THERAPY AND 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.
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.
Specialties
- 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
Average Annual Salary
$87,740 per year
What is the future of this career?
Employment of audiologists is projected to grow 11 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 800 openings for audiologists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Type of Education/Training
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 could I get the education/training?
- Southern Connecticut State University
- University of Connecticut
Licensing/Certification
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.
More Information
American Academy of Audiology
11480 Commerce Park Drive, Suite 220
Reston, VA 20191
703-790-8466
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
2200 Research Boulevard
Rockville, MD 20850
800-638-8255
