NOAC Mission Statement

The mission of the Northeast Ohio Au.D. Consortium is to be an innovative program of excellence that provides Ohio with a pool of independent and competent professional audiologists. To this end, the consortium seeks to: (1) Prepare audiologists through professional education and clinical training who can diagnose, manage, and treat individuals with hearing, tinnitus, and balance disorders; (2) Enhance service to the professional community through presentations, mentoring, consulting, and scholarly activity; and (3) Provide for research and clinical service through entrepreneurship and external funding.

Program Learning Outcomes

Program graduates will:

  1. Demonstrate a broad-based knowledge of the foundations, theories, and application of audiology.

  2. Demonstrate clinical competencies in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of hearing and balance disorders.

  3. Demonstrate knowledge of research principles and their integration into evidence-based clinical practice in audiology.

  4. Demonstrate knowledge and skills in the principles and practices of patient and family centered care.

  5. Demonstrate knowledge of the ethical standards and conduct expected in the profession of audiology.

Course Requirements

  1. List of Course Numbers & Names for Kent State University enrolled students

  2. List of Course Numbers & Names for University of Akron enrolled students

Placement Objectives for Graduates

A goal of the Northeast Ohio Au.D. Consortium is to educate students in all aspects of audiologic diagnosis and treatment. As such, graduates are prepared for placements in any type of audiology practice including hospital, clinic, private practice, school, or industrial settings.

Meeting the Needs of Ohio

There is a clear local, regional, and national need for audiologists. Employment for audiologists is expected to grow much faster than the average through the year 2024. This increased need for audiologists is expected since hearing loss and balance disorders are associated with aging, and there is a rapid growth in the population of individuals aged 55 and older due to the aging of the “baby boomer” generation. The need for audiologists is expected to increase by 29% by the year 2024 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, ” U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Audiologists (visited April 27, 2016).

Ohio has a critical need for additional audiologists. Ohio’s elderly population currently ranks 7th nationally. Projections are that the elderly population in Ohio will increase to over 11.7 million people by 2025. Given the prevalence rate of hearing impairment (30% for age 65 and 70% for over age 80), significant need exists for additional audiologists. There are fewer than 30 certified audiologists employed in Ohio’s primary and secondary public schools to serve the thousands of children with periodic and/or permanent hearing problems. More audiologists are needed in Ohio’s public schools if children with hearing problems are to be identified and served properly. Universal hearing screening of all newborn infants is mandatory. Ohio currently ranks 7th nationally with nearly 140,000 births per year.

Policy of Non-Discrimination in Programs and Activities

The University of Akron and Kent State University do not discriminate on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, age, handicap, status as a veteran, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loans programs, or other school-administered programs.


Last Revised: May 2022