From Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia.
Audiology is the branch
of science that studies hearing,
balance, and their disorders. The
term was coined by Raymond Carhart.
Its practitioners, who study
hearing and treat those with
hearing losses, are
audiologists. Employing
various testing strategies (e.g.
hearing tests, otoacoustic
emission measurements, and
electrophysiologic tests),
audiology aims to determine
whether someone can hear within
the normal range, and if not,
which portions of hearing (high,
middle, or low
frequencies) are affected and
to what degree. If a
hearing loss is present, an
audiologist determines whether
what kind of hearing loss, if any,
is present and he or she proposes
to the patient what options (e.g.
hearing aids,
cochlear implants,
surgery, appropriate medical
referrals) may help to restore
function. Some audiologists
dispense hearing aids.
Audiologists are also involved in
the prevention of hearing loss and
other communication disorders.
Hearing Conservation programs in
industry and government strive to
prevent noise induced hearing loss
through education and Audiologist
intervention. Audiologists are
often in charge of Newborn Hearing
Screening programs designed to
identify hearing loss within the
first 3 months of life.
Audiologist Occupation
Audiologists are licensed
professionals who have a graduate
degree (Masters, Au.D. or Ph.D.)
in the hearing sciences and
state/national licensure. Hearing
aid dispensers are professionals
with state or national licensure,
who must take continuing education
classes every year to maintain
their license. Prior to 1984 when
audiologists changed their code of
ethics to allow the selling of
hearing aids, hearing instrument
dispensers fit all of the patients
referred to them by audiologists.
Audiologists have a
clinical/educational background
that emphasizes diagnostic
testing, and hearing aid
dispensers have years of
experience fitting instruments.
In the United States, 48 states
license Audiologists and they all
require Master's degrees. Most are
expected to require Doctorates in
the near future. Other
requirements include passing a
national exam offered by Praxis
Series of the Educational Testing
Service, around 300 hours of
supervised clinical experience
over a 9 month period. 40 states
have renewal requirements that
must be met to stay licensed.
Audiologists can also earn a
certificate from the American
Speech-Language-Hearing
Association or seek certification
through the American Board of
Audiology.
In Australia Audiologists must
hold a Masters in Audiology, have
2 years clinical experience and be
registered with an approved body
such as Audiology Australia or the
Australian College of Audiology (ACAud)
to provide hearing aids to
eligible pensioners or eligible
war veterans
