Audiologist and Audiometrist - what is the difference?

There are a number of different professional groups working in hearing care in New Zealand. The two groups represented by the New Zealand Audiological Society are audiometrists and audiologists. You will find a brief description about these two professions below.

MNZAS Audiologists

  • Have completed a post-graduate qualification in Audiology
  • Maintain continual professional development to stay current within the profession
  • Work with clients of all ages from infants to older adults, including clients with complex needs
  • Assess hearing, auditory, vestibular (balance) and neural function, including tinnitus and auditory processing
  • Perform diagnostic assessments, including electrophysiological methods
  • Provide aural, vestibular (balance) and tinnitus (re)habilitation as well as communication training
  • Collaborate with other professions in their application and (re)habilitation
  • Provide a range of (re)habilitation services including counselling and the prescription and fitting of devices/aids including
    • bone conduction aids
    • earplugs (custom noise/swim/musicians plugs)
    • FM and other remote microphone systems
    • hearing aids
    • hearing assistive devices (eg smoke detectors and baby alarms)
    • Implantable devices (cochlear implants, implantable hearing aids, bone anchored hearing aids
  • Can access hearing aid funding from the Ministry of Health, ACC and Veterans’ Affairs.

NZAS Audiometrists

  • Have completed a recognised qualification in audiometry
  • Maintain continual professional development to stay current within the profession
  • Work with clients aged 16 years and over with non-complex hearing loss
  • Work with clients with complex needs with mentoring and support from an MNZAS audiologist
  • Assess hearing and auditory function, including tinnitus
  • Perform diagnostic assessments
  • Provide aural (re)habilitation as well as communication training
  • Provide tinnitus (re)habilitation in conjunction with hearing aid fitting
  • Collaborate with other professionals in their applications in (re)habilitation
  • Provide a range of (re)habilitation services including counselling and the prescription and fitting of devices and aids including: 
    • bone conduction aids
    • earplugs (custom noise/swim/musician plugs)
    • FM and other remote microphone systems
    • hearing aids
    • Hearing assistive technology (eg smoke alarms and baby alarms)
  • Can access hearing aid funding from the Ministry of Health