Your Hearing
Process & Next Steps
Send to a FriendFor Best Results, Work with the Experts
Before you purchase your hearing instrument, you can either get an exam and referral from your general physician or go directly to a hearing care professional for a hearing evaluation. The hearing care professional will work with you to determine whether you have a hearing loss, and will help you find the best way to improve your hearing.
Who Treats Hearing Loss?
Audiologists are professionals with a master's degree, AuD or Ph.D. in audiology, the study of hearing. They specialize in testing, evaluating and treating hearing loss. An audiologist may also fit hearing instruments.
Hearing instrument specialists are trained in fitting and dispensing hearing instruments. Hearing instrument specialists are often state-licensed and board-certified to test for hearing loss and to fit consumers for hearing instruments.
Otolaryngologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose, throat, head and neck disorders.
Otologists treat disorders of the ear and its related systems.
Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists can determine if there's a medical condition causing the hearing loss, or whether medical treatment, such as surgery, could be helpful.
If you suspect a medical condition is causing the hearing loss, or if you're wondering whether medical treatment like surgery could be helpful, you can work with a general practitioner (GP) or an ENT specialist.
Questions to Ask Your Hearing Professional
Print this list of questions, add your own, and you'll be well prepared to find out what you really want to know when you visit a hearing professional.