Audiologist

Audiologists work with patients of all ages to prevent, assess, diagnose, and provide treatment and counselling for hearing and balance disorders. In New Brunswick, your audiology career may have you specialized and working with infants, preschoolers, or the elderly. You may also work with people of all ages, depending on the healthcare setting you are part of. An audiologist is trained in the selection of hearing aids and other listening devices for patients. They also help identify and prevent hearing loss when they select and fit protective hearing devices. If you’re an audiologist in New Brunswick, your role may also be to provide education to patients about their hearing loss or how to prevent it. This is a people-oriented profession where you may be helping individuals at any stage of their life, so communication skills are essential in addition to broad knowledge in the prevention, identification, and management of hearing loss, tinnitus, and other auditory conditions and diseases.

Audiologists often work in speech pathology as well, helping to diagnose, assess, and treat speech, language, and other disorders and must keep up to date with the latest related technologies, therapies, and treatments. Many New Brunswick families depend on audiologists for counseling about possible difficulties that a family member may have when using the devices that help with their hearing disabilities. Often these patients are infants or the elderly, so audiologists frequently work with family members too, to ensure parents and caregivers understand the technology as well.

Personal characteristics and skills

  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Intellect and perseverance required to complete the training
  • Sensitivity to client needs
  • Ability to concentrate and pay close attention to details
  • Appreciation for precision instrumentation
  • Ability to work in a team environment

audiologists in New Brunswick have a variety of important roles, including but not limited to:

  • Using specialized instruments and electronic equipment to test and measure hearing abilities
  • Determining the degree, type, and location of hearing problems
  • Recommending, selecting, fitting, and teaching clients how to use appropriate assistive devices
  • Working with clients who have other issues related to the hearing system

A workweek for audiologists normally includes keeping normal business hours. They may work with individual clients or groups of clients.

Audiologists in New Brunswick work in a variety of settings, such as:

  • Private practices
  • Hospitals
  • Schools
  • Community care centres
  • Rehabilitation centres

Licensure and certification: must hold a certificate of registration with the New Brunswick Association of Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists (NBASLPA) and successfully complete the national certification exam.

Education programs offered in Atlantic Canada: