1. What is conductive hearing losses? What causes such hearing impairment?
Hearing loss that is caused by a problem in the middle or external ear are called conductive hearing losses. Such difficulty in hearing occurs when problem lies in the conduction of sound to the cochlea.
The cause of such impairment is
☛ Excessive wax in the ear canal
☛ Fluid accumulated in the ear due to infection
☛ Discontinuity between the ossicles
2. Can you explain what does your work entail?
First I consult with my patient about their lifestyle and what specific situations they're having difficulty communicating in. Next I examine their ears and ear canals to rule out any medical conditions, and then I perform a comprehensive audiological evaluation to map their hearing and measure their ability to understand speech under various listening conditions. Finally, I review the test results with the patient and settle upon a treatment option.
3. Explain what education, schooling, or skills are needed to do this?
Audiology requires a bachelors degree and four-year doctoral program. One important necessary skill is communicating well with others, since it's a people-centered profession. You do need lots of patience as well since you often have to reinstruct patients several times on the same issue (how to put in batteries, etc.).
4. What is your greatest benefit to helping others hear better?
My greatest benefit is knowing that I have improved their quality of life. It makes me feel good knowing that I have given them something back which they had lost.
5. Tell me what do you dislike in Audiology?
I don't like dealing with insurance companies. It's difficult to get clear answers regarding how much they will cover for a specific patient or procedure, and they often take quite a while to pay us.
6. Tell us a hearing conservation program you have implemented?
Well, During my bachelors at college, we arranged a hearing screening camp and counselled a group of workers working at some industries about the hazardous effect of noise on their hearing and lifestyle.
7. Tell me what else would you like people to know about your job/career in Audiology?
I really enjoy audiology, and find it to be a rewarding profession. It's a nice blend of technology and people.
8. Explain how did you get started?
I wanted to be in a profession where I could help people, and my undergraduate degree is in communicative disorders (speech pathology). I really enjoyed my audiology classes (audiology and speech pathology are related fields and we cross-train to some extent), so I changed to audiology for my graduate degree.
9. How much money did/do you make starting out as an Audiologist?
Starting salaries are in the range of $42,000 per year and up. I made around $20 per hour when I started back in the 1980′s.
10. Tell me how do you market yourself? To reach new patients?
I will tell my patient that I will do my best for their improvement and I will do my best for them. I believe in mouth publicity.
11. When giving initial exams to patients in the past, walk me through your process?
Taking ahistory and finding out the Pts concernsPerforming otoscopy to make sure ears are free of wax/annomaliesPTA with masking if necessaryConsider ENT referral at this stage if any complicationsDiscuss hearing aids with clientTake Imps/Fit open aids
12. When did you decide you wanted to be an audiologist?
I decided I wanted to be an audiologist very early on. Both my grandmother and mother have hearing loss and I made a promise to them to be able to help them with their communication and I know that becoming an audiologist will be one of the proudest moments in my life and I am hopeful that seal beach will be part of that.
13. What are the types of tinnitus?
Tinnitus are classified in two:
☛ Pulsatile: It is caused due to muscle movement near the ear, blood flow problem in neck or face, changes in the ear canal.
☛ Non-pulsatile: It is caused due to the nerves involved with hearing, you may hear the sound in both ears.
14. Can you explain what advice would you offer someone considering this career?
I recommend shadowing an audiologist to see if you will enjoy this field. There are many specialties in audiology now: pediatrics, hearing aids, cochlear implants, intraoperative monitoring, vestibular testing/rehabilitation, and diagnostics to name a few.
15. What can you contribute to this job in Audiology?
Your emphasis in answering this question should be on your strengths and accomplishments, and how they might integrate with the job and the facility.
16. How much money do Audiologists make?
The salary for audiologists varies by practice type, as well as geographic location. The average salary is around $73,000 per year, and private practice owners generally make more than non-owner audiologists. Audiologists can make over $100,000 depending on their experience and compensation package.
