By Michael Piskosz & Dr. Hope Lanter
Audiology stands at a crossroads — for many, this feels like a Braveheart moment: will we cling to the old definitions, or claim the freedom to redefine ourselves?
Walk into any audiology conference, and you’ll hear the usual suspects: “Best practices.” “Clinical excellence.” “Reimbursement reform.” “Regulatory updates.”
All important. All necessary. But these familiar talking points also reveal something deeper — a profession still clinging to a narrow identity.
Historically, audiology has defined itself almost exclusively through the clinical lens: diagnostics, fittings, protocols, and scope. That model built the foundation of the field — but it was never meant to be the ceiling.
Today, audiology is evolving. And that evolution isn’t just inevitable — it’s essential.
Modern audiologists are working far beyond the clinic. They’re building practices and innovative service models. They’re launching start-ups, influencing policy, joining tech companies, and creating digital content that reframes hearing health for a new generation. Many are engaging with consumers who don’t identify as “hearing impaired,” but who still care deeply about how sound affects their quality of life and well-being.
Yet despite this growth, these new roles are often treated as fringe — or worse, as threats to the profession’s integrity.
That’s not just shortsighted. It’s dangerous.
The Value of Growth
When we fail to recognize and celebrate the expansion of our field, we send the message that there’s only one “right” way to be an audiologist. The reality is this: the more ways audiologists can contribute, the stronger the profession becomes.
Growth is not dilution. Expansion is not compromise. It’s how every successful industry adapts and stays relevant. We should be proud that hearing health is showing up in wellness, design, big tech, and in conversations about brain health, fatigue, focus, and lifestyle.
Because the bigger our reach, the more impact we have. And that’s something worth celebrating — not fearing.
These are signs of a profession stretching into new spaces — and finally being recognized for its broader value. Instead of resisting that shift, we should be naming it, branding it, and building a consumer-centric framework to support it.
Because the future of audiology depends on how well we understand the full range of who we are, who we’re becoming, and the value we can bring to the public.
So, what type of audiologist are you (and who do you want to be)?
The 5 Types of Audiologists
After years of global conversations, collaborations, and more than a few hard lessons, we’ve come to see five broad categories of audiologists that show up across the profession today.
This isn’t about putting people in boxes — or creating a hierarchy. It’s about making space for the diversity that already exists. Most of us don’t fit neatly into just one category. Hybrids are the norm, not the exception. And that’s the point: the profession is evolving, and so are the people in it.
1. The Clinical Caregiver
The frontlines. Clinical audiologists diagnose and treat hearing disorders. They fit hearing aids, perform tests, manage tinnitus, and guide patients through journeys that are often deeply emotional and life-changing.
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They are the anchor of the profession.
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They often feel the strain of time, insurance, and sales pressure. Burnout is real.
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They’re usually the first to notice when patients need more than what’s currently offered.
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They value their degree, but many have “buyer’s remorse.”
2. The Academic & Researcher
These audiologists chase answers. They run studies, write grants, and publish data that inform tomorrow’s protocols. Their work legitimizes the profession and pushes it forward.
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They live in journals, conferences, and labs.
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Their impact is indirect but foundational.
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They push for evidence-based everything — sometimes to the detriment of commercial advancement.
3. The Advocate & Regulator
These audiologists work on state boards, in national organizations, and behind legislation. They fight for scope, access, inclusion, and reimbursement — shaping the policies that define how audiology is practiced and protected.
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They’re policy-savvy and detail-focused.
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They’re often the reason your license exists.
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They get caught between progress, politics and personal interests. It’s a tricky balance.
4. The Entrepreneur & Creative
The boundary-pushers. They start businesses, invent tools, launch digital platforms, or create influencer content that reframes hearing health. They may not “look” or “act” like traditional audiologists.
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They don’t fit job descriptions.
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They get criticized for being too commercial.
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But they often create new demand for audiology and speak to real consumers.
5. The Strategic Generalist
These audiologists have worked across clinical, commercial, and creative lanes — but no longer fit in a single box. They’ve worn many hats throughout the industry and understand its nuances, both strengths and weaknesses. They see auditory health as a human, social, and commercial force. They see greater value in audiology than the status quo.
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They act as connectors between clinical insight, market strategy, and consumer experience.
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They think big-picture, seeing hearing health as more than medical.
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They help shape the industry by preparing it for what’s next.
Michael: What Kind of Audiologist Am I?
I’m not a clinical audiologist. Haven’t been for a very long time. I’m not fighting for licensure policy. I believe we should welcome more HIS in the field. And I’m not here to keep audiology locked inside a booth, or protected from larger commercial forces that threaten it.
