To explore the evolving role of audiologists in the assessment and treatment of vestibular balance problems (VBPs) and to identify their perspectives on current practices, barriers, and opportunities for service development.
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
Audiologists expanding into vestibular services should note that role clarity, training, and referral pathways are key barriers identified by peers — a prompt to audit scope-of-practice readiness within their own clinic.
With growing demand for vestibular assessment and a shortage of specialists, audiologists are increasingly expected to fill this gap, making an understanding of their own professional perspectives essential for workforce and service planning.
- 01Qualitative study using audiologist perspectives on vestibular and balance management roles.
- 02Published in the International Journal of Audiology.
- 03Explores evolving scope of practice for audiologists in adult vestibular care.
- 04Identifies professional, training, and systemic barriers to vestibular service provision.
- 05Findings are relevant to workforce planning and audiology education curriculum development.
Audiologists have an evolving and expanding role in the assessment and treatment of vestibular balance problems in adults.
opinionpartially supported- PMID
- 42711276
- DOI
- 10.1080/14992027.2026.2725522.
- Journal
- International Journal of Audiology
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 5
- Population
- Audiologists managing vestibular balance problems in adults
- Intervention
- Qualitative exploration of audiologist perspectives on vestibular balance management roles
Primary outcomes
Audiologists' perceived roles in vestibular assessment and treatment; Barriers and facilitators to vestibular service provision by audiologists