What is an Audiologist?

Like many medical professions, the world of hearing healthcare is serviced by its own special type of doctor. Healthcare professionals involved in hearing health are called audiologists. An audiologist is trained to diagnose and treat hearing and other balance problems in individuals of all ages, from birth through adulthood.

What does an audiologist do?

As mentioned, audiologists diagnose and treat hearing and other balance problems. They work to provide solutions that minimize the negative impact of such disorders, improving the quality of life for their patients. Audiologists work in myriad settings and have multiple specialties, including pediatrics, geriatrics, balance, cochlear implants, hearing aids, tinnitus and other auditory processing issues.

During a visit with an audiologist, a patient will likely undergo a series of examinations in order for the audiologist to determine the type and severity of hearing loss indicative in one or both ears. The results of the examinations are printed out in graph form that the audiologist reads. From the results, the audiologist will be able to recommend and suggest hearing loss solutions specific to the patient’s type and degree of hearing loss. The audiologist will often order such solutions, including hearing aids, cochlear implants or other assistive listening devices, fit them to the patient and provide ongoing support and maintenance.

Will I ever need to see an audiologist?

Because hearing loss is so prevalent in today’s society, with, as reported by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), approximately one in eight Americans age 12 and older reporting hearing loss, chances are high that you may visit an audiologist one day. An individual may need to make an appointment with an audiologist if one or more of the following symptoms are present:

• Difficulty hearing over the telephone
• Trouble following conversations when two or more people speak at once
• Trouble following conversations in a noisy background
• Confusion about where sounds are coming from
• Asking people to repeat themselves
• Problems hearing or understanding speech of women or children
• Belief that most people are mumbling
• Misunderstanding others, responding inappropriately
• Missing sounds of the telephone or doorbell ringing
• Avoiding activities because of problems with hearing and understanding speech

Visiting an audiologist doesn’t have to be a nerve-wracking process. Locate an audiologist in your area and call to schedule an appointment for better hearing today.