Audiologist

Assess and treat persons with hearing and related disorders. May fit hearing aids and provide auditory training. May perform research related to hearing problems.

On the job, you would:

Maintain patient records at all stages, including initial and subsequent evaluation and treatment activities.
Evaluate hearing and balance disorders to determine diagnoses and courses of treatment.
Fit, dispense, and repair assistive devices, such as hearing aids.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Audiologists need to convey information, including test results and proposed treatments, so that patients understand their diagnosis and options.

Compassion. Audiologists should be empathetic and supportive of their patients, who may be frustrated because of their hearing or balance problems.

Critical-thinking skills. In order to propose the best treatment options, audiologists must concentrate when testing a patient’s hearing and in analyzing the results.

Interpersonal skills. Audiologists often collaborate with other healthcare providers regarding patient care.

Patience. Audiologists work with patients who may have communication difficulties and need extra time or attention.

Problem-solving skills. Audiologists must figure out the causes of hearing or balance problems and determine appropriate treatment options. They also must be able to propose alternatives if patients do not respond to initial treatment.

Personality

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Characteristics of this Career
		98%	Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
		98%	Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
		90%	Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
		89%	Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
		89%	Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
		86%	Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
		83%	Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
		81%	Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
		80%	Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
		78%	Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
		78%	Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
		76%	Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
		76%	Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
		75%	Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
		74%	Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
		66%	Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Strengths
		95%	Investigative - Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.
		89%	Social - Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Values of the Work Environment
		89%	Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
		78%	Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
		75%	Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
		67%	Recognition - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
		67%	Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
		67%	Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Aptitude

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Abilities \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		78%	Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
		78%	Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
		75%	Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
		75%	Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
		75%	Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
		75%	Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
		75%	Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
		72%	Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
		69%	Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
		69%	Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
		66%	Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
		63%	Hearing Sensitivity - The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
		60%	Auditory Attention - The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
		56%	Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
		53%	Perceptual Speed - The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
		53%	Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
		53%	Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Skills \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		71%	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
		64%	Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
		64%	Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
		63%	Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
		63%	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
		61%	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
		61%	Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
		59%	Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
		57%	Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
		55%	Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
		55%	Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
		55%	Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
		54%	Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.

Job Details

Responsibilities

Train patients, family members, or caregivers in techniques for managing disabilities or illnesses.

Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment.

Enter patient or treatment data into computers.

Maintain medical or professional knowledge.

Conduct research to increase knowledge about medical issues.

Present medical research reports.

Develop medical treatment plans.

Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.

Test patient hearing.

Examine patients to assess general physical condition.

Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment.

Merchandise healthcare products or services.

Recommend types of assistive devices.

Adjust prostheses or other assistive devices.

Advise medical personnel regarding healthcare issues.

Communicate health and wellness information to the public.

Train patients, family members, or caregivers in techniques for managing disabilities or illnesses.

Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.

Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments.

Inspect work environments to ensure safety.

Conduct health or safety training programs.

Refer patients to other healthcare practitioners or health resources.

Manage healthcare operations.

Record patient medical histories.

Examine patients to assess general physical condition.

Administer basic health care or medical treatments.

Train medical providers.

Supervise patient care personnel.

Develop health assessment methods or programs.

Manage healthcare operations.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent
		99%	Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
		99%	Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
		98%	Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
		93%	Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
		91%	Deal With External Customers - How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?
		91%	Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
		90%	Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
		90%	Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
		88%	Physical Proximity - To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people?
		86%	Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
		85%	Letters and Memos - How often does the job require written letters and memos?
		81%	Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
		80%	Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
		78%	Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
		73%	Exposed to Disease or Infections - How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
		71%	Spend Time Sitting - How much does this job require sitting?
		67%	Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
		64%	Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
		61%	Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
		61%	Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
		59%	Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People - How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
		58%	Level of Competition - To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
		51%	Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
		66%	Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Tasks & Values
		97%	Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
		94%	Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
		94%	Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
		93%	Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
		93%	Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
		91%	Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
		90%	Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
		89%	Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
		85%	Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
		83%	Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
		82%	Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
		78%	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
		78%	Selling or Influencing Others - Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
		77%	Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
		76%	Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
		76%	Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
		74%	Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
		73%	Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
		73%	Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
		72%	Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
		72%	Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
		71%	Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
		70%	Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
		68%	Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
		64%	Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
		64%	Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
		64%	Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
		63%	Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
		61%	Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment - Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
		59%	Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
		58%	Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
		58%	Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
		57%	Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
		54%	Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
		51%	Staffing Organizational Units - Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.

What Audiologists Do

Audiologists diagnose, manage, and treat patients who have hearing, balance, or related problems.

