Audiologist

Veterans Health Administration • Salisbury, NC

13d • Onsite

About The Position

This full-performance Audiologist position is based in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service at Salisbury VAHCS in Salisbury, North Carolina. The work is carried out across clinical and other patient-care areas involved with the Audiology service. The staff audiologist independently provides audiologic services, consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate, and serves as a subject matter expert and consultant to other health care professionals on hearing, tinnitus, and balance disorders.

The audiologist conducts and coordinates diagnostic evaluation and treatment of hearing impairment and balance disorders. Services include audiologic and neuro-audiologic assessment; treatment of auditory disorders using contemporary clinical modalities; adjunctive interventions for medical disorders; counseling; and individual, family, or group audiologic rehabilitation. The role may also involve program evaluation, teaching, training, and research.

The audiologist may be assigned to VHA programs and settings including inpatient or outpatient medicine, primary care, surgery, hearing health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, geriatrics, and compensation and pension. The position is full performance level GS-12. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework and virtual work are not available. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• Doctor of Audiology (AuD) from an audiology program recognized by ACAE or ASHA's CAA, or another doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting institution.
• Hold a full, current, and unrestricted doctoral-level license to practice audiology in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Complete one year of professional experience comparable to the next lower grade level for GS-12.
• Demonstrate skill in determining the nature, type, and severity of hearing, communication, and vestibular disorders.
• Demonstrate skill in counseling patients and family members regarding management of hearing, communication, and vestibular disorders.
• Demonstrate the ability to provide professional advice and consultation in audiology to other health care professionals.
• Demonstrate the ability to independently apply contemporary audiologic treatments to the full range of patient populations.
• Meet applicable U.S. citizenship requirements; non-citizens may only be appointed when qualified U.S. citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Meet English-language proficiency requirements for Audiologist candidates under 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Meet applicable background and security investigation requirements and complete the online onboarding process.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a VA health care personnel requirement.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to evaluation and written certification for continued employment.
• Meet physical requirements described in VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with vestibular assessment and evoked potentials.

Responsibilities

• Assess the nature, type, and severity of hearing, communication, and vestibular disorders.
• Identify and evaluate individuals with hearing disorders affecting reception and perception of speech, language, and other acoustic signals.
• Administer diagnostic tests, including auditory evoked potentials, videonystagmography, tinnitus assessments, and balance assessments.
• Evaluate the type and degree of hearing loss or balance disorder; conduct compensation and pension evaluations and provide expert opinions regarding the etiology of auditory dysfunction as needed.
• Recommend remedial measures to mitigate hearing loss, including selecting, evaluating, and fitting hearing aids, assistive listening devices, and accessories, and issuing hearing protection.
• Plan, conduct, and coordinate auditory rehabilitation, tinnitus rehabilitation, and/or vestibular rehabilitation programs.
• Design patient-centered treatment plans to help patients and caregivers maximize or restore physical and social functioning.
• Design, monitor, and conduct a comprehensive hearing conservation program for employees at risk of noise exposure.
• Apply contemporary audiology treatments to diverse patient populations, including hearing conservation, electrophysiological assessment and interpretation, central auditory function assessment and treatment, tinnitus counseling, and advanced amplification technology fitting.
• Counsel patients, families, caregivers, and health care providers about hearing loss, hearing management, communication, and vestibular disorders; provide patient education resources.
• Serve as a consultant to facility personnel and other health care professionals, including on difficult and complex cases.
• Consult with medical center staff on patient care issues.
• May participate in program evaluation, teaching, training, and research activities.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; the specific benefits available depend on the position and the employee's eligibility.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree