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Aim : Best-practice in audiological rehabilitation takes a holistic client- and family-centred approach and considers hearing care in the context of personal well-being. Hearing loss not only impairs the ability to hear, but can also compromise the ability to communicate, thus negatively impacting both social and emotional well-being. Hearing care professionals play a key role in fostering their client's well-being. This paper aims to provide evidence-based recommendations to ensure inclusion of social-emotional well-being in audiologic rehabilitation clinical practice. Methods : A review of current research and expert opinion. Results : This guide proposes a 5-step plan which includes: identifying the client's social-emotional well-being; including family members in audiological rehabilitation; incorporating social-emotional needs and goals in an individualized management plan; relating identified hearing needs and goals to rehabilitation recommendations; and using counselling skills and techniques to explore and monitor social-emotional well-being. Each component of the 5-step plan is discussed and clinical considerations are presented. Conclusion : These comprehensive recommendations provide guidance to hearing care professionals looking to ensure clients' social-emotional well-being are considered throughout the rehabilitation journey.

Objective: We aimed to explore (i) what adults with hearing difficulties want and need from hearables, which we defined as any non-medical personal sound amplification product, and (ii) what hearing care professionals think about hearables., Design: This was an exploratory, qualitative study conducted using separate focus groups with adults with hearing difficulties and audiologists. Data were analysed inductively using reflexive thematic analysis., Study Sample: Participants were 12 adults with hearing difficulties and 6 audiologists., Results: Adults with hearing difficulties expressed desire for trustworthy information and support, described evaluating hearables and other devices according to diverse personal criteria, and expressed willingness to vary their budget according to product quality. Audiologists expressed views that hearables are an inferior product but useful tool, that it is not necessarily their role to assist with hearables, that hearables are a source of uncertainty, and that the provision of hearables by audiologists is not currently practical., Conclusion: Adults with hearing difficulties may have complex reasons for considering hearables and may desire a high level of clinical support in this area. Ongoing research into the efficacy and effectiveness of hearables is needed together with research into effective strategies to incorporate hearables into clinical practice.

Objective: To conduct the first phases in the development of a self-report measure of empowerment on the hearing health journey, specifically, item generation and content evaluation of the initial pool of items generated., Design: A content expert panel survey and cognitive interviews were conducted. Descriptive statistics were obtained for the quantitative data, and the cognitive interviews were analysed using thematic analysis., Study Sample: Eleven researchers and clinicians participated in the content expert surveys. Sixteen experienced hearing aid users participated in the cognitive interviews, recruited from the USA and Australia., Results: The items underwent five iterations based on feedback from the survey and interview data. This resulted in a set of 33 quality-tested potential survey items that were rated highly for relevance (mean = 3.96), clarity (mean = 3.70) and fit to dimensions of empowerment (mean = 3.92) (scale 0-4, where 4 was the maximum rating)., Conclusions: Involving stakeholders in item generation and content evaluation increased relevance, clarity, fit to dimension, comprehensiveness, and acceptability of the items. This preliminary version of the 33-item measure underwent further psychometric refinement (Rasch analysis and traditional classical test theory testing) to validate it for clinical and research use (reported separately).

Objective: To assess non-medical amplification devices in adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss, and the impact of device features on outcomes., Design: A prospectively registered systematic review., Study Sample: Ten studies evaluating personal sound amplification products (PSAPs), and four evaluating smartphone amplification applications (or apps). Devices were classified as "premium" or "basic" based on the number of compression channels (≥16 or <16, respectively)., Results: Meta-analyses showed that premium PSAPs improved speech intelligibility in noise performance compared to unaided, whereas basic PSAPs and smartphone apps did not. Premium PSAPs performed better than basic hearing aids. Premium hearing aids performed better than premium and basic PSAPs, smartphone apps, and basic hearing aids. Although data could not be pooled, similar findings were also found for quality of life, listening ability, cognition, feasibility, and adverse effects., Conclusions: Premium PSAPs appear to be an effective non-medical amplification device for adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. Given the overlap in features available, it may be that this is a key consideration when drawing comparisons between devices, rather than the device being named a PSAP or hearing aid. Nevertheless, the extent to which PSAPs are effective without audiological input remains to be determined.

