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Nature of the Work

Audiologists work with people who have hearing, balance, and related ear problems. They examine individuals of all ages and identify those with the symptoms of hearing loss and other auditory, balance, and related sensory and neural problems. They then assess the nature and extent of the problems and help the individuals manage them. Using audiometers, computers, and other testing devices, they measure the loudness at which a person begins to hear sounds, the ability to distinguish between sounds, and the impact of hearing loss on an individual's daily life. In addition, audiologists use computer equipment to evaluate and diagnose balance disorders. Audiologists interpret these results and may coordinate them with medical, educational, and psychological information to make a diagnosis and determine a course of treatment.

Hearing disorders can result from a variety of causes including trauma at birth, viral infections, genetic disorders, exposure to loud noise, certain medications, or aging. Treatment may include examining and cleaning the ear canal, fitting and dispensing hearing aids, and fitting and programming cochlear implants. Audiologic treatment also includes counseling on adjusting to hearing loss, training on the use of hearing instruments, and teaching communication strategies for use in a variety of environments. For example, they may provide instruction in listening strategies. Audiologists also may recommend, fit, and dispense personal or large area amplification systems and alerting devices.

In audiology clinics, audiologists may independently develop and carry out treatment programs. They keep records on the initial evaluation, progress, and discharge of patients. In other settings, audiologists may work with other health and education providers as part of a team in planning and implementing services for children and adults. Audiologists who diagnose and treat balance disorders often work in collaboration with physicians, and physical and occupational therapists.

Some audiologists specialize in work with the elderly, children, or hearing-impaired individuals who need special treatment programs. Others develop and implement ways to protect workers' hearing from on-the-job injuries. They measure noise levels in workplaces and conduct hearing protection programs in factories and in schools and communities.

Audiologists who work in private practice also manage the business aspects of running an office, such as developing a patient base, hiring employees, keeping records, and ordering equipment and supplies.

A few audiologists conduct research on types of, and treatment for, hearing, balance, and related disorders. Others design and develop equipment or techniques for diagnosing and treating these disorders.

Providing the research on which clinicians base their methodology, speech, language and hearing scientists:

  • Explore trends in communication sciences.
  • Develop strategies for expanding the knowledge base in their field.
  • Investigate the biological, physical, and physiological processes of communication.
  • Explore the impact of psychological, social, and other factors on communication disorders.
  • Develop evidence-based methods for diagnosing and treating individuals with speech, language and hearing problems. 
  • Collaborate with related professionals (such as engineers, physicians, dentists, educators) to develop a comprehensive approach to diagnosing and treating individuals with speech, voice, language and hearing problems.

In addition, researchers may:

  • Prepare future professionals and scientists in Schools and universities.
  • Conduct research at or consult with universities, hospitals, government health agencies and industries.

As with audiologists and speech-language pathologists, research scientists are educated in their specific area of interest. However, while clinicians can practice with a master's degree or clinical doctorate, scientists must earn a research doctorate.

Work Sites

  • Schools and Universities
  • Research Laboratories and Institutes
  • State and Federal Government Agencies
  • Private Industry
     

Education and training: Individuals must have at least a master's degree in audiology to qualify for a job. However, a first professional or doctoral degree is becoming more common. As of early 2007, eight States required a doctoral degree or its equivalent. The professional doctorate in audiology (Au.D.) requires approximately 8 years of university training and supervised professional experience.

In early 2007, the Accreditation Commission of Audiology Education accredited more than 50 Au.D. programs and the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) accredited over 70 graduate programs in audiology. Graduation from an accredited program may be required to obtain a license in some States. Requirements for admission to programs in audiology include courses in English, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, psychology, and communication. Graduate coursework in audiology includes anatomy; physiology; physics; genetics; normal and abnormal communication development; auditory, balance, and neural systems assessment and treatment; diagnosis and treatment; pharmacology; and ethics.

Licensure and certification: Audiologists are regulated by licensure or registration in all 50 States. Forty-one States have continuing education requirements for licensure renewal, the number of hours required varies by State. Twenty States and the
District of Columbia also require audiologists to have a Hearing Aid Dispenser license to dispense hearing aids; for the remaining 30 States, an audiologist license is all that is needed to dispense hearing aids. Third-party payers generally require practitioners to be licensed to qualify for reimbursement. States set requirements for education, mandating a master's or doctoral degree, as well as other requirements. For information on the specific requirements of your State, contact that State's licensing board.

In some States, specific certifications from professional associations satisfy some or all of the requirements for State licensure. Certification can be obtained from two certifying bodies. Audiologists can earn the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A) offered by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association; they may also be certified through the American Board of Audiology.

