This position will be located in the El Paso VA HCS Audiology Department. The audiologist conducts audiological assessment to determine a patient's need for amplification, predict effectiveness of amplification, determine need for and type of aural rehabilitation and counseling of the hearing-impaired veteran and their family, conducts and interprets behavioral, electroacoustic, or electrophysiological methods used to assess hearing, balance, tinnitus, and neural system functions.

Duties

The Audiologist: Assess the degree and nature of hearing loss, evaluates the vestibular/balance systems. Identifies and evaluates Individuals with hearing disorders in the reception and perception of speech, language, and other acoustic signals. Administers the full range of tests including the testing of vestibular nerve function; evaluates the type and degree of hearing loss of patients who are normally unable to provide consistent and reliable reaction to diagnostics. Recommends remedial measures to mitigate hearing loss: is responsible for direct services of remedial and sometimes preventative nature. The services encompass the following: use of hearing aids; the selection of monaural, binaural or cross hearing aids of particular type; the issuance of ear defenders for prevention of acoustic trauma for those individuals working in a noise environment; recommendations for special ear molds made necessary because of allergic reactions, severe hearing loss or other reasons; recommendations for procurement of special instruments such as desk amplifiers, telephone amplifiers, radio, or TV magnetic induction devices for special communication problems; routine hearing aid inspection and repair where indicated. Develops treatment plans for most difficult and complex cases. Recommends aural rehabilitation programs for patients with significant physical and psychological complicating conditions. Designs training plans to assist patient and caregivers in utilizing available hearing resources. Sometimes makes a recommendation for change of job in those cases where hearing loss is progressing due to high noise level exposure. Performs other related duties including vestibular/balance systems evaluation, as well as tinnitus patients, falls risk assessment, and recommends treatments and management options. Audiologists. Audiologists serve Veterans, families, caregivers, stakeholders, and the Nation through a broad range of professional activities including: 1. Promoting, designing, implementing, and coordinating wellness programs for prevention of hearing loss and protection of hearing function. 2. Identifying, evaluating, diagnosing, managing, and treating disorders of human hearing, balance, tinnitus, and other disorders associated with the practice of audiology. 3. Performing otoscopic examination and external ear canal management for removal of cerumen. 4. Conducting and interpreting behavioral, electroacoustic, or electrophysiologic tests used to evaluate disorder associated with the practice of audiology. 5. Administering and interpreting electrophysiologic measurements of neural function including, but not limited to, sensory and motor evoked potentials, tests of nerve conduction velocity, and electromyography. These measurements are used in differential diagnosis, pre- and postoperative evaluation of neural function, and neurophysiologic intraoperative monitoring of central nervous system, spinal cord, and cranial nerve function. 6. Evaluating and providing rehabilitation for central auditory processing disorders. 7. Determining the appropriateness of amplification devices and systems such as hearing aids, sensory aids, hearing assistive devices, alerting and telecommunication systems, and captioning devices; for Veterans with hearing impairment taking into consideration physical, acoustic, cosmetic, situational, and contextual factors. 8. Selecting, evaluating, fitting and programming amplification devices and systems customized to the individual needs of Veterans; verifying the effectiveness of such devices or systems; counseling and training Veterans in the use of amplification devices and systems, and determining the benefit of amplification devices and systems. 9. Determining candidacy based on hearing and communication information for auditory implants (e.g., cochlear implants, middle ear implantable hearing aids, fully implantable hearing aids, bone-anchored and post-surgical assessment, counseling, and all aspects of audiologic treatment including auditory training, rehabilitation, implant programming, and maintenance of implant hardware and software. 10. Providing auditory rehabilitation including speech reading (if qualified), communication management, language development, auditory skill development, and counseling for psychosocial adjustment to hearing loss for persons with hearing loss and their families/caregivers to optimize residual hearing and to mitigate the effects of hearing impairment on activity, participation, and quality of life. Work Schedule: M-F, 8AM - 4:45 PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized to highly qualified applicants Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education. (1) Doctor of Audiology (AuD) from an audiology program recognized by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The CAA is the only accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to accredit entry-level audiology programs. HR office staff and management officials may verify the program accredited from CAA at www.caa.asha.org. OR (2) Other doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the USDE. NOTE: Effective January 1, 2007, the CAA in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of ASHA accredits only doctoral degree or AuD programs in audiology. Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. Such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs. Licensure. Individuals must hold a full, current and unrestricted license to practice audiology at the doctoral level in a United States state, territory, commonwealth or the District of Columbia. (1) Non-licensed audiologists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate audiologist at the GS-11 grade under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2) for a period not to exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that these audiologists provide care only under the supervision of fully licensed audiologists. Individuals appointed as graduate audiologists may not be promoted to the GS-12 level without being fully licensed. Failure to Obtain Licensure. In all cases, the graduate audiologists must actively pursue obtaining the required licensure from the date of their appointment. HR office staff will provide unlicensed audiologists with written requirements to obtain licensure, the date by which the license must be acquired and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline. Written notices must be provided prior to the entrance on duty date. Failure to obtain the required credentials by the prescribed date will result in termination of employment. Loss of Credential. In collaboration with HR office staff, management officials must immediately relieve employees of the duties and responsibilities associated with the occupation who fail to maintain the required licensure, which may also result in separation from employment. Grandfathering Provision. All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements of this standard but previously met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Audiologists may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level or changed to a lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) Audiologists who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. (3) Audiologists who are appointed temporarily prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they meet the basic requirements of the standard. (4) Audiologists initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 English Language Proficiency. Audiologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Preferred Experience: recent graduate with license and/or at least 1 year of experience, prefer 1-2 years experience Grade Requirements: GS-11 Education. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of principles and techniques in the assessment and treatment of auditory and balance disorders. Ability to perform functions associated with contemporary audiology scope of practice as defined by the American Academy of Audiology or the ASHA. Ability to interact with patients, families and other health care professionals. GS-12 Licensure. The incumbent must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. Experience. In addition to the requirements at the GS-11 level, completion of one year of professional experience comparable to the next lower grade level Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the KSAs required at the full performance level, the following KSAs are required: Skill in determining nature, type and severity of hearing/communication /vestibular disorders. Skill in counseling patients and family members regarding management of hearing/communication/vestibular disorders Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional audiology to other health care professionals. Ability to independently apply professional contemporary audiologic treatments to the full range of patient populations. References: VA Handbook 5005/38 Part II Appendix G29 Audiologist Qualification Standard GS-665 Veterans Health Administration September 22, 2022. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-12. Physical Requirements: There are no set physical requirements for this position light carrying and movement may be required to perform some functions.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Accreditation Information:
(1) Doctor of Audiology (AuD) from an audiology program recognized by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The CAA is the only accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to accredit entry-level audiology programs. HR office staff and management officials may verify the program accredited from CAA at www.caa.asha.org.
OR
(2) Other doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the USDE.

