Laura Coco

Laura Coco, Ph.D., Au.D., CCC-A, is an Assistant Professor in the School of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences at San Diego State University (SDSU). She holds affiliations with multiple colleges including the College of Health and Human Services. Her research focuses on teleaudiology, hearing health equity, and community-based interventions. She has received grants from the NIH/NIA, Veterans Administration, and others totaling over $200,000. Her work emphasizes reducing disparities in hearing healthcare access for underserved populations, including rural veterans, farmworkers, and Latino communities.

Education: She earned a PhD in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences from the University of Arizona (2021), an Au.D. from the University of Texas (2015), and a BA in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas (2008). Her postdoctoral training includes roles at the Oregon Health & Science University and the Veterans Health Administration.

Research interests include telemedicine implementation, interprofessional collaboration, and the impact of hearing loss on cognitive and mental health outcomes. Key projects involve community health workers as facilitators in telehealth, over-the-counter hearing aids, and noise-induced hearing loss in farmworkers. She has authored over 30 peer-reviewed publications and presented globally on topics like audiology equity and telehealth solutions.

Her awards include the NIH/NIDCD Dissertation Fellowship and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Distinguished Early Career Award. She serves on national committees like the NORAHearing Loss Prevention Council and is a member of the California Audiology Ambassadors Committee.