Audiologist Career
Audiologists are specially trained doctors that diagnose and treat patients with ear problems, like hearing loss or balance issues.
Their goal is to help patients manage their hearing and balance problems through medications, therapy and the use of hearing aids.
They can work in a variety of environments such as: hospitals, clinics, personal care franchises and even schools.
Due to the growing aging population, audiology is a very fast growing career.
Audiologist Career Snapshot
The Audiologist’s work environment is flexible. Full-time opportunities are available in hospitals and clinical settings, or, for example, an audiologist might choose to work part-time in their own practice or in a store that sells hearing aids. They have the flexibility to choose what type of environment they prefer, but most audiologists work full-time during normal business hours.
Further details on a career as an audiologist are listed below (statistics from the May 2015 Bureau of Labor Statistics and Onet Online):
is the average yearly pay for audiologists.
increase in employment between 2014 and 2024.
have a Doctoral degree while 17% have a Master’s degree.
Audiologist Education
After completing a bachelor’s degree, Audiologists need to participate in a four-year doctoral degree program in audiology (Aud.D). Students will gain all the knowledge, practical skills and hands-on experience they need during this time, but in order to practice Audiology, students will need to become licensed and certified. Licensing and certification requires 300-375 hours of supervised experience, 9 months of clinical experience and a passing score on a national exam.
Audiologist Job Outlook
Since hearing problems are frequently associated with age, the rise in aging populations makes Audiology a growing career. In fact, it is estimated that Audiologists will see a 30% rise in employment opportunities over the next 20 years.
Audiologist Salaries
Audiologists made an average of $74,890 a year as reported by BLS.gov statistics from May 2015. The lowest 10% make $49,760, but the highest 10% make $111,450. The range of salaries is dependent on location and setting. Audiologists in hospitals make the most, whereas audiologists in franchises make the least.
Audiologist Job Duties
Audiologists spend most of their time working directly with patients. They measure hearing functions, fit people for hearing aids and provide rehabilitation for patients who have experienced hearing loss. They can specialize in different fields, such as: geriatrics, pediatrics, balance disorders, hearing aids and tinnitus. Audiologists are the experts in hearing and balance problems, so patients are seen by these doctors to diagnose, treat and manage disorders of the ear.
Audiologist Skills & Traits
| Audiologist Skill Set: | Required Abilities: | Tools Used by Audiologists: | Typical Work Activities: |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Active Listening • Critical Thinking • Reading Comprehension • Speaking • Active Learning | • Deductive Reasoning • Inductive Reasoning • Oral Comprehension • Oral Expression • Problem Sensitivity | • Audiometers • Auditory function screening units • Aural probes • Evoked response detector • Neurological diagnostic sets | • Recording information • Working for the public • Getting Information • Translating or explaining what information means |
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