Public Health Frameworks in Audiology Education: Rationale and Model for Implementation

Abstract

Purpose: Hearing health care is a public health priority at the national and global levels, yet training in clinical audiology programs lacks formal public health education. The purpose of this review article is to discuss audiology concepts in terms of the public health framework of assessment, policy, and assurance and describe two approaches for implementing public health frameworks into audiology doctoral programs. Method: This review article provides a review of audiology concepts through the framework of public health and discusses the rationale for why public health concepts are critical to achieving population-level objectives in hearing health care. We compare competencies of audiology and public health education and then provide a model for two methods for implementing public health education into audiology doctoral programs: (a) formal integration of public health concepts into existing coursework or curricula and (b) a dual doctor of audiology (AuD) and master's in public health (MPH) degree track. Conclusions: Public health is present in the field of audiology, and the field has many public health objectives; however, audiologists do not receive the training necessary to recognize public health concepts or meet population-level objectives. Educating future audiologists in public health concepts will provide them with the tools needed to work with other hearing professionals to make population-level advances in hearing health care. A subset of students may want to become experts in public health and wish to pursue a dual AuD/MPH track.