Objective: To explore the utilisation, safety, cost, and patient outcomes of delivering tele-audiology services during the COVID-19 pandemic., Design: A national cross-sectional self-report online survey asking participants to reflect on interactions with hearing services between April and October 2020. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The COM-B model of behaviour change guided survey creation and the presentation of a subset of the results., Study Sample: 249 Australia-based hearing healthcare clinicians (age range 23-74 years; 162 female)., Results: Clinicians reported an increase in the use of tele-audiology services, with key drivers relating to keeping their patients safe and keeping businesses running. Clinicians generally viewed the provision of tele-audiology services as successful and resulting in improved patient outcomes. Overall, clinicians were highly motivated to provide tele-audiology services, and they expressed being confident in their knowledge and understanding of tele-audiology service delivery. Barriers to providing tele-audiology services included concerns about the reliability of the results obtained from remote assessments, as well as concerns around information security and privacy issues., Conclusions: Clinicians' motivations to use tele-audiology services appeared to be driven by their desire to maintain COVID-safe practices during the pandemic and by the COVID-driven increase in availability of funding for tele-audiology services.

Background: Chronic tinnitus during childhood/adolescence can be associated with impaired quality of life. Guidelines for managing paediatric tinnitus recommend assessment and interventions are often based upon the experiences and opinions of guideline committee members., Objective: To examine patient response tools used for the assessment and management of childhood tinnitus and how interventions had been evaluated., Design: A structured scoping review (i) identifying and critically appraising patient response measures (PRMs) assessing tinnitus in children/adolescents, and (ii) critically appraising evidence supporting reported interventions. Original papers written in English, involving paediatric participants ≤19 years, reporting (i) application of established PRMs to assess the experience of chronic tinnitus or (ii) application and evaluation of tinnitus interventions were included., Study Sample: Papers written in English, identifying, or assessing the experience of chronic tinnitus (>3 months) as a primary complaint during childhood/adolescence in participants ≤19 years of age using a PRM and studies evaluating the application of non-pharmaceutical interventions for tinnitus in children/adolescents., Results: Six studies involving the assessment of tinnitus during childhood/adolescence using a PRM were identified and evaluated. Three established (previously named, described, and published) PRMs were applied of which none were developed specifically for children/adolescents. Three behavioural tinnitus interventions and three combination intervention strategies (coupling of psychological intervention with sound enrichment) had been applied to and evaluated within paediatric populations., Conclusions: Although clinicians are seeing children/adolescents with tinnitus, they are evaluating and managing children's distress without appropriate PRMs, and little evidence exists to support clinical interventions.

Objective: To explore the barriers and facilitators faced by hearing healthcare clinicians (HHCs) with respect to asking adults with hearing loss (HL) about their emotional well-being., Design: This qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured individual interviews and focus groups. The interview topic guide was developed based on the COM-B model., Study Sample: Fifteen HHCs of a single hearing services organisation in Western Australia across 13 clinic locations participated., Results: Barriers and facilitators that may influence HHCs' behaviour of routinely asking adults about their emotional well-being include having the knowledge and skills to ask about emotional well-being, forgetting to ask, awareness of the emotional impacts of HL, time and tools for asking, clients' reactions to being asked, supportive peers, normalisation of discussions relating to emotional well-being, presence of significant others, emotions associated with asking, being in the habit of asking, reminders, beliefs about consequences and confidence or capabilities, and scope of audiology practice., Conclusions: Application of the COM-B model identified barriers in capabilities (e.g. knowledge), opportunities (e.g. tools), and motivation (e.g. beliefs about benefits of asking about emotions) that need to be addressed for HHCs to ask their clients about their emotional well-being.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore whether self-reported mental wellbeing (anxiety, depression and loneliness) in audiologists has changed over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and to examine possible factors contributing to audiologists' current state of mental wellbeing. Design: Two cross-sectional surveys were distributed at two different time points during the COVID-19 pandemic screening for psychological distress (PHQ-4: anxiety and depression) and loneliness (UCLA-3). Study sample: 117 audiologists from around the world. Results: Findings demonstrated that over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic audiologists' levels of depression decreased, levels of anxiety were low and stable, whilst levels of loneliness were stable and high. Younger age was associated with lower levels of mental well-being. Responses to open text questions suggests that audiologists could be supported through development of clear and consistent guidelines on COVID-19 workplace restrictions, allowing for more workplace flexibility and providing mental health support through employee assistance programs. Conclusions: The rates of anxiety, depression and loneliness observed highlight the continued need for mental health and workplace interventions to support audiologists throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent recovery period.

