Do you want to help people hear again for the very first time?

Most people never realize how important hearing is until they start to lose it. But for those who have experience a loss in this sense, they can tell just how much a lack of hearing ability has affected their everyday lives.

Enter the audiologist. These trained professionals work with patients, such as those who are hearing-impaired, to improve or maintain their current level of hearing.

Keep reading to find out more about what audiologists do and if you’d be a good fit for this career.

No Average Day

When a patient is having trouble with their ears, related to hearing or otherwise, an audiologist may be called in. During the consultation, audiologists will likely do a few of the following:

• Check the patient’s ears for blockage and remove it or recommend a way to do so
• Do a hearing exam
• Have patients stand or turn quickly to evaluate dizziness or balance issues
• Test tinnitus, also known as ringing in the ears, and offer solutions on how to reduce the effect
• Prescribe hearing aids or other technological options
• Assist with psychosocial elements related to hearing denial

Audiologists are not responsible for inserting tubes into a patient’s ear(s). This is primarily left up to an Ear, Nose, and Throat, or ENT doctor. When tubes are needed, there may be an infection of the middle ear (located behind the eardrum).

If there is such a problem, audiologists can diagnose the infection and recommend an ENT doctor.

Most patients don’t require ENT referrals, and audiologists often deliver positive outcomes for the hearing-impaired.

Other Benefits of Being an Audiologist

Many audiologists report the amazing sensation they get when they help someone hear or hear clearly for the first time. The career is a rewarding one, and it doesn’t deal with the fatal consequences that can be experienced with other healthcare jobs.

Audiologists can start working in a hospital and eventually open up their own clinic. This type of career advancement opens loads of profitable doors as professionals make their way in the world. Speaking of profits, audiologists make a nice annual salary. On average, an audiologist makes about $75,000 a year.

Another audiology bonus is demand. According to the U.S. Bureau Labor of Statistics, the need for audiologists is likely to go up by 21% within the next decade. Needless to say, the higher the demand for an occupation, the larger the salary offered.