TENTATIVE

Occ. Code 5931210

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS SERIES

           Audiologists diagnose, manage, and treat patients hearing, balance, or ear problems by determining the extent of hearing loss; prescribing, fitting, and checking hearing aids or cochlear implants; and counseling patients on ways to cope with hearing loss.  Positions provide clinical services as a member of a multi-disciplinary treatment team, or within a Speech Language Pathology/Audiology department.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

          AUDIOLOGIST 1: entry level; under the direction of an Audiologist 2 or higher level clinician, examines, assesses, diagnoses, manages, and treats individuals experiencing hearing, balance, or ear problems; provides training to treatment staff relative to hearing problems; assists in preparing individual treatment plans; and maintains records of treatment activities.

          AUDIOLOGIST 2: full performance level; Audiologists 2 work under the direction of a Speech Language Pathology Audiology Program Coordinator or higher level clinician, and provide consultant services for treatment programming and evaluation; may provide clinical supervision of Audiologists 1 and Speech Language Pathologists 1; and may operate with a higher degree of independent decision making.       

RELATED CLASSES

          Speech Language Pathologists assess, evaluate, and treat individuals who have communication and swallowing disorders.  Positions provide clinical services as a member of a multi-disciplinary treatment team, or within a Speech Language Pathology department.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

          AUDIOLOGIST 1: examines patients who have hearing, balance, or related ear problems; assesses results and diagnoses problems; determines and administers treatment to meet patients goals; fits and dispenses hearing aids; measures, designs, and makes ear plugs; implements and supervises new or modified treatment methodologies; provides training to employees regarding ear pathology, hearing aids, working with hearing impaired individuals, and aural rehabilitation services; educates patients on ways to prevent hearing loss; counsels patients on ways to cope with hearing loss; assists with the development of individualized treatment plans; records changes in patients conditions; and maintains a variety of records.

          AUDIOLOGIST 2: in addition, Audiologists 2 provide consultation upon referral for individuals hearing and balance needs, including appropriate follow-up regarding guidelines, staff training, and direct therapy; and may provide clinical supervision and assist in training of Speech Language Pathologists 1 and Audiologists 1. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

          AUDIOLOGIST 1

Open-Competitive: Masters degree in audiology or comparable degrees which meet the requirements for New York State licensure as an Audiologist or American Speech and Hearing Association certification in audiology.

          AUDIOLOGIST 2

Open-Competitive: New York State licensure as an Audiologist or American Speech and Hearing Association certification in audiology and one year of post-masters experience as an Audiologist.

Date:  4/17

NOTE: Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe. Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class. The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written. Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.