Career Connections^[1]

Audiologist

Audiologists are health care professionals who diagnose, manage, and treat hearing, balance, or ear problems. They work in the field of audiology, which is the science of hearing and balance. They determine the severity and type of hearing loss a patient has and develop a plan for treatment. Audiologists counsel patients, manage hearing loss prevention programs, assist patients with the management of ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and design educational plans for children. They specialize in hearing aids, inner ear implants, and assistive listening devices. Audiologists work collaboratively with health care providers, speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, teachers, social workers, and psychologists and treat patients of all ages, from infants to the elderly.^[2]

Neurologist

A neurologist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders and conditions related to the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles.

Neurosurgeons

A neurosurgeon is a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions that affect the nervous system such as the skull, spinal vertebrae, spinal disks, blood vessels, meninges, and soft tissues. Neurosurgeons perform surgery on the nervous system and also prescribe nonsurgical treatments such as medications, steroid injections, and physical therapy.^[3]

Psychiatrist

A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in mental health and substance use disorders. Because they are physicians, psychiatrists can order or perform a full range of medical, laboratory, and psychological tests. Mental health diagnoses are based on criteria established in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which contains descriptions, symptoms, and other criteria for diagnosing mental disorders. Psychiatrists prescribe a variety of treatments, including talk therapy, medications, psychosocial interventions, and other treatments such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), depending on the needs of each patient. ECT is the application of electrical currents to the brain, typically used to treat severe depression that has not responded to other treatments.

Psychologist

Psychologists are professionals with graduate degrees, and many have doctoral degrees (i.e., PhD, PsyD, or EdD). They specialize in helping people learn to cope with stressful situations, overcome substance abuse disorders, and manage chronic mental health disorders. They also perform psychological testing.

Speech-Language Pathologist

A speech-language pathologist diagnoses and treats conditions that affect a person’s ability to communicate and swallow. They are experts in speech, language, and voice and swallowing disorders and work with people of all ages from birth to older adulthood who have difficulty communicating because of developmental disorders, brain injuries, head and neck cancer, and neurological conditions.^[4]

Substance Use and Mental Health Counselors

Substance use and mental health counselors advise people on issues such as those relating to alcoholism, substance use disorders, or depression. Education and training requirements vary for entering these occupations by state. For example, in Wisconsin there are associate degree programs available in substance use disorder counseling. Mental health counseling typically requires a master’s degree.