When You Go to an Audiologist, Know These Things
June 9, 2025
When You Go to an Audiologist, Know These Things
After some time away, I'm about to attend the upcoming conference for the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) and reconnect with that community. For those of you unfamiliar with HLLA, here's how they describe their mission: HLAA is “a nationwide community of support bringing education, advocacy, hope and empowerment to the growing number of people with, and at risk of, hearing loss.”
Hearing Loss Association of America
In advance of the conference, I asked a few high-profile audiologists, ”If I go to an audiologist for the first-time, what are 1-3 things you think I need to understand?”
What is an audiologist, and how can I find one?
Here’s a summary of the most common responses:
Understand that audiology is healthcare; it is not just about selling hearing aids.
Unlocking Hearing Health With Dr. Frank Lin provides an excellent overview.
Advocate for yourself: Ask questions; describe the circumstances where your hearing matters most to you. If an audiologist does not “meet you where you are,” find another audiologist. —Always ask for a copy of your audiogram and a written report of any evaluation or recommendation.
What’s an audiogram?
If you purchase or have hearing aids, make sure your audiologist performs Real Ear Measurements, which are key to calibrating the hearing aid to match your personal hearing profile (the process audiologists refer to as “fitting” your hearing aid).
More about Real Ear Measurements
Additional responses:
Ask your audiologist about other assistive listening devices, T-coils, hearing loops, and Bluetooth technologies. Depending on your lifestyle, these could make a critical difference for you.
TedX Talk on hearing loss and T-coils
Auracast: new Bluetooth technology
A sampling of apps for smartphones
More about assistive devices
Ask what brands and models of hearing aids the audiologist supports. One audiologist recommends you choose a practice that offers a range of brands and models so that your selection can be tailored to your individual needs, lifestyle, and budget.
—Bear in mind though that it may not be practical for an audiologist to support multiple brands. If their selection is limited, ask why they chose that brand over other ones.
Hearing Aid reviews by Hearing Tracker
Hearing Aid reviews by Soundly
Ask whether an over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid could suit your needs. —OTC products are designed for mild to moderate hearing loss, so if your audiogram indicates that your hearing is within that range, some OTC devices may work for you.
OTC on Hearing Tracker
OTC on Soundly
In any case, whether you purchase a prescription hearing aid, an OTC device, or an assistive listening device, make sure that it comes with a trial period and money-back guarantee. With the new device, be sure you set aside time dedicated to listening. If you are like me, this may be harder than you expect, but worth it. You may never enjoy a full range of hearing again, but you can improve aural perception. As the American Academy of Audiology asserts, “Listening is a skill that can be practiced and improved upon.”
Good luck and let me know how you fare!
Special thanks to Matthew Allsop, Kim Cavitt, Michael Piskosz, and Juliëtte Sterkens