Duties

Audiologists typically do the following:

Examine patients who have conditions related to the outer, middle, or inner ear
Assess the results of the examination and diagnose problems
Create treatment plans to meet patients’ goals
Provide care for routine procedures, such as testing
Fit and dispense hearing aids and other assistive listening devices
Counsel patients and their families on ways to listen and communicate, such as by lip reading or through technology
Evaluate patients regularly to monitor their condition and modify treatment plans, as needed
Record patient progress
Research the causes and treatment of hearing and balance disorders
Educate patients on ways to prevent hearing loss

Audiologists diagnose conditions such as hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ear). They use a variety of devices to identify the extent and underlying cause of hearing loss. For example, with audiometers they measure the volume and frequency at which a person hears.

Treatment depends on the type and severity of a patient’s hearing loss and may range from cleaning wax out of ear canals to fitting and checking hearing aids. (Audiologists’ ability to diagnose as well as treat patients distinguishes their work from that of hearing aid specialists.) Audiologists work with physicians and surgeons treating patients whose hearing may be improved with cochlear implants, small devices that are surgically embedded near the ear to deliver electrical impulses to the auditory nerve.

Audiologists also counsel patients and their families on adapting to hearing loss, such as through use of technology, and may refer them to resources and other support.

In addition to their work related to hearing conditions, audiologists help patients who have vertigo or other balance problems. For example, they may demonstrate exercises involving head movement or positioning to relieve some symptoms.

Some audiologists work with specific age groups, such as older adults or children. Other audiologists may fit patients for products that help protect their hearing on the job.

Work Environment

Audiologists held about 14,400 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of audiologists were as follows:

Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists	27%
Offices of physicians	25
Hospitals; state, local, and private	14
Educational services; state, local, and private	11

Some audiologists, such as those contracted by a school system, travel between multiple facilities. Audiologists may work closely with other healthcare specialists, including audiology assistants (a type of medical assistant), physicians and surgeons, registered nurses, and speech-language pathologists.

Work Schedules

Most audiologists work full time. Some work weekends and evenings to meet patients' needs.

Getting Started

Education:

95%

Doctoral Degree

Post-Doctoral Training

How to Become an Audiologist

Audiologists must be licensed in all states.

Audiologists typically need a doctor of audiology (Au.D.) degree to enter the occupation. All states require audiologists to be licensed.

Education

Audiologists need a doctor of audiology (Au.D.) degree, which typically takes 4 years to complete. To enter an Au.D. program, students need a bachelor’s degree.

Au.D. coursework includes anatomy and physiology, diagnosis and treatment, and statistics. Students also complete supervised clinical practice.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Audiologists must be licensed in all states. Requirements vary by state but typically include having earned an Au.D. from an accredited program. For specific requirements, contact your state’s licensing board for audiologists.

Audiologists may earn other credentials, such as certificates or certifications offered by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the American Board of Audiology. These credentials usually require completion of an accredited doctor of audiology program and passing an exam. Some employers may require or prefer that candidates have certification or a certificate, and in some states having the credential can help to meet licensure requirements.

Job Outlook

Employment of audiologists is projected to grow 11 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 900 openings for audiologists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Because health problems are prevalent in older age groups, an aging baby-boom population will continue to increase the demand for most healthcare services. This includes hearing loss and balance disorders, with larger numbers of older people creating increased demand for audiologists.

The early identification and diagnosis of hearing disorders in infants also may support employment growth. Growing awareness regarding advances in hearing aid technology, such as smaller size and reduced feedback, may make such devices more appealing as a means to treat auditory loss. This may lead to more demand for audiologists.

Contacts for More Information

For more information on state-specific licensing requirements, contact the state’s licensing board.

For more information about audiologists, including requirements for certification and state licensure, visit

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)

American Academy of Audiology

For more information about accredited audiology programs, visit

Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE)

Council on Academic Accreditation

Similar Occupations

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of audiologists.

Occupation	Job Duties	Entry-Level Education	Median Annual Pay, May 2022
Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners	Nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners coordinate patient care and may provide primary and specialty healthcare.	Master's degree	$125,900
Optometrists	Optometrists diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system, including examining eyes and prescribing corrective lenses.	Doctoral or professional degree	$125,590
Physical Therapists	Physical therapists help injured or ill people improve movement and manage pain.	Doctoral or professional degree	$97,720
Physicians and Surgeons	Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance.	Doctoral or professional degree	$229,300
Psychologists	Psychologists study cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how individuals relate to one another and to their environments.	See How to Become One	$85,330
Speech-Language Pathologists	Speech-language pathologists assess and treat people who have communication disorders.	Master's degree	$84,140

Audiologist

What they do: