Bug-in-Ear Technology as a Clinical Teaching Tool for Au.D. Education: A Pilot Study

Traditional forms of clinical pedagogy include post-observation feedback and side-by-side coaching. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate a newer strategy, bug-in-ear technology (BIET), in which clinical supervisors provide live feedback through a discrete earpiece. BIET has the potential to overcome limitations associated with traditional clinical pedagogy. This pilot study compared side-by-side coaching to BIET coaching, using standardized patients in an on-campus audiology clinic. In this study, first-year Au.D. students conducted a case history assessment for two standardized patients. Likert-response ratings and qualitative data from open-set questions indicated BIET coaching was well received by supervisors because it provided a discrete way to deliver quick, live feedback to students. Although supervisor ratings of BIET were slightly more positive than student ratings, comments from both students and supervisors indicated they could see BIET coaching working well in the future, with modifications. Likert-response items indicated student preference for BIET was associated with feelings of confidence and desire to use BIET. More research is needed to examine ways in which BIET coaching can be operationalized to support audiology clinical education.