Adult aural rehabilitation practices among audiologists in India – a cross-sectional survey

Abstract Background Hearing loss in adults is a leading problem worldwide. Provision of the whole spectrum of aural rehabilitation (AR) services to adults with acquired hearing loss has been acknowledged as a global challenge, due to multiple practical constraints faced by clinicians. Its implementation varies across clinical settings. Objective To investigate the practices, service delivery patterns, interests, and barriers towards adult aural rehabilitation among audiologists in India. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 206 audiology professionals using a structured questionnaire adapted from Makhoba and Joseph (2016). Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were used for analysis. Results A majority (89.3%) reported providing adult AR services. Hearing aid support (89.8%) and informational counseling (85.9%) were most common, while psychosocial and communication partner interventions were less frequent. No significant association was found between work setting and AR provision. Key barriers included time constraints, lack of guidelines, and limited training. Conclusion AR is widely practiced for adults with acquired hearing loss, but remains device-centered. There is a need for standardized guidelines, training enhancement, and multidisciplinary approaches in India.