Why You Should See an Audiologist

Audiologists are experts in all aspects of hearing health; they have doctoral degrees and are state-licensed to provide hearing loss prevention and treatment services to patients of all medical backgrounds, from birth to older adulthood. If you are concerned about your hearing and have yet to be assessed by a medical professional, you should see an audiologist first. They will be able to measure and diagnose the nature of your hearing difficulty, referring you to other specialists if they have any concerns for your wellbeing. Audiologists are trained to recommend and dispense suitable hearing devices if this will benefit your hearing loss. Additionally, you can expect to receive the following care from audiologists:

Diagnostic hearing tests

This will be the first step towards dealing with your hearing issues. The audiologist has comprehensive ranges of testing methods available, which are designed to measure the level and type of hearing loss in each ear. The most common type of diagnostic hearing evaluation is pure-tone testing; it involves sounds of different frequencies being played into each ear, while you are asked to acknowledge which sounds you are able to hear, usually by pressing a button. This type of test is not suitable for all patients; the audiologist will be able to utilize other testing methods that are also appropriate for babies, young children, people with behavioral difficulties and anybody else who may not be able to participate in a standard test.

Hearing aid selection

If your test results suggest that hearing aids are a good option for you, your audiologist will be able to guide you through the selection process. This will involve discussing all available styles and technologies with their particular benefits; you may have the opportunity to try them yourself in the office and will be given a recommendation based on which model best suits your lifestyle and level of hearing loss. The audiologist will then be able to take earmolds in order to customize your chosen device.

Hearing aid fitting and dispensing

Your audiologist will fit your new hearing aids to your ears once they are ready for you to take home. They will also program the device with your specific hearing test results and show you how to operate them, switch between settings, change the batteries and care for them properly. In your first few weeks of use, you may find that adjustments need to be made to the fit or programming of your hearing aids; your audiologist will be able to do this for you.

Hearing aid repairs

If your hearing aid stops working properly, your audiologist will be able to assess the problem and determine what action needs to be taken. Many small hearing aid repairs can be performed in-office while you wait, while others may require your device being sent back to the manufacturer.

These are the primary services you can expect to receive from an audiologist, but they also provide a variety of other services, including: ear protection, tinnitus treatment, earwax removal and recommending assistive listening devices.