Your choice of any medical professional is always an important one. You need to be able to trust that they will give you good care and advice, no matter which matter you are seeing them for. When you are looking for a hearing healthcare professional, it should be someone who can not only help you to care for your hearing health but also offers a range of hearing products for you to choose from. There are a few things you will want to consider if you are looking for the right service provider to help you care for your hearing.
What type of hearing healthcare professional should you see?
Some people might visit their primary care physician first, who will likely refer them to an audiologist or another hearing care professional. However, you can make an appointment with a specialist without having to see your GP.
There are a few different options if you are looking for a hearing health specialist. These include audiologists and ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctors. The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) recommends that you see an audiologist for help with your hearing health. They are specialists with years of training and are familiar with a range of issues related to hearing loss.
How to find an audiologist
When you are looking for a qualified and experienced audiologist, an organization such as the HLAA or the American Academy of Audiology is a good place to start. They have lists of members who are qualified and licensed, making it simple to find a list of people in your area. You can also search online for audiologists local to you and check the information on their website to find out more about them. There should be information about the hearing professionals that work for the brand, including their qualifications and experience.
Services offered
Which services are offered by a hearing healthcare professional is important to check when making your choice. What tests do they include in their hearing tests? Do they offer hearing aid evaluation and fitting, or treatment for tinnitus? You might also be looking for additional services such as earwax removal.
Questions to ask
There are various questions you might choose to ask when looking for the right hearing healthcare professional to meet your needs. Here are some of the questions you could ask before or during a consultation.
- Are you a licensed and certified audiologist?
- Do you make referrals for medical evaluation when necessary?
- Do you take the time to explain the results of hearing tests?
- Will you send a resort to my primary care physician?
- What brands do you have available for hearing aids and other products?
- Will you teach me how to use my hearing aids?
- Do you schedule follow-up appointments for hearing aids?
- Do you take my insurance?
If there are any questions you have or issues you’re concerned about, don’t be afraid to ask. Everyone can have their own concerns, so don’t feel limited to asking the questions above.
Some of the things to keep in mind, in addition to the professional training and education of an audiologist, think about location, hearing products available and services provided. The location of an audiologist’s office isn’t something you want to overlook if you’re looking for somewhere convenient. While it won’t necessarily be the most important fact, it’s useful to have a place close to your home, work or somewhere else convenient.
The hearing products that are available is another important factor. Some hearing care professionals’ offices are franchises for certain manufacturers. This means that their products will be limited to that manufacturer. But an independent hearing healthcare professional will offer a broader range of products so you have more to choose from. Even if you don’t require hearing aids now, you might need them in the future, and it’s helpful to have more choices.
It’s also important to check what other services the audiologist provides, whether you’re looking for treatment for something like earwax removal or are plagued by tinnitus. Ensure your auditory health can be completely evaluated and treated under one roof!
When you are choosing an audiologist, make sure you know your requirements. Think about what you are looking for before deciding which hearing healthcare professional is right for you. Find somewhere that will spend time answering your questions and providing excellent customer service.
Learn more about how to get the right hearing care from Pittsburgh Ear. Speak to a member of our friendly team by calling Pittsburgh: 412-348-8016, Monroeville: 412-348-8195 or Wexford: 412-348-8194.
