Audiologist - Career Profile

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Audiologist - Career Profile

Career Overview

At present, many tens of millions of Americans have hearing disorders. These problems may be due to hearing loss, brain damage, stroke, mental disability, or emotional difficulties but they are the specific concern of audiologists.

Audiologists evaluate and treat patients with hearing impairments, working with them to not only overcome the problem of the condition itself, but to overcome the associate problems of the condition.

Audiologists evaluate patients with impaired hearing and determine the type and extent of their hearing loss using a variety of techniques. They generally use audiometers and other testing instruments to collect data for analysis, to understand the individual, often complex problem of a patient with hearing.

They test patient ability to hear and distinguish between sounds, which are two different but related processes. Once the relevant information is secured, audiologists will then work to develop a treatment course to facilitate the best possible recover of hearing for the patient.

As treatment, audiologists may clean ear canals using special equipment, they may fit patients with customized hearing aids, or they may refer the individual to a specialist for more intensive treatment.

At present, most audiologists are employed by medical centers, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, or schools across the United States.

Career Requirements

Audiologists require bachelors' degrees in audiology, for which they will be required to develop advanced knowledge of biology, anatomy, physiology, sociology, linguistics, semantics, phonetics, and psychology.

Careers in audiology often go hand in hand with careers as speech pathologists, so many trained audiologists are also experienced in speech pathology and can evaluate and treat patients with speech, language, and voice defects.

To practice as an audiologist, masters' degrees in audiology are required. Accredited programs generally consist of advanced study of anatomy, physiology, physics, hearing disorders, and psychology. Patient evaluation and treatment procedures are generally taught in clinics or hospital settings, and at least one year of internship is required before an audiologist can receive the required license to practice.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association is responsible for certifying audiologists and speech pathologists. A Certificate of Clinical Competence is also required for individuals who intend to practice as audiologists in schools.

More information is available from the following organization:
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
10801 Rockville Pike,
Rockville, MD 20852
www.asha.org

Job Outlook

Audiologists can rest easy. They are in one of the top ten fastest-growing occupations. Between 2000 and 2010, a 45% increase in jobs is expected for audiologists.

Opportunities are expected to improve in the field because of the increasing elderly population. Many of the elderly have or will develop significant hearing impairments as part of the aging process. Whilst these may not be curable or even significantly reduced, there will be increased emphasis upon facilitating patients with impaired hearing to ensure that their quality of life does not significantly diminish.

Career Track

In the field, advancement to administrative or teaching positions is certainly possible for qualified and experienced applicants. However, there may also be research positions open as the need for preventive treatments increases; there is likely to be an increased interest in preventing hearing loss as part of the natural aging process. The solution may be to combat the problem early, for which further research into procedures will be required.

Compensation

For qualified audiologists, compensation ranges between approximately $35,000 and $65,000 per year. The career opportunities are considered to be well above average so audiologist may look forward to receiving attractive bonuses in the field.