What Conditions Do Audiologists Treat?

Audiologists are trained medical professionals that do much more than perform hearing tests and fit hearing aids. They can treat ear problems in infants, children and adults. An audiologist may have a doctor of audiology (Au.D.), a doctor of philosophy in audiology (Ph.D.), or a doctor of science in audiology (Sc.D.). What conditions do audiologists treat? Here are some of the most common concerns.

Hearing loss

If you think your hearing isn’t what it used to be, it’s time to see an audiologist. Not all hearing loss is age-related. An audiologist performs a physical examination of your ears, learns your medical history and evaluates various hearing test results to give you a comprehensive report to determine the cause of your hearing loss and provide answers. If your hearing loss is permanent, then hearing aids may be a solution. Some hearing loss is not permanent and may be due to medicines you’re taking, fluid in the ear, or an injury. In addition to working with hearing loss, audiologists also provide solutions to avoid hearing loss. They can create custom earplugs for people who work in noisy environments and provide annual tests to monitor your hearing. Some audiologists may choose an area of specialization, such as cochlear implants.

Impacted earwax

Some people produce more earwax than others and that may present a problem when it comes to keeping ear canals clean. Excess earwax can lead to an impaction. Audiologists can remove any impactions with irrigation, suction, or a curette, and provide products to keep your ears free of excess wax. If you wear hearing aids or earplugs, you may also be more prone to impacted earwax. A word of caution when it comes to cleaning your ears – never use a cotton swab (or any other object) inside your ear canal. Ears are self-cleaning and send earwax away from the eardrum to the outer ear. Pushing a cotton swab in the ear canal sends earwax back up toward the eardrum, which is a cause of impaction.

Tinnitus and balance disorders

Tinnitus is a ringing, roaring, clicking or buzzing sound in the ears. It may stem from an earwax blockage, medication or some medical issues. An audiologist determines the underlying cause to treat tinnitus. For many people, a white noise machine while sleeping helps. Sometimes changing medication or wearing noise-cancelling hearing aids reduces the tinnitus sounds.

The inner ear plays a key role in balance. If you have complications such as dizziness, vertigo, imbalance or visual issues, an audiologist can identify the cause and may offer treatment therapies. Balance problems may stem from infections, injuries, medication or even aging.

When you look at what conditions audiologists treat, you find there’s much more than fitting hearing aids. If you’ve noticed a change in your hearing or if you suspect that you have an earwax impaction, your audiologist should be the first stop. Just as you routinely care for your eyes and teeth, it’s an excellent idea to add your ears (and an audiologist) to that list.