AHEC Connecticut
THERAPY & REHABILITATION - Audiologist
To be a successful Audiologist you should...
- enjoy working with people of all ages and backgrounds
- have an interest in and aptitude for science and technology
- have good oral and written communication skills
- be flexible and creative in problem-solving
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What will my job be like?
Audiologists work with hearing-impaired people to improve the accuracy of their hearing. They perform tests and evaluate hearing problems to determine the range and degree of hearing loss. They develop treatment programs so people can adapt to their problems or have them corrected. Audiologists might prescribe a hearing aid or teach a person to read lips. Since many hearing-impaired people have difficulty with speech, audiologists work closely with speech pathologists.
Audiologists may specialize in:
- Children
- Elderly
- Hearing Conservation
- Hearing Disorder Research
Where could I work?
Audiologists work in rehabilitation settings, hospitals, schools, speech and hearing centers, and private practice. They do their evaluations in specially constructed “quiet” rooms suitable for hearing tests.
Other workplace settings:
- Clinics
- Colleges and Universities
- Corporations/Industry
- Health Maintenance Organizations
- Home Health Agencies
- Nursing Homes
- Physician Offices
- Private Practice
- Public Health Departments
- Research Centers
What is the average annual salary?
$62,006
What is the future of this career?
Employment of audiologists is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2014. Because hearing loss is strongly associated with aging, rapid growth in older population groups will cause the number of persons with hearing and balance impairments to increase markedly.
What type of education and/or training do I need?
An audiologist acquires a master's degree after earning a bachelor's degree in communication disorders or in a variety of other fields. Doctoral programs are also offered and will be required for licensure after 2012.
Where can I get the education and/or training?
- Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven
- University of Connecticut, Storrs
Do I need a license or certification for this career?
Licensure is required in the state of Connecticut. Prerequisite: Connecticut requires completion of an approved Master's or Doctorate degree in Audiology; approved supervised professional experience; NTE Specialty Area Test in Audiology or current certificate of clinical competency in audiology.
Where can I get more information?
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
10801 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
(800) 638-8255
www.asha.org
American Academy of Audiology
11730 Plaza America Drive, Suite 300
Reston, VA 20190
(800) AAA-2336
www.audiology.org