Hearing is an indispensable part of one’s life and it is very discomforting if we or our loved ones suffer from any hearing problem. Audiology is the treatment of hearing impairment and speech-related disorders. An audiologist specializes in diagnosing and evaluating hearing problems using advanced technology. One can turn up to audiologists to know about the types of hearing loss, types of hearing aids, and many more such complications. This blog is for all those who want to pursue a career in audiology!
Audiologists are medical professionals who recognize, evaluate, and treat disorders of hearing, balance, and other neurological systems. An audiologist is a certified specialist in the examination and treatment of hearing problems in both adults and children. A hearing doctor has in-depth comprehensive knowledge of the human auditory system and vestibular apparatus. Hearing everything properly is very important for a person to lead a normal life. Students can take the B.ASLP (Bachelor of Science in Audiology and Speech Pathology) course to choose a career as an audiologist. Audiology and speech courses are required for those who wish to work as clinical audiologists.
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Who is an audiologist?
Audiologists and Speech Therapists are healthcare specialists who use audiometers, computers, and other devices to test patients’ hearing ability and ear balance. Audiologists and Speech therapists work to find the extent of hearing damage and find the cause for the same. They also measure the level of loudness at which a person starts hearing and also determine if a person can distinguish between sound and speech.
As an audiologist and speech therapist, you will also evaluate the psychological information and measure the impact of hearing loss on the patient. You will clean the wax out of the ear canal, fit hearing aids, working with medical physicians to fit cochlear implants in the patient’s ear. You will also assist patients in other ways to compensate for hearing loss like lip reading. You will also assist patients suffering from vertigo or any other balance problems. You will also specialize in the rehabilitation of tinnitus, hyperacusis, misophonic, auditory processing disorders, cochlear implant use, and/or hearing aid use.
What does an audiologist do?
As an audiologist, you will have different roles and responsibilities based on your specialty and super specialty. Following is the list of a few roles and responsibilities across the specialties:
- As an audiologist, you shall be required to administer different kinds of hearing tests and examinations. You will also examine patients who have a balance or any ear-related problem.
- You will also diagnose and treat tinnitus to stop the problem of ringing in the ear.
- You will collect information about the patient related to the type and degree of impairment, using specialized instruments and electronic equipment.
- You will fit and dispense hearing aids to patients.
- You will also be assisting in repairing any damaged hearing devices.
- You will be required to maintain records of each patient at all stages. This shall include initial and subsequent evaluation and treatment activities.
- You will also evaluate the hearing and balance disorder and initiate the diagnosis and treatment accordingly.
- You will administer treatment so that the patient meets his/ her goals.
- You will counsel patients and their friends/ family members in different ways to listen and communicate. You will teach them methods like lip reading.
- You will educate people on ways to prevent hearing loss.
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Popular specializations in audiology career
When it comes to audiologist jobs, there are several career opportunities for audiologists. Below are a few career paths for audiologists:
Pediatric audiologists
Pediatric audiologists are healthcare professionals who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of children with hearing impairments. Pediatric audiologists should prescribe or perform diagnostic audiometric tests to assess the variety and severity of hearing impairments.
Geriatric audiologist
The roles and responsibilities of a geriatric audiologist include diagnosing and treating ear dysfunctions that are caused by an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain. In addition to the ears, they should also check the cause of the dysfunction.
Cochlear Implant Audiologist
A cochlear implant audiologist works as part of a multidisciplinary team to source and locate candidates for cochlear implant services, intraoperative monitoring, and post-implantation monitoring.
Hearing audiologists
Hearing audiologists, also known as speech therapists, must work in the healthcare or education sectors, treating adults and children. Their roles and responsibilities include assisting in the rehabilitation of patients who have suffered physical or psychological trauma.
Tinnitus Audiologist
Tinnitus audiologists are responsible for the assessment and management of a full caseload of patients providing specialized treatment, management, and therapy services for adults with tinnitus, hyperacusis, hearing loss (including profound), associated with this communication difficulty and unexplained auditory processing disorders.
How to become an audiologist – eligibility criteria
To pursue a career in audiology one must be aware of an array of courses available to become an audiologist ranging from diploma courses to bachelor’s and master’s courses. The aspirant must at least earn a bachelor’s degree to be called an audiologist but to practice and become a professional audiologist, a master’s degree is important. Further, a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or AUD) is needed to earn national certification. These degrees are well-recognized abroad.
For admission in Bachelor’s, Mathematics and Science subjects are compulsory in 10+2. The candidate then needs to clear the entrance exam conducted by the University, the center that conducts the All-India Medical Entrance Test, or the State that conducts the Entrance Examination.