Objective: To canvas the views of Australia-based hearing healthcare clinic owners/managers and reception staff regarding the utilisation, experiences and perspectives of providing tele-audiology services during the COVID-19 pandemic., Design: A national prospective self-report survey was completed online. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics., Study Sample: Twenty-one clinic owners/managers (M age 54.43 years, 15 female) and 58 reception staff (M age 42.88 years, 49 female) from Australia-based hearing clinics., Results: Clinic owners/managers reported an increase in use of tele-audiology services as compared to pre-COVID-19. Reception staff reported providing more advice and support to clients over the phone. Both clinic owners/managers and reception staff indicated key barriers to providing tele-audiology services to include concerns about their clients' digital and technological literacy and the perception that in-the-clinic appointments deliver better client outcomes than tele-audiology appointments., Conclusions: The increased utilisation of tele-audiology services observed appears to be largely influenced by COVID-19 related factors (e.g. maintaining client and staff safety and increased funding). It is therefore possible that utilisation of tele-audiology service may drop once the threat of the pandemic has subsided. Perceived barriers relating to clients' digital literacy and the effectiveness of tele-audiology services require attention to safeguard the future of tele-audiology service delivery in Australia.

Objective: To examine willingness to consider and to pay for various one-to-one telehealth appointments and online group training/information sessions amongst hearing service clients interested in future telehealth., Design: Online survey exploring telehealth usage and attitudes more broadly., Study Sample: One-hundred-and-sixty-eight (39.8%) of the 422 survey respondents who answered the question were interested in future hearing-related telehealth. Data were analysed for the 148 providing demographic information., Results: At least some respondents were interested in each type of one-to-one appointment (∼30-60% for most types) and group training/information session (∼30-50% for most types). Some inconsistent associations were found between willingness to consider individual appointment types and a metropolitan location, younger age, and female gender. Associations with having a hearing device fitted may have been influenced by the different needs of those without devices. Younger respondents were more likely to consider a wide range of appointment types. Being younger was associated with an interest in 7 of the 9 different group session types. The acceptable price range was AUD$30-$86 (USD$22-$62) ( n  = 129) for one-to-one appointments and AUD$47-$103 (USD$34-$73) for three group sessions ( n  = 99)., Conclusions: Despite additional communication needs, hearing service clients have a strong interest in a range of individual and group telehealth services.

Objective: To identify the barriers and facilitators of hearing healthcare clinicians (HHC) providing information to audiology consumers on (i) the mental health impacts of hearing loss, and (ii) management options for improving mental well-being., Design: A qualitative study using semi-structured individual and group interviews. Both the interview guide and the deductive process of data analysis were based on the COM-B model (Capabilities, Opportunities and Motivations required for Behaviour change)., Study Sample: Fifteen HHCs with between 2 and 25 years of clinical experience (mean 9.3)., Results: Psychological Capability barriers included lack of knowledge relating to mental health signs and symptoms, management options available, referral processes, and resources/tools to assist discussion of options. Social opportunity barriers included clients' lack of openness to receive mental health-related information from their HHC. Automatic motivation factors included feeling uncomfortable and helpless when discussing mental health. Reflective motivation factors included clinician's limiting beliefs concerning their role and responsibilities regarding provision of mental health support, and doubts about whether mental health services are truly beneficial for clients with hearing loss., Conclusion: Application of the COM-B model for behaviour change identified factors that need to be addressed to increase the provision of mental health information in the audiology setting.

Objective: To understand the nature of mental health discussions in audiological rehabilitation, specifically, the types of conversations, when and how they are initiated, and the participant factors associated with discussing mental health., Design: A cross-sectional descriptive survey including quantitative (multiple choice) and qualitative (free-text) questions regarding mental health discussions between audiologists and clients., Study Sample: A convenience sample of 118 Australian audiologists working in adult audiological rehabilitation., Results: The majority of participants (95.8%) reported having engaged in discussions with clients about mental illness and health at some point throughout their career. The frequency of these discussions varied across participants: 7% rarely discuss, 50% discuss occasionally, 30% discuss with about half their clients and 13% have discussions with most clients. Many participants (85.6%) reported that clients would initiate these conversations, most often via disclosing the impacts of hearing loss on clients' lives., Conclusions: Most audiologists will encounter clients with mental health concerns, and many will engage in conversations about psychological symptoms, therefore, training audiologists to recognise and address verbal and non-verbal cues regarding mental health may help to promote person-centred care and potentially improve outcomes.

