Reviewed by Mr. Ranjeet Kumar
Sr. Audiologist, Speech Therapist & Cochlear Implant Specialist, BASLP on
Thinking of making a career in audiology? Go through the article for details.
Audiology includes the study of speech and hearing disorders. This kind of profession is a good and respected one. The people get satisfied with this job. This course is now an official specialization due to the increase in patients.
If you need any assistance or have a question about Bachelor of Audiology, you can consult our HearingSol experts with your problem, feel free to call us on +91-9327901950. We are always here to help you.
Audiologists use various methods to find out whether an individual is facing a hearing disorder or not. Hearing tests include
- Otoacoustic emission measurements
- Videonystagmography
- Electrophysiological tests
Twenty universities in India, in which eight are public and fourteen are private, some consist of their own multidisciplinary clinical setups, provide Speech Pathology and Audiology programs, which are certified by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI).
There are several audiology courses in India and for all levels like bachelor’s, postgraduate and eventually even doctorate.
Audiology is a branch of science which deals with the learning of hearing, speech, and other related issues via evaluations and treatment through portable amplifiers. It likewise also deals with people’s speech and related issues.
Audiology experts are known as audiologists. They are licensed professionals who hold a graduate degree, Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.), or PH.D. in the hearing sciences.
They treat those with hearing misfortune and effectively avert related damage. Different strategies such as hearing tests, otoacoustic release estimates, Videonystagmography, and electrophysiologic tests are available to build up whether an individual is hearing impaired or not.
They additionally work with a wide scope of cochlear inserts and/or portable amplifiers, pediatric (medical care of infants, children, and adolescents) populaces and evaluation of the vestibular framework.
How to Become an Audiologist / Speech Therapist
Following are some essentials to apply to speech therapist and audiologist:
1. Audiology Qualification
The 4 years doctoral degree in audiology (Au.D.) is a graduate program that should be completed. A bachelor’s degree in any field is the basic need to enter one of these programs.
The Graduate course includes anatomy, physiology, physics, genetics, normal and abnormal communication development, diagnosis, and treatment.
Programs also include clinical practice, accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation. There is a requirement to get a license in most states.
A man or woman either has to have a bachelor’s/master’s diploma in audiology and get enlisted with the Indian Speech and Hearing Association (ISHA) or Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), to proceed along with audiology.
There are various government and private human services organizations that give hearing and speech services.
Almost all of Speech Pathology and Audiology programs are authorized by the Rehabilitation Chamber of India (RCI). Starkey, Widex, Siemens, and Hearing Sol are one of them.
2. Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Audiologists must be licensed in all states. Requirements vary according to states. For specific requirements, contact your state’s licensing board for audiologists.
3. Important Skills For Audiologists
- Audiologists need to communicate test results, diagnoses, and proposed treatments so that patients clearly understand the situation and options. They also may need to work in teams with other healthcare providers and education specialists regarding patient care.
- Need very compassionate. Audiologists work with patients who may get frustrate or emotional because of their hearing or balance problems. Audiologists should be sensitive and supportive of their patients and their families.
- Patience is an important key for Audiologists. They will work with patients who may need a lot of time and special attention.
- Critical-thinking skills. Audiologists must concentrate when testing a patient’s hearing and be able to analyze each patient’s situation, to offer the best treatment. They must also be able to provide alternative plans when patients do not respond to initial treatment.
- Problem-solving skills. Audiologists need to figure out the problem causing loss of hearing and balance and determine the treatment.
Available Audiology Courses In India
There are many courses to be an audiologist, starting from diploma to masters and even PH.D. The most acknowledged course for audiology is BASLP.
Topics Covered in BASLP
- Introduction to Audiology
- Introduction to Linguistics
- Basic Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Psychology-related to Speech and Hearing
- Clinical Practicum
Some Audiology & Speech-Language Pathologists Courses
- Bachelor of Science in Audiology and Speech Rehabilitation: B.Sc. (Audiology and Speech Rehabilitation)
- Bachelor of Science in Audiology: B.Sc. (Audiology)
- M.Sc. (Audiology and Speech Rehabilitation)
- M.Sc. (Audiology)
- PH.D. (Audiology)
- Diploma in Hearing Language and Speech (D.H.L.S.)
- Diploma in Audiometry Technician
- Doctoral degree in Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology or Special Education
- Master of Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology (MASLP) – 2 yrs
- Bachelor of Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology [BASLP] – 4 yrs
- Diploma in Hearing, Language & Speech (DHLS) – 1 yr
- Postgraduate Certificate Course in Auditory Verbal Therapy [PGCAVT] – 6 months
- Postgraduates in Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology can work as lecturers, research officers and master trainers in institutions and medical colleges conducting training programs and/or research in the field.
