Students in our AuD program are begin clinical practicum in the first semester of study, with hands-on experiences become more immersive in each successive semester. These clinical education experiences culminate in the fourth year with a full-time clinical externship.
Housed within the Department of Otolaryngology in the Washington University School of Medicine, AuD students benefit from a wide variety of clinical opportunities across the lifespan and scope of practice, Students gain experiences alongside our medical faculty and clinicians in our nationally ranked teaching hospitals, Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital. which also house highly-regarded and top-ranked MD, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and nursing programs, among others, creating a truly interdisciplinary experience for students. On campus clinical locations include:
- Dizziness and Balance Center, Department of Otolaryngology – comprehensive evaluation of dizziness, vertigo, and imbalance
- Adult Audiology Clinics, Department of Otolaryngology – several on-campus locations that provide comprehensive hearing assessments for adults; hearing aid and BAHA selections and fittings; rehabilitation; tinnitus evaluations and management
- Adult Cochlear Implant Program, Department of Otolaryngology – a comprehensive cochlear implant program for adults, which works closely with the Otolaryngology medical team
- Pediatric Audiology Clinics, St. Louis Children’s Hospital – comprehensive audiologic services for infants and children, including newborn hearing screening, OAE testing, sleep-deprived and sedated ABR testing, CA testing, and hearing aid selections and fittings
- Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program, St Louis Children’s Hospital – a comprehensive cochlear implant program for children, which works closely with the Otolaryngology medical team
- Central Institute for the Deaf – a school for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, emphasizing listening and spoken language
Additional Sites and Experiences
Approximately 50 sites in the St. Louis metropolitan area are affiliated with the AuD program. In addition, our world-class medical school and hospitals provide students with unique opportunities, such as attending Grand Rounds, participating in cochlear implant seminars, and optional research training programs. Some local sites include:
- Department of Otolaryngology off-campus locations
- Veterans Administration St. Louis Health Care System
- Local hospitals
- Local medical and audiology clinics
- Private practice locations
- Local private schools for the deaf and public school systems
In addition, interested students have the opportunity to complete summer practicum and the externship outside the St. Louis area. We currently are affiliated with approximately 200 additional sites around the country for these placements, with the list growing each year.
PACS has provided numerous opportunities for me as a student outside the classroom and clinic, including participating in research, observing surgery and attending grand rounds. Our instructors are experts in their respective fields and go above and beyond for the students to help them succeed.
Brie Noud, AuD (2019)
audiologist, Mid-America Balance Institute (Kansas City, MO)
