Authors: De Wet Swanepoel1,2, PhD, Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
1 hearX SA (Pty) Ltd, Building 2, Ashlea Gardens Office Park, 180 Garsfontein Road, Ashlea Gardens, Pretoria, 0081, South Africa.
2 Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of Pretoria, South Africa, C/o Lynnwood Road and Roper Street, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa.
Background: Access to hearing health care is essential towards optimal outcomes in general health and well-being, social participation, quality of life and even economic independence. Persons with hearing loss globally face dire access and affordability challenges in hearing care. COVID-19 has exacerbated these challenges with the majority of audiology patients, those over 60 years of age, at highest risk of mortality and morbidity. As a result, e-audiology has become more than a matter of convenience and access with safety now first and foremost. Fortunately, advances in connected technologies are enabling service-delivery models that support remote audiological care across the entire patient journey. A range of new trends in e-audiology and future directions will be explored
