Audiology
Definition
Audiology is the study of hearing. An audiologist is a health care professional who diagnoses and treats disorders of the auditory (hearing) and vestibular (balance) systems.
Description
Audiologists are concerned with hearing and balance problems. According to the Auditory Foundation of America (AFA), hearing loss is the third most common chronic health problem affecting Americans. Approximately 28 million individuals in the United States are affected by some form of hearing loss, ranging from mild impairment (loss of sensitivity) to total deafness. Balance problems (caused by a defect in the structures of the inner ear) affect approximately two million Americans.
Audiologists provide diagnostic, rehabilitative, and preventative services for individuals suffering from hearing and balance problems. They dispense assistive devices
such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, and telecommunication systems according to the needs of each patient. They educate consumers on the importance of hearing protection in industry, military, music, and other workplace and recreational settings. Audiologists may also conduct research into the assessment, management, and prevention of hearing loss and balance disorders.
Work settings
An audiologist may choose to work in a variety of settings, including a private office, hospital, medical clinic, non-profit or community center, nursing home, primary or secondary school, college or university, long-term care facility, or industry clinic.
Education and training
The minimum level of education required to become an audiologist is a master's degree from an accredited university or professional school. As of 2001, approximately 115 colleges and universities offer graduate programs in the field of audiology. After completing a nine-month post-graduate clinical fellowship and passing a national standardized examination, an audiologist may earn a Certificate of Clinical Competency in Audiology (CCC-A) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Most states require that the audiologist become licensed by the state in which they will practice.
Advanced education and training
In the early 1990s, the first Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degree programs were instituted to address the need for increased clinical training and expanded consumer services. The Au.D. is a post-baccalaureate four-year program that includes a Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY), a 12-month supervised clinical experience, so that students are eligible for state licensure upon graduation. The Au.D. curriculum includes classes in the areas of anatomy and physiology, acoustics and amplification, math, genetics, diagnostic techniques, patient care, sign language, and business management.
The Au.D. was designed to replace the master's as the entry-level degree into the field of audiology. The CFY will become a requirement for national certification after December 31, 2006; by the end of 2011, the doctoral
