Issue 17.12
The comparisons may appear to be a strange topic, but hopefully you will see commonality between the two.
A world-class, male Alpaca in breeding prime is approximately $750,000. The fine Alpaca fibers continually increase in demand from the limited supply of North American Alpacas. A Llama from South America can be purchased for approximately $50 as they are used as pack animals with no further value. The value difference between the two animals is astounding yet most consumers cannot identify the difference between them.
The entry-level degree for an Audiologist is a clinical doctorate. This advanced degree requires a university education of 8 years, plus competency in a number of subjects including, but not limited to: anatomy, physiology, vestibular diagnostics, neuro-anatomy, diseases of the ear, plus hearing instrument amplification and technology. A Doctor of Audiology must complete over 1,800 hours of supervised patient-care in various settings, from private clinics to hospitals. All this training assures that recipients of this degree are prepared to provide premier care to the patients served.
However, many states simply require a high school diploma, 6 months on the job training and no underlying vocational education for hearing aid dispenser to work with hearing impaired individuals. Again, this is an astounding difference. Perhaps more astounding, the average consumer cannot tell the difference between the two. Just because a hearing aid dispenser wears a white lab coat, and allows you to call them “doctor”, does not make them a Doctor of Audiology any more than a $50 Llama qualifies to be a $750,000 Alpaca.
One critical question will tell the difference between an Audiologist and non-Audiologist:
Do they have the credential, “Au.D” behind their name?
If the Au.D credential is not seen, chances are you are not seeking services from a Doctor of Audiology. Our 5 Audiologists specialize in: digital open-ear hearing technology; adult/child medical hearing; dizziness exams; are qualified to determine if your hearing problems are “nerve” loss or need an ear surgeon referral.
For an appointment in one of our 11 Utah or Nevada locations, call 435-688-8866.