Audiologist

Full Job Description

This position is located in the Audiology & Speech Pathology Section of PM&R Service.at the Memphis VA Medical Center.

The duties and responsibilities are carried out at the Millington, TN CBOC, at the Memphis VAMC, and other associated Community Based Outpatient Clinics as needed.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

Education: (1) Doctor of Audiology (AuD) from an audiology program recognized by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

The CAA is the only accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to accredit entry-level audiology programs.

HR office staff and management officials may verify the program accredited from CAA at www.caa.asha.org.

-OR- (2) Other doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the USDE.

NOTE: Effective January 1, 2007, the CAA in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of ASHA accredits only doctoral degree or AuD programs in audiology.

(Copy of Transcript required) Licensure: Individuals must hold a full, current and unrestricted license to practice audiology at the doctoral level in a United States state, territory, commonwealth or the District of Columbia.

(Copy of Licensure required) Grandfathering Provision.

All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure.

For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements of this standard but previously met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:(1) Audiologists may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level or changed to a lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.(2) Audiologists who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.(3) Audiologists who are appointed temporarily prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they meet the basic requirements of the standard.(4) Audiologists initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations: Audiologist, GS-12 Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess at least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11).

Candidates at the GS-11 grade level serve in audiologist entry-level developmental positions.

Audiologists perform audiology assessment and treatment intervention, exercise clinical judgment, adapt clinical procedures and techniques and document in the medical record appropriate information related to patient care.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs).Candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:(a) Skill in determining nature, type and severity of hearing/communication /vestibular disorders.(b) Skill in counseling patients and family members regarding management of hearing/communication/vestibular disorders(c) Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional audiology to other health care professionals.(d) Ability to independently apply professional contemporary audiologic treatments to the full range of patient populations.

Assignment. This is the full performance level for staff audiologists.

At this level, audiologists are licensed to practice independently in the provision of audiologic services, consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate.

Audiologists serve as consultants to other health care professionals and are recognized subject matter experts (SME) on matters related to hearing, tinnitus and balance disorders.

The supervisor may assign staff audiologists to any VHA program and setting, such as inpatient or outpatient medicine, primary care, surgery, hearing health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, geriatrics, compensation and pension.

Audiologists diagnose audiologic disorders, conduct audiologic or neuro-audiologic assessments, treat auditory disorders through a various modalities and provide adjunctive interventions for the treatment of medical disorders.

Audiologists consult with medical center staff on various patient care issues. Staff audiologists may be involved in program evaluation, teaching, training and research activities.

Among the modalities provided are individual, family and group audiologic rehabilitation.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Prolonged periods of sitting, bending, reaching, stooping, stretching and light lifting (under 15 pounds); light carrying (under 15 pounds); use of fingers; both hands required; repeated bending (.5 hours); near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; hearing with aid.

Applicants must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others. Major Duties:

The staff audiologist at this level is an independent licensed practitioner and must demonstrate professional knowledge of, and skill in applying a wide range of theories, principles, and methodologies of the practice of audiology to a wide range of populations.

Major duties for the Audiologist position include (but are not limited to): Identifies and evaluates individuals with hearing disorders in the reception and perception of speech, language and other acoustic signals by way of face to face or virtual modalities.

Autonomously selects and administers the full range of tests utilizing a variety of specialized audiologic assessment procedures (clinic protocol) in an attempt to provide audiometric information as to the organicity of hearing impairment, site of lesion, and/or other data of interest to referring medical staff.

Counsels with the patient relative to the psychological/social problems that result from hearing loss, including the most difficult and complex cases in which the patient may have multiple diagnoses, making appropriate referrals for treatment of these problems when indicated and independent of supervisory assistance.

Performs audiometric compensation/pension reports as prescribed by the VA and provides evaluation and interpretation of results in accordance with existing legislative and regulatory provisions.

Writes reports and medical opinions in CAPRI.

Performs advanced differential test procedures such as auditory brainstem response testing, acoustic reflexes, video nystagmography, cervical/ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, electrocochleography, and otoacoustic emissions in order to provide diagnostic information to referring physicians to assist in identifying various pathologies/etiologies.

Performs regular biological calibration of equipment.

Autonomously prescribes, selects and fits hearing aids, including those which utilize the newest technologies, as well as special assistive devices (ALD) which he/she deems necessary given the patient's hearing impairment and/or the complexity/severity of the patient's other diagnoses.

Independently performs hearing aid evaluation, carrying out appropriate aural rehabilitation, counseling and patient education for patients and/or caregivers/family members when indicated by the evaluation, the fitting of the aid or its use by the veteran as well as completing the appropriate electroacoustic analysis of the hearing aids prior to issuance of the aid/aids.

Completes real-ear testing in order verify appropriate fittings.

Independently plans and administers aural rehabilitation programs for those patients needing special assistance in adjusting to amplification.

Works with patient and family members to remediate communication problems.

Autonomously evaluates/troubleshoots hearing aid problems whenever deemed necessary during evaluation of a patient and particularly during the Audiology Section's Hearing Aid Repair clinic.

Performs necessary adjustments, in-house repairs/modifications as well as appropriately re-instructs patient regarding hearing aid care, use and realistic benefit from amplification.

Conducts cerumen management/removal when necessary. Aids in opening mail-ins and assists with mail-outs when needed. Certifies repaired and new aids in ROES system in a timely manner.

Assists health tech with hearing aid repairs when needed and sees hearing aid repairs when deemed necessary by Audiology Supervisor. Assists with reordering hearing aid supplies when a need is evident.

Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 51117-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required