Audiologist

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An audiologist is a healthcare professional specializing in identifying, diagnosing, treating and monitoring disorders of the auditory and vestibular system portions of the ear. Audiologists are trained to diagnose, manage and/or treat hearing or balance problems ^[1]. They dispense hearing aids and recommend and map cochlear implants. They counsel families through a new diagnosis of hearing loss in infants, and help teach coping and compensation skills to late-deafened adults. They also help design and implement personal and industrial hearing safety programs, newborn hearing screening programs, school hearing screening programs, and provide special fitting ear plugs and other hearing protection devices to help prevent hearing loss. In addition, many audiologists work as auditory scientists in a research capacity.

Audiologists have training in anatomy and physiology, hearing aids, cochlear implants, electrophysiology, acoustics, neurology, counseling and sign language. An Audiologist usually graduates with one of the following qualifications (BSc, AuD, or MS), depending the program attended.

United States

In the past, audiologists have typically held a master's degree and the appropriate healthcare license. However, in the 1990s the profession began to transition to a doctoral level as a minimal requirement. In the United States, starting in 2007, audiologists were required to receive a doctoral degree (Au.D. or Ph.D.) in audiology from an accredited university graduate or professional program before practicing. All states require licensing, and audiologists may also carry national board certification from the American Board of Audiology (ABA) or a certificate of clinical competence in audiology (CCC-A) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Audiologists are autonomous practitioners and do not need physician orders or supervision. However, many audiologists work in doctor's office and hospitals. The median salary for an audiologist in the United States is approximately $65,500 in 2008 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. ^[2]Audiologists who earn over $98,880 (top ten percentile) per annum typically have their own private practice.

See also

• Audiology
• Sensorineural hearing loss
• Conductive hearing loss
• Mixed hearing loss
• Unilateral hearing loss
• Asymmetrical hearing loss
• Auditory Neuropathy
• (Central) Auditory Processing Disorder
• Ototoxicity
• Noise induced hearing loss
• Auditory brainstem response (ABR)
• Otoacoustic emissions
• Tympanometry
• Acoustic Reflexes
• Reflex Decay
• Audiometry/Behavioral Hearing Test (BOA, VRA, CPA, Standard)
• Balance disorders
• Electronystagmography (ENG/VNG)
• Computerized Dynamic Posturography
• Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential

• Earplugs
• Hearing Aids
• BAHA
• Cochlear implant

References

Audiology Online - Audiology news, careers, education and information

External links

• American Academy of Audiology website
• Industrial Audiology Group, advice for musicians
• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
• Audiology.Net, Audiology Information for the Masses