Research Audiology Bachelor's Degrees

If you are aspiring to become an audiology technician, sometimes referred to as an audiology assistant, you will spend the majority of your time handling the daily operation of an audiology practice or clinic. As you work to assist an audiologist you may be required to maintain or repair hearing aids, prepare patients for hearing aids, provide testing assistance, or perform administrative functions as needed within the office. The audiologist will be working to diagnose hearing and balance disorders that are displayed as a result of a physiological condition within the ears. This is a growing industry; therefore, additional job responsibilities may continue to be added to what is expected of an audiology technician.

As with any other bachelor's degree program, you must first obtain your high school diploma before you can begin working towards your post-secondary degree program. While it is not a prerequisite, you are likely to be more successful in this degree program if you have a significant knowledge of science and math subject areas on the high school level. Although educational requirements vary from one state to another, in this career field you will likely be served well by obtaining your bachelor's degree along with any relevant certifications that you can. In addition, while the college or university that you choose to attend may not require that you complete a clinical internship, this will likely be beneficial to your potential employment as well as to your skill and knowledge level. Keep in mind, the majority of the instruction you will receive as a part of your bachelor's degree program will be conducted within a classroom setting.

Audiology Schools

If you have the opportunity to complete a clinical internship, then you will have the chance to showcase your abilities and your knowledge in a real world audiologist's clinic. Similarly, it will provide you the opportunity to ensure that this career is suited to your expectations. Often, individuals who are interested in working in the field of audiology will pursue their degree program in communication disorders, audiology, speech language pathology, or other audiology related courses of study. For any of these bachelor's programs you will need to successfully complete courses in the area of audiometry, speech and hearing physiology, and speech and language disorders.

Keep in mind, many audiologists require their audiology technicians to receive more specified, on the job training. Generally speaking, this training will be directly applicable to what your employer will be expecting of you on a daily basis. Since the educational requirements for this career are not consistent across all states, it may be a good idea to speak to audiologists in the area that you plan to seek employment. This will give you the opportunity to identify the educational and training requirements that employers are generally looking for in their potential employees. Typically, by having your bachelor's degree you will be helping to secure your career future and making it more possible for you to advance within this industry.

Academic Audiology Topics

Earn your BA degree from an accredited school and start your audiology career. When researching schools for your audiology degree be sure to look into all of the online options available. Some of the top schools in the county offer online programs. Your program outline for your Bachelor’s Degree in Audiology will cover courses in the following areas.

- Speech and Voice Disorders
- Rehabilitative Audiology
- Hearing Psychology and Science
- Phonemic Disorders
- Balancing and Tinnitus
- Linguistics
- Anatomy and Psychology
- Auditory Systems
- Neurology Methods
- Physical Science and Mathematics
- Speech and Music

As an Audiology Assistant You’ll Learn

You’ll have a lot of responsibilities in your new and exciting career. As an assistant you’ll need the ability to do the following:

- Be responsible for helping the doctor fit cochlear implants.
- Advice clients on speech therapy sessions.
- Examine patients and provide the necessary care.
- Go over with client the treatment options prescribed by the doctor.
- Assist with newborn hearing exam.
- Communicate with family regarding treatments.

Certification and Salary

Earn your AHSA certificate from the American Speech Language Hearing Association in CCC-A for Audiology and CCC-SLP Speech-Language Pathology at www.asha.org. Audiologists can earn on average $76,060 per year. Certification is necessary if you want to work for a hospital or doctor’s office. Areas of the county that have a shortage of assistants will pay higher than the national average.