Audiology, Au.D.
Doctor of Audiology
About the Degree
The University of Akron, in partnership with Kent State University and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, offers the Doctor of Audiology degree through the Northeast Ohio AuD Consortium (NOAC). NOAC merges the strong assets of two university programs that focus on the scientific and clinical bases of audiology with the Cleveland Clinic Section of Audiology to provide students with exposure to the breadth and depth of diagnostic and rehabilitative audiology. We are dedicated to providing World Class Education in Audiology. The Doctor of Audiology (AuD) program at the University of Akron, in association with the Northeast Ohio AuD Consortium, is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.
Audiologists specialize in evaluating and treating adults, infants and children with hearing loss, dizziness, or tinnitus. Accordingly, we train Au.D. (Doctor of Audiology) students to conduct tests to identify the degree and etiology of impairment, disability, and handicap. We further train Au.D students in evidence-based treatment practices, including dispensing hearing aids and other assistive devices for hearing loss and tinnitus, dizziness treatments, and counseling. Our students learn to identify patients who could benefit from team intervention with colleagues in medicine, mental health, speech-language pathology, education, and others.
The Audiology Doctorate degree is a four-year post baccalaureate doctoral program consisting of 120 credits. Approximately 20 credit hours are dedicated to background sciences, 53 credit hours to diagnostics and treatment, 6 credit hours to applying research in evidence based practice, 5 credit hours to related patient care issues, and 36 credit hours to direct patient care (averaging approximately 2000 hours in clinical settings). Direct patient care occurs at the University of Akron Audiology and Speech Center, The Kent State University Speech and Hearing Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic main campus and satellite clinics, and other clinics in the region, state, and country.
Salary and Career Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook projects employment opportunities to grow much faster than the average for all occupations, 21 percent from 2016 to 2026. This projection is supported by the growing population of older adults (aged 65+) in the United States, increasing evidence supporting a link between hearing loss and increased cognitive decline, and a focus on hearing loss by federal agencies. In 2017, audiology continued to rank in the top 25 “best health care jobs” and in the top 100 “best jobs” by U.S. News and World Report. Career cast has ranked audiology as one of the ten “least stressful” jobs for the third time in five years. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The UA Audiology Doctorate program’s employment rate is 100%. Although salaries are affected by many variables, data show that independent practice owners’ mean salary is $132,298 (American Academy of Audiology, 2016), whereas audiologists’ mean annual salary is $75,920 (U.S Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017).
Why Akron?
- The Northeast Ohio AuD Consortium is the largest residential Au.D. degree granting program in the country. Students learn from one another and form large networks of colleagues. We have one of the largest chapters of our professional student organization.
- Our students are taught, precepted, and mentored by faculty of three institutions (The University of Akron, Kent State University, and the Cleveland Clinic). This affords our graduates instruction by faculty in specialized areas, and more varied expertise than would be available in smaller programs.
- All three institutions have fully functioning and equipped audiology clinics. Patient populations at these sites and around northeast Ohio provide students with rich learning experiences.
- All three institutions have libraries, classrooms, and related educational materials and equipment for student enrichment.
- Distinctive to the NOAC program is our unique leadership development model. Throughout the educational program, we provide course content and support systems dedicated to the development of tomorrow’s professional leaders, from the local arena to the international stage. Students are mentored in the publication and presentation process, and are mentored as volunteers or elected leaders in local, state, and national leadership roles.
The Northeast Ohio AuD consortium is one of the largest residential Au.D. degree-granting programs in the country. Students are taught, precepted, and mentored by faculty of The University of Akron, Kent State University, and the Cleveland Clinic and all three institutions have fully functioning and equipped audiology clinics. Research is also conducted at each of these institutions, and all have libraries, classrooms, and related educational materials and equipment. A canine audiology clinic was established approximately two years ago and is one of only three FETCHLABs™ training audiologists to provide noninvasive diagnostic hearing testing for canines in the United States. The University of Akron also recently renovated their assistive device resource room with the latest technology for students to master fitting and selection of appropriate devices to assist in the treatment of hearing loss and tinnitus.
Audiology graduates work in many settings including hospitals, clinics, business, Department of Veterans Administration setting, medical centers and private practices, including:
- The Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland OH
- Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN
- The Hershel “Woody” Williams Huntington VA Medical Center, Huntington WV
Contact Information
Contact Information:
Erin L Miller, Au.D.
Coordinator, Northeast Ohio Au.D. Consortium
330.972.8160
Kristine Sonstrom Malowksi, Au.D., Ph.D.
University of Akron Audiology Graduate Coordinator
330.972.8188