How to Become an Audiologist

Do you suffer from hearing loss and you don’t know where to start? If you have found that you have to ask people to repeat themselves more and more often, then it's time to visit an audiologist. Audiologists are health care professionals who identify, assess, and manage all issues concerning hearing and balance. Currently, there are about 13,300 licensed audiologists in the United States but there is always a need for more. Currently, there are 48 million people in the US with hearing loss and that number is only predicted to grow significantly in the next 30 years. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that worldwide, hearing loss could be as common as one in every four individuals, or around 2.5 billion people, across the world by 2050. This makes the role and the need for more audiologists to be more important than ever before. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) estimates, the public demand for audiologists will increase by about 60 percent by 2050 as well, which is higher than many other medical specialist fields. If you are thinking of becoming an audiologist or are just interested in audiology in general as a field, there is no more opportune time than now to find out more.

What Does an Audiologist Do?

The ears are a complex and fragile system that is more important to our total health. Not only do our ears help us hear, but they contribute to keeping us balanced and communicating audio and location-based information with the brain. Audiologists are trained to address a wide range of issues concerning the ears such as hearing loss, tinnitus, ear infections, age-related hearing loss, hyperacusis, impactions of wax of the ear, and many more issues. Often, they collaborate and confer with Ear Nose and Throat Doctors ENT in physicians' offices, audiology clinics, and hospitals. It is a profession that requires constant learning as hearing science and technology is constantly and quickly evolving. A successful audiologist will be able to familiarize themselves with the common issues with hearing and balance and know the best and most current treatments for all of these issues.

Audiology Hearing Tests

A variety of tests can be used to identify and diagnose a hearing loss and an audiologist will have to know them all to be able to capably diagnose and treat the individual ways in which hearing issues affect a diverse cross-section of patients. A typical hearing test will test a patient’s ability to hear volumes and tone thresholds. The audiologist will be able to diagnose the degree and type of hearing loss each individual has and build an educated treatment plan with each patient.

Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants

Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when damage occurs to tiny cells which interface the ears to the brain. The most common treatment for sensorineural hearing loss are hearing aids. These tiny electronic devices must be programmed by an audiologist to amplify only the specific sounds and tones which cannot be picked up any longer due to hearing loss in every individual patient. When hearing is profound, often cochlear implants are surgically implanted to enhance hearing. 
Audiologists must learn what is available in hearing aid and cochlear implant technology as it is constantly adapting and surprising us as to how exactly nuanced the new technology is. An expert audiologist will be able to tell you about all the different brands, features, and models out there in assistive hearing technology. 

What is an Audiologist’s Education?

Anyone can sell you a hearing aid. Hearing healthcare professionals are often required to take only a two-year degree to obtain a license. What sets audiologists apart is that it typically takes four years to complete a postgraduate degree, with the majority having undergraduate degrees in communication sciences and disorders. A Doctor of Audiology (AuD) is a professional degree for an audiologist and there are currently around 75 credited AuD programs in the US. The audiologists who emerge from these programs are skilled in providing diagnostic and rehabilitative services associated with hearing, balance, and tinnitus management.
 
If you or a loved one is suffering from hearing loss, balance issues, or tinnitus it is essential that you make sure you find an audiologist to address your needs. The ears are a complicated system, and it takes a trained expert to ensure that it is done right.