School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.
Summer Foundation, Victoria, Australia.
Brain Impair. 2023 Dec;24(3):611-628. doi: 10.1017/BrImp.2022.35. Epub 2023 Jan 6.
This study explored non-specialist audiological clinical practice in the context of traumatic brain injury (TBI), and whether such practices incorporated considerations of TBI-related complexities pertaining to identification, diagnosis and management of associated auditory and vestibular disturbances.
A cross-sectional online survey exploring clinical practice, TBI-related training and information provision was distributed to audiologists across Australia via Audiology Australia and social media. Fifty audiologists, 80% female and 20% male, participated in this study. Years of professional practice ranged from new graduate to more than 20 years of experience.
Clear gaps of accuracy in knowledge and practice across all survey domains relating to the identification, diagnosis and management of patients with auditory and/or vestibular deficits following TBI were evident. Further, of the surveyed audiologists working in auditory and vestibular settings, 91% and 86%, respectively, reported not receiving professional development for the diagnosis and management of post-traumatic audio-vestibular deficits.
Inadequate resources, equipment availability and TBI-related training may have contributed to the gaps in service provision, influencing audiological management of patients with TBI. A tailored TBI approach to identification, diagnosis and management of post-traumatic auditory and vestibular disturbances is needed.
本研究探讨了创伤性脑损伤（TBI）背景下非专业听力学临床实践，以及这些实践是否纳入了与识别、诊断和管理相关的听觉和前庭障碍相关的 TBI 复杂性的考虑因素。
一项横断面在线调查，通过澳大利亚听力学协会和社交媒体向澳大利亚的听力学家调查了临床实践、TBI 相关培训和信息提供情况。共有 50 名听力学家参与了这项研究，其中 80%为女性，20%为男性。他们的专业实践年限从新毕业到超过 20 年不等。
所有与 TBI 后听觉和/或前庭缺陷患者的识别、诊断和管理相关的调查领域都明显存在知识和实践上的准确性差距。此外，在从事听觉和前庭设置工作的调查听力学家中，分别有 91%和 86%的人报告没有接受过创伤后音频-前庭缺陷诊断和管理的专业发展。
资源不足、设备可用性和 TBI 相关培训可能导致服务提供存在差距，影响 TBI 患者的听力学管理。需要针对创伤后听觉和前庭障碍的识别、诊断和管理制定个性化的 TBI 方法。
