The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust has introduced new hearing technology for adults and children with hearing loss across the region, to help encourage consistent use of hearing aids.
The audiology team is now offering two different hearing solutions developed by Cochlear, including the Baha® 7 Sound Processor and Baha® SoundBand™. The technology is reportedly being used to increase confidence in children with long-term hearing loss when it comes to wearing a hearing aid device, while also “helping them engage more fully at school, at home, and in social settings”.
Jennie Howard, advanced audiologist at the trust, explained some of the key benefits of using the new tools, noting: “The software has improved data logging; this is beneficial to be able to track progress at both home and school and give information on average daily usage.” On the Baha® SoundBand™ in particular, Jennie highlighted an increase in acceptance and usage among children, thanks to its fully adjustable headband design and the range of colours available.
The two new solutions are available for both adults and children, with eligibility determined based on the type of hearing loss and a case-by-case assessment in line with the NHS England BCHI commissioning guidelines.
Earlier in the year, the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust also piloted the AI transcript tool CLEARNotes, with the hopes of reducing the administrative burden for clinicians by generating notes of doctor-patient conversations. The tool has been co-designed with NHS clinicians, with the trust aiming to expand its usage throughout its wider NHS teams.
Developing digital tools in health and care
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