Noise and Public Health

In this article, I provide an overview of current issues and resources related to noise and public health for speech and hearing professionals and their clients. For context, some background information is given, including a brief description of the equal energy principle and the measurement of sound. Regulatory agencies and guidelines for recreational versus workplace noise are differentiated. Some common noisy recreational activities are surveyed and resources for education about hearing loss prevention are listed. Auditory as well as non-auditory health effects of noise are described and explored.

Falls Among Older Adults: A Public Health Concern

The risk of falling increases with advancing age, and falls in older adults are associated with immediate serious consequences, such as fractures and head injuries, as well as longer-term problems, such as disability, fear of falling, and loss of independence. The determination of fall risk among older adults and the prevention of falls have been a major focus of research for more than a decade. A number of factors have been identified that increase the likelihood that an individual will fall, and various strategies for assessing falls risk have been reported. Some have proposed clinically based assessment tools that can be easily included as part of an annual exam, whereas others have proposed laboratory based comprehensive evaluations. Regardless of the type of falls assessment strategy, the desired outcome is to provide interventions that may result in a reduction in falls risk. The purpose of this paper is to provide a brief review of the magnitude of the problem, factors that are known to be associated with an increased risk of falls, components that may be included in a fall prevention program, and evidence of factors that contribute to improved outcomes.

Telepractice and the Public Sector Audiologist

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) defines telepractice as the application of telecommunications technology to deliver professional services at a distance by linking clinician to client; or clinician to clinician for assessment, intervention, and/or consultation (ASHA, 2005a). Telepractice has become a standard delivery process for the medical community. ASHA has recognized telepractice as a viable and appropriate venue for audiologist. They have provided a position statement to guide audiologists using telepractice. The advent of high speed Internet and computerized testing equipment has increased the capability of audiologists to use telepractice technology. Research has shown significant evidence that telepractice could be used to provide many aspects of audiological assessment and treatment. There are three types of telepractice technology that can be used to aid the audiology practice: synchronous, which uses real time technology, asynchronous, which uses store-and-forward technology, and hybrid, which is a combination of both. Telepractice could be a valuable resource for public sector audiologists in the near future. Newborn hearing screening and educational audiology programs will likely benefit greatly from the use of telepractice. If the advances in technology continue at the current pace, telepractice will be poised to help provide services to difficult-to-reach patients all over the world.