4 Things to Consider When Choosing an Audiologist

If you have made the decision to seek an audiologist to care for your hearing issues, it is important to take time to weigh your options in regards to potential providers. Doing research now will protect you from poor service and inconvenience further down the line. Here are a few things you should consider when selecting an audiologist:

1. Where is their office based?

Convenience isn’t everything; but ideally, you should look for suitable audiologists who are close to you. It is highly likely that you will need to attend multiple appointments for consultations, testing, hearing aid fitting and follow-up care. The last thing you want is to be driving halfway across town to get to these appointments; it will soon become extremely tiresome. If you are a hearing aid wearer, or considering purchasing hearing aids for the first time, you must also bear in mind that no matter how well you care for your hearing device, accidents do happen. Give yourself some peace of mind and choose an audiologist within easy reach of your home or work place.

2. Do they have positive reviews from previous patients?

When selecting an audiologist, it’s a good idea to look for any positive reviews from previous patients. You may want to begin by asking friends and family for recommendations. Also, find out if they have ever had any less than positive experiences with audiologists; make a note of anything they have to say and let this inform your search. Another source of information is your potential audiologist’s website. Any positive feedback they have received from previous patients should be proudly displayed for their potential customers to see.

3. Are their services covered by your medical insurance?

If you are relying on your insurance to cover the cost of testing you will want to know if they do not cover an audiology practice you are considering. Speak to your insurance provider and find out if they will cover costs from that specific audiologist, or which services they do provide coverage for. While many insurance providers still do not offer insurance on hearing aids themselves, it’s not uncommon for them to cover costs of hearing evaluations.

4. Do you feel comfortable with them?

This is more important than most people realize; five-star facilities and a super convenient location mean nothing if you don’t feel comfortable with your audiologist and find yourself dreading your appointments. So, the final stage in your research should be to speak with the potential audiologists on your short-list. Make sure they take the time to listen and talk through your concerns with you. If you can find somebody engaging and that you get along with, you know your appointments will always be a pleasure and not a chore.

Finding an audiologist doesn’t have to be an overly difficult task. Using the four tips provided above, ensure you select the right audiologist to improve not just your hearing ability – but your quality of life as well!