Taking care of your hearing health is just as important as caring for any other part of your health. You might get your vision checked regularly, but do you also make sure to have your hearing checked too? When you take care of your hearing health, you can detect hearing loss and other issues earlier so that you can find the right treatment and improve your quality of life. There are several health professionals who can help you with your hearing health, and an audiologist is one of them. They can do everything from testing your hearing to fitting hearing aids.

What is an audiologist?

An audiologist is a health professional who specializes in hearing health. As well as hearing loss, they also deal with tinnitus and balance disorders. To become an audiologist, it's necessary to have a degree and to be licensed and registered in their state. Most audiologists have a doctor of audiology (AuD) degree, while others might have a Ph.D. or doctor of science (ScD) degree in hearing and balance sciences. Audiologists help with all aspects of hearing care, from diagnostics to treatment.

What services does an audiologist offer?

Audiologists can offer a range of different services. You can see an audiologist if you need a hearing test or if you want to get new hearing aids.

Some of the services offered by audiologists include:

  • Hearing tests and hearing health evaluations
  • Fitting and dispensing hearing aids and other devices
  • Tinnitus diagnosis and treatment
  • Helping with the management of hearing and balance disorders
  • Hearing aid repair and cleaning

Audiologists can help people of all ages to care for their hearing health. It's not just older people who can benefit from seeing an audiologist. They provide a full range of services that makes it possible to care for your hearing in every way.

What does a hearing test involve?

Getting your hearing tested is likely to be the first thing that you do when you visit an audiologist for the first time. A hearing test actually involves several different tests, which are designed to detect hearing loss and, if any is present, what type of hearing loss you have. When carrying out a hearing test, an audiologist will discuss your medical history, talk about any hearing complaints you have, conduct a physical examination of your ears, and use several tests to check your hearing range and the functioning of different parts of your ears.

Managing your hearing health

An audiologist will help you to manage your hearing health if you have hearing loss, tinnitus, or a balance disorder. This can involve helping you to find the right treatments and tools for hearing loss or tinnitus, such as hearing aids or sound machines. The audiologist will work with you long-term to ensure you receive the best care and are using the best ways to manage your hearing health and improve your quality of life.

When you want to take good care of your hearing health, an audiologist will help to meet your needs.