Do Audiologists need to have good hearing?

[rh1115]

Hi, I am a post-bacc premed student, and I was looking into the field of Audiology. I was wondering, must Audiologists themselves have good hearing to be a good Audiologist? One of the reasons I am interested in the field is that I have this unusual crackling distortion in my right ear that happens when I'm exposed to high frequency loud noises (like at a loud movie theater). Otherwise, my hearing is perfectly fine. I've been to doctors and they can't figure out what is wrong. The condition is annoying, but bearable.

So I'm interested in solving my own condition and helping those who have this similar problem.

So in general, my question is, can an audiologist himself have some hearing problem and still be a good audiologist?

Thanks!

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[rEliseMe]

So in general, my question is, can an audiologist himself have some hearing problem and still be a good audiologist?

Thanks!

Interesting symptom! My experience is that many students of audiology have a connection to the field, either through family members or through their own experiences. I have hereditary hearing loss, myself, and I know at least two or three other people on this forum have hearing aids or cochlear implants. So no, you do not have to have perfect hearing to be a good audiologist. I would say, however, that having uncorrected hearing loss (as in, refusing to get hearing aids if you are a candidate) is kind of an ethical incongruity in my opinion. <-- After I posted this the first time, I read through it and realized it sounds like I'm talking about your high-frequency crackling. I'm not! 🙂 I just mean that if one were to have hearing loss and refuse to have it corrected, that's kind of hypocritical. I can't see that type of person being a good audiologist.

On the other hand, however, someone who has first-hand experience with hearing loss or some other sort of hearing/balance issue actually has the upper hand. The first-hand experience gives them the advantage because they can better-empathize with their clients.

 

[spring88]

I second what rEliseMe said. I have a significant hearing loss myself and while it will be a challenge, I don't think I will have a problem succeeding as an Audiologist. More likely than not, a HoH audiologist will have communication breakdowns with patients, they can't do their job as an audiologist unless they remedy communication breakdowns. For an individual with hearing loss to be successful as an Audiologist, they must absolutely be a self-advocate for themselves. I've met HoH audiologists, they are a wiz at communicative strategies, carry around FM systems for themselves and are innovative with how they manage their hearing loss when dealing with patients. One audiologist I know with CIs, plugs her CI into the audiometer when doing speech recognition testing etc.

However, I intend to go into educational audiology. I will constantly be in noisy situations, working with children whose voices I may or may not understand (I have a moderate to profound sensorineural HL and most children have high fundamental frequencies in their voices). I really wonder if I can do it. A lot of the tools they teach us in managing our HL are geared towards adults. How do you explain to a wriggly child (in a way that they understand) who runs around all of the place to face you so you can lipread? Or working with multiple children in an noisy classroom? People say I can be an inspiration for these children but most don't realize what a challenge it will be.