TRAINING TO BE AN AUDIOLOGIST

Audiology As A Career

What is Audiology?
Audiology is a challenging and expanding field of clinical science and technology, involving the study of hearing and balance.

Who is an Audiologist?
A healthcare professional who qualified and trained in the assessment, management, and therapeutic rehabilitation of people with hearing and balance problems and associated disorders.

What do Audiologist do?
Audiologist conduct multiple tests to determine the exact nature of a patient’s hearing or balance impairment, which leads them to present a variety of treatment options that fits the patient’s lifestyle and communication needs. They dispense hearing aids, conduct newborn hearing, screenings, administer and interpret balance function test to evaluate dizziness, and provide hearing and balance (re)habilitation services.

Some of the main areas of work include:
Aural rehabilitation: Involves assisting children and adults with hearing impairments to overcome their disability so they can meet the daily communication needs in their lives.

Vestibular Rehabilitation:  Conducting vestibular test on patients with balance problems.

Tinnitus Management: Treating patients with tinnitus or ‘ringing sound in the ear’

Special needs: Audiologist work closely with other professionals to address needs of  group with special requirements such as learning difficulties, blindness and disabilities

Cochlear Implant Management: Providing rehabilitation for cochlear implants patients.

Qualities of an Audiologist

• Ability to communicate well with all types of peoplr.
• Good problem solving skills
• A scientific educational background
• Ability to work as part of a team
• A caring and understanding attitude
• Good manual dexterity
• Analytical skills

Work Opportunities
An Audiologist is not restricted to working in the hospital. Other work prospects of an audiologist include:

• Hospitals
• Occupational Health canters
• Private centres
• Armed forces
• Police
• Education
• Private sectors / industries
• Hearing aid centres

Entry Requirements
Ideally a 3 a levels (or equivalent) which should include a science subject. Minimum grade requirements BCC.

Structure of Course
This is a 4 year course inclusive of theory and practical placements.

Subjects include anatomy & Physiology, Audiology, Statistics, Psychology and Hearing and Vestibular Science.

Which universities to go to?
Universities in United Kingdom, Australia and Malaysia offer BSc in Audiology.

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