A Day in the Life of an Educational Audiologist
An educational audiologist helps make sure students have the hearing support they need to succeed in school. They’re an important part of the school team, working behind the scenes to ensure students can hear clearly and fully participate in class.
Each day is a little different for audiologists, especially depending on the school, but there are some core tasks they all share. In this Soliant guide, we’ll take you through an example of a day in the life of an educational audiologist and show you the meaningful work they do to help students thrive.
Morning: Checking Equipment and Preparing for the Day
A day in the life of an educational audiologist often begins early, with the first task being a review of hearing equipment, such as hearing aids, FM systems, or cochlear implants. Audiologists will inspect the devices to ensure they’re working properly, clean them if necessary, and troubleshoot any issues.
After that, they’ll likely touch base with teachers and staff to chat about any students who might need extra support, making sure everyone’s aligned for the day ahead.
Mid-Morning: Delivering Care
Next, the audiologist dives into direct care, running hearing screenings or more detailed tests for students. These are usually for students who missed a previous check or show signs of hearing issues, like struggling to follow speech or pick up classroom sounds. The audiologist uses special equipment in a soundproof booth or classroom to test hearing, and based on the results, decides if more testing or a referral to an ENT specialist is needed.
Late Morning: Troubleshooting and Fitting Hearing Devices
After the tests, the audiologist works with students who use hearing aids or other assistive devices, troubleshooting issues like bad sound quality or device problems. For students with new devices, the audiologist provides extra training to help them get the hang of it, showing them how to put them in, adjust the volume, or clean them properly.
Afternoon: Collaborating with Teachers and Parents
Collaboration is a big part of an audiologist’s job. They meet regularly with teachers to discuss how students with hearing impairments are doing in class, coming up with strategies to help them thrive. For example, they might suggest seating arrangements or share tips with teachers on speaking clearly, facing students when talking, and reducing background noise.
Late Afternoon: Documentation and Follow-Up
As the day wraps up, the audiologist takes time to document everything—entering test results, updating student records, and writing progress reports. This helps keep track of all the work they’ve done and ensures students get the care they need.
They also schedule follow-up appointments for students who need more tests or hearing aid adjustments and review their schedule for the next day to make sure they’re ready for whatever comes their way.
The Essential Role of Audiologists in Education
The work of an educational audiologist is incredibly rewarding. Every day is different, with a mix of technical tasks, direct student care, and collaboration with teachers and parents. However, the impact they have on students’ lives is immeasurable.
By ensuring students have the hearing support they need, audiologists help them succeed academically, socially, and emotionally, allowing them to reach their full potential.
Ready to make a difference in students’ lives? Browse and apply for Soliant’s school audiologist positions and help students thrive with the hearing support they need! Don’t forget to check out our additional education and school therapy resources to learn more about the impactful role of school audiologists.
