What is Audiology?
Audiology is the branch of science and medicine concerned with the sense of hearing as stated in the Encyclopedia of Special Education (par. 1). Audiologists are experts on the ear; which specifically include the middle and inner ear structures. In particular audiologists evaluate the cochlea which is necessary for hearing and vestibular system which is important for balance and spatial skills (par. 3). According to a Careers website, titled How to Become an Audiologist, it explains the process in becoming an audiologist. The goal for an audiologists is to identify hearing difficulties and to treat these difficulties by performing diagnostic tests to specifically treat each individual (par. 2). By completing the steps provided by the Career’s Website, individuals will be able to meet the goals and excel in the field of audiology.
What are the requirements to become an Audiologist?
A couple years ago, in order to work in the profession of audiology, one must have obtained a master’s degree. Since the times have changed and the career field is more competitive, now a doctoral degree (PhD or AuD) must also be achieved for one to practice in the field. How does one go about receiving a doctoral degree in Audiology? There are a few steps that need to be taken before the process can occur. How to become an Audiologist, published on a Career’s Website, states specific steps to become an audiologist. First, the person must graduate with a bachelor’s degree (par. 5). Since there is no specific major for audiology until graduate school, doctoral programs for audiology require courses in physics, math, anatomy, and physiology (par. 5). One way to make sure all of the requirements are met is by graduating with an undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD). CSD is a major college’s offer for students who want to pursue a career in Audiology or Speech-Language Pathology. The CSD major is accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) because the program fulfills the requirements presented by the association. The next step in the process is graduate school (par. 5). When applying to graduate school, it is extremely important to choose a program that is accredited by ASHA. The doctoral program usually takes an additional four years past the bachelor’s degree. If someone was in a program for four years and the program was not accredited by ASHA then that person will be wasting their time, money and degree. Some people chose to go beyond the doctoral degree and receive their PhD which last between 5-6 years. This is only necessary if one wants to pursue research in the field of audiology (par. 6).
Click here to listen to an example of a hearing test!
Picture of the ear. Taken from Google Images.
This is an example of a hearing test results. This was taken from Google Images.
Audiology Clinics
A clinic at the University of Perdue, has a well know audiology clinic called the M.D. Steer Audiology Clinic. The service the clinic provides is geared toward “improving interventions by using relevant health theories, enhancing epidemiological studies with public health in audiology stronger methods, progressing policy and regulations with evidence-based outcomes, and considering global implications of hearing and balance health” (par. 1).
Another clinic at the University of Minnesota, called the Audiology and Aural Rehabilitation, "can evaluate a wide range of hearing impairments and maximize your communication potential. With advanced expertise, our audiologists can prescribe and program the best possible hearing instrument for you, including hearing aids and cochlear implants (par. 1)"
West Chester University also has a Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic available for graduate students. The clinic provides "therapy services are available for children and adults who are diagnosed with speech, language or hearing disorders (par. 1)." The clinic at WCU "strives to provide superior professional diagnostic and treatment services in speech-language pathology and audiology while providing excellence in clinical education for students in the Department of Communicative Disorders (par.1)."