What Does an Audiologist Do?

Have people commented that your hearing isn’t as good as it was? Perhaps you’ve noticed that you keep having to ask people to repeat themselves or you need the volume on the TV turned up.

If this sounds like you, then you are in good company, as 36 million Americans are living with some degree of hearing loss. While you may have become used to your gradual los of hearing, leaving it untreated can have serious consequences for your health and well-being. If you think your hearing has deteriorated, sign up for a consultation with an audiologist who will determine if you have hearing loss and the best treatment for you.

An audiologist is a specially trained professional who specializes in hearing care. An audiologist can evaluate, diagnose, manage and treat hearing issues in people of all ages. It’s important that you visit an audiologist if you experience:

• Difficulty hearing
• Excessive earwax
• Pain or discomfort in your ears
• Trouble following conversations

During your consultation with an audiologist, they will carry out a comprehensive evaluation of your hearing. This will often include a review of your medical history and medications and an examination of the structure of your ear with an otoscope. Your audiologist will perform a hearing test, presenting each ear with different tones and placing a mark on an audiogram at the point where the sound is just audible for you.

Audiologists also advise and fit hearing aids. Based on the results of your hearing test, they will program and fit the best hearing aid for your needs and lifestyle. Your new hearing aid will be programmed to ideally suit your unique level of hearing loss. Your audiologist will arrange follow-up appointments with you to ensure your hearing aid is working as it should.

If you are experiencing balance and dizziness problems then an audiologist will perform a series of balance tests. They may test the movements of your eyes and carry out a hearing test to check for any changes. Once your audiologist has made their diagnosis, they be able to give you their expert advice on the best course of treatment for you.

If you experience an intermittent or constant ringing or buzzing in yours, then you may have tinnitus. An audiologist will be able to access and diagnose, while ruling out any underlying issues such as emotional stress, noise exposure, allergies or blood pressure. Your audiologist may then refer you to a medical professional to receive treatment for any underlying condition or advise you on how you can best manage your tinnitus. This can include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), sound therapy or tinnitus retraining therapy.

An excessive build up of ear wax can cause dizziness, tinnitus, ear pain, hearing loss or drainage from the ear canal. An audiologist can help you if you have a build-up of wax in one or both of your ears – and they can safely remove it for you. It’s crucial that you never put anything in your ear as this could easily damage it. It’s always a good idea to get the wax removed by a licensed hearing care professional. They may use irrigation or microsuction to remove the wax.