Resource Center

Although often discussed separately, interventional audiology and inter-professional healthcare ideally go hand-in-hand. This article describes how we apply interventional audiology in an inter-professional setting affecting the care of trauma patients on the day of services and in the future to improve recovery and reduce future trauma. In addition, we provide data that illustrate that the inter-professional setting affects future practices of the professionals who become aware of the positive impact improved communication has on their patients. A review of the necessary components for successful inter-professional health care is provided, followed by a brief review of the data related to health care provider awareness of hearing loss and the potential effect of hearing loss on health outcomes. Also, an introduction to the concept of interventional audiology is provided. With this background in mind, we describe the audiologist’s role in the inter-professional UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) Post-Trauma outpatient clinic that highlights interventional audiology on the day of service as well as coordinated care post-visit. Finally, we review data that illustrate the effect interventional audiology in an inter-professional setting has had on subsequent health care provider practice in the inpatient setting.