If your hearing isn’t as good as it could be or you experience an annoying ringing in the ears, who should you see?

The range of options can be quite confusing. For example, should you book an appointment with a physician, audiologist, ENT specialist, or a HIS (Hearing Instrument Specialist)?

While each of these options is valid in one way or another, in some situations you would be redirected to a more appropriate professional. Bear this in mind and you could save yourself a wasted trip by making the right choice first time around.

Let’s start by looking at the remit of each of these professions, their advantages and disadvantages.

Physician: A registered medical practitioner or doctor is a great place to start if you have other physical symptoms in addition to hearing loss. For example, if you have ringing in the ears or experience dizziness, a doctor should check your blood pressure. If this and the rest of a physical exam are normal, you may then be referred on to on audiologist.

ENT Specialist: Ear nose and throat doctors are qualified, registered medical practitioners with additional training and qualifications in this specialization. You need to be referred by a doctor or an audiologist in order to consult an ENT specialist. Their skills lie in diagnosing and treating hearing problems that require corrective surgery, or physical problems affecting the upper respiratory tract.

Audiologist: An audiologist trains for at least four years, to degree level or above, in order to become a ‘hearing doctor’. Their in-depth knowledge enables them to diagnose medical problems relating to the ears and hearing, conduct hearing tests, perform certain surgical procedures, fit hearing devices, advise on hearing health, and assist the patient with hearing rehabilitation. You can either book an appointment yourself or be referred by a physician.

Hearing Instrument Specialist (HIS): An HIS performs a standard hearing test, but often lacks the deeper medical training necessary for an audiologist. Their principle role is to identify hearing loss and dispense hearing devices to correct it.

While selecting a hearing professional can feel overwhelming with the numerous professionals available today, an audiologist is the right choice for most individuals. Between their background, training and experience, choosing an audiologist provides you with a professional tuned into hearing loss and hearing health.