Most people know that an audiologist is a hearing healthcare professional who specializes in diagnosing and treating hearing disorders, such as hearing loss and tinnitus.

What most people don’t know is everything else an audiologist does in order to keep up with technology and medical advancements in their field.

The usual suspects

Most audiology appointments follow the same routine. If you think you have hearing loss, you visit an audiologist. At an audiologist appointment, patients undergo examinations. The audiologist uses the results from the tests to determine the type of solution needed for the hearing or balance disorder you might have.

Audiologists typically engage in the following activities:

  • Examining patients with hearing, balance or related ear problems
  • Assessing results of examinations to diagnose hearing problems
  • Determining best treatment options to meet patient’s needs
  • Fitting and dispensing hearing aids
  • Treatment of tinnitus
  • Record patient progress
  • Educate patients on ways to prevent hearing loss

What else does an audiologist do?

An audiologist’s work goes beyond just diagnosing and treating hearing loss or other disorders. An audiologist is dedicated to ensuring their patients live the fullest life and enjoy the maximum benefit from their hearing aids or other assistive listening devices. As such, audiologists will counsel and educate their patients and the patient’s friends and family on ways to listen and communicate with one another. Audiologists are trained in educating people on how to lip read and use special technology that will help people with hearing loss communicate with others. 

Additionally, audiologists provide continuous care for their patients. Follow-up appointments are a major part of hearing healthcare, especially for audiologists. It is important to provide extensive follow-up care as one’s ability to hear can continue to worsen over time. 

One of the most important activities an audiologist engages in is research. Many audiologists research the causes of hearing disorders like tinnitus in an effort to better the field’s ability to treat such hearing and balance disorders. The more information the audiologist has, the better the field will be able to provide specialized treatments for each patient.