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"Audiologist"
Determines type and degree of hearing impairment and implements
habilitation and rehabilitation services for patient: Administers
and interprets variety of tests, such as air and bone conduction,
and speech reception and discrimination tests, to determine type and
degree of hearing impairment, site of damage, and effects on
comprehension and speech. Evaluates test results in relation to
behavioral, social, educational, and medical information obtained
from patients, families, teachers, SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS (profess. &
kin.) 076.107-010 and other professionals to determine communication
problems related to hearing disability. Plans and implements
prevention, habilitation, or rehabilitation services, including
hearing aid selection and orientation, counseling, auditory
training, lip reading, language habilitation, speech conservation,
and other treatment programs developed in consultation with SPEECH
PATHOLOGIST (profess. & kin.) and other professionals. May refer
patient to physician or surgeon if medical treatment is determined
necessary. May conduct research in physiology, pathology,
biophysics, or psychophysics of auditory systems, or design and
develop clinical and research procedures and apparatus. May act as
consultant to educational, medical, legal, and other professional
groups. May teach art and science of audiology and direct scientific
projects
A master's degree in audiology has been the standard in
the profession. However, a clinical doctoral degree (doctor of
audiology, or Au.D.) is becoming more common and will soon be the
new standard. You must also achieve a passing score on the national
examination on audiology offered through the Praxis Series of the
Educational Testing Service. Other requirements typically are 300 to
375 hours of supervised clinical experience and nine months of
postgraduate professional clinical experience. Audiologists can
become certified by both the American Speech-Language-Hearing
Association and the American Board of Audiology. Some states require
a special license to dispense hearing aids.
- Audiologist
- Communications/
Public Relations Professional
- Community
Worker
- ESL
Teacher
- Speech-Language
Pathologist
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A
master's degree from an accredited speech-language pathology program
is required to enter the field. Forty-five states require licensure
or certification of speech pathologists. Obtain the Certificate of
Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) offered
by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. A passing score
on the national examination and post-graduate supervised clinical
experience are required for certification. Some states may require
additional certification to work with special education populations
in public schools. Approximately one half of speech-language
pathologists work in schools and another half are employed in
healthcare institutions. A doctorate is required for university
teaching and research positions. Speech pathologists may work
closely with physicians, social workers, psychologists, and other
therapists in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. Supplement
coursework with classes in anatomy, physiology, psychology, and
personal communication.
Audiologists
held about 10,000 jobs in 2008. More than half of all jobs were in
offices of physicians or
other health practitioners, including audiologists; in hospitals;
and in outpatient care centers. About 1 in 7 jobs
was in educational services, including elementary and secondary
schools. Other jobs for audiologists were in
health and personal care stores, including hearing aid stores;
scientific research and development services; and
State and local governments.
A small number of audiologists were self‐employed in private
practice. They provided hearing health
care services in their own offices or worked under contract for
schools, health care facilities, or other establishments.
Areas
of Audiology:
- Prevention
- Screening
- Assessment
- Treatment
- Follow-up
- Administration
- Supervision
- Teaching
- Research
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