Audiologist

Summary

SUMMARY: Under the direction of the Chief of Speech Pathology and Audiology, to administer routine and special audiological diagnostic studies on patients with hearing disorder; to participate in planning, directing, and conducting programs aimed at hearing problems, hearing conservation, aural rehabilitation and habilitation; and to other related work as required.

DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: NOTE : The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Not all duties listed are necessarily performed by each individual in the classification.

1. Rehabilitative and Habilitative Audiology: carries out Aural Rehabilitation and Habilitative program that includes visual communication instruction (lip reading instruction, etc.), hearing aid orientation and auditory training, speech correction and speech conservation, counseling of hearing-handicapped patients, their families, and in the case of children, their teachers.

2. Diagnostic Audiology:
a. Basic Audiologic Tests: administers and interprets basic audiological tests such as pure tones, (including air and bone conduction) and speech-hearing tests (including speech reception threshold and speech-sound discrimination).
b. Special Audiological Tests: administers and interprets special audiological procedures such as impedance audiometry, Bekesy audiometry, Reflex Decay, Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR), PI-PB (non-organic) hearing disorders.

3. Hearing Aid Evaluation:
a. Unaided: Administers audiological speech, hearing and warble tone tests in a sound field to determine patients need for a hearing aid.
b. Aided: Performs electroacoustic analysis of hearing aids and administers audiologic speech, hearing and warble tone tests to determine the amount of help a patient might expect from a hearing aid. May also administer a lip reading test to determine amount of visual dependence the patient uses in communicating with others.
c. Provides loaner hearing aids to patients when indicated.

4. Counsels patients and relatives regarding problems resulting from hearing impairment, expectations from amplification, and hearing aid orientation; counsels department and other Fairmont hospital personnel on the management of hearing-handicapped patients, including the care of the patients hearing aid; acts as a consultant in audiology to the community.

5. Writes formal evaluation reports; keeps records regarding the patients care and progress; attends inter-disciplinary staff conferences to discuss the problems and progress of various patients; participates in staff meetings for planning total patient care.

6. Performs hearing tests on patients who are to be administered potentially toxic drugs; carries out hearing monitoring programs for such patients.

7. Conducts workshops to instruct personnel in the proper use of equipment within the department; ensures that all electroacoustic equipment is up-to-date, properly maintained and calibrated quarterly; keeps accurate maintenance records.

8. Ensures audiological services provided are reimbursable and within guidelines.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education : Possession of a Master's Degree in Audiology from a school approved by the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association (ASLAHA).

Required Licenses/Certifications : Current Licensure with the California Speech Language Pathology and Audiology Board. Possession of a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A) from the American Speech, Language, Hearing Association. Audiologists must have both a state license and their certificate of clinical competence from ASHA.