🔅Audiology is a field of science that studies hearing, balance, and related disorders.
– Audiologists are the health care professionals who provide patient-centered care in the prevention, identification, diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment of hearing, balance, and other auditory disorders for people of all ages.
– Some of the functions and procedures that audiologists do from day to day are:
• Examine patients with hearing loss, balance problems, and other problems related to their ears using various tests and tools, such as otoscopy, audiometry, tympanometry, otoacoustic emissions, and electrophysiology
• Counsel patients about hearing health and the possible need for treatment or management, such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, assistive listening devices, tinnitus therapy, or vestibular rehabilitation.
• Assess the candidacy of patients with hearing loss for hearing aids and cochlear implants and provide fitting, programming, and audiological rehabilitation to ensure the best possible.
• Perform ear wax removal procedures and make ear impressions for custom-made ear molds or ear plugs.
• Recommend and provide hearing assistive technology systems (HATS), such as FM systems, infrared systems, or induction loop systems, to enhance communication in various settings.
• Evaluate and manage patients with central auditory processing disorders (CAPD), which affect the ability to understand speech in complex listening environments.
• Screen speech-language skills and refer patients to speech-language pathologists or other professionals if needed.
• Supervise and conduct newborn hearing screening programs in hospitals or clinics to identify infants with hearing loss and provide early intervention.
• Educate and train patients, families, caregivers, teachers, and other professionals on hearing loss prevention, communication strategies, hearing aid use and care, cochlear implant use and care, and other topics related to audiology.
• Collaborate and consult with other health care providers, such as otolaryngologists (ENT doctors), neurologists, psychologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, or educators, to provide comprehensive care for patients with hearing or balance disorders.
• Conduct research and keep up to date with the latest developments and evidence-based practices in audiology.
