Hearing Therapist – ukjobsguide.co.uk

Our 7 take away things to consider:

Hearing therapists help children and adults suffering from a range of hearing problems.
As a therapist, you could be undertaking initial assessments or working with other professionals to offer treatments to patients.
Most hearing therapists are employed in hospitals, though you can also work in community clinics.
A good way into the profession is with a degree in audiology.
Many UK universities offer three-year, full-time degree courses in audiology, with most asking that you have good A-levels and a genuine interest in the subject.
After graduation, the Registration Council for Clinical Psychologists (RCCP) offers courses to help boost your professional skills.
Qualified hearing therapists generally earn between £20,000 and £26,000 a year, though consultants can earn more.

What Do Hearing Therapists Do?

Hearing therapists help children and adults suffering from a range of hearing problems, including complete hear loss as well as tinnitus and balance disorders. The specialised job may see you working in a hospital or in the community, with the role varied, challenging and ultimately rewarding. Working as a hearing therapist some of your duties may include:

Undertaking initial assessments of patients and devising treatment plans to help them deal with their hearing problems
Helping patients manage their hearing loss and learn to enjoy independent, satisfying lives
Working with other healthcare professionals and social workers, keeping detailed records of patients’ progress and attending regular meetings
Keeping on top of all the latest developments in the field of hearing therapy, for instance by attending conferences and reading relevant journals

Again, while many hearing therapists are based in hospitals (usually in ear, nose and throat or audiology departments), you may be required to carry out patient visits or you may work in a small community clinic.

Skills and Qualifications

A significant proportion of working hearing therapists hold degrees in audiology and many employers see such a qualification as essential. A number of UK universities offer full and part-time courses in audiology. While entry requirements vary between individual institutions, generally speaking you will need a handful of good GCSEs and two or three A-levels to get a place on a course. The Registration Council for Clinical Psychologists (RCCP) website (http://www.rccp.co.uk/) is an excellent place to look for the best undergraduate and postgraduate courses and to learn more aboit training to become a hearing therapist.

Alongside a relevant and recognised qualification, in order to enjoy a successful career as a hearing therapist you will also need:

A patient and understanding nature, even when working with patients who are frustrated and even angry
Excellent communication skills and in particular good elucidation
The ability to work with a wide range of individuals, from doctors through to young patients
Excellent problem-solving skills and the desire to work closely with the patient to overcome any issues
A keen interest in the field of hearing therapy and a willingness to progress professionally and stay on top of all the latest development

Training and Career Development

Once you have started working as a hearing therapist there are a number of ways you can progress professionally and so boost your career prospects and your earnings.

To begin with, membership of the RCCP will help boost your status as a professional and will always be looked on favourably by both employers and patients. Alongside this, toy may want to carry on your studies through to MSc or PhD level. The British Academy of Audiology (BAA) provides information on some of the many relevant courses available in UK colleges and universities on its website (http://www.baaudiology.org/), while you may also want to learn sign language or get a professional qualification in social work or working with children so as to boost your professional standing.

Pay and Benefits

According to the NHS, qualified hearing therapists generally earn between £20,000 and £26,000 a year. However, with experience, you can expect your salary to rise higher than this, up to a limit of around £35,000 a year, though if you get promoted into a management role in the NHS, you could earn an annual salary of around £40,000.

Alongside the attractive rates of pay and good career progression prospects, benefits of working as a hearing therapist include being able to help people and make a real difference to their lives, being able to enjoy a varied, challenging workload and work in a range of settings rather than in an office.

Possible Drawbacks

Alongside the varied benefits, working as a hearing therapist can be highly demanding, especially if you are working with patients who are difficult, frustrated or angry. The work can also be stressful, especially if you have a busy workload and are required to carry out patient visits, while you may also be required to work unsocial hours, including evenings and weekends.

Finding Work

First of all use UK Jobs Guides search above, the results displayed will probably be for jobs in the private sector.

The vast majority of hearing therapists work for the NHS, either in hospitals, clinics or in the community. So, if you’re qualified and looking for work, visit the NHS Careers website (http://www.jobs.nhs.uk/) to look for new opportunities.

Alternatively, specialist recruitment agencies also place hearing therapists in both the public and private sectors. Register with agencies such as LabMed Recruit (http://www.labmedrecruit.co.uk/audiology-jobs.html) and let their consultants do the hard work for you.