Hearing Care Professionals: Audiologists

How’s your hearing? The best way to find out is to visit an audiologist. Audiologists are hearing care professionals who undergo extensive training in the area of hearing health. Audiologists have a master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited university and complete a practical internship where they strengthen their understanding and management of hearing care issues and problems. Once completing an internship, audiologists-to-be must pass a competency exam. Since 2012, new audiologists have been required to complete a doctoral degree in audiology to become certified (AuD.).

A physician can screen for hearing impairment, but most don’t have the equipment or specialized skills to do more extensive hearing testing or identify the source of the hearing loss. In a minority of cases, hearing loss is caused by a medical problem or a medication. In this case, an audiologist and physician can work together to help restore hearing. Audiologists are trained to assess and treat hearing problems in all ages from newborns to older adults and may be called upon to carry out hearing screenings at various sites, including schools and job sites.

An audiologist performs the full spectrum of hearing care, including screening for hearing loss, identifying the source of hearing problems, and providing the most appropriate treatment. In addition, they work with patients who have balance issues related to inner ear problems and provide treatment and support for tinnitus, a condition characterized by ringing in the ears. Audiologists can do tasks as simple as removing wax from the ear to selecting and fitting clients with hearing aids and helping them get the most benefit from their hearing device.

You’re in good hands when you choose a certified audiologist. With their extensive and focused education, they’re the logical choice to evaluate your hearing and propose a treatment plan, should one be necessary.