Audiologist

Duties and responsibilities:

Common duties of these workers include identifying, assessing and treating problems and balance disorders, discussing symptoms with patients, documenting treatment, ordering equipment and hiring aids. They must be familiar with the latest diagnostic tools available in order to determine both the problem and the best treatment option. Additionally, audiologists may be responsible for determining the level of emotional or mental stress the hearing loss may be causing a patient and referring said patient to the appropriate resources to alleviate the stress.

Salary:

$69,012 - $74,913

Education:

A doctoral degree in audiology is required of all individuals who want to become audiologists. The graduate program typically requires four years to complete; applicants must hold a bachelor's degree to qualify, preferably in a medically-related field. The curriculum required by an audiology program typically includes genetics, anatomy, physiology, communication development, and pharmacology and diagnosis courses. Most audiology programs include an internship or other clinical practice opportunity.