Audiologist

Overview and Key Facts

What Do They Do?

An audiologist could...

Overview Listen to this section

On each side of your head is the auditory system, one of the most beautifully designed organs in the human body. The auditory system not only detects sound, but is closely tied to the vestibular system, which helps a person with balance, and knowing how his or her body is moving through space. Audiologists detect, diagnose, and develop treatment plans for people of all ages who have problems with hearing, balance, or spatial positioning. This important work impacts how well a person is able to communicate and function at home, school, and work.

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of an Audiologist?

1. Active Listening: ? Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
2. Speaking: ? Talking to others to convey information effectively.
3. Reading Comprehension: ? Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
4. Critical Thinking: ? Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
5. Active Learning: ? Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

6. Social Perceptiveness: ? Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
7. Writing: ? Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
8. Monitoring: ? Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
9. Judgment and Decision Making: ? Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
10. Service Orientation: ? Actively looking for ways to help people.

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks an Audiologist might do:

• Administer hearing tests and examine patients to collect information on type and degree of impairment, using specialized instruments and electronic equipment.
• Fit, dispense, and repair assistive devices, such as hearing aids.
• Maintain patient records at all stages, including initial and subsequent evaluation and treatment activities.
• Evaluate hearing and balance disorders to determine diagnoses and courses of treatment.
• Program and monitor cochlear implants to fit the needs of patients.
• Counsel and instruct patients and their families in techniques to improve hearing and communication related to hearing loss.
• Refer patients to additional medical or educational services, if needed.
• Monitor patients' progress and provide ongoing observation of hearing or balance status.
• Educate and supervise audiology students and health care personnel.
• Instruct patients, parents, teachers, or employers in communication strategies to maximize effective receptive communication.
• Participate in conferences or training to update or share knowledge of new hearing or balance disorder treatment methods or technologies.
• Recommend assistive devices according to patients' needs or nature of impairments.
• Plan and conduct treatment programs for patients' hearing or balance problems, consulting with educators, physicians, nurses, psychologists, speech-language pathologists, and other health care personnel, as necessary.
• Work with multidisciplinary teams to assess and rehabilitate recipients of implanted hearing devices through auditory training and counseling.
• Advise educators or other medical staff on hearing or balance topics.
• Provide information to the public on hearing or balance topics.
• Examine and clean patients' ear canals.
• Engage in marketing activities, such as developing marketing plans, to promote business for private practices.
• Perform administrative tasks, such as managing office functions and finances.
• Measure noise levels in workplaces and conduct hearing conservation programs in industry, military, schools, and communities.
• Conduct or direct research on hearing or balance topics and report findings to help in the development of procedures, technology, or treatments.
• Develop and supervise hearing screening programs.