Objective: To explore the lived experience of social challenges and emotional distress in relation to hearing loss and the coping mechanisms employed to manage them., Design: Two focus groups and two one-on-one semi-structured interviews were conducted during February 2020. Transcripts were first inductively analysed to identify experiential categories of social and emotional difficulty, and then deductively analysed using Leventhal's self-regulation model to identify how individuals conceptualised these experiences and the coping mechanisms employed to manage them., Study Sample: Adults with hearing loss and self-reported emotional distress due to their hearing loss ( n  = 21) and their significant others ( n  = 9)., Results: Participants described their social and emotional experiences of hearing loss in terms of negative consequences (social overwhelm, fatigue, loss, exclusion), identity impact (how they perceive themselves and are perceived by others), and emotional distress (frustration, grief, anxiety, loneliness, and burdensomeness). While many participants described a general lack of effective coping strategies, others described employing coping strategies including avoidance (helpful and unhelpful), controlling the listening environment, humour, acceptance, assertiveness, communication repair strategies, and accepting support from significant others., Conclusion: Many participants described a lack of effective coping strategies and tended to rely on avoidance of social interaction,deepening their isolation and loneliness.

Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the mental well-being of audiologists in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic., Design: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, between 23 June and 13 August 2020. A self-report survey included screening measures for psychological distress (PHQ-4: anxiety and depression) and loneliness (UCLA-3)., Study Sample: 239 audiologists from around the world., Results: The prevalence of psychological distress was 12.1% (subscales for anxiety 16.3% and depression 10.4%), and loneliness 32.2%. Depression and loneliness were higher in those participants self-reporting perceived job insecurity, with psychological distress (anxiety and depression) higher in those from South Africa. Accessibility to Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) appears to be a protective factor., Conclusions: Well-being interventions, such as EAPS, are needed to support audiologists during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: This study surveyed the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the audiology workplace., Design: The study used a cross-sectional survey design for audiologists across the globe ( n  = 337) using an online survey (June-August 2020) focussing on changes to the workplace during the pandemic., Results: Participants represented varied work settings and audiology services. Only a third (31.5%) provided psychosocial support, which may be important during the pandemic, as part of their services. Almost all (97%) audiologists reported changes to their workplace, with 76.4% reporting reduced caseloads during the COVID-19 pandemic. When rating their current and anticipated work conditions, 38.7% reported reduced working hours although only 13.8% anticipated reduced working hours in 6-months' time. Audiologists ranked services such as access to hearing assessment, hearing device adjustment and maintenance, and general audiological support as being more important during the pandemic than services such as psychosocial, emotional and tinnitus support., Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant disruptions to audiological practice that highlights the need to adapt and incorporate new audiological practices including telehealth, to ensure patients have continued access to care and clinics remain sustainable during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and recovery phase.

Objective: To determine the attitudes of audiologists towards telehealth and use of telehealth for the delivery of ear and hearing services pre-, during- and post- the COVID-19 pandemic, and to identify the perceived effects of telehealth on services and barriers to telehealth., Design: An online survey distributed through the International Society of Audiology and member societies., Study Sample: A total of 337 audiologists completing the survey between 23 June and 13 August 2020., Results: There was a significant increase in the perceived importance of telehealth from before (44.3%) to during COVID-19 (87.1%), and the use of telehealth previous (41.3%), current (61.9%) and expected use of telehealth (80.4%). Telehealth was considered adequate for many audiology services, although hearing assessment and device fitting by telehealth received least support. Matters related to timeliness of services and reduction of travel were reported as the main advantages, but relationships between practitioners and clients may suffer with telehealth. Important barriers were technologies related to the client or remote site; clinic-related items were moderate barriers, although more clinician training was a common theme provided through open-ended responses., Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in audiologists having a more positive attitude towards and greater use of telehealth, but with some reservations.

Objective: To canvas the views of Australia-based hearing healthcare clinicians regarding group audiological rehabilitation practices., Design: A national cross-sectional self-report survey. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and content analysis., Study Sample: Sixty-two Australia-based hearing healthcare clinicians, with experience working in an adult rehabilitation setting., Results: Clinicians appeared to positively view the provision of group audiological rehabilitation services, yet were limited in their ability to deliver these services due to organisational barriers. Although some organisational barriers were non-modifiable by the clinician (such as group AR services not prioritised within their workplace, a lack of support from colleagues/managers, lack of resources, and a lack of funding for the delivery of group AR services), others were within the clinicians' ability to change (such as habit formation for recommending these services during clinical appointments). Participants expressed a desire for resources to assist them in delivering group AR, including downloadable lesson plans and information sheets for clients, clinician training videos and client educational videos. Clinicians called for increased diversity in program offerings, specifically relating to the emotional, relational and social impacts of hearing loss., Conclusions: These results provide a framework for the development of interventional studies to increase the utilisation of group audiological rehabilitation services.

