1. Awareness of Doctoral-Level Professions Among
Undecided College Students
Kristen Hood, B.S. & Jeremy J. Donai, Ph.D., CCC-A,
West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
Introduction
Methods
Results Conclusions
References
• Audiologists are highly-trained professionals that perform a variety of tasks
including diagnostic testing for auditory and/or vestibular disorders, prescribing
and fitting hearing aids, assisting in cochlear implant programs, performing
hearing-related surgical monitoring, designing and implementing hearing
conservation programs and newborn hearing screening programs, and providing
hearing rehabilitation training (AAA, 2014).
• Over the years, the profession has seen a dramatic increase in scope of practice
and concomitant increase in academic and clinical training requirements
• According the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (USBLS), “employment for
audiologists is expected to grow 34 percent from 2012-2022” (United States
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014)
• Over the next few decades the demand for audiological services is predicted to
significantly increase (Windmill & Freeman, 2013).
• The aging population has the highest incidence of hearing loss, tinnitus, and
dizziness which will further increase the demands of audiology services over the
next 30 years (Windmill & Freeman, 2013). In addition, approximately 30% of
elderly individuals experience dizziness and/or other vestibular related
symptoms (Jonsson, Sixt, Landahl, & Rosenhall, 2004).
• In order to meet the future demand of those with hearing and balance disorders,
the profession must examine its efforts to recruit students to the field of
audiology.
• The limited awareness of the profession of audiology among students is cause
for concern.
• The purpose of the current study was to examine the awareness of doctoral-level
professions among entering college freshman who have yet to declare a specific
major.
• Results of this study will help to implement further research into the
development of audiology awareness programs and activities among students
early in their academic training.
• The current survey was modified from the original survey used by Emanuel,
Donai, and Araj (2012) and Donai, Hicks, and McCart (2013).
• The survey was pilot tested with a class of undergraduate students at WVU.
Results of the pilot study indicated the survey was reliable in the revised
format, and that the modifications subsequent to the previous dissemination
provided for responses as intended.
• The one-page survey was distributed to entering college students participating
in the Mountaineer Success Academy (MSA) during a new-student orientation;
the surveys were distributed before the students received any information about
available academic majors.
• Students admitted into MSA were selected because they were undecided as to
an academic major.
• Completed surveys were received from 104 respondents, yielding a 98%
response rate.
• Demographics are similar to those of West Virginia University (College
Portraits, 2014).
• Results of this distribution showed the lowest awareness and knowledge of the
profession of audiology compared to podiatry and optometry among undecided
entering college students with self-reported knowledge.
• Students in this sample were approximately twice as likely to provide a correct
description of the profession of optometry and podiatry as compared to
audiology. This represents a 20% decrease in student ability to describe the
profession of audiology compared to entering students reported in Donai et al.
(2013).
• In this study, 9 of 10 students reported being unfamiliar with the undergraduate
CSD program at WVU. It is important to raise awareness so that students are
able to make the choice of studying this major.
• The involvement of the individual, student, and professional organizations can
help facilitate the increase of awareness of the profession.
• The use of one university for survey dissemination severely limits the
generalizability of the results.
• Due to the use of only one university for distribution, future surveys should be
conducted with a more diverse selection of undecided college students from
additional universities
• Future studies of audiology awareness should be completed with students at
various stages in the educational progression as well as among the general
public.
American Academy of Audiology (2014). What is an audiologist? Retrieved March 14, 2014 from
http://www.audiology.org.
College Portrait (2014). West Virginia University College Portrait. Retrieved September 11, 2014 from
http://www.collegeportraits.org/WV/wvu/characteristics
Donai, J. J., Hicks, C. B., & McCart, M. (2013). The awareness of doctoral-level professions among entering college
students. American Journal of Audiology, 22(2), 271-282.
Emanuel, D. C., Donai, J. J., & Araj, C. F. (2012). The awareness of the profession of audiology among entering college
students. American Journal of Audiology, 21(1), 41-50. doi:10.1044/10590889(2012/11-0033).
Jonsson, R., Sixt, E., Landahl, S., & Rosenhall, U. (2004). Prevalence of dizziness and vertigo in an urban elderly
population. Journal of Vestibular Research, 14, 47-52.
Windmill, I., & Freeman, B. (2013). Demand for audiology services: 30-yr projections and impact on academic
programs. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, 24(5), 407-416. doi:10.3766/jaaa.24.5.7.
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