ExR

I'm thinking about becoming an audiologist and changing my degree programme next year. Only problem is that my qualifications for university admission are IT related and not directly science related!

Do you think my experience with deafness & HA's will be of much help? Both for admission and for study?

Ty

ExR

Deafness

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Tousi

How's your knowledge/skill level in ASL and deaf culture?

ExR

Pretty much non-existent. Tbh though, I don't think ASL would help much because here, we use BSL.

Tousi

You know what I meant and if you still say non-existant, then I'd say you would be like 90% of them out there unless you take a meaningful path that the majority of your peers-to-be don't. So what do you plan to do?

ExR

The problem isn't the Audiologist, but the education system. Any language will take a very long time to learn. Plus you will need to use it on a daily basis if you want to retain the knowledge. If ASL/BSL was taught from an early age, then it's likely that people will have a much better chance at becoming proficient with it.

I remember learning Spanish at school. However, since leaving school, my proficiency has declines significantly.

While I would try to gain an enhanced understanding, I highly doubt that I will be proficient enough by the time the 4 year BSc course finishes.

Tousi

Immersing yourself in the culture there in the UK would do the trick and not cost you much, if anything. What is the deaf population (in numbers) in your region that you could serve in addition to the vast majority clientele who have hearing problems when they age? This part is the part of your endeavor, of course, that would be something you would truly want to do. You being here on these boards counts for something....at first glance, anyway......

ExR

To be honest I just want to be in a job where I can be of assistance to others. Given that I'm HoH myself, I find that I can relate to many who face similar issues. Though it has to be said, this forum has done a lot to enhance my understanding, especially with regards to conditions that I'm less familiar with, such as inner ear related conditions and associated issues, whether they be psychological or physical.

I've also developed an interest in hearing aids. Given that I wear one and the fact that my background is technology based, I can see where that interest came from!

So yeah, while I'm not experienced with deaf culture or BSL, I think my other attributes are quite strong and of course, I'm eager to learn.

Tousi

It just dawned on me that you are HoH so....let's go the other way...are you at ease, meaning hear well enough, etc to deal with the hearing majority who are having hearing issues due to age? If you are, that's good because it is from them that the success of your business would hinge. As for the minority clientele, immersion (part and parcel of your life), this is something you will have to decide for yourself. I asked before: Do you have a ball park estimate as to how many life-long deaf people live near you?

ExR

With the use of a HA, I can hear at near normal levels, at least according to the audiogram anyway. Ofc, I'm not taking into account the flaws of the HA itself which no doubt have an impact on my ability to hear in the real world.

Personally, I don't know of many deaf people near me. Though, when I was in primary school, they had a specialist unit for the deaf and my 66 year old father has hearing loss in one ear but unfortunately he's in denial. So yeah, I've seen how hearing loss can have an effect on others, not just on myself.

There's many audiology units within hospitals near me. In addition, businesses specialising in glasses/contacts now appear to be branching out to provide hearing aids too, so clearly there's obviously a strong demand.

Steinhauer

I can put you in touch with my audiologist if you want.