In this section
Audiology is about identifying and assessing hearing and balance function and their associated disorders.
You would work with patients of all ages as part of a team, recommending and providing appropriate therapeutic rehabilitation and management.
Audiology is a rapidly developing field, and the need for audiological services is clear. A national study of hearing showed that approximately 16% of the population have a significant hearing loss, indicating that working in this field is an important area of the NHS.
In this area of healthcare science, you could work in areas including:
- paediatrics
- adult assessment and rehabilitation
- special needs groups
- research and development
- teaching
Healthcare science staff in Audiology works in a variety of settings, including hospitals and community settings, where they assess and treat patients. With appropriate further training and development, and depending on their employer, they may reach consultant level. Many operate open referral clinics and may
be the only point of contact for the patient.
Roles in audiology
There are different roles within audiology that you can consider. These include:
- newborn hearing screener
- hearing aid audiologist
- healthcare science practitioner
- clinical scientist
