Knowledge Bank

Graduate students in audiology have many options to consider when determining the setting in which to work. Audiologists may be employed in government, hospitals, clinics, physician’s offices, schools, or early intervention programs. An audiologist working with an early intervention program will have to assume far more roles than are described by the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing 2007 Position Statement: Principles and Guidelines for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Programs. A comprehensive review of the literature was completed to explain that audiologists, when working in early intervention, are advocates, referral sources, audiologic evaluators, relationship builders, counselors, technology gurus and equipment managers, problem solvers, and educators. Balancing each role on a daily basis can lead to an enormously satisfying career for an audiologist when working in early intervention.