If you or a loved one is experiencing diminished hearing, ringing in the ears or balance problems, you may need the services of an audiologist. Audiologists are an essential part of the team of health care professionals involved in evaluating, diagnosing and treating hearing and balance problems in adults and children.
By Cheryl Tanita, Au.D.
If you or a loved one is experiencing diminished hearing, ringing in the ears or balance problems, you may need the services of an audiologist. Audiologists are an essential part of the team of health care professionals involved in evaluating, diagnosing and treating hearing and balance problems in adults and children. Audiologists have varied undergraduate degrees, but many earn undergraduate degrees in fields such as communications sciences and disorders before going on to complete a doctoral degree in audiology.
Audiology program graduates are now referred to as Doctors of Audiology (Au.D.). In order to practice in the state of California, they must be licensed by the California Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board. To be eligible for licensure, one must possess the following qualifications: hold a Doctorate in Audiology (if they have graduated after January 1, 2008); completed 300 hours of supervised clinical practice in three different clinical settings; completed 36 weeks of full-time supervised experience; and pass a National Examination in Audiology. In addition, Audiologists who wish to dispense hearing aids must take both a written and practical hearing aid and dispensing examination.
Audiologists work in a variety of settings. These may include hospitals, clinics, physician offices, schools, manufacturers, research and development institutions or in a private practice. Most types of hearing loss are treatable by an audiologist. While an audiologist's training includes fitting and dispensing of hearing aids, they also provide a high level of clinical competence that is unique in the spectrum of care for hearing and balance problems.
Audiologists are trained hearing health professionals who:
· Evaluate, diagnose and treat hearing loss and balance disorders
· Prescribe,fit and dispense hearing aids and other amplification and hearing assistance technologies
· Refer patients to otolaryngologists (ENTs) for medical or surgical management of hearing loss and ear disease
· Perform ear- or hearing-related surgical monitoring in the operating room with a surgeon
· Design and implement hearing rehabilitation programs such as auditory training and listening skills improvement
· Work with teachers and speech therapists to facilitate a learning environment conducive to a child’s needs
· Design and implement hearing conservation programs
· Perform newborn hearing screenings
· Assess and treat people with tinnitus (ringing or noise in the ears)
· Evaluate and determine audiologic candidacy for cochlear implants and provide cochlear implant processor programming and aural rehabilitation.
· Serve as members of cochlear implant teams
At Shohet Ear Associates, we are unique because our practice teams physicians who specialize in ear care with audiologists in one convenient setting. This allows us to evaluate, diagnosis and treat any type of ear problem more quickly and efficiently. In many cases, our patients can received a hearing test and see a physician all in the same day.
We are proud of our staff of all-Au.Ds because we know they provide the most comprehensive care for our patients. If you are interested in learning more about the profession of audiology, log onto the American Academy of Audiology website by clicking here.