Navigating the Role of Mobile Audiology in Public Health: Overcoming Hearing Health Care Barriers That Impact the Underserved

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this clinical focus article is to convey the significant role that mobile audiology could have in the public health space and discuss how mobile audiology can overcome obstacles that hinder access to traditional audiological care. This article also introduces strategies for delivering innovative audiological care. Method: The article is drawn from the authors' personal research, business, and clinical experiences. It describes the variations in mobile audiology that could aid in improving health care outcomes, identifying underserved areas, identifying barriers, implementing innovative solutions to overcome barriers, limitations of mobile audiology, and implications for optimized hearing health care. Conclusions: Mobile audiology services may play a vital role in public health programs and initiatives by bringing hearing health care to underserved communities, promoting accessibility, and addressing hearing health care concerns that disproportionately impact vulnerable populations. Mobile audiology services extend beyond the conventional concept of service delivery and can reduce barriers that prevent access to hearing health care, such as lack of transportation, geographical conditions/distance, time, lack of insurance coverage for evaluation/treatment, lack of qualified hearing health professionals, and financial constraints. Various services can be offered through mobile audiology, such as comprehensive screenings, diagnostic evaluations, and rehabilitation services/interventions. Mobile audiology services provide patients with the intervention necessary to improve communication abilities, quality of life, and overall health care outcomes.