Undergraduate Program

What is an Audiologist?

Audiologists are specialists who identify, assess, manage, and prevent disorders of hearing and balance. They use a variety of instruments to measure and appraise hearing in people from infancy through old age. Audiologists evaluate and assist individuals with central auditory processing disorders. Audiologists select, fit, and dispense hearing aids and other amplification devices, and they provide guidance in their care and use. They work within educational settings to improve communication and programming for people with hearing disabilities. Audiologists contribute to the prevention of hearing loss by recommending and fitting protective devices and by consulting to government and industry on the effects and management of environmental noise. Like speech-language pathologists, licensed audiologists are independent professionals who practice without a prescription from any other health care provider (ASHA, 1995a, 1999c).

What Services do Audiologists Provide?

Audiologists assess the extent of hearing loss, balance, and related disorders and recommend the appropriate treatment, including aural rehabilitation, hearing aids, and other amplification devices.

Audiologists' services include:

  • Testing and diagnosing hearing and balance disorders in infants, children, and adults.
  • Educating consumers and professionals on the prevention of hearing loss.
  • Selecting, fitting, and dispensing hearing aids and assistive listening, alerting, and captioning devices.
  • Consulting and administering help through hearing conservation programs in industry to prevent workplace-related and recreational hearing loss.
  • Consulting to federal, state, and local agencies on reducing community noise.
  • Conducting research into environmental influences on hearing, new testing methods, and new rehabilitative devices such as cochlear implants.
  • Working with adults and children who need aural rehabilitation such as auditory training and speech reading.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) web site.