Doctor of Audiology

The mission of the Northeast Ohio Au.D. Consortium is to provide Ohio with a pool of independent and competent professional audiologists. Toward this end, the consortium seeks to: (1) Prepare audiologists through professional education and clinical training who can diagnosis, treat and manage individuals with hearing and balance disorders; (2) Enhance service to the professional community through continuing education, mentoring, consulting and joint research; and (3) Provide for research and clinical service through external funding from federal, state, and local agencies.

Program Learning Outcomes

Program graduates will:

1. Demonstrate a broad-based knowledge of the foundations, theories, and application of audiology.

2. Demonstrate clinical competencies in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of hearing and balance disorders.

3. Demonstrate knowledge of research principles and their integration into evidence-based clinical practice in audiology.

4. Demonstrate knowledge of the ethcial standards and conduct expected in the field of audiology.

Placement Objectives for Graduates

A goal of the Northeast Ohio Au.D. Consortium is to educate students in all aspects of audiologic diagnosis and treatment. As such, graduates are prepared for placements in any type of audiology practice including hospital, clinic, private practice, school, or industrial settings.

Meeting the Needs of Ohio

There is a clear local, regional, and national need for audiologists. Employment for audiologists is expected to grow much faster than the average through the year 2010. The increase will be needed especially since hearing loss is associated with aging and there will be a rapid growth in the population of individuals aged 55 and older. In fact, audiology has been identified as the 19th fastest growing occupation for the years 2000 - 2010 and the need for audiologists will increase by 45% by the year 2010 (Bureau of Labor Statistics "Occupational employment projections to 2010" published November 2001, Monthly Labor Review).

Ohio has a critical need for additional audiologists. Ohio's elderly population currently ranks 7th nationally. Projections are that the elderly population in Ohio will increase from 20% TO 49% in the coming years. Given the prevalence rate of hearing impairment (30% for age 65 and 70% for over age 80), significant need exists for additional audiologists. There are fewer than 30 certified audiologists employed in Ohio's primary and secondary public schools to serve the thousands of children with periodic and/or permanent hearing problems. More audiologists are needed in Ohio's public schools if children with hearing problems are to be identified and served properly. Universal hearing screening of all newborn infants will become mandatory in 2004. Ohio currently ranks 7th nationally with over 155,400 births per year.

Policy of Non-Discrimination in Programs and Activities:

The University of Akron does not discriminate on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, age, handicap, status as a veteran, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loans programs, or other school-administered programs.

Last Program Review: 2007-2008

Last Update: November 2, 2007