Public Comment Period Open: Help Protect the Future of Audiology

In December, we shared with our membership information regarding Department of Education changes that would significantly lower the maximum amount of federal loans available each year for prospective audiologists with changes beginning as early as July 2026. These changes could be catastrophic for our field by discouraging prospective students from pursuing audiology at all, exacerbating the current professional shortage.

The proposed rule was released for public comment late last week, with the comment period closing on March 2, 2026. This is a pivotal opportunity for the audiology community to help shape the direction of the policy. Please note that form letters are not considered and will be discarded. Thoughtful, individualized comments, especially those that include personal experiences, relevant data, programmatic impacts, and real-world examples, are critical and will directly influence the final outcome.

Make Your Voice Heard
During the open comment period, there are steps that audiologists and students can take now to make an impact:

• Draft a personal message that focuses on how reduced borrowing limits would directly affect educational access, diversity in the profession, clinical training requirements, and patient care.
• Use the template letter provided by the American Academy of Audiology for help in drafting your comments.
• Submit your personal comment HERE by March 2, 2026.