Karen Muñoz1,2, Clarissa W Ong3, Stephanie A Borrie1, Lauri H Nelson1, Michael P Twohig3. 1. a Department of Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education , Utah State University , Logan , UT , USA. 2. b National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management, Utah State University , Logan , UT , USA , and. 3. c Department of Psychology , Utah State University , Logan , UT , USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this exploratory study was to describe audiologist communication behaviours during appointments for hearing device monitoring and management before and after participation in counselling skills training. DESIGN: The study used a longitudinal design with three assessment points over 6 months. STUDY SAMPLE: The sample included 10 audiologists and audiology graduate students interacting in a professional setting with their clients. RESULTS: Audiologists reported improvement in their counselling skills from pre-training to follow-up, which was consistent with objective findings that audiologist relative speaking time decreased from pre-training to post-training as well as from pre-training to follow-up. Observer-rated scores of participants' counselling skills; however, yielded no significant differences across time. CONCLUSIONS: Some improvement was noted in audiologists' counselling behaviour following a 1-day communication skills workshop and continued learning support. It is evident; however, that further training, such as increased training and performance feedback, is needed to maintain and enhance audiologist progress in the various aspects of counselling.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this exploratory study was to describe audiologist communication behaviours during appointments for hearing device monitoring and management before and after participation in counselling skills training. DESIGN: The study used a longitudinal design with three assessment points over 6 months. STUDY SAMPLE: The sample included 10 audiologists and audiology graduate students interacting in a professional setting with their clients. RESULTS: Audiologists reported improvement in their counselling skills from pre-training to follow-up, which was consistent with objective findings that audiologist relative speaking time decreased from pre-training to post-training as well as from pre-training to follow-up. Observer-rated scores of participants' counselling skills; however, yielded no significant differences across time. CONCLUSIONS: Some improvement was noted in audiologists' counselling behaviour following a 1-day communication skills workshop and continued learning support. It is evident; however, that further training, such as increased training and performance feedback, is needed to maintain and enhance audiologist progress in the various aspects of counselling.