For patients of hearing loss, choosing the right hearing care professional is just as important as the quality of treatment you’re getting. The right hearing care professional will ensure that all your needs are met and that you are receiving the care that you need to improve your condition. On the other hand, if you accidentally choose the wrong professional, you will be facing quite a bit of loss, out of which financial will be the least important.

Therefore, it is crucial to do thorough research before determining who is the right professional to see to treat your hearing loss. Audiologists, ENT doctors and hearing instrument specialists are examples of excellent hearing care professionals that you may opt for. However, each professional has a different specialization and, thus, treats a different patient segment.

What does a hearing instrument specialist do?

A hearing instrument specialist is a hearing care professional, similar to an audiologist. These individuals are responsible for evaluating people with hearing care problems. Their end goal is to choose the right hearing instrument for their patients. Since hearing instrument specialists are not doctors, they are not qualified to deal with patients who have medical reasons behind their hearing loss. As a result, hearing instrument specialists focus solely on adults who have developed hearing loss as a factor of their age.

In fact, age related hearing loss is one of the most common causes of hearing impairment. This means that for most adults and the elderly hearing instrument specialists are the right choice of hearing care professional. The hearing instrument specialist will carefully evaluate their patient and will conduct a series of tests, including an audiogram, to determine the extent of hearing loss in each of the patient’s ears. When the professional has all of this information, he or she will be able to select the right hearing instrument for the patient.

Is a HIS the right choice for me?

Hearing instrument specialists are pros when it comes to helping you select the right hearing aids, in addition to dispensing, fitting and making repairs on them. If you are unsure whether or not to see a hearing instrument specialist, schedule an appointment with one in your area and discuss any hearing health concerns you might be having. The HIS will be able to help you determine the right course of treatment.