There is no bigger fear than coping with health issues. Especially if they are long-term ones. Hearing is one of the most sensitive and fragile senses we were blessed with, so it definitely requires special care. But experiencing hearing problems while not knowing where to turn to can cause even bigger frustrations and pain. No matter if you are a child or an adult, hearing loss is a serious issue that needs to be taken care of. If this is your case, the safest thing to do is to visit a reputable Melbourne audiology clinic and see an experienced audiologist who will examine your hearing abilities and prescribe hearing aids if necessary.

If you thought that being an audiologist means just sitting in an office and talking to patients about how well they do or do not hear, you are so wrong. Becoming an audiologist is not a simple task, it takes a lot of time, efforts, extensive training and acquiring skills to deal with hearing loss at all ages. Audiologists are professionals trained to treat issues related to the structure of the middle and inner ear, the vestibular system, and the cohlea (which can damage hearing).

Here’s an insight into the process of becoming an audiologist, read on to find out the basic requirements and the initial steps to become one.

Requirements

In order to become an audilogist, you first need to become a Master of Clinical Audilogy. To earn such degree, you’ll need to enroll in one the 5 universities: Flinders University, South Australia, Melbourne University,Victoria and University of Queensland. These all offer top quality lessons and practice.

MCAud (Master of Clinical Audiology) is a two year, full-time program which includes course work and supervised clinical practicum of about 200 hours (depending on the university you choose). Relevant undergraduate degrees include psychology, linguistics, speech and hearing science, biomedical science and behavioral or physical science. Whether you get accepted into the program or not, mainly depends on your grades. Plus, you will have to attend an interview so that they ensure you possess the needed requirements for a professional audiologist.

Where do they work?

Audiologists mostly work in hospitals, clinics, schools, research centres, government agencies, universities as well as in manufacturing companies. However, many of them have their own Melbourne audiology clinic and work independently on their own.

Education

An audiologist must earn a doctorate degree (PhD or AuD). Having a bachelor’s degree is the first and most important part of becoming an audiologist. There is no specific undergraduate major required, but future audiologists need to take courses in math, physics, psychology and anatomy. Formal audiology training starts at the graduate level. It generally requires at least four years of full-time studies beyond the bachelor’s level. Because there is a research component included, PhD programs may last from 5-6 years.

I believe that if you are passionate enough, you can build a successful career in this field. Think about it, thanks to you many people will be able to hear normally again and do their activities the way they used to. Be their hero.