An audiologist diagnoses hearing difficulties and levels of hearing loss, and can work with a patient’s doctor to provide treatment options, including fitting hearing aids or cochlear implants. Audiometric testing is often used to determine the extent of hearing loss.
Commonly called an audiologist, a hearing specialist is a medical professional trained to diagnose hearing difficulties and levels of hearing loss. Individuals with hearing impairments often seek the help of a hearing care professional to determine the cause of their hearing impairment. The equipment used by audiologists helps determine the extent of hearing loss in an individual and allows for the diagnosis of any disease or condition.
Hearing specialists can work with a patient’s doctor or family doctor to properly diagnose and treat the patient for a specific hearing condition. The audiologist is responsible for providing a variety of treatment options to a hearing impaired person. In addition, the hearing care professional is qualified to deploy and fit a patient to a hearing aid if needed.
Audiometric testing is often the method used by hearing specialists to determine the extent of hearing impairment in an individual. A hearing care professional can perform a series of tests using an audiometer which allows them to assess the patient’s hearing levels and the intensity of various sounds. The patient is placed in a soundproof booth to eliminate any external or background noise. Both ears are tested with sounds that vary in intensity from loud to soft through the headphones. From this test, the specialist should be able to understand more clearly the extent of hearing loss that the patient has experienced.
After receiving the audiometric test results, the hearing care professional will determine the severity of the hearing loss and provide the patient with treatment options. If no serious medical conditions are found, the hearing care professional can suggest hearing aid options or other devices that could help restore some of the patient’s hearing loss. The specialist can help determine what type and style of hearing aid or device might be appropriate for the patient. Counseling can also be provided to help patients cope and adjust to life with their hearing impairment.
If a serious condition is found or a hearing care professional believes that further medical attention is needed, the patient may be referred to an ear, nose and throat specialist or other doctor for further treatment. If you have severe hearing loss or deafness, surgery may be required. Some hearing losses may be too severe for the patient to benefit from the use of a hearing aid. Your hearing care professional may need to surgically fit you with cochlear implants to help restore some of your hearing.
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