(McLean, VA) - The Accreditation Commission on Audiology Education (ACAE), comprising members from academia, the Academy of Dispensing Audiologists (ADA), and the American Academy of Audiology (AAA), was formed to develop an accreditation plan specifically for academic programs offering the Doctor of Audiology (AuD) degree. The current accreditation of audiology graduate programs specifically excludes those providing educational opportunities for existing professionals to earn their AuD via distance learning.
Accreditation of these programs is essential, and also serves as a catalyst for the development of an independent accreditation plan devoted exclusively to audiology. The focus of the ACAE will be to develop competency standards, based on audiology's current scope of practice, on which AuD programs may be evaluated leading to accreditation. This objective will ultimately ensure the quality of outcome for patients with hearing and balance disorders.
The American Academy of Audiology, the world's largest professional organization of audiologists, is dedicated to providing quality hearing care services through professional development, education, research and increased public awareness of hearing disorders. To learn more about the audiology profession and how audiologists are helping the 28 million Americans who suffer from hearing loss, please visit the Academy's web site at www.audiology.org.