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

NOTE: If your school was accredited by CAA and/or ASHA at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the ACAE and/or ASHA website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.



Duties Continued:

11. Designing, implementing, supervising, and coordinating industrial or occupational hearing conservation and identification programs including prevention, identification programs including prevention, identification and amelioration of noise-hazardous conditions, identification of hearing loss, recommendation, and counseling on use of hearing screening in the industrial setting.
12. Providing rehabilitation to persons with balance disorders using habituation, exercise therapy, and balance retraining
13. Evaluating and providing treatment and management for Veterans with tinnitus using techniques that include, but are not limited to, educational counseling, biofeedback, masking, sound therapy, hearing aids, directed counseling, and combined methods.
14. Designing and conducting basic and applied audiology research subject to IRB review and approval to increase the knowledge base, to develop new methods and programs, to determine the efficacy of assessment and treatment paradigms; and to disseminate research findings to other professionals and to the public.
15. Participating in education and administration of audiology graduate and professional education programs including education, mentoring, and supervision of associated health trainees.
16. Administering and managing clinical and academic programs in indicated.
17. Measuring functional outcomes, consumer satisfaction, effectiveness, efficiency, and cost-benefit of practices and programs to maintain and improve the quality of audiology services.
18. Training, supervising, and managing health technicians and other support personnel.
19. Consulting on accessibility for persons with hearing loss in public and private buildings, programs, and services.
20. Consulting with individuals, public and private agencies, and governmental bodies, or providing, as an expert, opinions regarding medico-legal interpretations of clinical findings, and relevant noise-related considerations including compensation and pension and worker's compensation examinations and expert opinion on work- and service-related injuries, and effects of hearing loss and tinnitus on activity, participation, and quality of life.
21. Consulting with industry on the development of products and instrumentation related to the measurement and management of auditory or balance function and technical advice to contracting officers on devices and systems associated with the practice of audiology.
22. Participating in the development of professional and technical standards.
23. Providing services using telehealth diagnostic measures and treatment methodologies (including remote applications)

Contacts

• Address El Paso VA Clinic 5001 North Piedras Street El Paso, TX 79930 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]