Various courses available in Audiology and Speech and Hearing along with the average fees are:
- B.Sc. (Speech and Hearing) – Rs. 50000 to Rs. 3 lakhs
- B.Sc. (Audiology) – Rs. 50000 to Rs. 3 lakhs
- B.Sc. (Speech-Language Pathology) – Rs. 50000 to Rs. 3 lakhs
- Bachelors of Special Education (Hearing Impairment) – Rs. 50000 to Rs. 2.5 lakhs
- Diploma in Hearing Aid and Earmould Technology – Rs. 20000 to Rs. 1 lakh
- B.Ed (Special Education-Distance Mode) – Rs. 20000 to Rs. 1.5 lakh
- D. (Audiology) – Rs. 20000 to Rs. 2 lakhs
- D. (Speech-Language Pathology) – Rs. 20000 to Rs. 2 lakhs
- Certificate Course on Communication Disorders – Rs. 10000 to Rs. 50000
Note: These fees are approximate and may vary from institution to institution. Additionally, some institutions may offer scholarships or financial aid to eligible students.
Top Institutes and colleges offering audiology course
Approximately 50 institutions in the country, including five in Tamil Nadu, offer a four-year Bachelor in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (BASLP) course. Few universities offer master’s as well as a doctorate degree in audiology. Twenty universities in India, including both public and private, some with their own multidisciplinary clinical setups, provide Speech Pathology and Audiology programs, which are accredited by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI).
| Institute | State |
| All India Institute of Speech & Hearing | Mysore |
| Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology at Bharatiya Vidyapeeth Medical College | Pune |
| Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped | Mumbai, Kolkata, Secunderabad, New Delhi |
| Dr. SRC Institute of Speech and Hearing | Bangalore |
| Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute | Chennai |
| National Institute of Speech & Hearing | Kerala |
| BYL Nair Hospital and Medical College | Mumbai |
| Dr. MV Shetty Institute of Speech and Hearing | Mangalore |
Job Opportunities
- You can join a medical college like AIIMS, Railway hospitals, private hospitals, government hospitals, etc. as an Audiologist.
- You can join private clinics, ENT clinics, centres for the disabled, nursing care facilities, etc. as Audiologist/ Speech Therapist.
- You can join as a fellow and complete your fellowship.
- You can join a military hospital at the rank of Captain.
- You can also join a College/ University at the rank of Assistant Professor.
- You can join hearing aid or cochlear implant industries as a Sales Manager/ Sales Representative/ Audio Distributor.
Salary of audiologist
The salary of an audiologist in India can vary depending on various factors such as qualifications, years of experience, location, and type of employer. Here are some statistics on audiologist salaries in India:
- According to payscale.com, the average salary for an audiologist in India is around Rs. 395,000 per year.
- As per the India Today report, the starting salary of an audiologist in India can range from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 35,000 per month.
- According to Glassdoor.com, the average salary for an audiologist in India ranges from Rs. 2.5 lakhs to Rs. 8 lakhs per year.
The salary of an audiologist in India can also vary based on the type of employer. Audiologists working in private clinics or hospitals may earn more than those working in government hospitals or educational institutions.
The location can also play a significant role in determining an audiologist’s salary in India. Metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Chennai may offer higher salaries compared to smaller towns and cities.
Career progression in audiology
- The career growth in university and college states from Assistant Professor and then Associate Professor, Professor, and Professor Emeritus. Professors can also get administrative positions such as Director/Dean/Vice Chancellor, etc
- If you Join as an Audiologist with a government hospital, then you will go on to become Deputy Medical Superintendent and then Additional Medical Superintendent and then Medical Superintendent. You might also become the director of the Hospital.
- If you join as an Audiologist/ Speech Therapist in private Clinics, then you may become a senior Audiologist/ Speech Therapist and then head of the department.
- If you join as a Sales Manager, then you will become Senior Sales Manager, then Area Sales Manager and then Regional Sales Manager, and finally Head of Sales.
- If you join Army hospitals, then you will move up as per the army ranks starting from Captain (and its equivalent in the Navy and Air Force).
Conclusion
Hence, a career in Audiology could be a great career choice, considering the number of national and international opportunities it offers. Owing to the increased number of cases of hearing problems, there is a dire need for more professionals in the area of audiology. Audiology provides patients with ease from the day-to-day distress of hearing and speech impairments. With an advanced qualification in this field, the monetary compensation received is also competitive.
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Career in Audiology: FAQs
Audiology is a healthcare profession that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of hearing and balance disorders. Audiologists work with patients of all ages to assess, diagnose, and manage hearing and balance problems.
Audiologists can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, private practices, schools, and universities. They may also work with patients of all ages, from infants to elderly adults. Some audiologists specialize in specific areas, such as pediatric audiology or tinnitus management.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills are crucial for audiologists, as they work closely with patients and their families. Audiologists should also have strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills, as well as attention to detail and the ability to work independently.
Yes, there is a growing demand for audiologists as the population ages and as awareness of hearing and balance disorders increases.
Audiologists work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, private practices, schools, and government agencies.
Yes, there is a growing demand for audiologists as the population ages and as awareness of hearing and balance disorders increases.
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Anushree has 5 years of experience in the career counseling industry as a Senior Content Writer. She has also worked as a Social Media Marketing Expert for a startup and Content Quality Analyst for the Publishing and E-learning Industry. She has done her Master’s in Commerce and PGDM in Finance & Trade and Marketing & HR, but she is currently following her passion for writing.
This definitely be the next preference.
Thank you, it was very helpful and informative.