How an Audiologist’s Skills Benefit You

Who is best suited to help you with hearing related problems?

The answer is obvious: an audiologist. But did you realize how diverse an audiologist’s skills are and how well-qualified an audiologist is to look after your hearing health?

Qualifications

Audiologists are medical professionals who hold a masters or doctoral degree from universities accredited in teaching all aspects of hearing health. The latter includes medical causes of hearing disorders, the assessment and identification of hearing problems, and preventative health care for our ears.

To obtain their degree, the audiologist studies for several years, completes a full-time internship, and must then pass a rigorous exam to prove their competency to practice. This means when you consult an audiologist, you can be confident they are a highly qualified individual by virtue of their graduate education, professional licensure, and practical experience.

But more than qualifications, most audiologists are personally motivated to enter the profession out of a deep-seated desire to make a difference and help people have the best hearing possible.

Skills

It doesn’t matter the patient’s age – from a newborn baby to a senior citizen, an audiologist has the training and skills to evaluate their hearing. They do this by using specialist equipment and a variety of tests which enable them to fully investigate the extent and type of individual’s hearing loss.

Audiologists are ideally placed to advise you on the wide range of hearing devices currently available and match them to the individual patient’s needs and lifestyle.  If you thought hearing aids were one-size-fits all, then think again, because making an informed choice can have a huge impact on how discrete the device is and how much it fits your needs.

They are also experts at fitting and programming these devices so you get maximum benefit from the investment in your hearing.  And if you then struggle to adjust to noise intrusion after years of hearing loss, your audiologist can teach you strategies to help you overcome this.

The audiologist’s job is even more far reaching than this, with expertise in issues such as loss of balance, dizziness, and tinnitus. An audiologist is a key part of a larger loop involving your physician as well as specialists such as otolaryngologists (or ear-nose-and-throat doctor).

Hearing Devices

One common reason to consult an audiologist is for a routine hearing test for suspected hearing loss. If a problem is confirmed and a hearing aid is suggested as a solution, then you can be sure your audiologist is up to date with all the latest developments in hearing device technology.

Hearing technology is a rapidly developing field with many new and exciting innovations happening all the time. If you want to take advantage of developments relevant to your hearing health, then an audiologist is the person to consult.