Tips for
Choosing an Audiologist
A Consumer White Paper to Help Patients Find the Best Qualified Provider When Selecting a Hearing Aid
©Associated Audiologists, Inc., February 2015
Presented by
Associated Audiologists, Inc.
www.hearingyourbest.com
1-888-547-8745
Find the Right Provider
The professional you work with can greatly affect your success with hearing aids. But how do you navigate this
critical decision? This article will help you learn more about how to find the most qualified professional. Here
are some questions you should ask or understand.
1. What is an audiologist?
An audiologist is a degreed professional who specializes in the diagnosis and non-medical treatment of
hearing loss, tinnitus and balance disorders. Audiologists can:
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Test hearing and balance.
Recommend, service and adjust hearing aids.
Recommend and provide assistive listening devices (products to enhance telephone conversations,
television viewing, etc.).
Provide tinnitus assessment and management.
Advance education regarding the effects of noise on hearing and prevention of hearing loss.
Deliver counseling and aural rehabilitation (counseling, education, auditory training/exercises).
Audiologists can make medical referrals to a physician when appropriate for issues such as ear pain,
drainage from the ear, sudden hearing loss, cochlear implantation, etc.
2. What is a hearing aid dispenser?
There is a vast difference between the training, education and expertise of a hearing aid dispenser and an
audiologist. Be sure to ask if the provider you are seeing is a hearing aid dispenser or an audiologist. A
hearing aid dispenser is able to perform basic hearing tests and can sell and service hearing aids, but their
scope of practice is more limited than an audiologist’s. The designator or credential for a hearing instrument
dispenser or specialist is HIS (i.e., John Doe, HIS).
3.
Do audiologists have advanced education?
Audiologists receive extensive education in hearing and balance disorders. Audiologists have earned
postgraduate masters and/or doctoral degrees. A doctoral degree is now required for graduates practicing
after 2012. You may look for the initials Au.D., (Doctor of Audiology – clinical degree); Ph.D. (Doctor of
Philosophy – research and/or clinical research degree); or Sc.D. (Doctor of Science – usually a clinical degree)
to designate doctoral training. As part of their four-year doctoral training, these audiologists spend a final
year completing an externship experience supervised by a licensed audiologist. The externship provides
practical, hands-on advanced experience.
4.
Do audiologists specialize?
Audiologists specialize in a multitude of areas, including prescribing, fitting and adjusting hearing aids and
other hearing assistive devices. In addition, audiologists also screen the hearing of newborns, teach listening
skills and strategies, assess individuals with central auditory processing disorders, diagnose and manage
tinnitus and mysophonia (sound sensitivity) and diagnose and treat dizziness and balance disorders.
Audiologists may be invited to provide clinical teaching and adjunct clinical supervision at universities and
colleges that have audiology programs.
5.
Why might I need an audiologist for a successful hearing aid fitting?
Hearing aids are medical devices regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and must be
recommended, prescribed and fit by licensed professionals. This standard is in place to protect the individual
with hearing loss, because not all individuals are candidates for hearing aids.
There are literally hundreds of hearing aids available with a wide variety of features. An audiologist not only
can use advanced diagnostic testing to determine your type of hearing loss, but can use this information to
determine the best hearing aid solution for your specific needs and budget.
Digital hearing aids utilize tiny computer processors. They can be programmed, but if they are not adjusted
correctly for your specific hearing loss, you could purchase a hearing aid and not receive the full benefit. An
audiologist who follows best practices and utilizes the correct verification equipment has the expertise to
program your hearing aids for your individual hearing needs.
6.
Do audiologists sell hearing aids online?
No. Reputable audiologists only provide hearing aids with an in-person evaluation. All professional
organizations discourage and many state laws prohibit the sale of hearing aids online direct to consumers. A
comprehensive evaluation typically includes a review of your medical history and current problems hearing,
an otoscopic evaluation (the audiologist should physically look in the ear canal) and comprehensive hearing
testing. These assessments help the audiologist determine if there are any underlying medical problems
that could require a referral to a physician specialist. Without this, it is impossible to properly fit a hearing
aid, and this could result in potential problems.
Additionally, hearing aids that are not adjusted to the individual needs of the patient have the potential to
increase hearing loss if the devices are not set appropriately. Lastly, audiologists can tailor a comprehensive
treatment plan for each individual patient to ensure maximum performance from any device prescribed.
7. Do audiologists follow a code of ethics?
Yes. The audiologist you choose to work with should be a member of the American Academy of Audiologists
(AAA) and/or the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and should uphold the
professional code of ethics from one or both of these organizations. This demonstrates their commitment to
the field, and to your audiology care.
8.
Is there a standard of care that audiologists use for fitting hearing aids?
Yes. Make sure your audiologist uses specialized diagnostic and verification equipment, including real-ear
probe microphone and speech mapping measures. Only 15 percent of all audiologists use this additional
technology, but these sophisticated tests independently verify how well a hearing aid functions while in your
ear. This is considered one of the most important standards of care for fitting hearing instruments. In
addition to hearing aid verification, it is important that your audiologist provide the critical follow-up care
and support services necessary for continued success.
9. How do I know if I have found an audiologist who can truly help me?
Trust your instincts. You should be comfortable communicating any hearing or balance-related problems
you have with your audiologist. You should feel that your audiologist is professional, genuinely interested in
helping you hear your best, and willing to work with you to get the best results. The patient and audiologist
should have a life-long and positive relationship built on trust and good communication.
About Associated Audiologists, Inc.
Associated Audiologists, Inc. is the Kansas City area’s leader in audiologic care for hearing, tinnitus and
balance disorders. The practice is owned by Timothy C. Steele, Ph.D., FAAA, president, and was established
30 years ago by Dr. James A. Wise.
Today, it has grown to include 15 university-trained audiologists with six convenient locations to serve you.
Our audiologists have allied health staff privileges at Shawnee Mission Medical Center, Saint Luke’s South
Hospital, Saint Luke’s/Cushing Hospital and Saint Luke’s East Hospital.
The Associated Audiologists team features professionals who use advanced diagnostic and verification
technology to diagnose and treat hearing loss. The practice offers digital hearing aid products from the
world’s most respected manufacturers backed by unparalleled service.
We provide a comprehensive equilibrium program for patients suffering with dizziness and/or imbalance
disorders, using state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and treatment techniques to provide top-quality care.
Associated Audiologists also provides evaluation and management of tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and
mysophonia (sound sensitivity).
Our audiologists are leaders in local, regional and national professional audiology associations. All members
of the Associated Audiologists staff are Fellows of the American Academy of Audiology; are frequent
presenters at educational conferences and support groups; and serve as adjunct graduate faculty with the
University of Kansas Medical Center.
We are contracted with most insurance providers.
For more information about Associated Audiologists, visit www.hearingyourbest.com, or call 1-888-5478745.
This information is courtesy of the American Academy of Audiology and the American Speech-LanguageHearing Association. For more information about audiologists, visit www.audiology.com or www.asha.org.