I was sitting in a darkened theatre in Toronto, watching a speaker I had been excited to hear for months. My hearing aid was perfectly fitted. I could hear sounds. But I could not understand a single word. The acoustics were terrible. The speaker paced while talking. There was no captioning, no visual access to the words being spoken....
✦ Clinical Takeaway ✦
No actionable change to clinical protocols is required, but audiologists may reflect on expanding their advocacy role beyond device fitting to address broader environmental and communication barriers.
✦ Why It Matters ✦
This perspective challenges the audiology field to adopt a wider definition of its professional responsibility, moving from device-centric care toward communication ecosystem advocacy.
✦ Key Points ✦
- 01Hearing aids alone are argued to be insufficient for full communication inclusion.
- 02
