American Academy of Audiology Position Statement: Audiology Assistants
Description
This position statement defines the roles and functions of audiology assistants within an audiology practice. It provides guidance on the education and training, duties and responsibilities, and the requisite supervision of assistants. The statement is intended for audiologists, policymakers, consumers of audiological services, and persons seeking to become assistants.
Key Points
An audiology assistant is a person who, after appropriate training and demonstration of competency, performs duties and responsibilities that are delegated, directed, and supervised by an audiologist. The assistant’s role is to support the audiologist in performing routine tasks and duties so that the audiologist is available for the more complex evaluative, diagnostic, management, and treatment services that require the education and training of a licensed audiologist.
The duties and responsibilities assigned to an audiology assistant will be based on the training, available supervision, and practice setting and will be provided under the direction and responsibility of the supervising audiologist. In some cases, these duties and responsibilities may be further regulated by state law. Examples of the types of services an assistant can perform (after appropriate training and demonstration of competency) include, but are not limited to, equipment maintenance, hearing aid repair, neonatal hearing screening, preparation of a patient for electrophysiologic and balance testing, hearing conservation, air-conduction hearing procedure, and assisting the audiologist in testing.
The minimal educational background for an audiology assistant should be a high school diploma, or equivalent, and either formal educational training and/or competency-based training within the facility where they will be working. In addition, audiologists must consult their state’s requirements as they pertain to the education and training of audiology assistants.
Get Involved
Whether serving on a clinical document development panel or participating as peer reviewers, volunteers have regular chances to deepen their engagement with the Academy and make important contributions benefiting the field of audiology. If you are interested in clinical document development, please volunteer to express interest and submit a CV to the Academy’s guidelines staff by email.
To view the list of guidelines and strategic documents in development and to learn more about the Academy’s clinical document development process, visit the Academy’s Practice Resources website. Information from interested members is accepted on an ongoing basis, and members will be contacted as clinical document volunteer openings occur.
