Why Should You Choose an Audiologist for Your Hearing Care and Hearing Aid Fitting?

Did you know there is a difference between a hearing aid dealer and an audiologist? Many “hearing aid centers” hire hearing aid dispensers. In fact, the requirements to dispense hearing aids in the state of Georgia are a high school diploma and passing scores on an examination.

Wouldn’t you rather trust your hearing to an audiologist who has years of post-secondary educational training in diagnosing and treating hearing loss?

At Dalton ENT Hearing Center we don’t just sell hearing aids. Our audiologists have extensive training in hearing testing, balance assessments, and rehabilitation for both children and adults.

As a division of Dalton ENT our close relationship with on-site physicians helps to ensure that you are receiving the highest quality of hearing healthcare.

What is an Audiologist?

Audiologists are trained healthcare professionals who evaluate, diagnose, treat and manage hearing loss and balance disorders in adults and children. Although most hearing problems do not require medical or surgical intervention, audiologists are clinically and academically trained to determine those that do need medical referral. Where audiologists do fit hearing aids much like a hearing aid dispenser or hearing aid specialist, their education and training is very specialized.

Most audiologists have received an Au.D. (Doctorate in Audiology), or a Masters or Doctoral degree from an accredited university graduate program in audiology — the science of hearing. To receive their degrees, in addition to auditory, balance, and neural systems assessment and treatment an audiologist’s graduate studies include anatomy, physiology, physics, genetics, communication, and pharmacology. To be certified by the states requiring licensure audiologists must pass the national examination in audiology and have 300-375 hours of supervised clinical experience and nine months of post-graduate professional clinical experience. Most states also require audiologists to have continuing education for license renewal.

Audiologists can also acquire the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A) offered by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and be certified through the American Board of Audiology. Both certifications have additional requirements.

Audiologists work in a variety of settings including hospitals, medical centers, rehabilitation facilities, cochlear implant centers, speech and hearing centers, private audiology practices, otolaryngology (ENT physician) offices, hearing aid dispensing offices, hearing aid manufacturing facilities, universities, schools, and clinics.