The Profession of Audiology – Key Vocabulary

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards summarizing major terms, specialties, credentials, and epidemiological facts presented in the Chapter 1 lecture on the profession of audiology.

Audiology

The scientific study of hearing, balance, and related disorders.

Audiologist

A healthcare professional who prevents, identifies, diagnoses, and treats hearing, balance, and other auditory disorders.

Au.D.

Doctor of Audiology; the required four-year professional doctoral degree for clinical audiologists in the United States.

Licensure

State-issued legal authorization required to practice audiology in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Certification

Voluntary professional credential (e.g., ASHA’s CCC-A, ABA Board Certification) demonstrating continued competence and education.

Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A)

ASHA credential requiring specific education, supervised experience, national exam, and 10 hours of continuing education per year.

American Board of Audiology (ABA) Board Certification

Voluntary certification under the American Academy of Audiology that requires 20 hours of continuing education annually.

ASHA

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association; professional organization for audiologists and speech-language pathologists.

American Academy of Audiology (AAA)

Largest professional organization devoted exclusively to audiology practice and research.

Aural Rehabilitation

Services and therapies that improve communication ability of individuals with hearing loss, including auditory training and hearing aids.

Hearing Screening

Quick test to identify potential hearing problems and determine need for full evaluation.

Hearing Evaluation

Comprehensive assessment of peripheral and/or central auditory function to diagnose type and degree of hearing loss.

Electrophysiology

Measurement of electrical activity in the nervous system (e.g., ABR, OAE) to assess auditory function.

ENG/VNG

Electronystagmography/Videonystagmography; tests that evaluate vestibular (balance) system function by recording eye movements.

Cerumen Management

Removal of earwax by an audiologist to ensure unobstructed ear canals for testing and hearing aid use.

Tinnitus

Perception of ringing or noise in the ears or head without external sound, affecting about 50 million Americans.

Hearing Conservation Program

Occupational initiative that monitors noise exposure, educates workers, and provides protection to prevent noise-induced hearing loss.

Hazardous Noise

Sound levels or durations that can cause permanent hearing damage, common in industrial settings.

Medical Audiology

Specialty providing diagnostic hearing and balance services in hospitals, physician offices, and VA centers.

Educational Audiology

Specialty focused on identifying and supporting students with hearing loss to ensure access in school settings.

Pediatric Audiology

Diagnostic and rehabilitative services for infants and children with hearing loss, including family counseling.

Dispensing Audiology

Practice area that evaluates, selects, and fits hearing aids and assistive technology, often in private or ENT offices.

Industrial Audiology

Specialty aimed at preventing occupational hearing loss through noise monitoring, protection, and worker education.

Vestibular Audiology

Diagnosis and rehabilitation of balance disorders such as vertigo, often in collaboration with ENT and physical therapy.

Cochlear Implant Audiology

Evaluation, programming, and counseling of pediatric and adult cochlear implant recipients within multidisciplinary teams.

Recreational Audiology

Hearing conservation and education services targeting leisure activities with high noise exposure (e.g., music, motorsports).

Animal Audiology

Application of hearing assessment techniques to non-human species, often in veterinary or research settings.

Tele-Audiology

Delivery of audiologic services remotely via telecommunication technologies to improve access in underserved areas.

Hearing Aid Dispensing

Process of selecting, fitting, and programming amplification devices to meet individual hearing needs.

Assistive Listening Technology

Devices such as FM systems, streamers, and alerting equipment that improve communication beyond traditional hearing aids.

Auditory Training

Therapeutic exercises that improve the brain’s ability to interpret sound, often following hearing aid or CI fitting.

Balance Disorder (Vertigo)

Condition characterized by dizziness or spinning sensation, assessed and managed by vestibular audiologists.

Otologist

Medical doctor specializing in diseases of the ear; frequently collaborates with audiologists for diagnosis and treatment.

Prevalence of Hearing Loss

Approximately 48 million Americans and 360 million people worldwide experience some degree of hearing loss.

Impact of Hearing Loss in Children

Can hinder speech, language, education, and psychosocial development; recurrent ear infections cost up to $5 billion annually.

Impact of Hearing Loss in Adults

Untreated loss leads to strained relationships, depression, reduced activity, and significant economic costs.

Aural Rehab Center

Facility developed post-WWII for comprehensive rehabilitation of individuals with hearing loss, precursor to modern audiology clinics.

Hearing Aid Evaluation

Clinical process determining candidacy, style, and technology level of amplification devices for a patient.

Job Outlook for Audiologists

Projected 16 % employment growth (2018-2028), much faster than average, driven by aging population and hearing healthcare demand.

Collaboration with Speech-Language Pathologists

Audiologists and SLPs work together to address communication disorders, sharing referrals and treatment planning.

Continuing Education

Ongoing professional learning required for licensure and certification maintenance (e.g., 10–20 hours annually).

Hearing Loss Prevention

Educational and protective strategies implemented by audiologists in schools, industry, and recreational settings to avert damage.

Site-of-Lesion Testing

Diagnostic procedures that determine the specific location of auditory dysfunction within the ear or neural pathways.

WWII Influence on Audiology

Wartime hearing injuries led to creation of military aural rehabilitation centers, prompting audiology’s emergence as a field.