Adaptation of Teleaudiology Approach in Undergraduate Clinical Examinations: Lesson Learned

Abstract

USM’s undergraduate audiology program began in 2005 and lasted eight semesters. Advances in information and communications technology (ICT) and the global COVID-19 epidemic are promoting telehealth in clinical teaching. This study used Krumm’s teleaudiology model for eight pediatric face-to-face clinical audiology examinations with final-year clinical students. Observation, Internet connectivity, and audiologist satisfaction confirmed the model’s feasibility. Lack of ICT resources and staff caused technical issues in most sessions. Internet speed was faster than early estimates. Live observation was more satisfying than recordings. We successfully implemented a trial version of an adapted teleaudiology approach that may be used to observe audiology clinical examinations. With minor changes, this approach can also be used for clinical observation in the future, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords

• teleaudiology
• audiology
• COVID-19
• clinical examination