Skip to content
Student Academy of Audiology
  • Career
    Resources
    • Job Board
    • Externships
    • Certification
    • New Audiologist Resources
  • Education
    • Grants and Scholarships
    • Events
    • SAA Conference
    • Doctoral Programs
    • Undergraduate Programs
  • Get Involved
    • Chapters
    • Advocacy
    • National Campaigns
    • Committees
    • Volunteer
  • Publications
    • SAA Blog
    • Audiology Today
    • JAAA
  • About
    • Membership
    • Benefits
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • Leadership
  • Contact Us
  • Audiology Community
  • The Academy
  • Join
  • Member Login
FacebookLinkedinYoutubeInstagram
  • Audiology Community
  • American Academy of Audiology
  • Join
  • Member Login
  • Renew
Student Academy of Audiology
  • Career
    Resources
    • Job Board
    • Externships
    • Certification
    • New Audiologist Resources
  • Education
    • Grants and Scholarships
    • Events
    • SAA Conference
    • Doctoral Programs
    • Undergraduate Programs
  • Get Involved
    • Chapters
    • Advocacy
    • National Campaigns
    • Committees
    • Volunteer
  • Publications
    • SAA Blog
    • Audiology Today
    • JAAA
  • About
    • Membership
    • Benefits
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • Leadership
  • Contact Us
  • Audiology Community
  • The Academy
  • Join
  • Member Login
wave-mark-white
May 28, 2019

AuD Curriculum and Scope of Practice

  • Education
  • Externship

You may have heard about the new SAA Education and Externship Task Force, a group that recently presented at AAA 2019! They discussed results from the Education and Externship (E&E) Survey that was completed by AuD students, externs, and new professionals in the fall of 2018. Their ultimate goal is to provide a data-driven student perspective on audiology education.

Expanding our knowledge has become increasingly important as the demands placed on audiologists continue to change. The E&E Survey highlighted areas that included pharmacology, medical imaging, and cognitive decline. It was not surprising that students with a dedicated class for those topics reported having significantly more knowledge than students who do not have these dedicated classes. Understanding how these topics are relevant to audiology may help guide future curriculums in audiology programs across the country.

Pharmacology: Currently, audiologists have some knowledge about ototoxic medications and our scope of practice includes performing ototoxic audiologic monitoring. More research is being performed on pharmaceutical agents that cause hearing loss, and likewise, which agents could be used to treat hearing loss. As audiologists are the leaders for treating hearing loss, we will have to understand the candidacy and outcomes of these solutions.

Medical Imaging: Currently, audiologists may have access to imaging including computerized tomography (CT) scans  and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). At this point, we rely on the radiologist’s or physician’s report for interpretation of these images. Likely, audiologists who work with cochlear implant (CI) patients have knowledge about the types of imaging that are required pre- and post- implantation and which internal devices are MRI compatible. Patients will often turn to the audiologist on their CI team to answer these questions. In the future, understanding and interpreting medical imaging can aid audiologists in differential diagnosis for complex cases and answer patient questions confidently.

Cognitive Decline: Currently, audiologists are aware of the correlation between hearing loss and cognitive decline. Some audiologists are beginning to include cognition screenings as we may be the first practitioner to notice signs of decline (e.g., memory loss or dementia). Patient- and family- centered care is being instituted at medical practices nationwide. The demand for cognitive screening and intervention is growing and audiologists will have to learn and understand how that relates to hearing healthcare.

It is critical for students to be involved in committees and task forces that explore the audiologist’s role in healthcare and/or the expansion of our scope of practice. Members of the E&E Task Force sit as student liaisons on educationally-focused committees such as American Board of Audiology, Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education, and Academic Programs Committee. If shaping the future of audiology education excites you, apply to volunteer for the SAA on the audiology community! Applications close June 1, 2019!

Samantha Ramirez, Au.D. is a new graduate from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. She will complete her externship at Kaiser Permanente in Northern California in June of 2019. She has enjoyed her time serving national SAA as a student, and highly encourages current students to get involved!

Share this

Related Posts

Career Resources, Externship

Halfway Through Your Externship…Now What?

By Alexis Leiderman, BS If you are like me, you might have just had that “oh shoot” moment. That moment you never thought you would actually have: you will be graduating in a mere few months. So…now what? Time really has flown by and externship is already halfway over. You have had good days, bad…

Read More
Studying Tips for the Winter Months
Education

Studying Tips for the Winter Months

By Kylie DeLaney, BSA.T. Still University Brrrrrrr, it’s getting chilly outside! That makes me want to grab a blanket, curl up by the warm fire, and put on a nice holiday movie. But, unfortunately, I still have some studying to do, so I can’t relax just yet. I often find myself to be unmotivated to…

Read More
Alexis Leiderman 2022-2023 SAA President
Education, President's Corner

November 2022
President’s Corner

If you are like me, you are not the biggest fan of standardized tests. Maybe you thought you were done after taking your GRE® (some of us more than once) and that was the end of that. And now, you’re completely overwhelmed because you have to complete another standardized test while also balancing clinic and…

Read More

Join the Student Academy of Audiology

SAA members receive many benefits from externship and career development and networking opportunities within the American Academy of Audiology and more. 

 

Become a Member
saa-logo@2x

Student Academy of Audiology
11480 Commerce Park Drive
Suite 220
Reston, VA 20191

Tel: 703-790-8466
Fax: 703-790-8631

  • Career
    Resources
    • Job Board
    • Externships
    • Certification
    • New Audiologist Resources
  • Education
    • Grants and Scholarships
    • Events
    • SAA Conference
    • Doctoral Programs
    • Undergraduate Programs
  • Get Involved
    • Chapters
    • Advocacy
    • National Campaigns
    • Committees
    • Volunteer
  • Publications
    • SAA Blog
    • Audiology Today
    • JAAA
  • About
    • Membership
    • Benefits
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • Leadership
  • Contact Us
  • Audiology Community
  • The Academy
  • Join
  • Member Login
  • Audiology Community
  • American Academy of Audiology
  • Join
  • Member Login
  • Renew
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Antitrust Policy
  • Sitemap

© Copyright 2023 American Academy of Audiology

Website by Yoko Co

Scroll To Top