Audiologists Provide More than Hearing Aids

When most people think of “audiology” they think about the professionals that test hearing and fit hearing aids. It’s a common misconception that audiologists only work with hearing aids. But audiology is concerned with much more than just fitting and adjusting hearing aids. It is an entire branch of science devoted to hearing, balance and associated disorders. Hearing aids are just one piece of the puzzle.

Audiology training

Unlike hearing aid dispensers that just fit hearing aids, audiologists do much more. This means they must have education and on-the-job training in a wide variety of subjects. Training for audiology is a constantly evolving process. During their education, most audiologists are required to study:

• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Hearing aids
• Cochlear implants
• Balance Disorders
• Electrophysiology
• Neurology
• Acoustics
• Psychophysics
• Vestibular function and assessment

Hearing loss and tinnitus can have serious social and psychological effects. In order to help their patients, audiologists must also be trained to counsel as well. Because audiologists treat people with profound deafness, many also learn sign language and communication exercises.

Certification and regulation

The licensing of audiologists varies from state to state. Generally, a minimum of a doctorate level of study is required for new audiologists. This is equivalent to six to eight years of advanced-level study. All states have continuing education requirements, but these programs vary depending on location. 

Balance disorders

Balance is a function of our visual and vestibular systems. Problems with balance can be addressed by an audiologist. While balance disorders are certainly annoying, they also have a negative impact on the quality of life. Symptoms such as vertigo, nausea, lightheadedness and difficulty standing and walking can be treated by audiologists.

An audiologist’s training allows them to determine if the ears are the cause of a balance disorder. They can perform a variety of tests to determine the cause, which can range from an ear infection to damage from an accident or foreign object. Changes in blood pressure, Meniere’s disease and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV or positional vertigo) can also cause balance disorders and be diagnosed by the audiologist. 

Rehabilitative services

Audiology is more than just assessing hearing loss and fitting hearing aids. Rehabilitative services are offered by an audiologist to help the person diagnosed with hearing loss adjust to their loss. This counseling and rehab includes: 

• How to use hearing aids
• How to use assistive devices
• How to better manage conversations
• Other communication strategies

Additionally, many audiologists can help patients make small changes in their day-to-day routines to improve their communication. From arranging furniture for conversation to proper placement of assistive listening devices, an audiologist is able to help you make easy, but helpful impacts in a patient’s daily life.

Hearing aids

Of course, providing hearing aids is what most people associate with audiologists. When it comes to hearing aids, audiologists:

• Prescribe the proper hearing aids
• Program hearing aids
• Repair hearing aids
• Teach maintenance of hearing aids.

Audiologists also perform periodic assessments of their patients hearing to determine if changes to the hearing aids are necessary.

Audiology is much more than hearing aids; it is understanding and applying the science of hearing – with the end result of helping you have a better quality of life!