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Hearing Aid Specialists Occupation Detailed Description

Hearing Aid Specialists career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Hearing Aid Specialists

The main tasks and work activities of Hearing Aid Specialists are to test patient hearing, instruct patients in the use of assistive equipment, fabricate medical devices, repair medical facility equipment. In general, for the Hearing Aid Specialists, active Listening, service Orientation, instructing, speaking and other 13 skills are required.
Hearing Aid Specialists Job Description
EducationMost occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Related ExperiencePrevious work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
ExampleThese occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, travel guides, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters, and medical assistants.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Hearing Aid Specialists jobs. 22.13% of Hearing Aid Specialists have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 11.96% of Hearing Aid Specialists have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
0.00%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
22.13%
Post-Secondary Certificate
11.96%
Some College Courses
0.00%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
9.17%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
56.74%

Tasks and Work Activities of Hearing Aid Specialists

  • Select and administer tests to evaluate hearing or related disabilities.
  • Administer basic hearing tests including air conduction, bone conduction, or speech audiometry tests.
  • Train clients to use hearing aids or other augmentative communication devices.
  • Create or modify impressions for earmolds and hearing aid shells.
  • Maintain or repair hearing aids or other communication devices.
  • Demonstrate assistive listening devices (ALDs) to clients.
  • Diagnose and treat hearing or related disabilities under the direction of an audiologist.
  • Perform basic screening procedures, such as pure tone screening, otoacoustic screening, immittance screening, and screening of ear canal status using otoscope.
  • Assist audiologists in performing aural procedures, such as real ear measurements, speech audiometry, auditory brainstem responses, electronystagmography, and cochlear implant mapping.
  • Read current literature, talk with colleagues, and participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in audiology.
  • Counsel patients and families on communication strategies and the effects of hearing loss.
  • Assisting and Caring for OthersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the PublicPerforming for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Interacting With ComputersUsing computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDeveloping constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Documenting/Recording InformationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Selling or Influencing OthersConvincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
  • Test patient hearing.
  • Instruct patients in the use of assistive equipment.
  • Fabricate medical devices.
  • Repair medical facility equipment.
  • Adjust prostheses or other assistive devices.
  • Treat chronic diseases or disorders.
  • Diagnose medical conditions.
  • Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment.
  • Assist healthcare practitioners during examinations or treatments.
  • Maintain medical or professional knowledge.
  • Counsel family members of clients or patients.
  • Advise patients on effects of health conditions or treatments.

Skills and Abilities for Hearing Aid Specialists

  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Service OrientationActively looking for ways to help people.
  • InstructingTeaching others how to do something.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • PersuasionPersuading others to change their minds or behavior.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Learning StrategiesSelecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Flexibility of ClosureThe ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Auditory AttentionThe ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
  • Hearing SensitivityThe ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
  • Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Perceptual SpeedThe ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
  • Electroencephalograph EEG or accessoriese.g. Auditory brainstem response screening systems
  • Audiometers or accessoriese.g. Automatic impedance audiometers
  • Hearing aids for the physically challengede.g. Behind-the-ear hearing aids
  • Auditory function screening unitse.g. Caloric irrigators
  • Headphonese.g. Circumaural headphones
  • Laser printerse.g. Color laser printers
  • Desktop computerse.g. Desktop computers
  • Medical tuning forkse.g. Diagnostic tuning forks
  • Aural probese.g. Ear probes
  • Aural probese.g. Electroacoustic impedance bridges
  • Ophthalmoscopes or otoscopes or scope setse.g. Handheld otoscopes
  • Hearing aid analyzers or test systemse.g. Hearing aid analyzers
  • Programmable Logic Controller Programming Devicee.g. Hearing aid programming interfaces
  • Medical suction cannulas or tubes or accessoriese.g. Hearing aid vacuum systems
  • Hearing aids for the physically challengede.g. In-the-canal hearing aids
  • Hearing aids for the physically challengede.g. In-the-ear hearing aids
  • Laser measuring systemse.g. Laser measurement systems
  • Medical acoustic stethoscope or accessorye.g. Mechanical stethoscopes
  • Hearing aids for the physically challengede.g. Mini hearing aids
  • Auditory function screening unitse.g. Otoacoustic emissions equipment OAE
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Sales and MarketingKnowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
  • Therapy and CounselingKnowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
  • Medicine and DentistryKnowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
  • Computers and ElectronicsKnowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • ClericalKnowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Administration and ManagementKnowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  • Economics and AccountingKnowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
  • PsychologyKnowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
  • Engineering and TechnologyKnowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
  • Education and TrainingKnowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
  • Personnel and Human ResourcesKnowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.