An audiologist is a doctoral-level professional who can diagnose and treat hearing loss, as well as recommend and fit prescription hearing aids. These highly skilled professionals can significantly impact your success in wearing hearing aids.
If you notice you’re having problems hearing, it may be time to have a diagnostic hearing evaluation. But who can you turn to perform this important test? An audiologist is one professional who is specifically trained to help.
1. What is an audiologist?
An audiologist is a degreed professional who specializes in the diagnosis and non-medical treatment of hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance disorders.
Audiologists can:
- Test hearing and balance.
- Recommend, service, and adjust prescription hearing aids.
- Recommend and provide assistive listening devices (products to enhance telephone conversations, television viewing, etc.).
- Provide tinnitus assessment and management.
- Provide education regarding the effects of noise on hearing and prevention of hearing loss.
- Deliver counseling and hearing rehabilitation (counseling, education, auditory training/exercises).
2. Do audiologists have advanced education?
Audiologists receive extensive education in hearing and balance disorders. A doctoral degree is now required for graduates practicing after 2012. You may look for the initials Au.D., (Doctor of Audiology—clinical degree); Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy—research and/or clinical research degree); or Sc.D. (Doctor of Science—usually a clinical degree) to designate doctoral training.
As part of their four-year doctoral training, audiologists spend a final year completing an externship experience supervised by a licensed audiologist. The externship provides practical, hands-on, advanced experience.
3. Do audiologists specialize?
Audiologists specialize in a multitude of areas, including prescribing, fitting, and adjusting prescription hearing aids and other hearing assistive devices. In addition, audiologists also screen the hearing of newborns, teach listening skills and strategies, assess individuals with central auditory processing disorders, diagnose and manage tinnitus and misophonia (sound sensitivity) and diagnose and treat dizziness and balance disorders. Audiologists may be invited to provide clinical teaching and adjunct clinical supervision at universities and colleges that have audiology programs.
4. Why would I need an audiologist for a successful prescription hearing aid fitting?
Prescription hearing aids are medical devices regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and must be recommended, prescribed, and fit by licensed professionals. This standard is in place to protect the individual with hearing loss, because not all individuals are candidates for hearing aids.
There are hundreds of prescription hearing aids available with a wide variety of features. An audiologist not only uses advanced diagnostic testing to determine the type of hearing loss, but can use this information to determine the best prescription hearing aid solution for your specific needs and budget.
Digital prescription hearing aids utilize tiny computer processors. They can be programmed, but if they are not adjusted correctly for your specific hearing loss, you could purchase a hearing aid and not receive the full benefit. An audiologist who follows best practices and uses the correct verification equipment has the expertise to program your prescription hearing aids specifically for you.
5. How do I know if I have found an audiologist who can truly help me?
Trust your instincts. You should be comfortable communicating any hearing or balance-related problems you have with your audiologist. You should feel that your audiologist is professional, genuinely interested in helping you hear your best, and willing to work with you to get the best results. The patient and audiologist should have a life-long positive relationship built on trust and good communication.