17. How much time off do you get/take?
I own my own practice, so I set my own hours and vacations. I generally work 35 hours per week, and take several weeks vacation per year.
18. Tell us what is ASSR (Auditory Steady State Response)?
It is a testing method used to check the ability of hearing in children, who are too young for traditional audiometric testing.
19. What form of aural rehabilitation do you use in your current position?
Provision of amplification to meet their hearing needs, and auditory training.
20. Tell us what is sensorineural hearing losses?
Hearing losses that are caused by a problem in the inner ear or along the auditory nerve are called sensorineural hearing losses. It happens due to the inability of the nerve to carry the signal to the brain.
21. Have you dealt with a patient that you could not provide hearing too?
Yes, instead we focused on other assistive devices. Referred to social services for support such as flashing doorbells etc.
22. Tell me how well did you work with the front office staff at your previous job?
Very well. I feel it is important to build a good relationship with the front staff because you really rely on each other to see as many patients as possible and give patients the best experience in your office.
23. What all sectors an audiologist can work?
An audiologist is a health professional, and he can work in sectors like:
☛ Hospitals
☛ Clinics
☛ Private practices
☛ ENT offices
☛ Universities
☛ Government Institute
☛ Military Hospitals
24. How fluid pressure inside ear can be measured?
Two important components are used to measure the fluid pressure in the ear; one is summating potential (SP) and the action plan (AP). The audiologist collects several responses from the ear in the waveform with the help of electrochelograph, which contains these two components ( SP & AP). Both of these waveform components are direct results of providing sound stimulation to the cochlea. The calculation is made on the SP/AP ratio, and any increase in the value of this SP/AP ratio indicates an increase in fluid pressure in the ear.
I love the look on the patient's face and their family's reaction when they realize what they can hear with properly fitted hearing aids. Most people tell me they wish they had gotten hearing aids sooner.
26. Suppose if you could be in another career, what would you pick?
If I had to pick another career I would be a nurse. I enjoy helping people and improving others lives which I feel both fields do.
27. What is it about this particular job that interests you in Audiology?
A question like this is a good segue into informing the interviewer that you know something about the facility. It is appropriate to mention areas of expertise for which the institution might be known and how they might be of particular interest to you.
28. Tell me important part of ears in Audiology?
Auditory canal:
• Cochlea
• Malleous
• Incus
• Stapes
• Semicircular canal
• Auditory nerve
• Estachian tube
• Oval window
• Eardrum
29. Can we cure sensorineural hearing impairment? What causes such hearing impairment?
Such type of hearing impairment are incurable and can be remediated to a certain extent. Although new technology has shown immense potential to improve hearing ability, is still far to eliminate hearing impairment completely.
☛ Damage to the cochlear hair cells
☛ Tumor on the auditory nerve
30. What brand do you prefer working with?
I have worked with a variety of hearing aids including Siemens, Oticon, Starkey and phonack aids. I have most experience with siemens hearing aids but I prefer the software and the quality of Oticon aids.
31. Tell us other than your audiogram, how do you assess a patients needs?
Questionnaires (such as the HHIE), Speech in Noise testing,
32. Tell us what are triggers tinnitus?
☛ A buildup of earwax
☛ Taking too much of antibiotics
☛ Intake of too much of alcohol
☛ Eardrum rupture
☛ Dental or Temporomandibular problems
☛ Direct injuries to ear or head
☛ Injury to the ear due to radiation therapy
☛ Excessive dieting and weight loss
☛ Repeated exercise with the neck
☛ High blood pressure, Migraine, Multiple Sclerosis, Neurological disorder, etc.
Yes, either the hearing was faulty.
35. Tell us some of the use of OAE (Otoacoustic Emissions) testing?
☛ Screening tool for hearing loss in infants, children and newborns
☛ Determines non-organic or functional hearing loss
☛ Differential diagnosis between retro-cochlear and cochlear hearing loss
☛ Identifying cochlear function in patients with tinnitus
☛ Can give an early indication about cochlear dysfunction
☛ Can use to evaluate the toxicity of the medication used for ear
