Audiology Audiology Autozam AZ-3 Category="Health sciences"Category="Otolaryngology"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.

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