| No longer do you have to make an appointment to go | | | | delivering it good or bad. |
| and see your local audiologist and then have to travel | | | | Easier for Older People (Advantage) |
| all the way down to wherever it is their office is. This | | | | This could have probably come under the convenience |
| may sound silly but more and more audiology hearing | | | | part but in some cases not being able to travel |
| centres are now coming out to you rather than the | | | | because of age or medical condition it becomes less |
| other way round. Mobile audiology, is it the future? | | | | of a convenience factor and more of a necessity. The |
| It is common practise for audiologists to work out of | | | | majority of hearing aid wearers are people of a |
| different centres whilst having a base where they | | | | certain age who may struggle travelling long or short |
| store all of their big bulky fixed equipment whilst using | | | | distances or simply just might not be able to. A mobile |
| smaller mobile equipment out of their satellite offices. It | | | | service to this group of people is a huge advantage as |
| was only a matter of time before they moved on and | | | | it allows them to obtain treatment that they may not |
| made the next logical step and do house calls | | | | have been able to otherwise. |
| especially if they already have the equipment. This | | | | Price (Disadvantage) |
| service will suit some people but not others and this | | | | As with everything that is convenient to the end user it |
| article outlines the advantages and disadvantages of | | | | usually comes at a cost. Mobile hearing aid |
| using a mobile service over the more conventional | | | | consultations usually come at a price. Why you ask? |
| method of booking an appointment and getting there | | | | The simple answer is time. If you require the audiologist |
| yourself. | | | | to come to you then you need to cover all of his costs |
| Convenience (Advantage) | | | | and one of those will include travel time. He or she |
| By far the biggest advantage of using a mobile service | | | | couldn't possibly travel without building in some travel |
| over more conventional methods is convenience. The | | | | costs so expect this when considering using this |
| old method of having to battle either public transport, | | | | service. Just as you, can make better use of your time |
| the elements or the ever busier roads can be | | | | whilst waiting for your hearing consultation the |
| eliminated completely and you can just sit back make | | | | audiologist will have to be compensated for loss of |
| yourself a nice cup of tea in the comfort of your own | | | | earnings due to travel. All that said for such a first |
| home and let the audiologist do all the hard work and | | | | class convenient service it is well worth that little bit |
| come to you. | | | | extra. |
| A more personal service (Advantage) | | | | All in all mobile hearing aid consultations seem to be a |
| Hearing aid consultations are very personal in the first | | | | better option as long as you can afford the slightly |
| place but anything that is performed in your own home | | | | higher than normal costs. As it becomes more popular |
| immediately becomes even more personal. This is a | | | | we will no doubt see a reduction in costs as |
| huge advantage as will give you an opportunity to build | | | | competition becomes more widespread. Certainly for |
| a better working relationship with your audiologist. The | | | | older people and people who cannot walk or travel |
| better the audiologist knows you the better his or | | | | very well this service is an excellent idea and will |
| service will be. Unfortunately a more personal service | | | | continue to expand until it becomes common practise. |
| will not change any diagnosis but it will help when | | | | |