Audiologists: Beyond the Hearing Test
Of the many schools of medicine, audiology is one of the most unique and fascinating. If you've ever wondered about how the ear works and how the brain processes the sounds around us, audiology may be the field that you are looking for. While most citizen think that audiologists are slight to fitting devices into people's ears after a hearing test, there is a broad spectrum of services that the field offers.
Audiologists: Beyond the Hearing Test
Audiology commonly covers all bodily processes linked to the ear. While a hearing test gives an audiologist clues about a person's responsiveness to sound, there are many underlying factors that can cause problems with a person's interpretation of sound and speech. The ear itself can be infected or damaged, which can be treated medically or sometimes not be treated at all. Other problems may be psychological; there are many mental disorders that keep the brain from properly interpreting words and recognizing speech patterns.
For these reasons, an audiologist commonly must have a good background in speech diagnosis or communication disorders. Most students who wish to ultimately convention in audiology seek out undergraduate degrees in these fields as they offer a solid base for additional studies. For an audiologist to convention on his own, the next step is to gain the pro degree of doctor of Audiology (Au.D.). These programs are pursued instead of a Masters degree. Most want a bachelor's degree linked to the field, but some schools offer combined study programs that last for about 5 years.
With this degree intact, a doctor of Audiology has a few routes to take. For those who do not wish to convention as a doctor, there is much study being done on the complex study of hearing. Test scenarios are permanently being industrialized to help understand the way that the brain processes sound. Much study is being done with stem cells in hopes of looking a way to restore damage to the ear that as of now is permanent. Speech disorders are still very much a mystery in many cases and remain a constant branch of study to researchers across the globe.
If an audiologist seeks to work at a clinic, he will first need certification. Some certifications are required to practice, while others can heighten a doctor's craft and make him more credible. Most clinical doctors deal with elderly patients, giving them a hearing test and fitting them with assistive technology systems. Some specialize in rarer cases, working with cochlear implants to help the deaf or children with speech disorders. Some audiologists focus on creating new solutions for the working world; employees that must work in loud conditions often need protective gear to keep their ears safe.
Whatever an audiologist does in his daily life, he fills an important role in society. As sound plays such an important part in human life, it is important for citizen to have resources to keep their ears functioning and healthy. If you are concerned in this field of study, know that you have many options that are all very much desired by the world at large.
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