Audiology and hearing health professionals in developed and developing countries

Audiology and hearing health professionals in developed and developing countries describes a field of study and practice that examines the global disparities in the availability, accessibility, and standards of audiological care and hearing health. The central professional in this field is the audiologist, a practitioner uniquely qualified through academic and clinical training to provide services related to the prevention, identification, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of hearing loss and vestibular disorders, as defined by the American Academy of Audiology. The core theme of the field is the critical analysis of how the role, density, and recognition of this profession differ drastically between well-resourced health systems in developed nations and the challenges faced in developing countries, which include a critical shortage of trained audiologists, a lack of educational programs, and inequitable access to services.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 250 million people worldwide have a disabling hearing impairment (i.e., moderate or worse hearing loss in the better ear). Of these 250 million people, two-thirds live in developing countries. Therefore, it is not surprising that adult-onset hearing loss ranks 15th amongst the leading causes of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD).