Case studies: Clinical scientist (audiology): Anna

Anna completed an MSc in Audiology in 2007 and now works as a clinical scientist in audiology within the NHS 

After completing my MSc I was offered a four-year training contract as a pre-registration audiological scientist in a large audiology department.

Through this training period I completed the Certificate of Audiological Competence (CAC), which was an in-service practical training scheme run by the British Academy of Audiology. I also worked towards achieving the various competencies required to apply for the Association of Clinical Scientists (ACS) Certificate of Attainment.

Upon achieving this I was able to register as a clinical scientist with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC). I was then fortunate enough to be offered a permanent band 7 post in the department where I trained and I remained there working across the clinical areas of adult rehabilitation, paediatric assessment and rehabilitation, and balance assessment.

It is now a year and a half on and I have recently started a band 8a post in a smaller department. This has given me the opportunity to specialise in paediatrics and to take on more responsibility through coordinating the paediatric audiology team and deputising for the Head of Department.

A typical week in my current role would involve leading paediatric hearing assessment clinics including behavioural testing for children of all ages and auditory brainstem response testing for babies. It will also involve fitting hearing aids for children and reviewing their progress and attending multidisciplinary meetings with various peers including teachers of the hearing impaired, ear nose and throat consultants, paediatricians, and speech and language therapists.

My role also involves working with the other members of staff in the department to ensure appropriate scheduling for clinics, to ensure we maintain a high standard of practice, and to try to develop the service we provide.

I enjoy working in audiology because of the mix of interesting people that you meet, which means that no two days are the same. I also find audiology a rewarding career because of the potential to have a positive and measurable impact on the lives of adults and children who may be struggling because of problems with their hearing.

The challenges in NHS audiology usually come through constraints on time and resources, but generally, people working in the profession are positive people who want the best for their patients and are able to work through these challenges. 

For students and graduates considering a career in audiology I would recommend contacting your local department and arranging a visit as I think this is probably the best way of really appreciating the diversity in the job we do.