Audiologist Job Description

Audiologist Job Profile and Description

Audiologists are healthcare professionals, not necessarily medical doctors, who are trained in the diagnosis and treatment of patient suffering from hearing disability and speech disorders, balance and related problems. They supervise or conduct diagnostic tests and often work with physicians, speech-language pathologists, otolaryngologists, psychologists, nurses, and physiotherapists to arrive at the best possible treatment and rehabilitation of patients diagnosed with hearing, balance and speaking difficulties.  They often recommend the use or implantation of hearing aids.

Audiologist Duties and Responsibilities

• Determine and evaluate the severity, type and location of hearing and balancing problems
• Administer audiometric diagnostic tests to evaluate the degree and type of hearing disorder.
• Perform neurophysiologic hearing tests to ascertain hearing nerve impulses can reach the brain.
• Collaborate with doctor specialists and speech therapists when required.
• Confer with specialist physicians in the physiological treatment of hearing dysfunction cases as well as speech therapists in treating speech disorders.
• Design, develop and implement auditory rehabilitation programs, including hearing and speech training, hearing aid implantation, referral to sign language counseling and teaching.

Audiologist Skills and Specifications

• Must have high level of patience and listening skills when dealing with patients.
• Must have excellent communication, interpersonal and people management skills to deal with patients

Audiologist Education and Qualifications

• A master’s degree is audiology is basic but a PhD in Audiology (AuD) is widely preferred.
• Passing state licensing is a must along with having a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A) and credentialed by the American Board of Audiology
• Hearing Aid Dispenser License required if treating patients with hearing aid implantation.
• 5-8 years of experience as a doctor is an advantage.

Audiologist Salary

The median annual salary of Audiologists in 2008 stood at $62,100 with the middles 10% earning between $50,500 and $78,400. The lowest 10% earned about $40,400 while the highest 10% earned around $98,900.