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Abstract

This study was undertaken in response to a request made by the BC Ministry of Health Planning for “information on supply/demand/production/recruitment/retention and access to Audiologist services, to inform health planning and health human resource implementation activities” in the province, as “audiologists have been identified as experiencing supply/demand imbalances.” Currently available data was obtained and assessed, and some primary data was collected through a small survey of audiologists and through consultations with a number of experts. A needs-based approach to health workforce planning was used; a step-wise process involving assessing the burden of illness in a target population, translating health deficits into health care services or task requirements, identifying alternative mixes of inputs (human and non-human), comparing human resources requirements against currently available skills to determine net requirements. This report includes a brief summary of the epidemiology of hearing loss, followed by discussion on regulation, education, supply (including recruitment/retention), and demand.