If you have recently been advised to see an audiologist, you may be wondering exactly what they do and what to expect from seeing one. By understanding this, you can have a better idea of the benefits of your appointment.
What is an audiologist?
Audiologists are medical professionals who specialise in hearing and balance disorders. They may be involved in screening, evaluating, diagnosing, and treating, working with both adult and child patients, from neonatal hearing tests to the elderly. They may be found in hospitals, clinics, and on the high street.
If you need to see an audiologist, an internet search will show you what is available in your town. For example, if you live in the Bristol area, you could type ‘audiologist Bristol’ into your favourite search engine and you should get relevant results, such as https://www.imperialhearing.com/audiologist-near-me/bristol.
Audiology appointments
At your first audiology appointment, you will have a chat with the audiologist about any concerns you may have. They will then carry out a hearing check, where you will wear headphones. The audiologist will play a variety of sounds and you will press a button when you hear them. They may also use a tiny camera to look inside your ears.
If no problems are found, you may simply attend for regular hearing checks. Otherwise, the audiologist will discuss treatment options with you. These may include being fitted for a hearing aid. The audiologist will be keen to know that a hearing aid is working well and you will have follow-up appointments to check this.
Is it just hearing?
As well as hearing loss, you may also see an audiologist if you suffer from tinnitus, a persistent ringing in the ears. An audiologist can provide support in managing this troublesome condition. As the ears affect balance, you may also see an audiologist for balance issues, as they may be able to diagnose problems like vertigo.
If an audiologist can find nothing wrong, but hearing or balance problems persist, you should seek further medical advice to identify the issue.