Other qualifications: Audiologists should be able to effectively communicate diagnostic test results, diagnoses, and proposed treatments in a manner easily understood by their patients. They must be able to approach problems objectively and provide support to patients and their families. Because a patient's progress may be slow, patience, compassion, and good listening skills are necessary.

It is important for audiologists to be aware of new diagnostic and treatment technologies. Most audiologists participate in continuing education courses to learn new methods and technologies.

Advancement: With experience, audiologists can advance to open their own private practice. Audiologist working in hospitals and clinics can advance to management or supervisory positions.
 

Entry Requirements

To become a speech, language, or hearing scientist, you must have a sincere interest in the development of the field of human communication sciences and disorders. You should also select undergraduate courses from a variety of scientific disciplines including physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, linguistics, psychology, as well as a program of study in the speech, language and hearing sciences. The next step is to obtain a Master's degree. This will begin to direct you into a particular area of interest; an area that you believe needs further exploration. Give careful thought to the doctoral programs to which you apply as that program will act as a vehicle for making contact with other professionals in the field, and those with whom you will work on your doctoral dissertation. This work will be the basis of future research pursuits in the communication sciences and disorders.

Earnings

Salaries of speech, language and hearing scientists vary depending on experience, employment setting, and geographical location. Median annual earnings of wage-and-salary audiologists were $57,120 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $47,220 and $70,940. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $38,370, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $89,160. Some employers may pay for continuing education courses.

Employment

 

 

Audiologists held about 12,000 jobs in 2006. More than half of all jobs were in health care facilities”offices of physicians or other health practitioners, including audiologists; hospitals; and outpatient care centers. About 13 percent of jobs were in educational services, including elementary and secondary schools. Other jobs for audiologists were in health and personal care stores, including hearing aid stores; scientific research and development services; and State and local governments.

A small number of audiologists were self-employed in private practice. They provided hearing health care services in their own offices or worked under contract for schools, health care facilities, or other establishments.

 

Working Conditions

Audiologists usually work at a desk or table in clean, comfortable surroundings. The job is not physically demanding but does require attention to detail and intense concentration. The emotional needs of patients and their families may be demanding. Most full-time audiologists work about 40 hours per week, which may include weekends and evenings to meet the needs of patients. Some work part time. Those who work on a contract basis may spend a substantial amount of time traveling between facilities. The quality of the environment in which you work is dependent upon the amount of revenue a particular facility generates. That is, facilities that produce more credible research generally have more revenue to allocate to things such as equipment, laboratory facilities and perhaps even to salary. Because the fields of audiology and speech-language pathology are expanding, so do the research areas that accompany those fields. Chances are, if you develop a research plan, and formulate it well usually, there is a funding source and laboratory setting available to you.

Size of the Profession

ASHA currently represents over 130,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Less than one percent of the ASHA members and affiliates identified research as their primary employment function.

Future Outlook

With genetics and hereditary research being the driving force of the future, research scientists have much to look forward to! Not only will there be opportunity to examine causality and progression issues, there will also be time to explore new techniques to prevent, identify, assess and rehabilitate speech, language, and hearing impairments. In addition, researchers will continue to investigate the neurobiological, neurophysiological and physical processes underlying normal communication. Furthermore, the future holds great opportunity for research scientists to investigate and examine cultural diversity in human communication. Additionally, there will be more opportunities for scientists and clinical practitioners to collaborate as they will design and implement multicenter randomized behavioral and medical treatment protocols for disorders of speech, voice/swallowing, language, hearing, and balance. There are extreme shortages of speech, language, and hearing scientists and teacher-scholars in all areas of the country, especially in inner city, rural, and less populated areas.
 

Average employment growth is projected. However, because of the small size of the occupation, few job openings are expected. Job prospects will be favorable for those possessing the Au.D. degree.

Employment change. Employment of audiologists is expected to grow 10 percent from 2006 to 2016, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Hearing loss is strongly associated with aging, so rapid growth in older population groups will cause the number of people with hearing and balance impairments to increase markedly. Medical advances also are improving the survival rate of premature infants and trauma victims, who then need assessment and sometimes treatment. Greater awareness of the importance of early identification and diagnosis of hearing disorders in infants also will increase employment. A number of States require that newborns be screened for hearing loss and receive appropriate early intervention services.

Employment in educational services will increase along with growth in elementary and secondary school enrollments, including enrollment of special education students.

Growth in employment of audiologists will be moderated by limitations on reimbursements made by third-party payers for the tests and services they provide.

Job prospects. Job prospects will be favorable for those possessing the Au.D. degree. Only a few job openings for audiologists will arise from the need to replace those who leave the occupation, because the occupation is relatively small and workers tend to stay in this occupation until they retire

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