Virtual reality games for spatial hearing training in children and young people with bilateral cochlear implants: the "Both Ears (BEARS)" approach.

Spatial hearing relies on the encoding of perceptual sound location cues in space. It is critical for communicating in background noise, and understanding where sounds are coming from (sound localization). Although there are some monoaural spatial hearing cues (i.

Attitudes towards hearing difficulties, health-seeking behaviour, and hearing aid use among older adults in Thailand.

Introduction: This qualitative study explores older adults' attitudes towards hearing difficulties, health-seeking behaviour and hearing aid use in Samutprakarn, Thailand.

Method: Three focus groups (=25), with adults aged 60-88 years, were conducted within a residential complex for older adults. Qualitative data analysis, employing a phenomenological approach was completed.

Comparing outcomes of ultra-low-cost hearing aids to programmable, refurbished hearing aids for adults with high frequency hearing loss in Malawi: a feasibility study.

Introduction: Access to ear and hearing health services are limited or non-existent in low-income countries, with less than 10% of the global production of hearing aids distributed to this population. The aim of this feasibility study was to compare the outcomes of an ultra-low-cost hearing aid (LoCHAid) to programmable, refurbished hearing aids for adults with high-frequency hearing loss, in Blantyre, Malawi.

Methods: Sixteen adults with high frequency hearing loss, and no prior experience of hearing aids, took part in this study, nine were fitted with the LoCHAid and seven were fitted with refurbished, programmable hearing aids, for a one-month trial.

Factors Affecting the Use of Speech Testing in Adult Audiology.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate hearing health care professionals' (HHPs) speech testing practices in routine adult audiology services and better understand the facilitators and barriers to speech testing provision.

Design: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted.

Study Sample: A sample ( = 306) of HHPs from the public (64%) and private (36%) sectors in the United Kingdom completed the survey.

Involving Children and Teenagers With Bilateral Cochlear Implants in the Design of the BEARS (Both EARS) Virtual Reality Training Suite Improves Personalization.

Older children and teenagers with bilateral cochlear implants often have poor spatial hearing because they cannot fuse sounds from the two ears. This deficit jeopardizes speech and language development, education, and social well-being. The lack of protocols for fitting bilateral cochlear implants and resources for spatial-hearing training contribute to these difficulties.

Experienced hearing aid users' perspectives of assessment and communication within audiology: a qualitative study using digital methods.

Objective: To explore experienced hearing aid users' perspectives of audiological assessments and the patient-audiologist communication dynamic during clinical interactions.

Design: A qualitative study was implemented incorporating both an online focus group and online semi-structured interviews. Sessions were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim.

International survey of audiologists during the COVID-19 pandemic: use of and attitudes to telehealth.

Objective: To determine the attitudes of audiologists towards telehealth and use of telehealth for the delivery of ear and hearing services pre-, during- and post- the COVID-19 pandemic, and to identify the perceived effects of telehealth on services and barriers to telehealth.

Design: An online survey distributed through the International Society of Audiology and member societies.

Study Sample: A total of 337 audiologists completing the survey between 23 June and 13 August 2020.

The impact of COVID-19 on provision of UK audiology services & on attitudes towards delivery of telehealth services.

Objective: To (i) identify the impact of COVID-19 on provision of UK audiology services across sectors (ii) compare teleaudiology service provision between private and public sectors before and after the introduction of restrictions and (iii) identify barriers to teleaudiology delivery amongst UK hearing care professionals in both sectors.

Design: A mixed-methods cross-sectional survey study design. Responses to the structured questionnaire were analysed using descriptive and non-parametric statistics.

Development of a public audiology service in Southern Malawi: profile of patients across two years.

Objective: To describe the profile of patients attending the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) audiology clinic in Malawi, over a two-year period (2016-2017).

Design: A retrospective patient record review.

Study Sample: There were 2299 patients assessed at the QECH audiology department between January 2016 and December 2017.