A career in audiology is a relatively unknown one, and mostly remains an unchartered territory. But it certainly is an up and coming, with great scope for a successful career. Essentially, an audiologist’s job is to manage, diagnose, and treat his/her patient’s hearing or any other ear-related problems.
According to audiology.org, audiology was born out of the armed forces rehabilitation programs during and following World War II. Academicians from disciplines such as deaf education, speech pathology, psychology, and other scientific backgrounds invented the early testing, auditory training, and amplification protocols needed to meet the needs of thousands of WWII veterans with hearing loss. These events, combined with the concurrent development of the equipment necessary to evaluate hearing, formed the early seeds of the profession we know today as audiology.
Audiology is an interesting combination of science, technology, and healthcare. Your job will entail examining patients who have hearing –related problems and asses the diagnosis of those problems. You will also have to advice and administer treatment courses to them, depending on their goals. A large part of the process includes monitoring patients’ progress, which involves regular checkups on hearing, and advice to continue/alter treatment plans. But it doesn’t end there. Even after treatment has ended, audiologists must advise patients on ways to maintain their hearing, and prevent hearing loss.
Audiologists make use of audiometers and other devices to test the patients’ hearing ability. This will help them determine the extent of hearing damage and its underlying cause. It also helps them understand the loudness at which the patient can hear sounds. They work with patients of all ages, and specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing issues. They also fit in hearing aids and other hearing devices.
An audiologist may begin his/her career working at a hospital or any other medical institution. They can also assist audiologists practising privately. After gathering the right amount of experience, he/she can start his own private practise.
There are a number of colleges in India and abroad offering full-fledged degrees in audiology, along with a 1 year internship experience. You will need to have a 10+2 Science background for the same. Here are a few top colleges in India and abroad offering a course in audiology –
- Nair Hospital, Mumbai
- All India Institute of Medical Ssciences, Delhi
- All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore
- S.R Chandrashekar College, Bengaluru
- Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore
Abroad:
- Northwestern University, USA
- Anglia Ruskin University, UK
- Macquarie University, Australia
- The University of Canterbury, New Zealand
- Middlesex University, UK
