Telehealth or Tele-education? Providing intensive, ongoing therapy to remote communities

The Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC) in Sydney, Australia has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to innovation in the field of hearing impairment. RIDBC has created a unique program known as RIDBC Teleschool which successfully utilises videoconferencing technology to provide specialist hearing support and associated therapies to children living in rural and remote areas of Australia, including children in Indigenous communities. The high rate of hearing loss in Indigenous communities has led to the implementation of hearing screening programs in many areas of Australia. However, access to therapy support after screening is a critical intervention component which is often lacking in screening programs. RIDBC Teleschool uses a telehealth model to address this unmet need.