Objective: To explore the publicised opinions of consumers actively participating in online hearing aid reviews., Design: A retrospective design examining data generated from an online consumer review website (www.HearingTracker.com). Qualitative data (open text responses) were analysed using the open source automated topic modelling software IRaMuTeQ (http://www.iramuteq.org/) to identify themes. Outputs were compared with quantitative data from the consumer reviews (short response questions exploring hearing aid performance and benefit, and some meta-data such as hearing aid brand and years of hearing aid ownership)., Study Sample: 1378 online consumer hearing aid reviews., Results: Six clusters within two domains were identified. The domain Device Acquisition included three clusters: Finding the right provider, device and price-point; Selecting a hearing aid to suit the hearing loss; Attaining physical fit and device management skills. The domain Device Use included three clusters: Smartphone streaming to hearing aids ; Hearing aid adjustment using smartphone; and Hearing in noise ., Conclusions: Although online hearing aid consumers indicate positive performance on multiple-choice questions relating to hearing aid performance and benefit, their online reviews describe a number of barriers limiting their success. Hearing healthcare clinicians must employ a personalised approach to audiological rehabilitation to ensure individual clients' needs are met.

Objective: To identify the approaches taken by audiologists to address their adult clients' psychosocial needs related to hearing loss., Design: A participatory mixed methods design. Participants generated statements describing the ways in which the psychosocial needs of their adult clients with hearing loss are addressed, and then grouped the statements into themes. Data were obtained using face-to-face and online structured questions. Concept mapping techniques were used to identify key concepts and to map each of the concepts relative to each other., Study Sample: An international sample of 65 audiologists., Results: Ninety-three statements were generated and grouped into seven conceptual clusters: Client Empowerment; Use of Strategies and Training to Personalise the Rehabilitation Program; Facilitating Peer and Other Professional Support; Providing Emotional Support; Improving Social Engagement with Technology; Including Communication Partners; and Promoting Client Responsibility., Conclusions: Audiologists employ a wide range of approaches in their attempt to address the psychosocial needs associated with hearing loss experienced by their adult clients. The approaches described were mostly informal and provided in a non-standardised way. The majority of approaches described were not evidence-based, despite the availability of several options that are evidence-based, thus highlighting the implementation gap between research and clinical practice.

Objective: To explore the perceived benefit and likely implementation of approaches used by audiologists to address their adult clients' psychosocial needs related to hearing loss., Design: Adults with hearing loss and audiologists completed separate, but related, surveys to rate their perceived benefit and also their likely use of 66 clinical approaches (divided over seven themes) that aim to address psychosocial needs related to hearing loss., Study Sample: A sample of 52 Australian adults with hearing loss, and an international sample of 19 audiologists., Results: Overall, participants rated all of the approaches highly on both benefit and likelihood of use ; the highest ranked theme was Providing Emotional Support. Cohort comparisons showed that audiologists ranked the approaches significantly higher than did adults with hearing loss. Overall, participants ranked the themes higher on benefit than on the likelihood to use scales., Conclusions: Adults with hearing loss and audiologists recognise the importance of approaches that address the psychosocial impacts of hearing loss in audiological rehabilitation. However, both groups placed slightly greater value on the internal-based approaches (the clients own emotional response, empowerment, and responsibility), and slightly less emphasis on the external-based approaches (being supported by communication partners, support groups or other health professionals).

Objective: To explore the prevalence of device-related problems associated with hearing aid use, participants' help-seeking behaviours for these problems, and factors associated with hearing aid problems. Design: A prospective convenience cohort design surveying 413 adult hearing aid users (34-97 years of age) recruited from seven clinics across Australia. Results: Almost all participants (98%) indicated that they were experiencing at least one of the hearing aid problems included on the survey. The number of hearing aid related problems reported by participants ranged from 0 to 25 (of a possible 26), with a mean of 10 problems (SD = 5). The three most reported problems were related to difficulty hearing in noisy environments, hearing in windy environments, and understanding certain voices. Participants had reported less than half (46.33%) of the total problems identified to their clinic (range = 0-100%, mean = 43.40, SD = 13.92). Participants who reported experiencing a greater number of hearing aid problems also reported lower levels of hearing aid benefit, and satisfaction with their hearing aids. Conclusions: The majority of hearing aid owners experience problems with their hearing aids. Addressing these problems would likely contribute to improved hearing aid outcomes.

