How to Become an Audiologist

We are human beings, and everything is unpredictable to us. From our future to our health, we never know what awaits us. There might be a time in our lives when we develop issues with our hearing, and that is when we need the help of Audiology and Audiologists. But what exactly is Audiology?

What is Audiology?

Simply put, Audiology deals with problems of hearing and other issues related to it. The word itself can be divided into 'Audio' and 'logy' where 'audio' means hearing and 'logy' means study, simplifying its meaning. Understanding what Audiology is, is an important task, but it is also simple. Audiology meaning, in medical terms, can be said to be the science dedicated to the study of hearing, balance and their associated disorders, including hearing loss evaluation, balance disorder and so on. In this article, let's dive deep into the question of what is Audiology, Audiology meaning, Audiologist meaning, Scope of Audiology, various Audiology and Speech Therapy courses, Career in Audiology, Audiologist Salary in India, Audiology courses in Bangalore and so on.

Branches of Audiology: 

Now, if we talk about the branches of Audiology, the increasing quality and quantity of research in the field has contributed immensely and has diversified it. Following are some of the branches of Audiology:

Scope of Audiology:

Audiology offers a lot of scope as the field specializes in different aspects such as hearing, balance assessment, rehabilitation, and so on. The field also involves the non-medical treatment, which widens its scope even more. Audiologist meaning and the practice of Audiology includes identification, assessment and diagnosis, and treatment. Hence, there is wide scope for learning and an array of career options in Audiology. One can work in rehabilitation centres, nursing care facilities, hospitals, government health departments, centres for the differently-abled, etc. These options clearly show that the scope of Audiology is not confined, but is endless. While Audiology refers to the science of hearing, its disabilities and related impairment, Speech Therapy is an important subset of Audiology that deals with voice, language, speech, and swallowing, as well as ways to diagnose and treat these issues.

Audiology Courses:

During the past few decades, it has been noticed that Audiology courses have become extremely popular. There are different Audiology courses, and the learning period and process may also differ accordingly. Following are some of the popular courses one can choose to build a career in Audiology: 

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) in Audiology:

B.Sc Audiology is an undergraduate course with a duration of 3 years. It is one of the most popular courses amongst students and an important one in the field. The subjects studied in the B.Sc Audiology course include Basic Acoustics and Electronics, Introduction to Audiology, Basic Human Anatomy and Physiology and so on.

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) in Audiology and Speech Pathology:

It is a 3-year undergraduate course. The students learn subjects such as Diagnostic Audiology, Management for Persons with Hearing Impairments, Paediatric Audiology, Basic Medical Sciences and Psychology related to Speech and Hearing.

Bachelor of Science in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (BASLP):

It is a 4-year undergraduate course with a 1-year internship. This course comes under the Allied Health Sciences/ Paramedical stream and is recognised by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI). Theories of Physics and Biology, along with theories of Medical Sciences are taught in this course.

Master of Science (M.Sc) in Audiology:

M.Sc Audiology is a 2-year postgraduate program that includes advanced courses in Audiology. This course helps one to become an experienced professional in Audiology. Once completed, M.Sc Audiology has its benefits.

Master of Science (M.Sc) in Speech-Language Pathology:

This is a 2-year postgraduate course that mainly focuses on imparting knowledge about the discipline of Speech-Language Pathology. The subjects taught in this course include Technology for Speech-Language and Hearing, Neurobiology of Speech and Language, Speech Production, Fluency and its Disorders and so on.

Master in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (MASLP):

This is a 2-year postgraduate course which includes the study of Anatomy and Physiology of both Speech and Hearing. This course also falls under the Allied Health Sciences/ Paramedical stream. The main objective of Audiology and Speech Therapy courses is to treat hearing and speech-impaired people with the help of medical and scientific theories and technologies.

Diploma Courses:

The duration of diploma courses in Audiology varies between 1 and 2 years. A diploma in Audiology can always be a go-to course and can be beneficial in starting a career in Audiology.

