Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Date of Degree

6-2025

Document Type

Doctoral Capstone Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Audiology

Program

Audiology

Advisor

Barbara Weinstein

Committee Members

Dorothy DiToro

Subject Categories

Speech Pathology and Audiology

Keywords

Audiology, Scope of Practice

Abstract

Background: The profession of audiology has undergone dramatic changes since its inception. A survey of audiologists working in a variety of settings was conducted to gain insight into their perspective on how the scope of audiology practice has changed overtime. Participants responded to an open-ended questionnaire with questions ranging from queries about the expansion of knowledge base in topics such as advanced diagnostics, technological advances, national regulations, educational requirements, and inter-professional collaborations. The implications of the findings regarding the evolution of the current scope of practice and how it can be altered are discussed below.

Methods: An open-ended questionnaire was sent to a sample of licensed clinical and research audiologists within the United States. Participants were emailed and asked to complete the survey. The request email featured a letter explaining the purpose of the study as well as an informed consent sheet to be signed and emailed back to the author of this study by those who wished to participate. Respondents were given one month to complete the survey and were rewarded with a $25.00 Amazon gift card upon emailing the author of this study that the survey had been submitted. Responses were reviewed via constructivist grounded theory to analyze any emerging patterns among respondents.

Results: Different qualitative responses were given among participants to the various survey questions. The answers were then categorized into eight main groups that include reasons for becoming an audiologist, the value of the clinical Au.D. doctoral degree, how audiologists’ self-perception has changed, how audiologists think they are perceived by others, gender dynamics in the field of audiology, potential impact of over-the-counter hearing aids, most noticeable changes in the field of audiology in the past five years and audiologists’ sentiments about the future of the field. A majority of the responses given indicated that most participants decided to pursue a career in audiology due to a general interest in the field, think that the clinical Au.D. doctoral degree is beneficial, perceive a change in their role since they first began practicing, discern being undervalued by patients and medical professionals and notice disadvantages to being in a primarily female dominated field. Many audiologists also noted that the top five changes they have noticed in the field of audiology include the advent of OTC hearing aids, the evolution of cochlear implant candidacy criteria, the increase of telehealth services, hearing aid healthcare coverage, and Medicare coverage for hearing tests for potential hearing aid consumers. Finally, despite all the changes occurring in the field and surrounding the field of audiology, a significant number of audiologists answered that they are optimistic about the future of the field.

Conclusions: As shown through the results of this study, the current scope of practice for the field of audiology as defined by the American Speech-Language Association (ASHA) and the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) does not perfectly align with the current state of the field as expressed by the practicing participants of this study. Much can be done to enhance the scope of practice and in turn create a stronger professional identity for audiologists. Advocacy efforts at state and local levels such as the actions taken in Florida, Maryland, and Wyoming can help move audiologists to become more independent professionals which can lead to a sense of greater professional worth.

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