Global Audiology/Asia/Qatar

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General Information

Qatar, officially the State of Qatar, is a country in West Asia. It occupies the Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East; it shares its sole land border with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its territory surrounded by the Persian Gulf. The Gulf of Bahrain, an inlet of the Persian Gulf, separates Qatar from nearby Bahrain. Arabic is the official language, with Qatari Arabic being the local dialect. English is widely used in business and education. Other languages such as Hindi, Urdu, Nepali, and Tagalog are common among its diverse expatriate communities. Qatari Sign Language is the language of the native Qatari deaf community.

History of Audiology

Audiology services in Qatar began in the early 2000s. Much of the progress was spearheaded by Dr Khalid Abdul Hadi, who established the Audiology and Balance Unit and laid the foundation for comprehensive hearing care. Under his leadership, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) introduced advanced diagnostic and rehabilitative services, and launched Universal Newborn Hearing Screening in 2006, which became a national health policy, screening over 75,000 newborns for early detection of hearing loss by the year 2012 (Hadi et al., 2013). Dr Abdul Hadi also served as the National Lead for the Council of Persons with Disabilities, advocating for inclusive health policies and accessibility initiatives. His efforts positioned Qatar as a regional leader in hearing health and cochlear implant services, which began in 2004. Private sector contributions have also complemented public initiatives. Centers such as the Qatar Institute for Speech and Hearing (QISH) and Al Ahli Hospital are some of the earliest institutions in Qatar and have expanded from basic audiology and speech therapy to multidisciplinary rehabilitation services, including audiology, vestibular assessment, and auditory-verbal therapy.

Incidence and Prevalence of Hearing Loss

Little is known about the actual epidemiology of hearing loss in Qatar, as comprehensive population-based studies are lacking. Existing data suggests a prevalence of approximately 5.2% in individuals born to parents of consanguineous marriages. Genetic factors play a significant role due to high rates of consanguinity among the native population, which increases the risk of hereditary hearing loss (HHL). These findings highlight the need for robust epidemiological research and targeted genetic counseling to inform national strategies for prevention and early intervention of hearing loss.

Information About Audiology

In both public and private sectors, audiologists in Qatar offer a comprehensive range of audiological services supported by advanced technology and skilled professionals. These services include:

• Immittance Testing (tympanometry and acoustic reflexes) • Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) for cochlear function assessment • Pure Tone Audiometry (air and bone conduction) • Speech Audiometry for speech perception and discrimination • Hearing Aid Fitting and Verification, including real-ear and test box measurements • Cochlear Implant Candidacy Assessment and post-implant programming (only offered at HMC Audiology & Balance Unit) • Auditory Evoked Potentials such as ABR (Auditory Brainstem Response), MLR (Middle Latency Response), and ALR (Auditory Late Response) • Vestibular Testing, including VEMP (Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials) and VNG (Video nystagmography)

Scope of Practice and Licensing

Audiology Technologists: Autonomous practice including prevention, diagnosis, and rehabilitation of auditory and vestibular disorders; newborn screening; hearing aid and cochlear implant management; vestibular rehabilitation; advocacy; and research.

Audiology Technicians: Perform delegated tasks under supervision, such as otoscopy, pure-tone audiometry, tympanometry, and otoacoustic emissions testing. Both roles require licensure and continuing professional development Ministry of Public Health, Qatar.

Professionals providing hearing care services

Hearing care in Qatar is delivered by a multidisciplinary team comprising: Audiovestibular Physicians: Medical specialists in auditory and vestibular disorders.

• Audiology Technologists ([1]): Licensed professionals providing diagnostic and rehabilitative services.
• Audiology Technicians: Support staff performing delegated tasks under supervision.
• Otolaryngologists, Otologists, and Otoneurologists: Physicians managing surgical interventions and complex vestibular disorders.
• Speech-Language Pathologists: Provide auditory-verbal therapy for children with hearing loss.

Services offered by Otolaryngologists, Otologists and Otoneurologists These specialists provide:

• Surgical management of middle and inner ear disorders (myringotomy, tympanoplasty, ossiculoplasty, mastoidectomy, middle ear exploration, intratympanic steroid/antibiotic injections, tumour resections, eustachian tube dilation. • Implantation devices: Cochlear implant surgeries (HMC only), Osseo integrated implants (Sidra Medicine only), BAHA and postoperative care. • Diagnosis and treatment of vestibular disorders, including vestibular rehabilitation.

