Written by John Nakulski, Jul 2022:

Audiology Industry Launches Telehealth Guidelines

World-First Publication Recommends Captioned Video Phone Consultations.

A premier industry body for hearing professionals has just published guidelines to assist Audiologists and Audiometrists to perform remote consultations.

A free online event on 27 July 2022 launched the new document to the public, outlined its content and purpose, and educated health practitioners and interested observers on how it supports the growing trend in remote patient care.

Health practitioner performing an online tele-audiology consultation

GPs, Audiologists, Psychiatrists and other health professionals are increasingly using video consultations to assist clients in remote and rural areas and those who are unable to travel, are in COVID lockdown, or are vulnerable to infection.

Captioned video calling and captioned video-conferencing adds voice-to-text plus lip reading, opening the use of telehealth to those may require subtitles to participate more confidently.

A New Guide for Remote Audiology

The innovative Guide, designed for Audiologists and Audiometrists, covers services from screening to diagnosis, assessment, rehabilitation, coaching and support.

Developed by Audiology Australia in consultation with industry experts, the recommendations contained in the new publication aim to:

Support the delivery of hearing services safely and effectively through telehealth;
Enhance access to high-quality hearing care.

Download the Australian Teleaudiology Guidelines from the official website, or contact Konnekt to request your copy.

Captioned calls and captioned video calls are an important adjunct to in-person Audiology consultations.

Telehealth allows for more frequent visits, and enables consultations with those in remote or rural locations, those unable to travel, and those vulnerable to COVID, in lockdown or at risk of infection.

Captioned Video Calling – The Gold Standard

Videoconferencing and group video-calling platforms with live realtime captions are recommended in the Guidelines (p. 18) over audio-only options to ensure communications are equitable and effective.

Captions are of great assistance to people who have diminished hearing and people whose first language is not English or spoken.

Video calling enables the client to read lips and facial expressions, and view instructions and images. It also allows the practitioner to perform a visual assessment and guide the client’s use of hearing aids or other devices.

Konnekt Captioning Videophone

Use of a captioned video phone (or similar assistive technology) is called out specifically on page 26 of the Guidelines.

Captioned video call with a health professional

The Konnekt appliance has solved the telehealth challenge for elderly hearing-impaired Audiology clients, who are not confident with tablet devices, apps, or more complicated modern technology.
— John Nakulski, Konnekt.

Note: In this example, we have maximized the area of the Konnekt screen devoted to captions for illustration purposes. Generally we would use a larger rectangle for video, and a slightly smaller text size. Konnekt personalizes caption text size and video-window size to suit the client’s needs.

Caption text and the Konnekt user interface are available in multiple languages.

Audiologists Simply Konnekt

To conduct a tele-audiology consultation with your client:

Recommend a captioned video phone to your client (the Konnekt appliance can be funded – see below).
For a captioned call without video, simply phone your client.
For a captioned video call: Install the free Skype app on any PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, Android phone or tablet.
There’s also a browser version (no app required).
Alternatively, use Microsoft Teams to call Skype.
Search for your client in Skype, or ask Konnekt (free service).
Simply video-call your client, or schedule a call in Skype. No need for costly telehealth software.
Use group calls to add an assistant, family member and/or carer, via Skype or by phone number*.
Guests can be added fast without the guest requiring the Skype app or a Skype login.
Use Skype screen-sharing to display instructions, photos, images, test results, or even a web page.

Instructions for Health Professionals

Read Video Telehealth: How to video-call Konnekt Videophone for detailed instructions, or contact Konnekt to learn more.

Konnekt-Telstra Captioning Videophone Program

Thanks to Telstra and the Department of Communications, eligible customers in Australia may qualify for the Konnekt-Telstra Program. For a few dollars per month, you can enjoy captioned phone calls and captioned video calls, fully configured by Konnekt and with on-going service maintenance and support.

Simply complete our Captioning Videophone enquiry form, contact Konnekt or apply online.

We congratulate Konnekt on the work that you have done on the Guidelines and also the contribution that Konnekt has made over several years to equitable design of telecommunications solutions.
— Dr Kevan Penter, Telstra – Accessible Telecommunications Program.

Konnekt Videophone showing call buttons with contact photos

Webinar launch

The official launch of the Teleaudiology Guidelines and teleaudiology consumer resources featured special guest, Mr Chris Carlile, Assistant Secretary, Department of Health.

Date: Wednesday, 27 July 2022
Time: 12-1PM AEST (02:00 UTC)

Download your copy of the Australian Teleaudiology Guidelines from the official website, or contact Konnekt to request a copy.

Australian Audiology Guidelines - thumbnail

Konnekt contributed to the Guidelines during 2021 (in a small way), at the request or suggestion from a member of the Teleaudiology Guidelines Working Group.

Captioning Videophone – Learn More

Click to learn more about the Konnekt Captioning Videophone, or read what health professionals and users have written in their Captioning Videophone reviews.

Available worldwide

Konnekt has sales/support partners across Australia / Asia, Europe, United Kingdom, North America, New Zealand and Africa.