Your journey to better hearing begins by choosing a hearing professional you can trust. But where do you turn? Your friend who wears hearing devices recommends his audiologist. However, a local Hearing Aid Specialist is advertising hearing devices at a very good price. Who do you choose? How do you make that decision?
And what is the difference between an audiologist and a Hearing Aid Specialist? Typically, this level of advanced education requires six to eight years of study to complete. Certified both nationally and by the state, audiologists are licensed to practice by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Board and are trained to diagnose and treat disorders of hearing and balance.
They can perform comprehensive hearing evaluations, fit hearing devices, recommend assistive listening devices ALDs and counsel patients and their families in communication and listening strategies. While most hearing loss is caused by nerve damage and can be treated by an audiologist who recommends hearing devices, medically-based hearing loss must be treated by an Ear, Nose or Throat doctor ENT. Comparatively, a Hearing Instrument Specialist or Dispenser must have completed high school, or, in some states, possess a two year degree.
In addition, Hearing Instrument Specialists must pass a written and practical exam to become licensed by the State in which they practice. They are trained in the interpretation of hearing assessment instrumentation, hearing devices electronics, specifications and programming hearing devices.
The primary difference between an Audiologist and a Hearing Instrument Specialist is that the Audiologist has an advanced degree and is an expert in all aspects of hearing healthcare, including the fitting of hearing devices, while the Hearing Aid Specialist has a high school or two-year degree and has received training and passed their state examination for the dispensing of hearing devices only.
