Hearing Instrument Technology

To apply for a hearing instrument fitter/dispenser license in Washington State, applicants must successfully complete degree requirements from an approved two-year education program and pass a state administered test. Bates' Hearing Instrument Technology program is approved by the Washington State Board of Hearing and Speech for students to prepare for a career as a hearing instrument fitter/dispenser.

Instruction includes professional terminology, anatomy and physiology of the normal ear, common medical disorders that may affect hearing, patient/family education, ethics, basic acoustics, hearing aid electronics, selecting and fitting appropriate technology to improve quality of life by individualizing hearing aid performance for best outcomes. In an on-campus hearing instrument study clinic, students perform hearing assessments, assist patients in the selection, procurement and fitting of hearing aids, troubleshoot hearing aid problems and perform minor repairs. Students are also introduced to business aspects of the industry.

Prerequisites:

1. Applicants must be fully ready to enter into general education courses. This entry requirement may be satisfied byproviding the registrar with official transcripts showing actual completion of general education courses, or by satisfactory completion of placement tests the enable the student to enroll directly into required general education courses.
2. To meet Washington State residency requirements for program completion, students must be enrolled in the Hearing Instrument Technology career education program at Bates Technical College for their last 1,284 hours of training.

Program Length: Six quarters (approximate)

Associate of Technology Degree: 109 Credits

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS	CREDITS
100+ Level Human Relations 5 100+ Level Communications 5 100+ Level Mathematics 5	5 5 5
REQUIRED COURSEWORK	CREDITS
HEAR 110 Introduction to Hearing Professions HEAR 111 Safety Practices HEAR 112 Acoustics HEAR 113 Hearing Assessment I HEAR 120 Anatomy and Physiology HEAR 121 Instrumentation HEAR 122 Hearing Assessment II HEAR 130 Disorders of the Auditory System HEAR 131 Hearing Aids HEAR 132 Audiometric Interpretation I HEAR 210 Hearing Assessment III HEAR 211 Aural Rehabilitation I HEAR 212 Business Aspects I HEAR 213 Clinical I HEAR 220 Hearing Aid Evaluation HEAR 221 Audiometric Interpretation II HEAR 222 Hearing Aids II HEAR 223 Clinical II HEAR 230 Hearing Aid Service and Repair HEAR 231 Aural Rehabilitation II HEAR 232 Business Aspects II HEAR 233 Clinical III	5 4 5 3 5 5 3 5 5 5 3 3 5 3 5 5 5 3 5 4 4 4