Full Citation
Title: An Investigation of Accessibility and Availability of Audiologists in Iowa
Citation Type: Dissertation/Thesis
Publication Year: 2023
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Abstract: Previous research has shown that audiologists in the United States tend to locate in urban areas with younger populations, higher income, lower proportions of older adults with hearing loss. Research investigating accessibility to audiologists have shown that older adults with hearing loss in rural areas have to travel longer distances to the nearest audiologist. Thus, the individuals who may need audiologists the most are less likely to have access to available audiologists. Using geographic software, census data, and audiology business data, this study examines whether similar results also exist in the state of Iowa. Iowa was chosen for this study because Iowa is a largely rural and agricultural state, and hearing loss and hearing healthcare disparities are associated with living in rural areas. The results of this study showed that audiology businesses tend to locate more in rural areas than urban areas, older adults with hearing loss living in rural areas have to drive longer distances and times to the nearest audiology business, and the relationship between audiology businesses and proportions of older adults with hearing loss was inconclusive. This study shows that while similar results exist for travel distance and time in other areas of the United States, disparities will differ for different areas and further research in other geographic areas will need to be done for disparities to be adequately addressed by public policy makers.
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Authors: Chau, Alexander Hoc
Institution: The University of Iowa
Department: Speech Pathology and Audiology
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Pages: 1-73
Data Collections: IPUMS NHGIS
Topics: Health, Labor Force and Occupational Structure, Work, Family, and Time
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