This webinar will discuss barriers to audiological care—and health care more broadly—and how audiologists can meaningfully impact the individuals, families, and communities we serve.

Learning Outcomes      
You will be able to:

• Identify the major barriers to accessing hearing health care and explain how disparities affect different populations
• Reexamine the impact of inadequate hearing health care, including its effects on social inclusion, education, employment, cognitive health, and economic productivity
• Use practical solutions and strategies to improve access to—and reduce disparities in—hearing health care services

Related Courses

This course is part of the ASHA Audiology 2026: ASHA Certification Maintenance Topics webinar series. See all the courses in this series.

Presenter Information

Valeria Roberts Matlock, EdD, CCC-A, is an associate professor in the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. She is Director of Student Community Outreach and Clinical Education in SLP. For more than 30 years, Dr. Matlock continues to provide audiological diagnostic services to underserved populations across the lifespan in Middle Tennessee.

Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation
• Salary from Vanderbilt University Medical Center
• CAA council member

Assessment Type

Self-assessment—Think about what you learned and report on the Completion Form how you will use your new knowledge.

To earn continuing education credit, you must complete the learning assessment by 11:59 p.m. ET on the end date below.

Program History and CE Information

Live webinar date: June 4, 2026     
End date: June 6, 2031

This course is offered for 0.1 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate level, Professional area).  
Subject code 7030   
Counts toward PD requirement for ASHA certification maintenance for Content Area 2. Read more about professional development requirements for certification maintenance.