When you are experiencing any hearing loss or changes to your hearing, it can be quite different to what you are used to. It is therefore important that you seek the best support from the right place, so you can continue to live your life as normal.
It may not be something that you are experiencing now, but changes in hearing are extremely common around the world, with 37 million people over 18 years old experiencing a form of hearing loss.
It can be helpful to understand what an audiologist does, to ensure their support is right for you. Here is everything you need to know about audiologists.
What is an Audiologist?
Audiologists work with people of all ages, to support them with their hearing. This can be anything from helping their clients prevent hearing loss, especially if they are getting older or are exposed to loud noises, to assessing clients who are experiencing hearing loss and coming up with an appropriate treatment plan.
They work with people to educate them on the impacts of loud noises and any changes in hearing they may be experiencing. An audiologist will then advise on the best way to move forward, for example, through the use of hearing aids. They will also support clients with aftercare, so if they need hearing aids checked or fixed, they can simply come back to their audiologist.
An audiologist can also help with a variety of other issues that are related to your ear, for example, they can work with an individual who is experiencing tinnitus, pain or discomfort in their ear, excessive earwax and losing their balance.
An audiologist understands the complexities of the ear structure, how hearing can impact a person’s quality of life and the different lifestyles and body parts that will impact a person’s hearing. They have a wealth of experience working with people of all ages and supporting them from the assessment, all the way through to the treatment and the aftercare.
You don’t have to be experiencing hearing loss to seek support from an audiologist. You can also visit an audiologist to assess your ear health, and get help preventing any hearing loss.
Experience and Qualifications
All audiologists are required to have the relevant qualifications to practice audiology and support patients. All new audiologists in the field are required to have the relevant degree or equivalent qualifications. An audiologist will have to be licensed by the state.
This is because the ear is a complex structure that requires a high-level knowledge to be able to support people with hearing loss.
What Will an Audiologist Do?
When you visit an audiologist, you can expect a range of questions and assessments. The appointment aims to assess the health and functioning of your ear and hearing, to be able to provide you with the relevant advice and support to help you move forward.
An audiologist will typically start with some questions, to find out more about your personal experiences, your medical history and your lifestyle. They will then conduct a series of hearing tests. An audiologist will go through the results with you and put together a treatment plan. Seeking support from an audiologist is the right way to gain a treatment plan for your hearing loss.
