The Profession of Audiology - SPAA 343 

- Scope of practice - 

> "terminology used by licensing boards for various professions that defines the procedures, actions, and processes that are permitted for the licensed individual 

> Related with ASHA and AAA 

- State licensing boards - 

> Every 2 years, you have to have 36 hours in the state of Indiana 

> Each state has a board that handles licensure for various professionals 

> The board determines the requirements necessary for licensing and practice 

> If you don't meet the requirements for hours for your license, that is unethical 

> The Indiana Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board of Indiana professional licensing agency sets the requirements in the state of Indiana 

- Scope of Practice in Audiology - 

> test hearing and balance in all ages 

> Audiological Evaluation 

         - behavioral and physiological tests of hearing auditory function 

        - behavioral testing --> getting hearing tested and raising a hand when hearing the beep 

        - Physiological testing --> good for babies, disabilities, and brain injuries 

> Balance testing and Rehabilitation 

> cerumen management ---> getting earwax cleaned out 

> Administration of hearing loss prevention programs (AKA hearing conservation program) 

> Administration of newborn screening programs 

> Auditory processing = difficulty understanding speech 

> Evaluation and Rehabilitation of Tinitus 

         - Tinnitus = ringing in one or both ears 

> Hearing Habilitation/Rehabilitation 

         - fitting and verification of hearing aids, cochlear implants, and assistive listening devices 

> Speech screening 

> Intra- Operative Monitoring 

> Research 

> Education 

- Work Settings - 

> ENT Office 

> Clinic or Hospital 

> Private Practice 

> Unviersity 

> Hearing Aid Manufactor 

> School System ( educational Audiologist ) 

> Industry (industrial audiologist ) 

> Government (Military or veterans Affairs) --> largest hearing aid production - 9-10% 

- Association with other professionals - 

> Otolaryngologists (ENTS) or Otologists 

> Pediatricians --> work with little kids and babies 

          - 240- 250 babies in Indiana are born with hearing loss 

           - The biggest cause of hearing loss in pediatrics is Ottis Media or Induced Hearing Loss 

           - Physiological Methods are primarily used for Pediatrics 

> Family practice Physicians --> gatekeeping for adult practice 

> Speech-Language Pathologists 

> Occupational and Physical Therapists --> work with balance cases and hearing aids 

> Medical Geneticists and Medical Counselors --> deal with genetic hearing loss and hearing disorders 

> Educators --> important for teachers to know if a child in his/her classroom has a hearing loss or a disorder 

> Psychologists and social workers 

- Educational Requirments - 

> Doctoral Degree 

      - degree will depend on the training program 

               * Doctor of Audiology (AuD) --> Clinical 

               * Doctor of Philosophy (phD) ---> philosophy 

               * Other Doctoral (ScD, EdD) 

              * Masters received before 2007 

      -  Most recent grads will have an AuD 

> AuD programs 

       - began in the mid-1990s 

      - BSU was the third program in the nation and began in 1995 (2nd oldest existing ) --> only have AuD at BSU (clinical) 

      - The majority of AuD programs have been in existence since 2001 - 2003 

     - All programs (except 2) are 4 years in length 

     - 3 years on campus and at local extern sites 

     - 1 year of full-time supervised work experience anywhere in the country 

- BSU AuD Program Requirments - 

> 100 hours of Academic Credit 

     - 73 credit hours of academic coursework 

     - 18 credit hours of. clinical practicum experiences 

    - 9 credit hours for a one-year clinical externship 

   - 1820 clinic hours 

   - written and practical comprehensive exams ---> still going on today 

- Requirements for State Licensure - 

> Pass National Praxis Exam 

       - in some programs, this is also an academic requirement (not at BSU) 

      - all states will require this for licensure 

> Pass specific state tests 

      - Ex.) test for hearing aid dealer's license 

> Proof of meeting academic degree requirements 

> Maintenance of Licensure Fees and continuing education 

- Professional Organizations - 

> Support the profession 

        - provides services to members 

       - lobbying for appropriate legislation 

      - Support research 

      - disseminate information 

     - help establish a scope of practice, best practice procedures, guidelines for ethical practice 

> May provide a certification program 

       - certifies that a member has met the organization's requirements for certification 

       - Certification is not necessary for a state license to practice

       - Most states accept certification as proof of meeting their minimum requirements for licensing 

- Types of Professional Organizations -  

> American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) 

         - certification in Audiology (CCC-A) ----> Have to have this to work with students 

        - certification in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) 

> American Academy of Audiology (AAA) 

> Academy of Doctors of Audiologists (ADA) 

> American Board of Audiology 

         - board certification in audiology 

- Maintaining Membership in Organizations - 

> Pay annual fees (currently approx $300 a year depending on the organization 

        - state license = $100-150 a year depending on the state 

> Maintain continuing education hours 

       - varies with an organization - ex.) 10-15 hours per year 

-  Epidemiology of Hearing Loss - 

> More than 31 million people in the U.S have hearing loss ---> this number is on the rise 

> Approximately 1/3 of all cases of hearing loss are partly attributable to noise exposure ----> The percentage may increase with exposure to cell phones, MP3 players, etc. 

> Hearing loss resulting from noise exposure is called Noise-Induced Hearing Loss 

              - Age and noise are the 2 main causes of hearing loss 

             - Age is the single leading cause for hearing loss 

             - effects of noise are cumulative over a lifetime 

> Aging is associated with hearing loss, which is referred to as Presbycusis 

> 10% of the United States has a hearing loss ---> 31-40 million people 

> 1 to 3 out of 1000 babies are born with hearing loss 

           - 50% of congenital loss is genetic 

> Baby Boomers are a big population for SLP and Audiology 

> 75 % of all children will experience at least one amount of Ottis Media before the age of 3 years, resulting in temporary hearing loss 

> Audiologists see a heavy hearing loss in factory workers and service members 

> Tinnutis and Ottis Media can be claimed for Veterans Disability 

- Assessing Auditory Function - 

> Behavioral vs. Physiological Methods 

> Behavioral Methods require a response from the patient 

          - pure-tone hearing test ----> have students raise hand or voice action 

         - Tests of speech, hearing, and understanding 

         - tests for complex auditory functions ---> ex.) Dichotic Listening 

> Physiological methods don't require a response ---> used primarily for Pediatricians 

          - Tympanometry ---> quick, painless, and shows the movement of the eardrum 

          - Acoustic Reflex Tests ---> tests reflux of the ear and has the inner muscles tighten to not let loud noises in 

         - Otoacoustic Emissions --> send sounds into the ear and wait for a reaction 

         - Auditory Brainstem Response