A qualitative study investigating the current implementation of personal sound amplification products (PSAPs) in various audiology work settings

Abstract

Personal sound amplification products (PSAPs) have gained a lot of recent attention since the passing of the 2017 Over the Counter Hearing Aid Act. The purpose of this study was to investigate the current incorporation of personal sound amplification products (PSAPs) into different types of audiology work settings. This issue was explored through the use of three different surveys that was sent to 1000 audiologists throughout the United States. These audiologists were identified from a list generated by the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) and these individuals listed hearing aids as a primary professional interest of theirs. The first survey was designed for audiologists who are currently incorporating PSAPs into their clinics. The second survey was designed for audiologists who are not currently incorporating these devices into their work settings, but plan to do so within the next 5 years. In these first two surveys, a variety of questions about the PSAP devices, how they are being dispensed and by whom, as well as how audiologists are handling any, and repairs/warranties of these devices were developed. Lastly, the third survey was created for audiologists who are not currently incorporating these devices and have no intentions of incorporating. This third survey inquired why these audiologists were not incorporating PSAPs into their work settings. A total of 170 audiologists responded to these three surveys. Results from the three surveys demonstrated that 7% of respondents are currently providing PSAP services in private practice settings to their geriatric and adult populations. Forty percent of respondents plan on providing these services in the near future. Majority of the respondents (53%) are not providing services for PSAPs and did not plan on doing so at all. The primary rationales that audiologists provided for not including PSAPs in their practice were a lack of knowledge about these devices, not being familiar with the efficacy of these devices, and lastly some audiologists did not think that a low cost amplification option would be appropriate for their patient population. The results of this study suggests that further research on audiologist involvement with PSAP devices needs to be explored, in order to provide less expensive and more accessible amplification options for patients with hearing loss.