Objective: To investigate hearing aid owners' decisions to attend or not to attend an annual hearing aid review (HAR) appointment. To investigate the possible factors associated with appointment attendance, including age, gender, transportation, travel time, and hearing aid outcomes. Design: A prospective cohort study. Potential participants were notified of their annual HAR appointment in the usual process employed by their clinic. Two months later, potential participants were identified as those who had attended and those who had not attended an appointment. Study sample: One hundred and twenty adult hearing aid users ranging in age from 26 to 100 (M = 74, SD = 11) years recruited from a single hearing clinic in Perth, Western Australia. Results: Factors found to be significantly associated with attendance at an annual HAR appointment included hearing aid funding source (government subsidised), participants valuing the importance and benefit of the appointment, and superior hearing aid outcomes. Conclusions: Within a controlled practice setting, appointment attendance is influenced by some factors modifiable by the clinician, including providing better education about the process and purpose of the HAR appointment. The value of the HAR appointment was emphasised by the positive association between better hearing aid outcomes HAR appointment attendance.

Objective: Although clinician administered surveys evaluating hearing aid handling skills exist, the development of a self-administered version may reduce clinical load, save consultation time, and facilitate more frequent use than face-to-face consultations allow. However, there is currently no evidence to support whether hearing aid owners can accurately self-report hearing aid handling skills via self-report survey that systematically evaluates the ability to accurately perform the individual aspects of hearing aid handling required for effective hearing aid management., Design: An explorative pilot study using a prospective research design., Study Sample: Nineteen adult hearing aid owners, aged between 65 and 93 years., Results: The self-administered survey demonstrated high sensitivity when compared with clinician evaluation of skills, with 93% of participants accurately self-identifying and reporting whether hearing aid handling skill training was required., Conclusions: Hearing aid owners are able to accurately self-report hearing aid handling difficulties when provided with an itemised list of skills.

This "Cochrane Corner" will be a recurring feature in the journal that highlights systematic reviews relevant to audiology, with invited commentary to aid clinical decision making. This first instalment features the Cochrane review "Interventions to Improve Hearing Aid Use in Adult Auditory Rehabilitation," published in 2016. In their review, Barker et al identified 37 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and concluded that there is low-quality evidence using self-management support and complex interventions (support plus delivery system design) in adult auditory rehabilitation. The review highlights the need for well-conducted studies in this area.

Objective: To systematically review and analyse experimental outcomes of studies exploring the impact of tinnitus upon cognitive function and their implications for clinical management of invasive tinnitus., Design: A systematic and descriptive review., Study Sample: Eighteen studies were identified investigating the impact of tinnitus on cognitive function., Results: The 18 studies evaluated cognitive function using 24 different objective behavioural tests, nine electrophysiological recordings, one oculomotor test, and one self-report questionnaire. The studies spanned 18 years and revealed numerous interactions potentially contributing to the cognitive difficulties frequently reported by people with invasive tinnitus. The studies indicate a clear association between tinnitus and aspects of cognitive function, specifically the executive control of attention., Conclusions: Tinnitus impairs cognitive function by way of impact upon executive control of attention. Clinical management of patients reporting tinnitus and cognitive difficulties requires an understanding of the reciprocal relationship between tinnitus and cognitive function, with additive effects of anxiety, depression, and somatic cognitive bias. Further study is required to establish the impact of advancing age, hearing loss, anxiety, depression tinnitus duration, and distress upon cognitive function in people with invasive tinnitus.

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.

Objective: To review and appraise the content and quality of surveys that evaluate hearing aid handling., Design: A systematic and descriptive review., Study Sample: Twelve surveys were identified as containing at least one item evaluating hearing aid handling., Results: Fifteen aspects of hearing aid handling were evaluated. None of the surveys evaluated all aspects of handling skills identified. While the majority of studies reported some psychometric evaluation during survey development, the quality of the methodology used and extent of psychometric evaluation reported varied considerably., Conclusions: There is currently no single survey that evaluates handling skills comprehensively. In the absence of an ideal survey, the Practical Hearing aid Skills Test appears to be the most inclusive clinician-administered survey and the Hearing aid User's Questionnaire appears to be the most inclusive self-report survey evaluating hearing aid handling precision; however, there are limitations in the analysis of their psychometric properties. Nonetheless, use of these surveys in clinical practice could identify areas of handling that warrant additional training in order to improve hearing aid success. Research identifying the full range of hearing aid handling skills necessary for successful hearing aid use will further contribute knowledge to the complex construct of successful hearing aid-use.