What’s the difference between an audiologist and a hearing aid specialist?

Audiologist Mesa Phoenix Chandler Scottsdale

If you or a loved one are having trouble with your hearing, then you may have started searching for hearing health professional. You’ve probably discovered that there are different kinds, including audiologists and hearing instrument specialists. What’s the difference between these? How do you know which one you should go to?

What’s an audiologist?

An audiologist is a highly educated professional. They have either a master’s degree or a doctoral degree in audiology (AuD). This requires several years of education after college. They must pass a certification exam to be licensed by the state. 

In addition, audiologists can seek voluntary certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). This requires them to go above and beyond the minimum standards for licensure, and they’re then awarded the credential Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A).

An audiologist has advanced training and education, and is able to:

• Diagnose the cause of hearing loss
• Select and fit hearing aids and other hearing assistive technology
• Fit custom hearing protection devices to help prevent hearing loss
• Evaluate and treat tinnitus (“ringing in the ears”)
• Evaluate and treat balance disorders, which can be caused by damage to the inner ear

What’s a hearing aid specialist?

Hearing instrument specialists are also hearing health professionals, but their training is a bit different. To become a hearing instrument specialist, a person doesn’t need an advanced degree. In fact, hearing instrument specialists only need a high school-level education. They complete a training program that’s a few months long and must pass a certification exam. 

A hearing aid specialist helps to match people with the right hearing aid for their needs. They can do things directly related to providing hearing aids, like taking ear molds and programming hearing aids. They can do some hearing testing, but only for the purpose of choosing the correct hearing aid; they can’t diagnose the cause of hearing loss. They also can’t treat conditions like tinnitus or auditory processing disorders.

Which one should you choose? Audiologist Mesa Phoenix Chandler Scottsdale

Many people, when they first come to a hearing health professional, don’t know the cause of their hearing loss. It’s important that you get the correct diagnosis because there are some medical causes of hearing loss that need to be treated. Giving someone a hearing aid in this type of situation wouldn’t be the right choice. 

Going to an audiologist ensures that you’ll go through a proper diagnostic process to determine the cause of your hearing loss. Only then will hearing aids be recommended, if these are appropriate. If you go to a hearing aid specialist, then all they can offer is hearing aids. They can’t diagnose the cause of your hearing loss, and they also can’t treat related conditions like tinnitus.
If you’d like to make an appointment with one of our two highly qualified audiologists, please contact our office. Both Cassandra Fynes and Roger Knighton have chosen the advanced CCC-A certification, and they both have years of experience in the field. You’ll know that your hearing is in good hands, and you’ll receive the best possible treatment for your hearing loss.