Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
S Afr J Commun Disord. 2021 Jun 7;68(1):e1-e7. doi: 10.4102/sajcd.v68i1.818.
Limited research exists regarding South African audiologists' practice with acoustic immittance. This study was part of a bigger study titled 'Wideband acoustic immittance in adults living with human immunodeficiency virus'.
The purpose of the study was to explore current practice of South African audiologists regarding acoustic immittance measures, and to explore their perceived knowledge and views on acoustic immittance advancements.
A quantitative survey with a cross sectional design was employed. An electronic questionnaire was distributed to participants via professional associations of audiologists. Data was analysed through descriptive and inferential statistics.
Most audiologists worked in private practice and conducted tympanometry with 226Hz probe tone and ipsilateral acoustic reflexes. There was no association between clinical setting, levels of qualification, and the use of tympanometry. None of the participants included multifrequency and multicomponent tympanometry (MFT) and/or wideband acoustic immittance (WAI) in their test battery. Most of the participants were not familiar with MFT and WAI. Familiarity with MFT and WAI were only associated with the level of qualification. Limited training and lack of equipment were major barriers to conducting some of the acoustic immittance measures. Most participants believed that they would include MFT and/or WAI in their test battery if they had access to the equipment.
Current findings raise training and clinical implications for the South African audiologists, including training institutions. These findings provide motivation for strategic resource allocation, planning and distribution of audiology clinics in the country if positive preventive audiology outcomes are to be achieved.
关于南非听力学家在声导抗方面的实践，相关研究有限。本研究是一项名为“成人人类免疫缺陷病毒感染者宽频声导抗”的更大研究的一部分。
本研究旨在探讨南非听力学家在声导抗测量方面的当前实践，并探讨他们对声导抗进展的认知和看法。
采用定量调查和横断面设计。通过听力学家的专业协会向参与者分发电子问卷。通过描述性和推断性统计方法对数据进行分析。
大多数听力学家在私人诊所工作，使用 226Hz 探测音和同侧声反射进行鼓室图测试。临床环境、资格水平与鼓室图测试之间没有关联。没有参与者将多频和多成分声导抗（MFT）和/或宽频声导抗（WAI）纳入他们的测试组合。大多数参与者对 MFT 和 WAI 不熟悉。对 MFT 和 WAI 的熟悉程度仅与资格水平有关。有限的培训和缺乏设备是进行某些声导抗测量的主要障碍。大多数参与者表示，如果有设备，他们将在测试组合中纳入 MFT 和/或 WAI。
目前的研究结果为南非听力学家，包括培训机构，提出了培训和临床方面的问题。如果要实现积极的预防听力结果，这些研究结果为该国的战略资源分配、规划和分配听力诊所提供了动力。
