The Difference Between Hearing Aid Dealers and Audiologists

We frequently receive questions from patients who are trying to understand the difference between hearing aid dealers and clinical audiologists.  Dr. Robert Glaser, former President of The American Academy of Audiology, details the differences between Hearing Aid Dealers and Clinical Audiologists the following way: 

Hearing aid dealers specialize in the measurement and testing of human hearing by means of an audiometer for the purpose of selecting, adapting and selling a hearing aid to any person.  Hearing Aid Dealers are limited to testing hearing solely for the purposes of fitting hearing aids. Unlike Audiologists, they may not engage in, nor are they trained to complete diagnostic hearing or balance examinations nor participate in the assessment of patients with tinnitus.

An audiologist has completed a minimum of 350 patient care hours obtained in an accredited college or university program, and spent one year as an extern with a clinical audiologist.  A clinical audiologist is  skilled in the planning, directing, supervising, and conducting of habilitative or rehabilitative counseling programs for individuals who have been diagnosed or are suspected of having disorders of hearing.  This includes assistive listening device evaluation, selection, preparation, dispensing, and orientation.  It also includes the fabricating of ear molds, providing auditory training, and administering tests of vestibular function and tinnitus. Audiologists are uniquely qualified and trained to identify a wide variety of pathology and underlying medical conditions of the hearing and balance systems and to refer these cases for appropriate medical or surgical treatment.

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For more from Dr. Glaser, click here.