Audiology entails the diagnosis of hearing problems, fitting of hearing aids and therapy for patients with impaired hearing. Therapy is aimed at improving language, speech and lip-reading abilities as well as listening disabilities, and also the treatment of persons with cochlear implants.
Audiologists work directly with people, often children and the elderly, investigating problems with patients’ hearing and balance and developing methods of correcting them. To diagnose neurological diseases they make use of certain techniques and specialised equipment. They study problem cases found during routine tests and carry out further investigations.
Audiologists have to work with medical and scientific staff to develop and assess new hearing aids and equipment for people with hearing impairments. They have to adjust and calibrate equipment used for testing. They may also be responsible for managing a team of biomedical scientists and other support staff such as medical technologists, laboratory assistants and clerical assistants.