Choosing an Atlanta Hearing Aid Service Provider

How to Choose an Hearing Healthcare Provider

When you're in need of a healthcare provider to treat your hearing loss or any other hearing-related issue, it helps to know the different kinds of healthcare professionals who work with the ear and hearing issues. Prospective patients should be aware that are three main specialists who treat these conditions, and they include:

• Private practice audiologists
• Ear, nose and throat physicians
• Hearing aid dispensers

Private Practice Audiologist

Private practice audiologists work in an audiology office, either independently or with other audiologists, and specialize in the assessment and rehabilitation of patients with the full spectrum of hearing loss issues. To practice in Georgia, audiologists must earn a master's degree in audiology (many also have doctorate-level degrees) and must be licensed by the state. They must also pass a national professional examination administered by the American Speech and Hearing Association, or be a member of the American Academy of Audiology.

These professionals play a critically important role in treating hearing loss in patients, primarily because adult-onset hearing loss is a highly treatable condition: only 5 percent of patients with adult-onset hearing loss require surgical or medical remedies for their condition, while 95 percent of those who experience some level of hearing loss respond to rehabilitation with hearing aids and other measures.

Ear, Nose and Throat Physician (ENT)

Physicians who specialize in ear, nose and throat issues (commonly called ENT physicians or ENT doctors) are trained to treat the diseases of the ear both medically and surgically. Patients who experience any of the following conditions should visit an ear, nose and throat physician:

• Sudden onset hearing loss
• Hearing loss in only one ear
• Chronic ear infections
• Pediatric ear infections
• Ear drainage
• Vertigo
• Dizziness associated with hearing loss

Hearing Aid Dispenser

Hearing aid dispensers, or hearing aid dealers, are the third major category of professional who work with those experiencing hearing loss. Although dispensers have no formal academic training, they are licensed in the State of Georgia and require an apprenticeship from another licensed dispenser. Dispensers have provided valuable services in rural communities that otherwise would be underserved.