Effectiveness of protective barriers in audiology procedures during the Covid-19 pandemic

The Federal Council of Speech Therapy also advises, in the current pandemic, that, before starting the consultations, the equipment that will be used with plastic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film must be coated, discarding it at the end of the working day. Covering with plastic PVC film allows the use of 70% ethyl alcohol without damaging the equipment. Isopropyl alcohol, with faster evaporation, is indicated for disinfecting microphones, wires, etc. (CFFa, 2020). The supraural earphones are in direct contact with the skin of the patient's pavilion during the examination, with an average duration of 30 minutes in the acoustic cabin, resulting in sweating. There is a great risk of contamination, however the rubberized material of the cushion is difficult to be removed from the phone, making sterilization or disinfection procedures difficult (Oliveira, Medeiros and Silva, 2007). For surfaces that are difficult to decontaminate, it is suggested the use of disposable barriers that must be made of impermeable material and discarded with each use, such as the disposable non-woven earphone protector (TNT), weight of 20g (CFFa, 2020; Speri et al, 2017; Pró-fono, 2005) and the PVC film (Oliveira, Medeiros e Silva, 2007 and Speri et al, 2017). Both have a barrier effect as they are waterproof and must be replaced each time. The effect of these barriers on the results of the exams is not fully clarified by the literature (Speri et al, 2017; Oliveira, Medeiros e Silva, 2007 and Pró-fono, 2005) which brings insecurity to speech therapists who are in charge of the services in operation during the Covid-19 pandemic. It would be interesting to promote a flow of information between the services in operation, following the guidelines of the CFFa and also adding information on cost, protection safety and also the effects on the results of the exams for a better definition of such guidelines, safety of the speech therapy class and of their patients, as well as confidence in the results of the tests performed. 2005) which brings insecurity to speech therapists who are in charge of the services in operation during the Covid-19 pandemic. It would be interesting to promote a flow of information between the services in operation, following the guidelines of the CFFa and also adding information on cost, protection safety and also the effects on the results of the exams for a better definition of such guidelines, safety of the speech therapy class and of their patients, as well as confidence in the results of the tests performed. 2005) which brings insecurity to speech therapists who are in charge of the services in operation during the Covid-19 pandemic. It would be interesting to promote a flow of information between the services in operation, following the guidelines of the CFFa and also adding information on cost, protection safety and also the effects on the results of the exams for a better definition of such guidelines, safety of the speech therapy class and of their patients, as well as confidence in the results of the tests performed.