PG Diploma Courses:

Postgraduate diploma courses are of 1 to 2 years duration. These courses are suitable for those who want to pursue specialisations in the field after completing a bachelor's degree in Audiology. PG Diploma in Neuro Audiology, PG Diploma in Augmentative and Alternative Communication, PG Diploma in Clinical Linguistics, and PG Diploma in Forensic Speech Sciences & Technology are some popular courses.

Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Audiology:

The course duration is mostly 3 years. After completing this course, the students get an opportunity to work as Lecturers and Professors in the best Audiology colleges. An Audiology Degree is a must to build a successful career in the field. It has its own importance and adds great value to one's career.

Audiology Eligibility Criteria:

Top 10 Audiology Colleges in India:

Now, let us look at some of the top colleges in India which offer courses in Audiology:

1. All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi
2. All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), Mysore
3. Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore
4. SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), Chennai
5. Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Pune
6. Shree Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary (SGT) University, Gurgaon
7. Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS), Thrissur
8. Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS), Jaipur
9. Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry
10. Topiwala National Medical College and Bai Yamunabai Laxman Nair Charitable Hospital, Mumbai

Top Audiology Colleges in Bangalore:

Listed below are some of the top colleges that offer Audiology courses in Bangalore:

1. Dr. S.R. Chandrasekhar Institute of Speech and Hearing
2. Samvaad Institute of Speech and Hearing
3. Bengaluru City University (BCU)
4. Naseema Institute of Speech and Hearing (NAISH)

Career in Audiology:

There are vast career options in Audiology as this is a profession that provides healthcare services to patients, especially focusing on hearing and balance-related issues. Following are some of the popular careers in Audiology:

Forensic Audiologist: specializes in using their expertise for legal purposes. They are practising or certified and licensed Audiologists. 

Clinical Audiologist: examines the patients for their hearing, balance, and ear-related issues. An Audiology degree is a prerequisite to practise as a Clinical Audiologist.

Paediatric Audiologist: diagnoses and treats children with hearing issues and language difficulties. They also run tests, and even design courses of treatment for children with such difficulties.

Speech Therapist: treats people with communication and speech disorders. They have expertise in human communication and related disorders. The average Audiologist and Speech Therapist salary in India varies based on the qualification and experience one has. Some other options that help make a great career in Audiology include Corporate Audiologists, Educational Audiologists, Humanitarian Audiologists, Audiology Assistants and so on.

Who is an Audiologist?

Now, after all this explanation about Audiology and its career options, let's try and understand who an Audiologist is. An Audiologist's meaning is as simple as this whole article is. An Audiologist is a licensed healthcare professional who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing, balance and speech disorders in adults and children. Audiologists have comprehensive knowledge of the human auditory and vestibular systems, and undergo excessive training in sound reproduction.There are different job settings for Audiologists, such as, hospitals, clinics, universities, the military, and the government.

Is an Audiologist a Doctor?  

Is an Audiologist a Doctor? Technically, an Audiologist has a degree in Allied Health Science which makes them more of a Clinician. The degree they earn is not a medical degree. Hence, they are not considered doctors. So, it can be said that Audiologists are Clinicians and not Doctors/ Physicians.

Audiologist Salary:

One important aspect which everyone wants to know about is the salary you earn being an Audiologist. Now, the salary can vary depending upon the educational qualifications and experience. So, here is an average of the Audiologist and Speech Therapist salary in India. The average Audiologist salary in India is in the range of Rs. 4,60,000 to Rs. 6,00,000 per annum, while the Audiologist and Speech Therapist salary in India is in the range of Rs. 2,05,000 to Rs. 4,50,000 per annum. 

Conclusion:

"You only learn the value of a thing when you lose it." People do not value things when they have them perfectly with them until and unless they lose them, and life becomes incomplete and dull. The same goes for hearing. By being an Audiologist, you could help hundreds and thousands of people out there with hearing imbalance and speech issues and make their lives happen for them. Hence, being a part of Audiology and helping people in need could mean a lot. A better hearing is equal to a better living, and if we contribute to making someone's hearing better, it is a social service. All that counts in life is the good deeds you do, and this is one way of getting involved in it.