Audiologist Job Description (2023)

Free audiologist job description. An audiologist is sometimes referred to as an ear specialist. They are professionals who assist those with ear-related issues, disabilities, or injuries. An audiologist can be found working within a private health-care facility, assessing and treating patients with various hearing problems. Typically, these professionals work with patients who have problems with hearing, balance, or other ear-related problems. Common duties of these workers include identifying, assessing, and treating hearing problems. Understanding balance disorders, discussing symptoms with patients, and documenting treatment. Or ordering equipment and hiring employees for the medical office.

Audiologist Job Description Sample

Our health care centers and audiology clinics are seeking an experienced audiologist. The audiologist will assist our patients with hearing issues, disabilities, injuries, and other issues that are causing a loss of hearing. Our audiologist will work with patients of all age groups, assisting young infants to adults 55 and older. The clinical audiologist will assess patients, set treatment plans, and coordinate care with doctors and physical therapists to assist patients.

Audiologist Duties and Responsibilities

Sample job duties and audiologist responsibilities include:

• Treat patients who are suffering from a hearing issue.
• Perform inner ear assessments on patients of all ages.
• Provide optimal patient care at all times.
• Assist patients with the process of fitting and setting an assistive device for hearing (hearing aid).
• Treat elderly patients who are experiencing hearing loss.
• Assist patients with hearing disabilities and set plants for cochlear implants and surgery.
• Perform tests and assessments to treat patients with a hearing problem or hearing disorder.
• Review test results with patients. And determine the appropriate treatment plan for patients. Include treatment plans that coincide with their insurance.
• For regularly visiting patients, review patient files and progress. Review progress of the treatment plans with patients.
• Set treatment plants for patients with hearing issues.
• Work with an occupational therapist, speech language pathologist, physical therapist, and other doctors to set a treatment plan for patients.
• Treat patients with balance disorders and inner ear issues.
• Council families of patients. Assisting with patients who have hearing disabilities. This may include using technology or learning sign language or lip-reading.
• Research the causes and treatment of hearing and balance disorders.
• Fit hearing aids to clients and ensure that hearing aids are comfortable, functional, and in working order before the patient leaves the health clinic.
• Use audiometers, computers, and other medical devices to test patients' hearing ability and balance. Determine the extent of any hearing damage and perform tests to identify the underlying cause of the health issue.

Specialization

Some audiologists specialize in working with the elderly or with children. Other audiologists educate the public on hearing loss prevention. Audiologists may design products to help protect the hearing of workers on the job. Health professionals who start their own clinics have additional operations duties. Such as hiring audiologists and ensuring office operations meet state requirements.

Audiologist Requirements

Qualified candidates should have the following:

• Must have a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A)
• Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, and Ph.D. (doctoral degree) in Audiology, Healthcare Science, or Communication Sciences.
• Certified audiologist (licensed audiologist).
• Previous experience as a pediatric audiologist, educational audiologist, or dispensing audiologist is a plus.
• Previous experience as an audiology assistant is a plus.

The doctoral degree in audiology (Au.D.) is a graduate program that typically takes 4 years to complete. A bachelor’s degree in any field is needed to enter one of these programs.

Audiologists can earn the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A), offered by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. They also may be credentialed through the American Board of Audiology. Certification can be earned by graduating from an accredited doctoral program and passing a standardized exam. Some states require certifications. And some states may allow certification in place of education or training requirements needed for licensure.

Audiologist Salary

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, an audiologist earns $84,177 per year, on average.