Hearing aids now adjust themselves to noisy rooms, phone apps run basic hearing screens, and software helps fit devices. Audiologists still diagnose hearing and balance disorders, test infants and adults, fit and fine-tune devices and guide patients through treatment.
The short answer: current evidence does not point to AI replacing audiologists. The ILO's 2025 index rates audiologists and speech therapists as not exposed, with a score of 0.24. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 11 percent growth for audiologists from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average, with about 600 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed audiologists are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Audiologists and Speech Therapists | Not exposed | 0.24 |
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Audiologists | Grow 11% | About 600 |
The BLS says an aging population will increase demand for help with hearing loss and balance disorders, and that early diagnosis of hearing disorders in infants may also support growth. It adds that awareness of advances in hearing aid technology, such as smaller size and reduced feedback, may make devices more appealing and lead to more demand for audiologists. In its view, better technology adds work for audiologists.
Where AI is helping
- Hearing aids that adapt to different sound settings.
- Remote checks and app-based screening.
- Device fitting and adjustment suggestions.
- Clinic notes, reports and scheduling.
What stays with audiologists
- Diagnosis: testing hearing and balance and finding the cause.
- Fitting: tuning devices to a real person's ears, needs and life.
- Care: counseling patients and families, including infants and children.
- Checking AI help: drafted notes and patient materials can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Smarter devices and remote follow-up change how care is delivered, and more people may seek help as devices improve. This page is general information, not medical advice.
See also will AI replace speech-language pathologists?, will AI replace optometrists? and will AI replace doctors?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for audiologists at $95,780 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: doctoral or professional degree. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace audiologists?
Not on current evidence. The ILO rates audiologists and speech therapists as not exposed, and the BLS projects 11 percent growth from 2025 to 2035.
Does hearing aid technology reduce the need for audiologists?
The BLS expects the opposite: better devices may make treatment more appealing and lead to more demand for audiologists.
How many openings are expected?
The BLS projects about 600 openings a year for audiologists.
What audiology work stays human?
Diagnosis, device fitting, patient counseling and checking AI-drafted material.