What Training Does an Audiologist Receive?

If you have hearing impairments, then seeing an audiologist could be one of the most important decisions you ever make. This is because audiologists can help to address your hearing issues, diagnose them and come up with the best possible treatment or hearing assistance plan. This can involve getting hearing aids that can substantially improve your ability to hear.

However, if you have never been to an audiologist appointment before, you may be wondering just exactly what audiologists are and what education they typically receive. Audiologists are health professionals who treat people with hearing disabilities. Here is a closer look at the training they receive.

Bachelor’s degree

After successfully completing high school, people who wish to become audiologists have to complete a bachelor’s degree. These degrees primarily come from four-year colleges and universities. Because audiology involves a lot of science, majors related to science are common for audiologists at the undergraduate level.

Graduate degree

Audiologists are required to obtain a graduate degree in audiology. This is where audiologists learn the skills and knowledge needed to work as a professional audiologist. The audiology graduate degree involves studying the biology behind hearing issues, as well as studying the treatments that are commonly given to people with hearing disorders. This is a crucial step for people who want to become audiologists.

Doctoral degree

Ever since the year 2012, it has become necessary for new audiologists to obtain their doctoral degrees in audiology. Requiring new audiologists to obtain this degree is making new audiologists more qualified than ever before to work in the field. Audiology doctoral programs go much deeper into the anatomy of hearing and provide much greater insight into hearing issues and the human body. So essentially, all new audiologists are “doctors.”

Licensing

Following the successful completion of an audiologist’s education, which can be roughly twenty years long when all schooling is considered, licensing is required. All fifty states require audiologists to obtain a license in order to operate legally. To obtain a license, all necessary education must be proven to be completed. Some states also mandate that audiologists do continuing education periodically. However, once an audiologist has been licensed, then he or she can legally operate in a given state.

If you’re concerned you may be suffering from hearing loss, tinnitus or some kind of balance disorder, consider contacting an audiologist in your area. With the education and training required to become an audiologist, they’re the perfect hearing professional to diagnose, treat and provide support for auditory issues.