(Archived) United States Air Force Audiologist

Air Force Audiologists are responsible for the hearing health of beneficiaries in the Military Health System. They can be assigned to one of three audiology-related career tracks.

1. AF Audiologists can be assigned to Diagnostic Hearing Centers at Air Force Military Treatment Facilities, to care for the hearing health needs of all Military Health System beneficiaries, pediatric to geriatric, including active duty members and their dependents, as well as retirees and their dependents. The Audiologist will be responsible for the delivery of state-of-the-art hearing services to include: comprehensive audiometric diagnostic assessments; vestibular testing; electrophysiological assessments; selection/fitting/assessment of acoustic and implantable amplification devices, and hearing conservation record reviews and dispositions. Their scope of practice will also involve collaborative participation on multi-disciplinary boards such as craniofacial anomalies and occupational/environmental health.

2. AF Audiologists can be assigned to AF logistics centers in full time Hearing Conservation Programs, the Air Force Hearing Conservation Data Registry, or as Hearing Conservation instructors at the AF School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM). If they work in a Hearing Conservation Centers (HCC), they manage large numbers of patients exposed to hazardous noise areas. They educate and train the patients and their staff technicians in safety procedures and the correct use of hearing protective equipment. They supervise staff technicians in audiometric monitoring, as well as perform audiometric monitoring and diagnostic audiometry. They will survey work areas and make recommendations to improve conditions. With hearing protection and hearing health as their primary focus, they will develop preventative treatment programs and early intervention programs to prevent hearing loss becoming a duty limiting problem.

3. AF Audiologists can work in a research capacity. They conduct/participate in research relative to biological acoustics, the design of Hearing Conservation devices, test procedures to improve the hearing of flying personnel, and assist in the modernization of the dismounted warfighter