Audiology
Audiology[edit]
Audiology is the branch of science that studies hearing, balance, and related disorders. Audiologists are healthcare professionals who provide patient-centered care in the prevention, identification, diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment of hearing, balance, and other auditory disorders for people of all ages.
History[edit]
The field of audiology began to develop during and after World War II as a result of the need to treat soldiers who suffered hearing damage due to the noise of warfare. The profession has since expanded to include a wide range of diagnostic and rehabilitative services.
Scope of Practice[edit]
Audiologists are trained to diagnose, manage, and treat hearing or balance problems for individuals from birth through adulthood. They perform a variety of tests to determine the nature of an individual's hearing or balance problems and may prescribe and fit hearing aids, cochlear implants, and other assistive devices.
Diagnostic Services[edit]
Audiologists conduct a range of tests to assess hearing and balance. These include:
- Pure-tone audiometry
- Speech audiometry
- Tympanometry
- Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs)
- Auditory brainstem response (ABR)
Rehabilitative Services[edit]
Rehabilitation services provided by audiologists include:
- Hearing aid fitting and management
- Cochlear implant mapping
- Auditory training
- Tinnitus management
- Vestibular rehabilitation
Education and Training[edit]
To become an audiologist, one must complete a doctoral degree in audiology (Au.D.), which typically requires four years of post-baccalaureate study. This includes coursework in anatomy, physiology, acoustics, and clinical practice, as well as supervised clinical experience.
Related Fields[edit]
Audiology is closely related to other fields such as otolaryngology, speech-language pathology, and neuroscience. Collaboration with these disciplines is common in the diagnosis and treatment of auditory and balance disorders.
