What is an Audiologist?

Audiologists are health-care professionals who evaluate, diagnose, treat, and manage hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance disorders. An Audiologist is a person who has a minimum of a masters or doctoral degree in Audiology. The Clinical doctorate has been the entry level degree since approximately 2008. Individuals with a Doctor of Audiology, or Au.D., have extensive training academically and clinically. Audiologists must licensed in the state they practice and can have a certificate of clinical competence in Audiology by the American Speech Language and Hearing Association, or CCC-A.

• prescribe and fit hearing aids
  
  
• bill insurances for medically necessary diagnostic testing and for hearing aids when the individual has a policy with a benefit
  
  
• assist in cochlear implant programs
  
  
• perform ear- or hearing-related surgical monitoring
  
  
• design and implement hearing conservation programs and newborn hearing screening programs
  
  
• provide hearing rehabilitation training such as

• auditory training
  
  
• speech reading
  
  
• listening skills improvement