ShadowChildofHades

I appreciate everyone right to an opinion but I think negativity is not beneficial and this is the weakness our field faces. Those that do not support audiologists are a cause for the reasons some audiologists do not like their jobs. I’m a current AuD student and I have LOVED my experiences so far so prospective students keep your chins high. In my outside sites I have felt respected by other medical professionals and they value the work that we do. Interdisciplinary education is important and audiology is growing in importance and this is reflecting in our recognition and referrals from other professionals. I have experienced a vast scope of practice and SO much more than “just diagnostics” in my clinical placements. I’ve been involved in tinnitus evals and treatment, Auditory processing, educational audiology, pediatrics, assistive listening devices, fitting custom hearing protection, the moment of fitting a patient with hearing aids for the first time or new hearing aids it honestly amazing. 
I agree the pay may not be exactly what you would imagine for a doctorate degree but you are in this field for something beyond the pay. You enter this for a patients and honestly THAT is how you stay happy in any career because you truly enjoy what you do everyday. Also for that median salary that seems a bit skewed to me. I know individuals that start out and receive 80k a year starting and that’s in the Midwest where the cost of living in low. A also saw a recent job posting for the Midwest in a densely audiologist populated area and starting was 72k which is not bad at all. 
Also I do not agree with that statistic of individuals dropping out is also wrong. I would say if anything 1 student for less per class drops and often it is due to personal reasons not due to loss of faith in the field. 
 
If you are a prospective student don’t let negativity get in your way. This can be an incredibly supportive profession especially if you know the people to surround yourselves with. We are in this to help people and improve their quality of life. I have loved my experiences with patients and the respect they and other professionals give me and THAT is why I am proud to be a future audiologist. 

HI!
I acknowledge how you mention you have no intention of coming off as negative, however, posting on a forum of aspiring audiologists with nothing but negative thoughts on the field is very much so negative. First off, I have also shadowed several audiologists in several different settings, including ENT. They have all had great relationships with their ENT doctor and enjoy the setting that they are in. Obviously, hearing aids are a big part of the field since we are dealing with patients with hearing loss. While private practice is big on selling, I believe the audiologists I shadow have no problem selling hearing aids because the patients they are seeing are interested in buying them. Many people expect to purchase hearing aids as their hearing deteriorates so of course selling is a big factor of audiology. Also, even though private practice mainly deals with HAs, it is so much more than that. They build relationships with their clients and visit with them regularly. Developing hearing loss can be an emotional burden for people, therefore, counseling and mentorship is also the role an audiologist must take on. While we do have different experiences while shadowing, I think it would be silly for both us to not consider the pros and cons of audiology. It seems I have had more pros while you cons, but I know the cons are there and at the end of the day, I still want to pursue audiology. I know of several audiologists in my area who started out making around 75k their first year. The salary truly depends on your location and setting. The money is out there, you might need to relocate, but it's there. Plus I have seen such a big range in salary, it is hard to say what one will be making starting off. While salary is a big factor, it should not be the only factor. The flexibility, hours, and clientele are a few things that attracted me to the field. Most importantly, the service I provide will be meaningful to my clients. The look on the face of a client when they put their hearing aids on for the first time will be valuable in itself. Not to mention the camaraderie within the field. You even said it yourself that you have a close relationship with your audiologist, somewhere along the line they have taken the time to build a relationship with you and it has impacted you. Therefore, at the end of the day, it's less about the salary and more about how I am serving others. I have a feeling that is how most people pursuing audiology feel. We are aware of the cons but we have decided the pros make it worth it. Thank you for your opinion. I wish you the best of luck in the career you decide to pursue. 
     

I am between NOAC and University of Cincinnati currently. Waiting for funding decisions from NOAC before I decide.

FYI, keep your eyes peeled for potential cancellations with Open Houses. One of my professors mentioned that it's a possibility at my school due to COVID-19. 
Just something to keep in mind! Nothing set in stone! Just musings at this point apparently.