LM305 - Burning Bright without Burning Out: Addressing Burnout in Diverse Audiology Settings

Abstract:
As more people seek hearing healthcare, audiology clinics are busier than ever and the number of new audiologists per year is not keeping up with demand.  Clinic schedules are getting busier and reported burnout is increasing alongside.  The AAA 2022 Membership Survey showed that a majority of professional respondents reported experiencing symptoms of burnout such as fatigue, loss of motivation, and cynicism.  Additionally, over 60% reported that it is "important" or "very important" that AAA provides resources related to professional burnout.  This session will offer audiology-specific thoughts on addressing burnout in a wide variety of professional settings and roles.  

Summary:
With an aging population and a greater number of individuals seeking hearing healthcare, the demand for audiologists is increasing (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).  The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) estimates a 13% increase in audiology positions between 2019 and 2029, growth that is “much faster than the average for other occupations” (ASHA, n.d.). [1] [2] [3] The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a similar, above average, 11% growth rate from 2022 to 2032 (Audiologists: Occupational Outlook Handbook:: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov)), supporting the notion that the demand for hearing health care is increasing.

While it is promising to know that we are part of a growing healthcare profession, it is hard to ignore that most news related to healthcare workers as of late has revolved around the topic of burnout. So serious an issue, the US Surgeon General published an advisory entitled “Addressing Health Worker Burnout” (Addressing Health Worker Burnout (hhs.gov)). Within this advisory, burnout is defined as “an occupational syndrome characterized by a high degree of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization (i.e., cynicism), and a low sense of personal accomplishment at work” (p.7). It is noted that burnout can touch individuals in any profession, but it “is especially worrisome among health workers” (p. 7).

In a review of the recent 2022 AAA 2022 Member Survey[1] membership survey, most professional respondents reported that they have experienced symptoms of burnout such as fatigue, loss of motivation, and increased cynicism. In the same survey, students reported that they had already experienced symptoms of burnout, including an increased sense of failure or self-doubt. This topic has been recently discussed in public online social media groups and online forums by audiologists and students alike comprised of audiologists and students across the country seem to be frequently discussing this topic. Many of us can attest that we have personally experienced burnout or, at least, have had a conversation with a colleague and/or student about burnout.

Most professional ( > 60%) and student ( > 50%) respondents to the AAA survey felt that it was “Important” or “Very Important” for the Academy to provide information or resources related to professional burnout. This session is the first that will strive to meet that need. We will discuss the most common symptoms of burnout according to our membership survey respondents. In doing so, we hope that we will all be better suited to recognize these signs in ourselves and others early on. We will share some of our personal experiences with burnout and the references we’ve compiled that can help combat and may help combat or work through these feelings. We hope to help each other, as well as our students—the future of our profession—rediscover the light of their passion for this profession before it burns out completely.

References:

American Speech-Language-Hearing-Association (ASHA, n.d.). Market trends.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Audiologists,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/audiologists.htm (visited September 06, 2023).