Educational audiologists work in schools with children and adolescents with hearing loss. To become one, you need a master’s degree or Doctor of Audiology, a license, and patience and communication skills. Employment can be found in schools or districts.
An educational audiologist is a specialist who works in a school setting with children and adolescents with hearing loss. According to a 2008 survey, approximately 14% of audiologists in the United States are educational audiologists. To become an educational audiologist, you must take prerequisite undergraduate courses, apply and enroll in a graduate-level audiology program, and obtain the necessary license in your state or country.
Before deciding to become an educational audiologist, you should determine if you have the necessary skills and interests. An educational audiologist must be very patient, because students with hearing loss may progress more slowly than others. You must also be good with children and be able to communicate well with them and their teachers and parents.
Next, you must research and apply to an appropriate degree program. Recommended majors include communication, communication disorders, or life sciences. If you already have a bachelor’s degree, you may need to take some prerequisite courses such as communications, biology, or psychology before enrolling in graduate school.
To become an educational audiologist, you must have at least a master’s degree in audiology. A Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.), however, is generally preferred and will provide a competitive advantage. An Au.D. The program generally takes about four years to complete. A master’s degree or an Au.D. will help prepare you for a career in educational audiology by providing opportunities for knowledge and research. An educational audiologist must understand the different types of hearing loss and how it affects children’s linguistic, cognitive and social development.
In addition to completing academic programs, you must be licensed in your state or country as an audiologist. Requirements for this license vary by location, but generally require passing a test and completing a period of supervised audiology practice. Some US states honor a national certification standard, available from the American Board of Audiology. You should research the requirements to become an educational audiologist in the state or country in which you want to practice.
Once you’ve completed the necessary training and certification, you’ll be ready to seek employment with a school or school district. Some large schools may have an audiologist on staff. In other situations, a single audiologist may serve a group of schools or an entire district.
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