Audiovestibular medicine/audiological medicine

Audiovestibular medicine deals with the diagnosis, investigation, medical treatment and rehabilitation of patients experiencing problems with hearing, tinnitus or balance. It makes for an interesting specialty as in some areas there is little known about it, so there is wide scope for research. As an audiovestibular physician, you will often be involved in novelty cases, and because it is a small specialty, you will have the opportunity to work on a national basis to further understanding of the specialty.

Working in the specialty

Physicians in audiovestibular medicine work in outpatient clinics, with no on-call hours or night shifts. As a result, you can achieve a very good work/life balance. Cases range from patients with tinnitus, complex balance problems to autistic children in need of specialised hearing assessments. Teams are multidisciplinary – including hearing therapists, physiotherapists, education, psychologists, speech and speech & language therapists. There are plenty of opportunities to train others and teach. For some this means holding lecturer and professorial posts as well.

Getting into audiovestibular medicine

There are a few FY2 posts available in audiovestibular medicine so seek them out if it’s something that interests you. Otherwise, experience within general medicine, neurology, ENT, paediatrics, and neuroscience can be useful. Generic skills that will help you include good communication skills, reflective thinking and the ability to take a good history from clients and their family. To find out more about the specialty, it’s a good idea to sit in on a few clinics. If you are looking for quick-fix cases, then audiovestibular medicine isn’t the specialty for you – treatment and rehabilitation is an ongoing process rather than a single consultation. You have to be a good team player.

Sebastian Hendricks is a consultant audiological physician and lead for paediatric audiological services at Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust.