Becoming an Audiology Assistant
Audiology Assistants work under the supervision of a licensed Audiologist in the delivery of services to the hearing impaired people. They are engaged with the tasks that are prescribed, directed and supervised by an Audiologist. They help improve access to patient care, increase productivity by reducing wait times and enhance patient satisfaction.
The multi–task responsibilities of an Audiology Assistant include assisting the audiologist in performing routine duties, scheduling patients, packaging and mailing earmold orders, conducting required tests, maintaining inventories of supplies, checking function of all audiology equipments, guiding patients in proper use and care of hearing aids, maintaining official documents etc.
Audiology Assistants work in different healthcare settings such as public and private hospitals, audiology clinics, physicians’ offices etc.
Educational Requirements
To become an Audiology Assistant, aspiring candidates must hold at least a high school diploma or its equivalent. Students can complete a college degree in speech-language pathology, audiology, or a related health course for better job opportunities in this field.
In addition, the aspiring Audiology Assistants should obtain a license and certification laws in their particular state with regard to educational requirements.
Skill Set
Besides the clinical knowledge, an Audiology Assistant possesses various skills such management and organization abilities, strong troubleshooting skills, ability to use sound judgment for independent decision making, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, proficient with basic computer knowledge, ability to work under pressure etc.
Job Outlook and Salary
The job outlook for an Audiology Assistant remains excellent across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 34% during 2012-2022. The average annual salary of an Audiology Assistant was $39,331 in 2013.