Telepractice: A wide-angle view for persons with hearing loss

Abstract

This paper presents the current status of telepractice as a service delivery model for persons with hearing loss. Telepractice can be broadly viewed as the delivery of preventative, habilitation, or rehabilitation services through telecommunications technology. Telemedicine and telehealth are closely aligned to telepractice, often with overlapping nomenclature, function, and common delivery systems. The technologies for telepractice are potentially but "a click away" for persons with hearing loss and their families. However, a full realization of this delivery model's benefits, barriers, and limitations is just beginning to emerge. On the professional side, challenges include the need for ethical, privacy, and other policy issues to keep pace with advances in technology; moreover, services provided via telepractice are not uniformly reimbursed. With the exception of federally-based practice settings, state licensure requirements do not efficiently engender interstate license portability and reciprocity. On the consumer-side, the challenges are to recognize the power of telepractice and acquire the knowledge to become informed consumers.