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Audiologists have long been pushed into a corner by the current model, in which patients’ wants often compete with the realities of practice management, device manufacturers, and reimbursement. Many audiologists have to focus on those with moderate to severe hearing loss, as those are typically the patients who most benefit from hearing aids.
So what’s the solution? Going back to basics with each patients’ hearing profile.
A hearing profile is like a fingerprint — everyone has their own unique variation. Treating hearing loss as a journey from A to Z, where A is perfect hearing and Z is severe hearing damage, can lead to ineffective and unsatisfying solutions for those who have other conditions, or mild hearing loss.
A Deeper Dive into Hearing Profiles
Hearing profiles are the key to understanding hearing loss. Take a look the U.S. Department of Defense’s approach. U.S. service members often work in environments with potentially damaging background noise, leading to the introduction of several hearing profiles that describe a level of impairment. These profiles are especially important since many service members need excellent hearing to work safely.
Here’s a look at a couple of the profiles assigned to service members with hearing damage:
- H1: Service members with hearing loss that doesn’t exceed 25 decibels
- H2: Service members with hearing loss that doesn’t exceed 30 decibels
As hearing damage progresses, DOD physicians must regularly test these service members to ensure they don’t reach the H3 hearing profile threshold, which could lead to relocation or reassignment. These small differences in hearing are worth noticing not just in the military but in all walks of life.
In fact, defining different hearing profiles and levels of hearing loss can help audiologists shift their level of care for each category, further personalizing the care given to a patient. If the DOD finds hearing levels necessary to keep service members safe, shouldn’t other employers ensure employees receive the same care?
How Tuned Elevates Hearing Profiles
Thankfully, Tuned gives patients and audiologists a chance to find solutions for traditionally underserved hearing profiles. With Tuned’s product agnostic marketplace and telehealth platform, patients, and audiologists finally have a tool to address any patients’ needs whether it’s hearing loss, prevention, tinnitus care, or hearing conservation.
Tuned is the only teleaudiology platform that can serve the needs of all hearing profiles — providing them with the devices they need to improve their lives.
Once patients select an audiologist licensed in their state, they start their hearing health journey with a full hearing workup, including the most clinically validated questionnaires and screenings. Much like an optometrist uses different lenses to find the right prescription for glasses, audiologists on Tuned use these tests to find the right solution for you based on your unique hearing profile.
Whether it’s an accessory to assist with hearing during work calls or specialized headphones to increase the clarity and depth of music and television audio, there are a variety of options for a variety of needs. For those who work regularly in environments with loud background noise, such as sales of customer support teams, Tuned also offers protective hearing solutions. There are even options for those who want to eliminate background noise to better hear friends and loved ones during conversations.
You don’t need severe or profound hearing damage to visit an audiologist. You can start understanding your hearing and be proactive about guarding your hearing health. Through Tuned, audiologists use the full range of their expertise and leverage the best of their abilities to provide more comprehensive care for all hearing patients, including those who want to prevent hearing damage.
Curious about your own individual hearing profile? Try out the Tuned EarPrint demo. If you’re an audiologist, learn how you can join the Tuned team and sign up here.
