Audiology entails the diagnosis of hearing problems, fitting of hearing aids and therapy for patients with impaired hearing. Therapy is aimed at improving language, speech and lip-reading abilities as well as listening disabilities, and also the treatment of persons with cochlear implants.
Audiologists work directly with people, often children and the elderly, investigating problems with patients’ hearing and balance and developing methods of correcting them. To diagnose neurological diseases they make use of certain techniques and specialized equipment. They study problem cases found during routine tests and carry out further investigations.
Audiologists have to work with medical and scientific staff to develop and assess new hearing aids and equipment for people with hearing impairments. They have to adjust and calibrate equipment used for testing. They may also be responsible for managing a team of biomedical scientists and other support staff such as medical technologists, laboratory assistants and clerical assistants.
Satisfying Aspects
- helping people to improve their hearing
- working with communication disorders
- the variety of patients and their problems
Demanding aspects
- frustration when unable to help a patient
- difficulty in working with patients who speak foreign languages
- having to keep up-to-date with medical advances
Requirements
- have good hand coordination
- be able to explain clearly and have fluency of speech
- pay attention to detail
- be observant
- be able to put people at ease
- have the ability to investigate
- work well in a team
School Subjects
National Senior Certificate meeting requirements for a degree course.
Compulsory Subjects: Mathematics
Recommended Subjects: Life Sciences, Physical Sciences
Training
Degree: BA or BSc with suitable subjects such as Audiology or Speech and Hearing Therapy- Wits, UCT, UP, UL, UKZN.
Employer
- private practice
- hospitals and clinics
- special schools
- speech and hearing clinics
- Department of Education
Contact
SA Speech-Language and Hearing Disorders Association
P O Box 600
Wits, 2050
Tel: (011) 403-1892
South African Speech-Language-Hearing Association
P O Box 10813
Linton Grange, 6015
Tel: 0861 113 297
Fax: (041) 379 5388
www.saslha.co.za