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All About Hearing
(Frequently Asked Questions)
When you or a loved one experiences a hearing problem, it can stress any
relationship. As a potential consumer of hearing health care services we would
like you to make informed choices. The following FAQs are the ones most asked by
people with hearing loss. The Links section also contains several consumer-based
hearing health-care web sites.
- What is an audiologist?
- Why do I need and
should see an audiologist?
- How do I know
if I have a hearing problem?
- How do I get more information about hearing and hearing loss?
- How do I get information about hearing aids?
- How do I find an audiologist? Easy, you can use our Find an Audiologist
section.
- How can I ask an audiologist a question? Easy, use the Contact Us section
and we will try to help you.
What is an audiologist?
Audiologists are the only professionals who are university trained and
licensed to identify, evaluate, diagnose, and treat audiologic disorders of
hearing. Audiologists may be found practicing in Private Audiology Offices,
Hospitals, Medical Practices, Universities, Private and Public Agencies and
Public Schools.
All individuals with suspected hearing loss require audiological hearing
tests to determine the type, degree, and cause of the hearing impairment.
Managed care companies are realizing that efficient cost-effective hearing
health care requires that primary care physicians refer patients directly to
audiologists to determine whether rehabilitation or medical/surgical treatment
is indicated. This occurs because fewer than 20% of all individuals with hearing
loss require medical or surgical treatment. Rehabilitation treatment consists
primarily of the design, selection, and fitting of hearing aids and/or assistive
listening and altering devices, which is usually completed in the audiology
office.
The services provided by audiologists include:
- Comprehensive Audiological Evaluations including tests of hearing
sensitivity, speech understanding, middle ear function, and inner ear and
auditory nerve function.
- Diagnostic Tests for Balance/Dizziness Disorders.
- Design, selection, and fitting of hearing aids and/or assistive
listening and alerting devices.
- Design, selection, installation, and monitoring of classroom
amplification systems.
- Hearing conservation programs for industry
- Rehabilitation therapy which might include strategies to improve aided
and unaided hearing, lip-reading, and sign-language.
Why do I need and
should see an audiologist?
Audiologists hold a master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited
university with special training in the prevention, identification, assessment,
and the rehabilitation of persons with hearing impairments. In Pennsylvania,
audiologists are licensed to practice audiology by the Pennsylvania Department
of State, Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs. Audiologists are
required to complete a full-time internship and pass a demanding national
comprehensive examination. By virtue of their graduate education, professional
certification, and licensure, audiologists are the most qualified professionals
to perform hearing tests, fit hearing aids and assistive listening and alerting
devices, provide rehabilitative services, and refer patients for medical
treatment.
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