subject: What Role Does An Audiologist Have? [print this page] Audiologists are professionals who specialize in testing ones hearing. They serve the role of being a provider of hearing aids, but not everyone who provides you with a hearing aid is an audiologist. An audiologist is the one whose area of expertise focuses on treatment and evaluation of those suffering from a loss of hearing. These professionals have a wide array of skills and training when it comes to evaluating hearing within adults from a variety of ages. They are trained specifically to deal with every aspect of loss of hearing when in a non-medical situation. The professional must earn their Masters at the bare minimum in order to practice within their field. If you ask any of them, they will tell you they are committed to helping others improve upon their hearing
In order to be licensed, the audiologist will need to complete nine months of experience under the direct supervision of someone already certified and licensed. They will also need to pass a written exam approved by the state. The law mandates that the individual complete a minimum of 30 hours of competency learning every three years. A licensed audiologist will have received an intense level of education and plenty of experience regarding loss of hearing and disorders leading to the complications in the beginning. Often they have a Masters degree from an accredited institution and specialized training focusing on identification, assessment and treatment of hearing disorders. They are also required to have completed an internship on a full-time basis. Passing an intense national exam to determine competency is imperative. Requirements for licensing will vary from one state to the next.
An audiologist is a health professional who received their training through substantial levels of work in clinical trials. They also need proper education to help assess, test, diagnose and help others to compensate for their loss of hearing. Whenever a loss of hearing is diagnosed, the audiologist can help others learn how to cope with their problem and provide them with the proper recommendations regarding medical treatment options that can end the problem they are dealing with in terms of hearing.
Audiologists help to provide a diagnostic evaluation and a degree of counseling for those suffering with functional loss of hearing. They are also an active part of those who are dealing with disorders affecting their balance. You might notice that they will recommend an assistive listening device to help those improve their hearing. If a cochlear implant is needed, they can help counsel the individual with what they can expect. These professionals are experts in their field when it comes to helping those with hearing issues, but they are unable to prescribe any medications or perform the actual surgery needed. All of the audiologists will need certification on a professional level and carry the proper licensing within their state that allows them to practice in their field and dispense the proper hearing aids to individuals.
You can find one of these professionals through a university, clinic or hospital. They can perform a measurement of the patients ear to help ensure their hearing aid is at optimal performance. Their primary goals are to help make speech audible, eliminate any comfort issues with loud sounds and prevent distortion when sounds are louder, which all plays into providing you with an enhanced range for hearing items at a more natural level of sound.
