What Is a Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.)?

If you have hearing loss, you may be wondering what kind of doctor to see. This is a great question, as your hearing is as important as any other medical condition you may have, and it’s important to see an expert who can provide long-term care and guidance on your journey to better hearing. If you’ve been noticing your hearing loss has gradually gotten worse, you may be part of the 2.8 million U.S. adults who have hearing loss that can benefit from using hearing aids provided by an audiologist.

Understanding the Au.D. Degree

An audiologist, hearing aid doctor, doctor of audiology, aud., ear doctor – no matter the term, these medical professionals receive professional degrees to diagnose, provide rehabilitation and fit hearing technology for people with hearing loss. Technically, yes, an audiologist with an Au. D. is a Doctor of Audiology. However, these doctoral degrees only became mandatory in the United States in 2007, so many experienced older audiologists may have instead completed Masters-level audiology programs. New audiologists must earn a doctorate degree (Au. D.) after obtaining a bachelor’s degree.

In the United States, audiologists must receive a Doctor of Audiology degree (Au. D.). The AuD program is a three-year course of study that prepares students as independent clinical audiologists. These degrees are typically three-year master’s level programs, following a Bachelor’s Degree, which includes didactic and clinical instructions, as well as an externship, similar to a medical residency. To receive a Doctor of Audiology License in the United States, students must complete more than 300 hours of supervised clinical experience, pass a national exam and complete nine months of post-grad clinical.

Coursework and Clinical Specialization

During this education, audiologists may specialize in a specific area, much like a general physician, practicing pediatric, geriatric or educational audiology. The program emphasizes learning through hands-on experiences, coursework taught by experts in the field, and integration of current research. From day one, students are immersed in clinical experiences, lab activities, and 24/7 access to clinical learning labs.

According to Allied Health Schools, the Au.D. curriculum typically includes the following subjects:

• Anatomy and Physiology: Peripheral Hearing
• Psycho-acoustics
• Signals, Systems & Acoustics for the Communication Sciences
• Biological Foundations of Speech & Music
• Amplification
• Clinical Practice and Practicum

Audiologists vs. Medical Doctors

Audiologists are often not medical doctors or physicians (M.D.). Medical doctors specialized in hearing care are often called Ear, Nose, Throat doctors, or doctors of Otolaryngology. Audiologists, or doctors of audiology, do not perform surgery, and therefore do not prescribe medications or prescription drugs. Services provided by doctors of Otolaryngology are often necessary for more serious conditions in the middle ear, temporal bone or skull, and are often not needed for people with common sensorineural hearing loss.

These medical doctors provide more specialized care for serious hearing issues, such as surgical oncology, endocrine surgery, and endoscopic surgery, to treat conditions such as balance disorders, vascular malformations and sleep apnea. Doctors of Otolaryngology also perform surgery for cochlear implants, which are hearing devices used to restore the ability to hear for people with no natural hearing. While hearing aids are medical devices, they should not cause physical pain; if you’re a hearing aid user who is experiencing discomfort, visit your audiologist for an evaluation.

Professional Career Outlook

Audiology is considered a great career. In fact, in 2015, Time Magazine chose audiology as the best career in America, based on attributes like stress levels, job security, and salary. Audiologists are known for their high level of patient care and the program provides diverse clinical experiences for students, enabling them to enter the professional field with confidence and well-developed knowledge and skills.