Does clinician continuity influence hearing aid outcomes?
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 20, 2026
Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
Published on: March 24, 2023
Rebecca J Bennett1,2, Carly Meyer3, Robert H Eikelboom1,2,4
1a Ear Science Institute Australia , Subiaco, Perth , Australia .
Objective:
To evaluate whether clinician continuity is associated with successful hearing aid outcomes.
Design:
A prospective cohort study. Clinician continuity was defined as occurring when a patient was cared for by the same clinician for the hearing assessment, hearing aid selection process, hearing aid fitting and programming, and subsequent hearing aid fine tuning appointments. The hearing aid outcome measures included self-reported hearing aid use, benefit and satisfaction as well as self-reported handling skills and problems experienced with hearing aids.
Study Sample:
Four hundred and sixty-eight adult hearing aid users (mean age 73.9 years ±10.9) and 26 qualified audiologists (mean age 34 years ±6.34) recruited from a single hearing clinic in Perth, Western Australia.
Results:
There were no significant differences in hearing aid outcomes between participants who experienced clinician continuity and those who did not.
Conclusions:
Within a controlled practice setting, hearing aid outcomes may not be adversely effected if services are provided by more than one clinician.
Related Concept Videos
01:31Hearing
01:25Types of Reports I: Hand-off Report
Following are the key components and categories of hand-off reports:
Purpose and Process:
01:29Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting
Long-Term Care Facilities
01:25Elements Crucial for Effective Psychotherapy
The Therapeutic Alliance
The therapeutic alliance refers to the relationship between the therapist and the client. The alliance strengthens when the therapist and the client engage in a nurturing, supportive, trusting, empathetic, and respectful relationship, improving therapeutic outcomes. Therapists must monitor this relationship...