What is audiology and what are audiologists?

Quite simply, audiology is is the study of hearing and the disorders related to hearing.

So, what is an audiologist?

An audiologist is a professional health care provider who is specially trained in the diagnostic testing of hearing and balance and the rehabilitation of individuals with hearing loss, central auditory processing disorders, and vestibular or balance disorders. An audiologist is a highly educated and specialized health care professional who holds either a Masters or Doctoral degree. Currently, the field of audiology has set the minimum educational requirements for practicing audiologists to the professional doctoral level degree known as the Au.D., this is not the same as a Ph.D. or M.D.

Audiologists have extensive education in the nature of hearing and the mechanisms by which humans hear and comprehend auditory information; hearing aids and how hearing aids work and provide help to those who have a hearing loss that is able to be helped by amplification; and diagnostic tests and procedures to accurately diagnose a hearing loss or make the appropriate referrals to medical professionals for additional testing and follow-up procedures.

Where does an audiologist work?

Audiologists work in a variety of settings including hospitals, private practices, ENT clinics, and in school systems. Typically, you will find an audiologist working in any of the first three settings previously mentioned. Additionally, audiologists can work for hearing aid manufacturers in research and development departments, as hearing aid representatives providing services to other audiologists and audiology clinics, and also at universities which have an undergraduate and graduate level audiology and speech sciences clinics.

If you have any questions regarding your hearing or are noticing that communication with others is becoming increasingly difficult, contact an audiologist and schedule a hearing evaluation. The sooner a hearing loss is detected, the better the treatment and management of the hearing loss can be.

If there are topics or questions you as the reader would like me to address, please feel free to leave a comment and I will be sure to try to answer your questions as soon as possible.