Specialist Audiologist (Band 7)

The responsibilities of a Specialist Audiologist include assessment of complex patient groups, result interpretation, diagnosis and patient management. Responsibilities vary dependant on the speciality area and department base: 

Paediatrics 

• History taking and auditory assessment of hearing from birth to 4 years using a range of age-appropriate test procedures. 
• Counselling parents / carers / patients as appropriate about the nature and extend of hearing loss, including appropriate management options. 
• Glue ear monitoring and onward referral. 
• Selection and provision of appropriate paediatric rehabilitation management such as hearing aids, Bone Anchored Hearing Aids, remote microphones etc, using real ear measurements where required.  
• Liaising with other staff involved in the assessment and rehabilitation process including audiological and medical staff, and local sensory support services.  
• Providing follow-up appointments to fine tuning hearing aids.  
• Cochlear Implant Assessment / Rehabilitation. 

Vestibular Assessment and Rehabilitation 

• History taking and development of individual assessment plan based on patient needs. 
• Clinical assessment of balance function in patients and follow up assessment where required. 
• Balance Rehabilitation. 
• Liaising with other staff involved in the assessment and rehabilitation process including audiological and medical staff. 

Non-Routine and Complex Adult Assessment and Rehabilitation  

• Speech Audiometry. 
• Cochlear Implant Assessment / Rehabilitation. 
• Auditory Processing Disorder assessment and management. 
• Bone Anchored Hearing Aid assessment and fitting. 
• Providing audiological assessment and management for patients with learning disabilities. 
• Tinnitus assessment and management, including onward referral to other clinical specialists as required. 
• Non-Organic Hearing Assessment. 
• Liaising with other staff involved in the assessment and rehabilitation process including audiological and medical staff. 

Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential as the role includes complex communication with patients, carers, and other health professionals. They must also be able to support junior staff and trainee staff across all levels in the department. 

Specialist Audiologists must have excellent organisational skills and be able to prioritise their own workload. They need to be able to work in a calm and methodical manner and often have many competing demands in their workload. 

A caring nature is essential as the role is patient focused.  As a significant proportion of this role includes aural rehabilitation, excellent counselling skills are required.  Specialist Audiologists must be able to empathise with patients and provide re-assurance when required and are able to deal with difficult patients. 

Specialist Audiologists need to have a wide scientific and clinical knowledge base across all areas of department. 

Band 7 £41,659 to 47,672 per year pro rata 

Usually Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm (Occasional weekend work depending on the requirements of the service). 

Usually, NHS based but with some role availability in private healthcare.  There are also opportunities to join clinical research facilities. 

No previous experience in the Audiology setting is required before beginning an MSc in Audiology, however experience working at any grade in an Audiology Department would be useful. A previous caring role might be advantageous.  Volunteering work in an associated area would also be beneficial.   

Some Healthcare Science Practitioners (Band 5) and Specialist Healthcare Science Practitioners in Audiology (Band 6) choose to further their careers by completing an MSc in Audiology and associated clinical training route. 

This is mainly a patient facing role so a good fit for this position is a people centred person with an open approach, who has excellent problem-solving and technical ability, and communication skills.  The ability to relate to patients of all ages and be able to demonstrate patience and empathy to deal with patients who may be in distress. 

Specialist Audiologist follow departmental policies and procedures to maintain departmental standards and ensure patient safety. They also follow a full range of role specific British Society of Audiology recommended procedures for their areas of practice.   

As with other roles in the Audiology Department, a significant part of this role involves the use of computers and specialist medical equipment associated with the Audiology Department.    

Specialist Audiologists are independent practitioners who access junior staff support for some aspects of their roles. The work is varied and complex in nature and staff at this level need to be adaptable to the demands of the patient and service overall.  

There is usually a significant requirement at this level to provide specialist training to staff of all grades and management of specific service areas.