The Role of Audiology in an Outpatient Interdisciplinary Post-Trauma Clinic

Abstract

Patients in the process of recovering from severe bodily injury will encounter several barriers to effective treatment. When present, untreated hearing loss can create additional obstacles in a process that is already difficult. This article describes an outpatient post-trauma clinic associated with a tertiary care hospital trauma unit that consolidates rehabilitation resources 2 weeks after inpatient discharge to help these patients on their path to recovery. The role of audiology in the interdisciplinary clinic is described and data related to services are presented. Some practical tips for implementation of audiologic services in this type of environment are provided.

Keywords

Interventional audiology - interdisciplinary - outpatient

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