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Semin Hear 2025; 46(04): 239-252
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1812867
Review Article

Current Audiovestibular Practices Among Audiologists in the Asia Pacific Region with Established Audiology Professions: A Preliminary Study

Authors

  • Nor Haniza Abdul Wahat

    1   Centre for Rehabilitation and Special Needs Studies (iCaRehab), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia

  • Khuhan P. Puraviappan

    1   Centre for Rehabilitation and Special Needs Studies (iCaRehab), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia

  • Cila Umat

    1   Centre for Rehabilitation and Special Needs Studies (iCaRehab), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia

  • Krisna Lertsukprasert

    2   Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand

Funding None.
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Abstract

This preliminary study benchmarks audiovestibular practices among audiologists in Asia-Pacific (APAC) countries with established professional training programs, forming the first phase of a broader initiative covering 17 nations. A structured questionnaire was adapted and updated to include contemporary clinical domains such as vestibular rehabilitation, cochlear implant services, and tele-audiology. The tool underwent expert review and pilot testing, demonstrating strong psychometric properties (Cronbach's α, α = 0.91; KMO = 0.743; Bartlett's p < 0.001). Responses were obtained from 40 audiologists across India, Malaysia, Singapore, Nepal, and New Zealand. Most participants provided services across screening, diagnostic, therapeutic, and rehabilitative domains. Core procedures such as immittance testing, otoacoustic emissions, and auditory brainstem response were widely implemented, while vestibular and rehabilitative services showed increasing integration. Respondents represented diverse professional contexts, including universities, private hospitals, and government healthcare systems. Notably, there was strong professional consensus in support of regional standardization of guidelines, training, and governance mechanisms. These findings validate the adapted tool, establish a foundational dataset, and highlight readiness for regional collaboration. As the broader 17-country study advances, this work provides a baseline for benchmarking, policy development, and capacity building toward harmonized audiovestibular care across the APAC region.

Keywords

audiovestibular practices - Asia-Pacific region - audiologists - cross-sectional survey - scope of practice

Short Blurb

This study benchmarks audiovestibular practices across APAC audiologists, revealing strong support for regional standardization and highlighting readiness for unified clinical frameworks.


Authors' Contributions

K.P.P.: data collection, data analysis, and drafting of the manuscript.

N.H.A.W.: main idea for the study and finalizing the manuscript.

C.U. and K.L.: inputs on the development and adaptation of the survey.


Data Availability Statement

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.


Ethics Approval

This research was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of The National University of Malaysia (reference number: JEP-2025–278).


Consent for Publication

Written informed consents for publication were obtained from all respondents.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Article published online:
31 October 2025

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