Pilot evaluation of a protocol and a clinical tool developed to assess the audiological needs of adults with hearing loss.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the Québec Audiological Assessment Protocol for Younger and Older Adults (QAAP-YOA) and its accompanying clinical tool efficacy to assess the needs of individuals with hearing loss in a simulated context. This study is the Phase 2 in the development of the QAAP-YOA.

Design: Participants completed two needs assessments with simulated clients and wrote audiological reports, while applying the QAAP-YOA with and without the use of its clinical tool. Interviews were filmed, and reports collected. Both were scored by two independent evaluators. A qualitative analysis of reports was also conducted.

Study sample: Eleven audiology students and four early-career audiologists (n = 15).

Results: The clinical tool did not influence the interview process since both experimental conditions had similar compliance rates to the protocol (p = 0.114). Compliance rates for assessment reports were higher with the clinical tool (p < 0.001). Participants' conclusions after applying the QAAP-YOA were consistent across participants. The information provided in the reports was more comprehensive and coherent with the client's needs when participants used the clinical tool.

Conclusions: The QAAP-YOA can lead to a greater standardisation of needs assessments and to more comprehensive reports, which may lead to intervention programs more closely aligned with clients' needs.