Ensuring Competent Care from Audiologists

This page contains information for consumers about audiology and their rights under the law.

What is an audiologist?

An audiologist is a licensed practitioner who specializes in disorders of the auditory and related systems. A licensed audiologist can:

• Identify, assess, interpret, diagnosis, rehabilitate and prevent hearing disorders
• Develop and implement a hearing conservation program
• Measure, assess and interpret auditory and balance function
• Select, fit and dispense assistive listening devices, alerting and amplification devices, hearing aids and systems for personal and public use
• Screen speech, language, voice or fluency for audiologic evaluation and/or to identify possible communication disorders

How do I know if an audiologist is qualified?

How do I know if an audiologist is qualified? In Minnesota, an audiologist must:

• Be licensed to practice by the Minnesota Department of Health
• Have a master’s or doctoral degree in audiology
• Have received supervised graduate or doctoral experience
• Have received a qualifying score on a national exam
• Meet continuing education requirements

What are the titles used by licensed audiologists?

Only licensed audiologists may use the following titles:

• Audiologist, AUD, or A
• Hearing therapist or clinician
• Hearing aid audiologist
• Licensed audiologist

What is ethical care?

An audiologist must not:

• Perform services for a client who had no possibility of benefiting from the service
• Fail to refer a client for medical evaluation or care when appropriate
• Engage in negligent or incompetent practice
• Engage in abusive or fraudulent billing practices
• Engage in false or misleading advertising
• Aid or abet another person in violation of the law
• Engage in conduct likely to harm the public, or demonstrate a willful or careless disregard for the health, welfare or safety of a client
• Fail to comply with the state and federal laws regulating hearing aid sales