- Graduates in Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology can practice as independent audiologists and speech-language pathologists. They will be eligible to work in hospitals (Department of ENT, pediatrics, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, plastic surgery, and preventive medicine), speech and hearing centers, hearing aid industry, schools for children with cerebral palsy, hearing impairment, mental retardation, child guidance centers, industrial setups, and as supervisors and research assistants in training programs.
- Diploma in Hearing, Language & Speech (DHLS) holders can work as assistants to audiologists and speech-language pathologists in special schools (for children with hearing impairment, mental retardation, etc.), clinics, District Disabilities Rehabilitation Centers and Rural Health Centers.
- Ed. (HI) / (HH) / Spl. Edu. (HI) trained teachers can seek employment in special schools for children with hearing impairment, resource units attached to regular schools, and in Integrated Education for Disabled (IED) / District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) Schemes/SSA/RVM. [HI=Hearing Impairment
- Ed. (HI) trained teachers can also get appointed as principals, high school teachers, lecturers, research officers, and master trainers in institutions conducting training programs.
- Teachers holding a diploma in Special Education.
- Doctoral degree in Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology or Special Education.
Specialized Fields An Audiologist Can Prefer To Follow
- Paediatric diagnostics / amplification
- Cochlear implants
- Educational Audiology
- Intra-operative neurophysiological monitoring
- Vestibular and balance issues
- Industrial hearing conservation
- Content
Objectives Of The Audiology Courses
- To develop complete proficiency in audiology in order to serve humanity and pursue a career as well.
- Develop high ethical standards of practice and become an idol for others.
- To provide world-class facilities and the latest know-how in the field.
Top Institutes in India Offering Bachelor in Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology
There are many colleges or institutes which offer audiology course. Here is the list of top colleges/institutes which offer Bachelor in Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology (BASLP).
| Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped (AYJNIHH) | Mumbai |
| All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) | New Delhi |
| Gujarat University (GU) | Gujarat |
| University of Madras | Chennai |
| Osmania University (OU) | Hyderabad |
| Kasturba Gandhi Medical College | Manipal |
| National Institute of Speech & Hearing (NISH) | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Sri Ram Chandra Bhanj Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH) | Cuttack |
| JM Institute of Speech &Hearing (JMISH) | Patna |
| Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR) | Jaipur |
| TN Medical College | Mumbai |
| Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) | New Delhi |
Careers in Audiology
A degree in speech and hearing in India and abroad is perceived as trained as a hearing and speech expert. Hopefuls having a degree in discourse and hearing can get work in various government and private organizations.
Audiologists can discover occupations by educating and social insurance foundations. Audiologists likewise work in colleges and lead look into.
The Indian discourse, as well as hearing specialists, are sought after over the globe; especially in the west on account of their extraordinary multilingual/multicultural foundation and great correspondence in English.
There is a quickly developing group of qualified and gifted Indian Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists over the world; in North America, Singapore, and Australia.
In India, there are not many discourse and hearing experts/audiologists whereas the prerequisite surpasses the supply. This clearly infers, there is an amazing degree for those wandering into this field.
Career-Related To An Audiologist
An audiologist need not be confined to one job profile. There are many more profiles to explore. Some of them are mentioned below for those who are interested.
- Researcher
- Clinical Product Research Audiologist
- Clinical Instructors
- Professor
- Clinic Assistant
- Public health specialists
- Private practitioners
- Consultant
- Sales Representative
- Audio Distributor
- Speech-Language Pathologist
- Occupational Therapist
- Certified Surgical Technologist
Nowadays Audiology is not confined to clinics only, rather it has become a vast business. Being an Audiologist is a very responsible task.
And if you are ready to take on this task, then hopefully this article has guided you. This article contains the much-needed information any aspiring audiologist may need.
Importance Of An Audiologist
An audiologist expert delivers professional and personalized services to the people for improving their involvement in important activities in their daily lives and better their quality of life.
The audiologist can help to prevent, diagnose, and treat hearing loss for people of all ages. They provide services that can help with managing issues affecting hearing and balance. These include:
- Hearing Loss – Evaluate and treat hearing, balance, and tinnitus disorders.
- Tinnitus – Advise people about how to treat and cope with ringing in the ears.
- Hearing Aids/Assistive Technology – Select and custom-fit hearing aids and assistive technology.
- Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention – Explain how to protect hearing from the effects of noise.
- Dizziness and Balance – Evaluate and treat balance problems.
- Hearing Screening and Testing – This process performs on individuals to identify possible hearing loss. Testing will confirm if a hearing loss is present or not and determine the kind and degree of loss.
If you need any assistance or have a question about Bachelor of Audiology, you can consult our HearingSol experts with your problem, feel free to call us on +91-9327901950. We are always here to help you.
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