This chapter will address the history of telemedicine in the United States, recent research in the application of telehealth in audiology, challenges to be overcome, and what the future may hold.