Audiology

Subject description

Audiology is the science of hearing and balance and is a rapidly developing field where the demand is high for registered practitioners who usually work in the NHS with both children and adults, often in close collaboration with doctors, nurses, speech therapists and other practitioners. Currently in the UK, one person in seven has a hearing problem and audiologists use scientific, medical and clinical knowledge, and specialist equipment, to measure the hearing capacity of patients to find out the extent and nature of their hearing loss or balance disorder. They also test and fit hearing aids and teach patients how to use them.

The profession has been re-organised. New career structures have been put in place and new education and training programmes introduced. Courses generally last four years, with considerable time spent in clinical placements in health centres, nurseries, schools and hospitals, in addition to the clinical placement year. Programmes also include formal lectures, workshops, laboratory classes, practicals and shadowing of practising clinicians. Successful completion of the courses approved by the Department of Health leads to state registration and licence to practise in the NHS.

Applicants to Audiology courses will need to complete Health and Criminal Records Disclosure forms and must have CRB clearance prior to their clinical placements.

Example areas of study

Audiology courses consist of academic study and of professional and clinical training. Courses differ in the way they are structured but follow the general guidelines of accrediting organisations. The following is a list of example topic areas you are likely to find in Audiology courses:

• Anatomy and physiology
• Neurophysiology
• Acoustics and sound physics
• Statistics and mathematics
• Development of hearing, speech and language
• Auditory assessment
• Deafness
• Paediatric audiology
• Balance and balance disorders
• Diagnostic audiology
• Language and communication
• Medical audiology
• Audiological instrumentation and calibration
• Hearing aids, instrumentation and cochlear implants
• Auditory and Speech sciences and lipreading
• Rehabilitation of adults with hearing difficulties
• Child development
• Biomedical Science
• Psychology
• Communication training
• Counselling skills
• Vestibular science
• Auditory clinical skills laboratory
• Inter-professional learning
• Research and management
• Projects and clinical practice

Career possibilities

Career opportunities are good both within the UK and throughout the world: the demand for hearing assessment and rehabilitation services and therefore for qualified registered audiologists is very high. Audiologists work in hospitals, community-based practices and in audiological and neurosciences research. Some also work in private practice.

What do I need to get on a course?

The entry requirements for these courses don't vary dramatically but it is important to make sure that you check the exact requirements in terms of grades and qualifications that are required of you. The list below is intended as a guide:

• UCAS Tariff: 240 - 320 points including a science subject
• A-levels: CCC - ABB including a science subject
• SQA Highers: BBBBB-AABBB including a science subject
• SQA Advanced Highers: BBB including a science subject
• Irish Leaving Certificates: BCCCC at Higher Level
• International Baccalaureate: 26 - 33 including a science at Higher level
• European Baccalaureate: 75% including a science subject
• Welsh Baccalaureate: BB including a science subject
• BTEC National Diploma: MMM - DDM in a relevant science subject

For your application or interview, evidence of the following could be useful:

• Work shadowing in a hospital audiology department
• Discussion of the training and work with an audiologist
• Work experience involving people, especially those with hearing difficulties
• Fund raising for relevant charities, for example Hearing Dogs for the Deaf
• Interest in medical sciences, psychology, speech and language
• Some knowledge and understanding of the difficulties experienced by adults and children with hearing or balance problems
• Useful websites include Audiology Resources and  The British Academy of Audiology

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