Hearing instrument specialists are valued members of a hearing health-care team. They conduct comprehensive diagnostic hearing assessments, develop hearing health-care plans, dispense advanced digital assistive hearing devices and evaluate outcomes using evidence-based verification methods.

In the Hearing Instrument Specialist diploma program, you will develop the academic knowledge and hands-on, real-world experience required to become a valued hearing health professional. We combine online and in-person learning models, work-integrated learning, exceptional faculty and state of the art facilities to prepare students to skillfully work within their scope of practice and collaborate effectively as part of an interdisciplinary health-care team. Graduates of our program develop the confidence to adapt to the evolving needs of today’s patient and the emerging technologies for patient care and hearing devices.

This program develops holistic and critical thinkers, confident clinicians and compassionate communicators who will become outstanding professionals, effective practitioners and leading contributors in their field.

As the aging demographic in Canada continues to expand, there is a high demand for strongly skilled hearing instrument specialists. The job outlook for this profession in Ontario is positive.

Graduates are prepared for various employment opportunities including clinical, business, manufacturing, marketing and sales, research and development, technical support, plus entrepreneurial endeavours. This industry is dynamic in its movement and opportunities in patient-centered health care as it continues to evolve with the advancement of technology.

Hearing instrument specialists can work in a clinic or hospital setting testing for hearing loss and fitting hearing aids in adults. They can also manage the sales and business side of a company or choose to be an entrepreneur and open their own testing and dispensing clinic. A hearing instrument specialist can work for a hearing aid manufacturer as a sales marketing manager, specialist in product manufacturing, technical support, or research and development of new and upcoming hearing aid technology.