Hearing-aid-connected mobile apps for caregiver hearing aid management: provider practices and perspectives

OBJECTIVE: Mobile apps are accessible to most hearing aid users, with emerging evidence to support app use in personalising interventions. Limited information is available to support integration in a clinic for caregiver use. This study explored audiologists' perceptions and practices related to app use with caregivers, and their preferences for a hypothetical education and engagement app. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. STUDY SAMPLE: Audiologists in the United States providing hearing aid fitting and follow-up for children birth to 10 years. RESULTS: Approximately half routinely recommend an app to caregivers (58.1%), provide orientation (57.5%), and install the app on their phone (49.4%). Few use the app to support hearing aid use and care (25%). Most would be comfortable recommending a hearing aid education and engagement app to caregivers (90.1%) and thought there could be benefits to clinical processes (access to information [99.4%]) and outcomes (improves confidence [100%]). Time was perceived as a challenge (e.g. downloading and pairing the app [30%]). CONCLUSIONS: The concept of a mobile app for caregiver hearing aid education and engagement was recognised as having the potential to provide benefits to practice processes and for improving outcomes. Participants' responses suggested an app would be a desirable tool in working with caregivers.