Managing Patients with Normal Thresholds-Managing Patients with Normal Thresholds (Handout 4)

Managing Patients with Normal Thresholds (Handout 4)

Pdf Summary

The document discusses the challenges faced by individuals who complain of hearing difficulty (HD) or speech-in-noise (SIN) problems despite having normal hearing thresholds. These individuals often present a dilemma for hearing professionals as they have no measurable hearing loss on standard tests but still experience these problems. Strategies such as better lighting, visual cues, and reducing distance between talker and listener may offer some benefit, but may not fully address the issues. Many of these individuals are overlooked or their complaints are deemed as a normal part of aging. This delays diagnosis and treatment, impacting their quality of life. The document emphasizes the need for physicians and audiologists to do more for individuals with supra-threshold auditory complaints.<br /><br />To address these issues, the document suggests using person-centered care that incorporates evidence-based practice and considers patients' experiences and concerns. It recommends utilizing self-assessment tools and speech-in-noise tests to accurately assess and document the patients' hearing difficulties. The use of hearing aids, particularly those coupled with remote microphone (RM) systems, is shown to improve SNRs and enhance speech recognition in noise. RM systems deliver audio signals from the microphone to radio receivers via digital RF transmission, reducing background noise and improving SNRs. These systems can substantially improve the listening experience of individuals, even in challenging environments. Additionally, the document discusses the potential role of mild-gain amplification and auditory training in addressing hearing difficulties. It also highlights the importance of considering the needs of blast-exposed and traumatic brain injury (TBI) veterans, who may experience hearing difficulties despite normal thresholds.<br /><br />In conclusion, the document emphasizes the importance of accurately diagnosing and addressing supra-threshold auditory complaints in individuals with normal hearing thresholds. It suggests implementing a comprehensive approach that includes self-assessment tools, speech-in-noise tests, hearing aids, and remote microphone systems to improve their speech recognition in noise and overall quality of life.

Keywords

hearing difficulty

speech-in-noise problems

normal hearing thresholds

hearing professionals

diagnosis and treatment

quality of life

supra-threshold auditory complaints

self-assessment tools

hearing aids

remote microphone systems