Audiologist
An audiologist is a healthcare professional specialized in diagnosing and treating disorders related to hearing and balance. They work with a diverse patient population, including children, adults, and the elderly, addressing issues such as hearing loss, auditory processing disorders, and balance problems. Audiologists typically hold a doctoral or professional degree in audiology (Au.D.) and are in high demand, with a median annual salary of approximately $82,860.
These professionals collaborate with educators and medical staff in various settings, including schools, hospitals, and private practices, to provide comprehensive care and treatment plans. Their daily responsibilities involve patient interaction, conducting hearing assessments, fitting hearing aids, and educating patients on device usage and care. Moreover, audiologists often handle administrative tasks, from scheduling appointments to maintaining patient records.
For those interested in pursuing a career in audiology, a strong educational background in science and technology, as well as the ability to work effectively in teams, is essential. Overall, the field of audiology offers fulfilling opportunities for individuals who are eager to assist others and improve their quality of life through better hearing and balance.
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Subject Terms
Audiologist
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Education & Training, Health Science
Interests: Science, technology, problem-solving, helping others, working as a team
Earnings (Yearly Median): $82,860 per year $39.75 per hour
Employment & Outlook: 11% (Much faster than average)
Entry-Level Education Doctoral or professional degree; audiology degree (Au.D.)
Related Work Experience None
On-the-job-Training None
Overview
Sphere of Work. Audiologists are trained to assess and treat disorders related to hearing and inner ear-related balance. Audiologists treat hearing loss, auditory processing disorders, and poor balance in a wide range of patients, including hearing-impaired children, adults, and older adults. Specialization is common within the profession. Those with audiology skills tend to be well compensated and in demand in a variety of work settings. Audiologists work as both full-time professionals and as contract employees.
Work Environment. Audiologists work in schools, hospitals, public health departments, research agencies, and universities. In medical environments, such as acute care centers and rehabilitation facilities, audiologists generally partner with medical and social service professionals, such as doctors and social workers, to treat hearing and balance disorders. In school settings, audiologists partner with educational professionals, such as teachers and special education coordinators, to address student hearing and balance-related deficiencies or issues.
Occupation Interest. Individuals drawn to the audiology profession tend to be active people who enjoy hands-on work and close interaction with others. Individuals who excel as audiologists exhibit traits such as intellectual curiosity, problem-solving, a desire to help, and a social conscience. Audiologists must be academically successful in science, technologically savvy, and able to work as part of a team to meet patient needs.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. An audiologist’s daily duties and responsibilities include full days of hands-on patient interaction and treatment, as well as administrative duties. An audiologist’s patients might include those individuals with transient or permanent hearing loss caused by structural deformities, genetic conditions, medication reactions, or viral infection; individuals experiencing auditory processing disorders; and individuals experiencing balance disorders related to inner ear problems.
As medical or therapeutic professionals, audiologists interact with patients, clients, and students on a daily basis. Daily work in a school setting includes screening students for hearing loss; implementing educational programs for hearing loss prevention; consulting on hearing accessibility issues in classrooms; fitting children with hearing aids, cochlear implants, and assistive learning devices; and serving on special education student treatment teams.
An audiologist’s daily work in a medical setting includes measuring the hearing levels and abilities of individuals using testing tools, assessing the severity and implications of hearing loss or processing disorder, and offering hearing rehabilitation services to lessen the impact of hearing loss. These audiologists also teach patients sign language, instruct patients in the use and care of hearing devices, create patient treatment plans, and meet with the patient treatment team or patient families.
An audiologist’s daily administrative responsibilities include the record-keeping involved with patient evaluation and treatment. Audiologists must draft treatment plans, record notes following patient treatment sessions, provide written updates to the patient treatment team, and provide insurance companies with patient records and progress notes as required. Audiologists working in private or outpatient practice may also be responsible for the daily jobs of scheduling, ordering, billing, hiring, and promotion.
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. Audiologists work in classroom settings, hospitals, and medical or therapeutic offices. Classroom settings are arranged with students in mind, featuring desks, chairs, and floor seating. Audiologists advise teachers on classroom layout and arrangements to maximize student hearing and processing. Medical settings are usually sparse and sterile, though when working with children or in schools, the spaces may be appropriately decorated. Therapeutic office settings used by audiologists may be shared with other therapeutic professionals, such as speech, occupational, physical, or recreational therapists.
Plant Environment. Audiologists working in plant or production facilities are hired to assess and test employee hearing, measure workplace noise levels, and implement hearing protection programs.
Human Environment. Audiologists usually work as part of a patient treatment team, including families, teachers, doctors, and additional therapists. As a member of a treatment team, audiologists participate in frequent team meetings and are responsible for communicating patient progress to fellow team members.
Technological Environment. Audiologists use a wide variety of technology in their work. Computers and Internet communication tools are a ubiquitous part of audiology work. Audiologists use audiometers to measure hearing levels, as well as assistance technologies, such as hearing aids and cochlear implants, to address hearing loss.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. High school students interested in pursuing audiology should work to develop good study habits. High school level courses in biology, psychology, anatomy, sociology, and mathematics will prepare students for college- and graduate-level studies. Students interested in the field of audiology will benefit from seeking internships or part-time work with audiologists or individuals living with hearing loss, processing disorders, or balance problems.
Postsecondary. College students interested in pursuing audiology should complete coursework in hearing and speech studies, if offered by their school, as well as courses on biology, psychology, anatomy, sociology, and mathematics. College students interested in attending graduate school in audiology will benefit from seeking internships or working with individuals living with hearing loss, processing disorders, or balance problems. Membership in the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) may provide college students with networking opportunities and professional connections. Prior to graduation, college students interested in becoming audiologists should apply to graduate school in audiology or secure audiology-related work, such as hearing loss prevention educator or sign language interpreter.
Related Occupations
Bibliography
"Audiologists." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 17 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/audiologists.htm. Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.
Manchaiah, Vinaya. "A Novel Consumer-Centric Metric for Evaluating Hearing Device Audio Performance." Frontiers in Audiology and Otology, vol. 2, 26 May 2024, doi.org/10.3389/fauot.2024.1406362. Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.