The ears are a human being’s only audio-receptive organ pair, meaning ear health is of utmost importance. Ear-related problems are common in people, especially in today’s earphone-heavy culture. People constantly subject their ears to loud sounds and music, causing eardrums and wax accumulation issues. Ear problems need the right healthcare specialist to sort them out. This is where ENT specialists and audiologists enter the conversation. Here are some details about the latter:

Difference between an ENT specialist and an audiologist
An audiologist is a healthcare professional who identifies, diagnoses, assesses, and helps manage hearing, balance, and other neural systems in individuals. In that sense, an audiologist is different compared to an ENT specialist.

While both professionals work with the inner ear and ear canal, an audiologist possesses a more extensive and specialized understanding of the body parts related to hearing and general wellness. While both professions are equally efficient in their own ways, an audiologist tends to be more of a specialist, while ENT specialists veer towards being a general practitioner of the science.

Skills needed for clinical practice
As stated above, an audiologist has in-depth knowledge regarding every aspect of one’s ears. So, an audiologist needs to have three sets of skills to be considered an accomplished professional.

Identification and assessment skills
Firstly, an audiologist needs to have good identification and assessment skills. One must be able to detect, test, diagnose, and manage human hearing, tinnitus, and balance disorders. Based on their findings, an audiologist is expected to interpret test results using objectivity and analytical expertise. In addition, it is important for these professionals to have the skills to advise patients on their hearing health and discuss any necessary treatment or management options.

Also, audiologists are expected to be experts at assessing the candidacy of people with hearing problems to use hearing aids and receive cochlear implants. In addition, they are also required to provide fitting, programming, and audiologic rehabilitation for these and optimize the outcome. This skill also requires supervising and conducting hearing screening programs in newborn kids. After receiving audiologist education from the right institutes, audiologists also need to be adept at evaluating and managing people with central auditory processing problems. What’s more, training people with hearing impairment to use sign language and other factors to optimize their communication is also one of the core responsibilities of an audiologist.

Audiologists’ salary ranges from $52,000 to $130,000 per year. For this amount, an audiologist is expected to perform management and treatments for hearing-impaired clients.

Treatment skills
These involve the otoscopic examination of eardrums and ear canals, the removal of excessive cerumen, and the creation of ear impressions. These are just some of the treatment skills needed.

Training and education skills
These skills include collaborating with educators regarding communication management, the implications of hearing loss, classroom acoustics, educational programming, and large-area amplification systems for children with hearing loss. In that sense, being an accomplished audiologist requires mastery of acoustics and sound dynamics when dealing with hearing-impaired clients.

The process of becoming an audiologist
On average, audiologist fees (the amount of money it takes to complete an audiologist’s degree from a reputed educational institute) are around $76,000-$150,000. On the other hand, receiving a master’s degree in audiology requires about $15,000-$50,000 and takes about 4 semesters to complete. Here is a step-by-step process of becoming an audiologist in the proven, right way:

Earning a bachelor’s degree
Before pursuing a career in audiology, it is essential to obtain a bachelor’s degree that includes coursework similar to pre-med. This degree should cover human biology, physiology, physics, anatomy, and math comprehensively to ensure a solid foundation for audiology.

Receiving a doctorate in audiology
The second step involves receiving a doctorate in audiology. All the most successful and accomplished audiologists get this degree to kickstart their career in this sound-driven field. One can even pursue a master’s degree before diving headfirst into these doctorate preparations. Doctorate programs last four years, with the first two years focusing more on foundational coursework, key comprehension skills assessment, and various clinical observations. On the other hand, the last two years focus on clinical experience and opportunities for hands-on learning.

Passing the Praxis Examination in Audiology
One then needs to prepare for and pass the Praxis Examination in Audiology, a test administered and regulated annually by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and is a compulsory step in audiology levels and certification.

Receive a license from the state
Once a candidate passes the Praxis Examination in Audiology, they need to receive a license from their state to start the certification process and begin preliminary practice.

Completing the certification in audiology
The last step involves completing the certification in audiology and starting full-time practice in the profession.

If one needs an audiologist, one can search for “audiologist near me” on the internet and select the one that best suits one’s needs. One can then visit their office and receive professional care for hearing-related issues.