Role of primary health care providers and community health workers in hearing care Audiologists employed at Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCC) facilitate early detection through screening programs and referrals to secondary and tertiary centres. As Doha and the Greater Doha areas are predominantly urban areas and have the highest population concentration, there are more than 31 PHCCs located across Qatar, with additional private health facilities providing both primary and secondary audiology services. The larger PHCCs, or Health Centres, typically have rotating Otolaryngology services to manage basic ENT conditions and will refer to higher levels of care when needed. Adults and adolescents are typically referred to the Audiology and Balance unit at the HMC Ambulatory Care Centre (Main medical hub- urban), Al Wakra Hospital (south-urban), Al Khor Hospital (north-rural), Aisha bint Hamad Al Attiyah Hospital (north peri-urban), or Cuban Hospital (east-rural). All these facilities are located across the country, allowing equitable access to care in both urban and rural areas. For paediatric and specialised cases, referrals are usually directed to Sidra Medicine, a non-profit for public benefit hospital, part of Qatar Foundation. This referral network provides accessibility to free or highly subsidised specialist services even at a primary level for individuals of all ages. Laws related to hearing care services All healthcare professions, regardless of profession, are regulated by the Department of Healthcare Professions (DHP) under the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH). Licensing, competency validation, and adherence to ethical and legal standards are mandatory for all practitioners. National health insurance ensures free access for Qatari citizens and subsidized care for expatriates (Hamad Medical Corporation, 2025).

Education and Professional Practice

Education of professionals working in hearing care services Qatar currently lacks a dedicated audiology degree program. Most, if not all audiologists are recruited internationally, resulting in varied competencies. A three-tiered workforce structure exists:

• Audio-vestibular Physicians- Medical practitioners specialized in audiological and vestibular disorders
• Audiology Technologists – Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in audiology or related fields Ministry of Public Health, Qatar (2020).
• Audiology Technicians –Trained through a one-year diploma program.
• Qatar University introduced a Bachelor’s Speech-Language Pathology program in 2023, signaling potential future expansion into audiology education (Qatar University, 2025).

Professional and Regulatory Bodies

The Department of Healthcare Professions (DHP) regulates audiology practice, licensing, and competency standards. Professionals must meet educational and experiential criteria, pass qualifying examinations, and adhere to ethical and legal frameworks.

Ongoing audiology research

Research in audiology within Qatar has primarily focused on consanguinity, genetics, and hereditary hearing loss, reflecting the high prevalence of genetic disorders in the population. Numerous studies have identified novel gene mutations associated with hearing impairment, and new findings continue to emerge annually, highlighting Qatar’s contribution to global genetic research. In addition to genetic studies, newborn hearing screening has also been a research theme. Three key studies have evaluated newborn hearing screening programs over time: one from the public sector, another from the private sector, and a recent study from a semi-government hospital highlighting continuous progress in early detection and intervention.

Other research areas include investigations into clinical associations with hearing loss, notably:

• COVID-19 and auditory complications.
• Ototoxicity related to pharmacological treatments.
• Presbycusis, balance and age-related hearing decline.

Clinician-led research by audiologists are however lacking and greatly needed.

Challenges, Opportunities and Notes

Healthcare in Qatar is well-funded and all residents have good access regardless of social standing. Due to the large number of expatriate workers, especially considering the country of origin, there may be differences in standardization of practice, particularly where protocols and guidelines relating to audiology and hearing care is affected. The Department of Healthcare Professions (DHP) regulates all healthcare professions in Qatar, however, Qatar may benefit from a local Audiological society which may help assist governmental organizations in making decisions regarding the profession. It could also assist in networking for case discussions, specialized continuous professional development, and putting a name to the face when referring across institutions. Clinician-led research appears to be lacking. This will aid in understanding potential challenges and opportunities for growth on a grassroots level. Many audiologists working in Qatar have postgraduate training (e.g. Masters), which includes have research experience. Further championing in this regard will help position the Audiology profession well in the country. Lastly, the establishment of an Audiology programme at one of the local universities will further aid in ensuring the profession continues to thrive, is backed by research, and ensures that the next generation has an opportunity to pursue Audiology as a profession. The recruitment and onboarding of audiologists from abroad can be costly to employers, thus with the establishment of a local audiology programme, this ensures that local organizations have a steady supply of healthcare professionals, which will not only be cost-effective to the local economy, but also assist exporting countries in reducing brain-drain and transfer of skills abroad.

Audiology Charities

There are no specific audiological charities in Qatar, however, several charitable organizations play a vital role in supporting individuals who cannot afford audiological services or assistive devices. The four main charities include:

• Qatar Charity
• Qatar Red Crescent Society
• Qatar Society for the Rehabilitation of Special Needs
• Qatar Cancer Society

These organizations are typically funded through a combination of government allocations, private benefactors, and Zakat contributions. When patients face financial barriers to accessing hearing care or associated treatments, they often approach these charities for assistance. Support is frequently coordinated through hospital social workers, who facilitate applications and liaise with charitable bodies to ensure timely provision of services and devices.

References

		Contributor to the original text
Jarreth N. Andreas

Edited by Nausheen Dawood