Audiology Extern

Where compassion meets innovation and technology and our employees are family.

General Purpose of Job:

To provide advanced, supervised clinical experience in pediatric audiology for graduate students completing the 4th year of an Au.D. program. The extern participates in the diagnosis and management of hearing loss in infants, children, and adolescents, while developing clinical proficiency, professional judgment, and interprofessional collaboration skills in a hospital-based environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.  This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; employees will perform other reasonably related business duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor and/or hospital administration as required.

• Maintains utmost level of confidentiality at all times.
• Adheres to hospital policies and procedures.
• Demonstrates business practices and personal actions that are ethical and adhere to corporate compliance and integrity guidelines.
• Conducts pediatric audiologic assessments under supervision, including otoscopy, tympanometry, acoustic reflexes, OAEs, and behavioral audiometry (VRA, CPA, standard).
• Assists in natural sleep and sedated ABR evaluations for inpatient and outpatient populations.
• Participates in universal newborn hearing screening in both inpatient and outpatient settings and participates in diagnostic follow-up.
• Supports amplification services, including hearing aid selection, fitting, verification, and troubleshooting.
• Assists with bone conduction hearing device and cochlear implant candidacy evaluations, activations, and follow-ups.
• Documents clinical findings, patient progress, and recommendations in the electronic health record (EHR) according to departmental guidelines.
• Participates in parent and caregiver counseling under supervision, ensuring family-centered care and education.
• Collaborates with ENT, speech-language pathology, and other disciplines in multidisciplinary clinic settings.
• Participates in quality improvement initiatives, research, and outcome measurement activities as assigned.
• Attends and participates in departmental and interdisciplinary team meetings.
• Engages in professional growth activities, including continuing education and feedback sessions.
• Demonstrates flexibility with scheduling, clinic assignments, and travel to satellite locations as needed.
• Demonstrates initiative in clinical learning, case follow-up, and application of evidence-based practice.
• Completes all university and hospital documentation required for externship completion and evaluation.
• Upholds infection control and patient safety standards in all clinical environments.
• Supports clerical and other departmental organizational duties as needed.
• Ensures work areas are cleaned and ready for the delivery of patient care at all times.
• Supports hearing aid management at DCH by performing hearing aid checks, minor repairs, cleaning hearing aids, and instructing patients and families in proper use and care of hearing aids and other amplification devices.
• Completes all clerical functions required for the hearing aid program and newborn hearing screening program. 
• Complies with clinical documentation requirements. 
• Participates in a variety of patient care related team meetings.
• Participates in departmental meetings.
• Participates in process improvement.
• Participates in community outreach conducted on behalf of the Driscoll Children’s Hospital Audiology Department.
• Generates suggestions for improving work processes.
• Demonstrates an understanding of evidence-based practice.
• Demonstrates the ability to use computer/software applications required for the job.
• Complies with infection control responsibilities in the department. 
• Will occasionally drive for Driscoll Children’s Hospital business.
• May be required to work at an alternate location (inpatient or outpatient, based on skill set) to support patient care needs.
• Demonstrates flexibility regarding departmental scheduling needs, including but not limited to compliance with family-friendly hours, floating between settings and locations, offering hours that support the patient population, etc.

Education and/or Experience:

• Must be enrolled in an accredited Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) program and have completed all academic and clinical coursework required prior to the start date.
• Completion of pediatric audiology coursework and clinical rotations preferred but not required.
• Experience with pediatric populations, cochlear implants, or ENT collaboration preferred but not required.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) proficiency preferred bur not required.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations.

Required:

• Obtain Texas Intern in Audiology License.by hire data
• Current CPR certification (or obtained within 90 days of start date).
• Compliance with university-affiliated affiliation agreement and liability coverage.