An Audiologist is a profession concerned with the prevention of hearing impairment in human beings. Hearing impairment (deafness) may be the complete or partial inability to hear. Audiologist specializes in the prevention, identification, assessment, and rehabilitation of hearing disorder. When a hearing loss occurs they determine the nature and extent of the hearing loss and recommend appropriate treatment, including hearing aids or other assistive devices.
The audiologist's job description also includes checking noise levels in workplaces and conducting hearing/protection programs. These are the professionals who work closely with teachers, physicians, psychologists, social workers, rehabilitation counselors, and other members of an interdisciplinary team, but they are autonomous and do not work under direct medical supervision. They provide professional services in a wide range of facilities, including public and private schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing care facilities, community and university clinics, private practice offices, and also in the center for the developmentally disabled.
If you are a person who has the sincerity and patience to deal with such kind of patients and think that you can work in tandem with so many other professionals to reach a common noble goal of curing such lesser lucky patients then being an Audiologist is the Career especially meant for you.
This profession demands a lot of hard work and effort but at the same time offers enormous scope for the building of one’s career along with the satisfaction of curing clients. This profession is such a profession that demands high perfection, hard work, and a high level of patience.
To make this profession your career do good as a professional one has to undergo one or more courses out of the given below.
Audiologist Eligibility
The minimum educational qualification for becoming an Audiologist is either a Bachelor’s Degree or a Master’s Degree from a recognized college/university.
Audiologist Required Skills
- Audiologists should have strong analytic skills and a passion for science; comfortable with technology, which will help them to operate and troubleshoot the many high-tech instruments used in the field.
- They also possess strong communication and interpersonal skills to establish a rapport with patients and explain concepts clearly.
- They should be able to analyze the hearing, balance, or other ear-related problems troubling a patient; diagnose problems, and provide treatment.
- They should also be able to improve quality results by studying, evaluating, and re-designing processes; implementing changes; participating in research programs; evaluating new equipment devices, and techniques.
How to Become an Audiologist?
One has to follow the below-given steps one by one-
1. Diploma in speech therapy and Audiology
Course Eligibility-
1. Audiologist Education Qualification
Candidates who wish to apply for one year Diploma course in Speech Therapy and Audiology should have passed 10+2 or equivalent examination with science subjects (securing a minimum of 50% marks in the aggregate in the subjects concerned).
Step 1
- Interested candidate has to appear in an entrance test conducted by the various institutes for this 1-year course.
- However, some colleges/universities also give admission on the basis of % of marks obtained in the qualifying examinations.
- Step 2
After completing this course of one year, in which one has to go through all the major aspects, one can get services in a wide range of facilities, including public and private schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing care facilities, community and university clinics, private practice office and also in the center for the developmentally disabled. OR - One can opt for several undergraduate courses/degrees provided by various universities in India.
2. Undergraduate Degrees
- B.Sc. (Audiology and Speech)
- B.Sc. (Hearing language and speech)
- BASLP (Bachelor in speech-language Pathology)
Course Eligibility-
Educational Qualification
Candidates who wish to apply for Three years of the degree course in Speech Therapy and Audiology should have passed 10+2 or equivalent examination with science subjects (securing a minimum of 50% marks in the aggregate in the subjects concerned).
Step 1
- Interested candidate has to appear in an entrance test conducted by the various Universities providing 3 years of Bachelor’s degree courses.
- However, some universities also give admission on the basis of % of marks obtained in the qualifying class.
Step 2
- After completing this 3 years of bachelor's course, in which one has to go through all the major aspects of Audiology, one can work for a variety of Governmental and non-Governmental organizations. OR One can go for higher studies i.e., M.Sc or Ph.D. provided by various universities.
Audiologist Job Description
The audiologist's job includes the prevention, identification, assessment, and rehabilitation of hearing disorders. His job profile also includes determining the nature and extent of the hearing loss and recommended medicine and instrumental treatment like hearing aids or other assistive devices. Audiologist's job also includes checking noise levels in workplaces and conducting hearing/protection programs.
Audiologist Career Prospects
Enormous employment opportunities are available for Audiologists in the private as well as public sectors, organizations like the Geological Survey of India, Metrological Departments, etc. Audiologists can find employment in International organizations also which are working in this field.
Audiologist Salary
With regard to Audiologist's Salary, one can expect to get anything between Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 30,000 as far as a starter is concerned. Some years of work experience and a lot of learning can enable you to demand Rs. 50,000 per month and more.
