Tinnitus Management: The Utilization of a Hybrid Telehealth and In-Person Delivery Model

Abstract

Telehealth, or the delivery of healthcare services from a distance, has historically been used to provide care to underserved populations and to those unable to visit a healthcare center. During the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, some providers of tinnitus healthcare services incorporated telehealth into their clinical protocols to allow for continued care for their patients while adhering to social distancing guidelines and safety measures. Bothersome tinnitus can negatively impact one's quality of life. Telehealth has been instrumental in treating this debilitating problem in a time when in-person care has not been easily available. The case of a patient with tinnitus is examined to demonstrate the use of a hybrid delivery model utilizing telehealth and in-person interactions to assess and manage her bothersome tinnitus. In-person services were used for audiological assessments and fitting of treatment devices, while telehealth was utilized for counseling, education, and remote programming of her treatment devices. This combined approach, which has allowed the patient to continue receiving care safely during the pandemic, can be continued for future care. Telehealth offers several advantages to patients and providers alike. While the COVID-19 pandemic will hopefully come to an end, telehealth services for tinnitus management may be here to stay.

Keywords: telehealth; telemedicine; tinnitus; tinnitus education; tinnitus management.

Figure 1

Comprehensive audiometric results for Gabby A speech recognition threshold (SRT) was obtained at 15 dB HL for both the left and right ears. The adult spondee word list (Auditec of St. Louis) was utilized to obtain SRTs. Word recognition scores (WRS) were 100% for each ear. Testing was conducted using a recorded version of the Northwestern University Auditory Test No. 6 (NU-6) ordered by difficulty word list and presented at 55 dB HL monaurally.