Employment Settings for Audiologists

ASHA-certified audiologists provide important services in a variety of settings, including:

Health Care

Nearly three quarters of audiologists (73.5%) are employed in health care settings, including 47.3% in nonresidential health care facilities, 25.1% in hospitals, and 1.1% in residential health care facilities.

Hospitals

Acute care, rehabilitation, and psychiatric hospitals may offer audiology services on an in/outpatient basis. Hospitals may provide services for patients of all ages, while some—such as children's hospitals or hospitals for military personnel or veterans—may serve specialized populations.

Audiologists working in hospitals may: 

• Measure hearing ability, and/or severity of hearing loss in individuals of all ages, including infants.
• Administer and interpret screening, assessment, and diagnostic procedures, such as air conduction, bone conduction, speech audiometry, acoustic immittance (impedance) tests, evoked potential tests, and electronystagmography.
• Design rehabilitation programs to help patients learn to identify sounds.
• Provide aural rehabilitation counseling for communication strategies at home, work, and school to reduce the effects of hearing loss.
• Assess the benefit of amplification devices, such as hearing aids.
• Educate individuals on the use and care/maintenance of hearing aids or other assistive listening devices.
• Collaborate with professionals, patients, and families/caregivers on strategies to meet the needs of individuals with hearing loss.

Private and Group Practice

More than one quarter (28.6%) of audiologists are employed full‐ or part‐time in private practice, which practices may be part of ear, nose, and throat medical offices. Belonging to a private or group practice puts audiologists in charge, with rewards and responsibilities. Audiologists who are self-employed have total ethical, professional, and administrative control of their respective practices and have total financial and legal responsibility and liability.

Residential Health and Long-Term Care Facilities

Audiologists may serve as consultants in nursing homes or assisted living facilities, day treatment centers, or home health agencies.

Education

Overall, 15.6% are employed in educational settings, including 8.4% in schools and 7.2% in colleges and universities.

K–12 Schools

About 131 out of every 1,000 school-age children have some degree of hearing loss that can potentially affect communication, learning, development, and academic achievement. Educational audiologists are uniquely qualified to understand the impact of hearing loss on classroom learning and have the knowledge and skills to recommend specific strategies and technology to meet the individual communication and academic needs of students with hearing loss.

Colleges and Universities

Audiologists have opportunities for teaching, research, and clinical supervisory positions; they may work with a variety of clients/patients in the university core clinical facility and/or its affiliated health care facility.

Developmental Learning Center/Day Care and Treatment Centers

State-funded facilities offer infant and preschool programs for children with disabilities.

State Schools and Intermediate Facilities for Children With Intellectual Disabilities

Audiologists can provide diagnosis and treatment.

Services educational audiologists provide include

• identification of children with hearing loss,
• hearing technology,
• act as key member of the education team,
• ensure quality services.

Local, State, and Federal Government Agencies

Federal Government

Audiologists are employed in administrative and clinical capacities.

State Public Health Departments

Audiology services vary by state, and not all states offer services. In general, audiologists provide consultative services or contractual services to state agencies or direct services to patients.

Uniformed Services

Clinicians and research scientists are employed by the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, and U.S. Navy. 

Industries With Hearing Conservation Programs

Audiologists plan and execute hearing conservation programs for workers.