Introduction
Many American audiologists have not had much experience interacting with audiologists in other countries. Our own system for the training of audiologists has changed drastically in the past 10 years or so moving from graduate degrees (BA/BS, MA/MS, Ph.D/Ed.D/Sc.D, etc) to Professional degrees (Au.D). so that most young audiologists in the United States now posses as Doctor of Audiology (Au.D) degree.
In many other countries such as Britain, parts of continental Europe, Middle East, Mexico and other countries audiological training is neither of our familiar US models, but begins in medical school. After medical school training continues with a 3 year residency in Audiology. The residency is very much like audiology graduate school in the USA but results in a medical specialty called “Audiological Physician”. Unlike those of us that practice in the USA, Audiological Physicians diagnose auditory disorders, medically treat them and also provide rehabilitative intervention with amplification products. In these countries, Otolaryngologists treat nose, throat disorders and conduct surgery on the auditory system, but routine issues are treated by the audiological physician.
Brief Introduction of the Iranian Association of Audiology (IAA)
The foregoing is an orientation to this week’s article that discusses audiology in Iran. A few weeks ago, I was invited to join a group with connections to the Iranian Association of Audiology. I asked that a representative of their society please help us, as Americans, understand how audiology is practiced in their country, and the Secretariat of the Association sent me the following message:
As one of the 116 approved NGOs of the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education in IRAN until now (May 2011), the Iranian Association of Audiology (IAA) was founded under supervision of Committee of Scientific Associations of Medical Groups of that ministry in 2004. With more than 2000 audiologists as its members, IAA has been devoted itself to provide this group of paramedical experts with demanding services. It must be noted that IAA is consisted of four main committees including: Research and Education, Student, Welfare and International and also Legal and Union. However the Audiologists Association (AAI) of IRAN is an older association which has been founded under the supervision of State Ministry in 1988.
In Iran, Audiology as a rehabilitation field is more than three decades old. Graduates provide the public with required preventive, diagnostic and rehabilitative services regarding auditory and vestibular problems. Through the annual national entrance exam, students are admitted to the universities of the medical sciences for BSc, MSc and PhD degrees of Audiology. Currently, almost 2000 BSc graduates and more than 200 MSc ones are active in clinical practice.
The admission of students in BSc of Audiology goes back to 1980, first in Iran University of Medical Science and then Tehran, Shahid Beheshti, Ahwas and Zahedan medical science universities; and for Msc degree, first in Iran University of medical science in 1991 and then Tehran and recently Shahid Beheshti Universities, and since 2009 students have been being admitted in the PhD degree of audiology in Tehran University of Medical Sciences and University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation. In Iran, Audiology services are provided by both state and private sectors. An audiology section exists in most of the state hospitals and rehabilitation centers which are under the supervision of Welfare Organization and Exceptional Children organization. Also by establishing an auditory assessment office, audiologists can be active in private clinical practice. According to the credits passed in BSc degree, the graduates can get involved in behavioral assessment of hearing and also hearing aid prescription and fitting in children and adults. It must be noted that graduates of higher degrees of audiology are officially allowed to perform Electrophysiological assessments in their clinical practice.
There are seven active Cochlear Implant Centers in Iran in which audiologist is a principal member of the CI team. In recent years several reports have been released regarding cochlear implantation in the two ears, auditory neuropathy, cochlear anomalies and brainstem implants.
The National Congress of Audiology in Iran is annually held in May. Also Medical science universities and related specialists such as Speech Therapists, Otologists, Neurologists, Neuroscientists and Pediatrics actively take part in this scientific event. The program of the Tenth National Congress of Audiology that will be held in the Razi International Convention Center, Tehran, 26-28 May 2011 is available on the IAA official website (www.iranaudiology.com). Also more scientific events such as workshops, seminars and symposiums are organized by IAA or Medical Universities all year round. The mentioned events are held in excellent quality and are sponsored by several hearing aid and cochlear implant companies.
Iranian Association of Audiology (IAA)
Tel: +98-21-88 91 29 96 | Fax: +98-21-88 94 73 96
SMS: +98-10000931572846
Website: www.IranAudiology.com | Email: [email protected]
Office: #11, No 3, 4th Alley, Ostad Nejatollahi St., Karimkhan St., Tehran, IRAN
P.O.Box: 14155/5849
Hearing International would like to thank audiologists in Iran and specifically the IAA Secretariat for sending us this information as an orientation to Audiology in their country. Hopefully, this is the beginning of many interactions that will enlighten us as to how audiology is practiced around the world. The goal of Hearing International at HHTM is to eventually have a number of links to various societies around the world.
