How to Choose an Audiologist

Have you been told you have hearing loss?

Perhaps you’ve heard from friends, family or coworkers suspicions that you have hearing loss. You may have been told the television or radio is too loud. Or, you experience people mumbling in conversations, causing you to ask people to repeat themselves often. Maybe it is difficult to discern and follow conversations in crowded rooms or noisy environments. Whatever the clues may be, they all point to the same answer: it is time to see an audiologist.

What is an audiologist?

An audiologist is a hearing professional who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing and balance disorders. An audiologist can treat hearing loss and tinnitus, for example. An audiologist has professional medical training, state certification or licensure and often undergoes continuing education while engaging in advanced research.

How do I choose an audiologist?

Choosing an audiologist may seem overwhelming, but the decision can be simplified if you know what to look for in a good, trustworthy and reliable hearing healthcare professional.

One way to find an audiologist is to look online. A cursory glance at an audiologist’s website will provide many details about the type of practice and practitioner he or she is. Things to look for on an audiologist’s website include:

• Credentials: A list of credentials, including education, will enable you to see how much experience the audiologist has. Consider looking up the school or program the audiologist graduated from to learn more about what type of education and training her or she has.
• Hours of operation: An audiologist’s hours can be an important deciding factor when choosing a practitioner. You will more likely want to choose an audiologist who has broader hours, in case you should need to contact the office during odd hours.
• Customer reviews: Nobody talks more honestly about an audiologist than customers. Consider filtering through customer reviews to learn what previous clients have to say about the care they’ve received.
• Services provided: How much can this audiologist do? Consider choosing a provider who offers turnkey services, from diagnosis to fitting to follow up.

Selecting an audiologist doesn’t have to be a difficult or stressful task. Whether your friends and family can refer you to someone or you locate an audiologist on the internet, rest assured you can find the perfect professional to treat your condition!