Audiologist Job Description: Duties, Education, Training and Certification Requirements, Job Outlook and Salary
Submitted by: Gypsy Santiago
Job Overview: An audiologist is a doctor who specializes in balance, hearing and ear problems, which can be caused by aging, genetic disorders, viral infections, trauma at birth, noise exposure, medications or other factors. He/she also specializes in using technical testing equipments to determine a person’s ability to distinguish sounds or hear properly, which is used in diagnosis and determining treatment options.
Education, Training and Knowledge Requirements: To be able to practice audiology, one must complete a 4-year bachelor’s degree, a 2 to 3-year master’s degree and a 4-year doctoral degree. Although the basic education qualification is only a master’s degree, many locations are no requiring an Au.D. or a Doctor of Audiology degree. Specialty certification requires additional training, a standardized exam and a minimum number of hours of hands-on training. Many locations also require audiologists to be licensed or registered, with continuing education a possibility needed in the renewal of licenses.
Skills & Abilities: To become successful in this field, one must have excellent written and verbal communication skills, proven professionalism skills, the ability to have compassion and patience, advanced knowledge in mathematics, management and business skills, as well as the ability to approach problems objectively.
Duties: An audiologist is responsible for administering tests or examinations for patients with language, speech and hearing problems. He/she collects information on the type and level of impairment using specialized equipments and instruments. He/she also helps in instructing clients about techniques used to improve speech or hearing impairments, examining and cleaning ear canals, placing assistive devices like hearing aids, evaluating hearing or speech disorders to determine treatment and diagnosis, and monitoring client’s progress.
An audiologist also works by planning and conducting treatment programs, consulting other physicians, psychologists, nurses and other healthcare professions; recommending assistive devices to patients, referring clients to additional medical treatments when necessary, conducting seminars to medical personnel, educators and other professionals about hearing or speech research; supervising audiology trainees; measuring noise levels in hearing institutions such as schools or other communities; rehabilitating recipients of implanted hearing devices; participating in conferences or seminars; and developing hearing screening programs, among others.
Earnings & Job Outlook: Work in audiology is expected to grow much faster than average through 2018, but job positions are usually given to those with Au.D. According to Salary.com, the median annual earnings in 2009 is $63,230, but this estimate earning could go lower or higher depending on experience, location of work, and company.
Gypsy Santiago is a professional resume writer and career search strategy/career branding coach with years of experience in assisting job seekers prepare for the job market. She helps create career-targeted resumes, provides useful tips about career transition, offers future career ideas and guide jobseekers about effective job search techniques.
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Word Count: 438 Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 Time: 2:00 AM
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