Lifespan Youth Employment
 Audiologist
An audiologist is a professional who diagnoses, treats and manages individuals
with hearing loss or balance problems. An Audiologist's academic and clinical
training provides the foundation for patient management from birth through
adulthood.
Job responsibilities
Places of practice
Educational requirements
Educational programs
Licensure requirements
Professional organizations
Job responsibilities:
- Audiologists determine appropriate treatment of hearing and balance
problems by combining a complete history with a variety of specialized
auditory and vestibular assessments.
- Based upon the diagnosis, the audiologist presents a variety of treatment
options to patients with hearing impairment or balance problems.
- Audiologists dispense and fit hearing aids as part of a comprehensive
rehabilitative program.
- As a primary hearing health provider, audiologists refer patients
to physicians when the hearing or balance problem requires medical or
surgical evaluation or treatment
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Places of practice:
- Medical centers and hospitals
- Private practice settings
- Schools
- Government health facilities and agencies
- Colleges and universities
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Educational requirements:
- A strong liberal arts focus is recommended on the undergraduate level—typically
students obtain a degree in communication sciences and disorders.
- Graduate work is necessary for American Speech-Language Hearing Association
(ASHA) certification.
- A master's degree in most work settings is required.
- A PhD is required for some areas.
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Educational programs:
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Licensure requirements:
Most states, including Rhode Island, require audiologists to be licensed.
Requirements vary from state to state. Go to the Rhode
Island Department of Health Web site to see the requirements for the
State of Rhode Island.
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Professional organizations:
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