I am pleased that Illinois State University will continue to provide the region and nation with highly trained practitioners,“ said President Bowman, former chair of the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology.
Audiologists must now be familiar with new technology, such as that involved in cochlear implants, hearing aides, and new audiological diagnostic tools. Additionally, new knowledge regarding genetic hearing loss has had an impact on how patients with such hearing losses are counseled and treated. Because of this increase in the knowledge base and expansion of audiologists’ scope of practice, a master’s degree is no longer deemed sufficient to adequately prepare audiologists. After December 31, 2006, individuals applying to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association for their Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology must hold a doctoral degree in audiology from an accredited institution of higher education. “The new program has been designed to meet and in many cases exceed the new professional training standards set by our national accreditation organization,” said Walter Smoski, Chair of the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology.
The new program will be one of five high quality doctoral programs in the College of Arts and Sciences," said Dean Olson. "I'm sure that like the other four, it will distinguish itself nationally as one of the best programs of its kind."