I’m a visionary. I’ve seen — and at times been in the thick of — the successes and blind spots. I’ve watched hearing aids evolve from analog devices into connected ecosystems, yet still remain misunderstood by most consumers. I’ve seen public awareness about hearing barely move, while tinnitus, auditory fatigue, and noise exposure quietly become mainstream issues.
So, what kind of audiologist am I?
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I’m a strategist.
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A translator between science, product, and people.
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An advocate for auditory health as a performance issue — not just a sensory deficit, so we can bring it to the masses, not just a niche few.
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Someone who sees hearing as one piece of the larger auditory experience puzzle and is working to build a consumer brand around it the public can relate to.
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Someone who has carved a unique path throughout my career and doesn’t plan on stopping.
And more than anything, I believe our field can be more — if we let it.
But I’m an audiologist who has also seen something else: other industries paying attention. Tech, commercial, and wellness brands are realizing sound is a powerful sense — and presented right, it sells. They know sound affects how we feel, think, work, sleep, and connect.
The difference? They’re bringing that message directly to consumers, with deep pockets to do so. Multimillion-dollar marketing budgets, global reach, flexible product portfolios, seamless distribution — advantages audiology has never had. That’s why audiology must evolve to elevate all types of professionals — not just clinicians, but communicators, influencers, researchers, designers, strategists, and visionaries who can translate our value to the modern world. I, for one, am ready to be a part of that change.
Hope: What Kind of Audiologist Am I?
I’m not just a clinician, though I started there. I’m not only an advocate or a researcher. And I’m not satisfied with keeping audiology confined to the booth.
I’ve built my career working in diagnostics and hearing aids within ENT and hearing center settings, collaborating with physicians and multidisciplinary teams to integrate hearing care into broader health services. Over time, I developed a passion for working with hearing aids and guiding patients through their journeys — but I also wanted more.
I began to see how many people who needed help weren’t receiving it — only one in four people who need hearing aids actually get them. That reality pushed me to take the next step: expanding into advocacy and awareness. I’ve seen both the strengths and shortcomings of structured clinical environments, and I’ve also worked in more consumer-driven, tech-enabled approaches. Each step reinforced for me that audiology is not limited to the booth — influence isn’t just about fitting devices, it’s about building trust, raising awareness, and creating access where none existed.
Change can feel disruptive. Change can feel unsettling. But those are the moments where new opportunities emerge. Many audiologists wonder if there’s room for them, if they can carve out a space that matters. I believe they can. Because I’ve lived it: redefining my role, reaching beyond the clinic, and proving that audiology can have a voice in wellness, technology, and culture.
So what kind of audiologist am I?
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I’m an innovator, finding ways to bring care where it’s most needed.
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A communicator, using social media platforms to empower and educate.
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A builder, creating and adapting care models that connect clinicians and patients in new ways.
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And a believer that our field has a bigger story to tell — if we’re bold enough to tell it.
Above all, I want to be an audiologist who shows that growth is possible, that our roles can evolve, and that every path has value when it helps patients and communities thrive.
The Opportunity: Define or Be Defined
Hearing health is being redefined — with or without our input. Professionals who understand consumer behavior, business models, branding, and cross-disciplinary collaboration are the ones who will shape what comes next.
The future of auditory health won’t be built by one lane of expertise. It will take all of us, using distinct strengths to shape how hearing health is understood, accessed, and valued.
Many of us are still stuck in the mud debating whether OTC is a threat or lifeline, while other industries are solving real problems and earning consumer trust. It’s time to stop defending old models and start exploring commercial opportunities that expand our influence and bring new audiences into the conversation.
An Invitation to the Evolving Audiologist
If you’re reading this and thinking, “I don’t fit the traditional mold” or “I want to be more than a clinician,” you’re not alone.
Maybe you’re an audiologist who:
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Wants to work with product teams or design environments, not just clinics
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Is building a TikTok or Instagram following to educate the public on hearing health
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Is burned out from clinic life but still passionate about hearing health and helping others
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Believes our skills can take us beyond audiograms and fittings
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Maybe you’re not an audiologist, but bring a valuable skill set to help this population
You belong here. This space welcomes the educators, creators, techies, strategists, storytellers, and yes — rule-breakers.
So, if you’ve been waiting for permission or a supporting hand to do it differently — consider this it.
Unleash your creativity. Create something new. Don’t just ask what kind of audiologist you are today — ask what kind you want to be tomorrow. Become the audiologist YOU want to be. We need all of you.
Michael Piskosz and Dr. Hope Lanter are passionate advocates for expanding the professional horizons of audiologists. They believe the future of the field depends not just on adapting to change – but leading it.
