Professional Communication in Audiology

Professional Communication in Audiology is designed to provide students of audiology and practicing clinicians with a global framework for understanding the role of communication in audiologic practice, as well as practical strategies for implementation of communication principles in a clinical setting. The introduction to the text describes the importance of communication skills to audiologic practice. This section highlights important aspects of communicating in a clinical setting, including forces affecting reporting guidelines, privacy considerations, and the use of electronic medical records. The next section provides readers with fundamental principles that provide a framework for critically thinking about communication. These universal principles can be applied as a model to all areas of clinical communication. The text then leads the readers through application of these principles in the two most common methods of clinical communication: talking and writing. These skills are discussed specifically in relation to clinical audiologic practice, in the realms of both diagnostic and audiologic intervention paradigms. Examples reflective of real-world encounters are provided.The text also provides abundant examples of audiologic reports that can be utilized as templates in audiologic practice.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: Introduction What's the big deal? Who decides? Employer guidelines Third-party providers Accrediting bodies (JCAHO) The professional Privacy and other Considerations HIPPA Electronic Medical Records Chapter 2: Principles for Communication Have a plan Know what your goals are Know who you are communicating to Get the order right Begin at the end Choose the right words Consistent terminology Make it clear and concise Emphasize the important Chapter 3: Talking Talking to patients and family members Gathering Information: The patient history Goals Information to Gather Primary Complaint Hearing Problems Hearing device use Tinnitus Pain, fullness, pressure Ear surgery Ear infections Dizziness Family history Noise exposure Medications Illnesses or Medical Conditions For Children: Speech and Language Development Physical Development Special Services School Performance Pregnancy and Birth History Outcome of Newborn Hearing Screening and Subsequent Hearing Tests Providing Information: Communicating results and counseling Focus on the patient perspective Goals Help the patient understand the nature and degree of hearing loss Type of hearing loss Degree of hearing loss Help the patient understand the effect of their hearing loss on communication Communication challenges resulting from hearing loss Make sure the patient understands the next steps to be taken Physician referral Audiologic (re)habilitation candidacy Talking to other professionals Goals Diagnostic outcomes versus diagnosis Lines of reporting and referrals Chapter 4: Writing Introduction Documentation versus reporting Hearing Test Results Goals Information to Convey Case History Middle Ear Function Sample Terminology Type of Hearing Loss Sample Terminology Degree and Configuration of Hearing Loss Sample Terminology Speech Audiometric Results Sample Terminology Change in Hearing Status Sample Terminology Site of Disorder Sample Terminology Recommendations Sample Terminology Reporting "No response" Reporting reliability Emphasize the important Electrophysiology Results Goals Information to Include Auditory Processing Testing Results Goals Information to Include Progress Notes Goals Information to Include Supplemental Material Appendices Report Templates Audiogram Example ABR Example APD Example Case Histories (general and detailed/specialty)

About the Author :
Virginia Ramachandran, AuD, PhD, is a Senior Staff Audiologist at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. Brad A. Stach, PhD, is Head of Division of Audiology in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery with Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan.

Review :
Melaine Buhr-Lawler, University of Wisconsin-Madison, International Journal of Audiology (53: 63), (2014): "The expected level of the intended reader of this book is a student or beginning clinician in audiology. Another potential audience for this book is audiology clinical preceptors, who could use the book as a teaching tool. The book clearly lays out techniques for audiologists to use in communicating with patients and with other professionals. The book's chapters are easy to read and organized. The language is correct and straightforward...[T]he title refers to verbal and written communication conducted by audiologists for information gathering, documentation, and correspondence purposes. I have integrated information from the case history section and the report writing section into my [own] clinical teaching with AuD students. This book is a helpful tool to explain and consolidate information that students often receive from a number of sources. The references cited were appropriate, comprehensive, and well-documented...Overall, I feel that this is a useful text for the beginning clinician and for AuD students. I would recommend the text as a useful tool for audiology preceptors to help guide their students and for beginning clinicians who are interested in refining their processional interpersonal and written communication skills."