We also work in hospitals. One of our more exotic roles is monitoring nerve functions during surgery and informing surgeons when they are coming too close to a nerve that shouldn't be touched. We also work as educators and run clinic programs so students can gain practical experience. Audiologists provide hearing conservation services as well. We make recommendations to management about how to bring down noise and prevent occupational hearing loss.
People still have an aversion to admitting they have hearing problems.
With many people, it's coupled with the idea of getting old. However, we see the Baby Boomers who are coming of age have a very different attitude in terms of accepting hearing technologies. So we do see different attitudes in different age groups. By 2012, you will have to have a doctorate degree to enter the field of audiology. We're continuing to emerge as a profession.