Presenters: 
Samuel R. Atcherson, PhD
Mary Rose Bethel, AuD
Melissa A. Ferrello, AuD
Sarah A. Sparks, AuD

CEUs: 0.1 AAA CEUs

Duration: 60 minutes

Instructional Level: Beginner

Program Focus: Knowledge 

Description:

This session will highlight hearing accessibility as a critical part of the patient experience in clinical settings that audiologists have a unique perspective and responsibility to uphold. The meaning behind and clinical applications of hearing accessibility will be discussed, along with debunking misperceptions in practice. In addition to providing education and tools to improve communication access for patients, this session will evaluate the important role audiologists have to model hearing accessibility in all situations, not just with patients.

Through open-ended panel discussion, this session will provide information and practice on accessible communication with colleagues, students, and the general public. Discussion and audience participation will include how to use one’s audiology education to proactively put hearing accessibility into practice in all areas of communication, how to know one’s own limitations, and how to provide resources to seek out when further help is needed. This session will share information on how to be an expert in this area for your patients, evaluating your level of accessibility and how to make your own practice/work setting hearing accessible for patients from the front desk to your assistant and to other colleagues, how to implement tools and best practices, and ways to model forms of hearing accessibility to demo in your office with patients.

Learning Outcomes: 

1. Evaluate the effects of and solutions to common misperceptions about hearing accessibility.
2. Describe 2-3 changes hearing-health professionals can implement in their clinic right away to improve hearing accessibility.
3. Integrate 2-3 communication strategies in all environments to ensure interactions with patients, colleagues, graduate students, and office staff are accessible.

Samuel Atcherson, PhD
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Mary Rose Bethel, AuD
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Melissa Ferrello, AuD
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Sarah Sparks, AuD
Gallaudet University