How to Select an Audiologist

When it comes to your hearing care, you want to make sure you have the right person in place to lead your testing, diagnosis and treatment. There are a number of audiologists to choose from, so how do you go about finding the right one?

From things like comfort and confidence to the right technology line-up, there are a number of different areas to consider when selecting your audiologist.

Searching for an audiologist

If you’re looking for an audiologist, sometimes the best place to start is by asking your family, friends or primary care physician. Asking a person or professional you’ve already established a relationship with will help ease any worries you might have about finding a reliable and personable audiologist, while also making the search quick and easy.

You can also easily search the internet for an audiologist near your home, simply by putting in the term “audiologist” and your city in a search engine. Peruse the search results and click on a few audiologists’ websites, look for things including: services offered, staff information and any real patient reviews.

Consider location and hours

You may need to visit the audiologist several times, for things like: hearing testing, hearing aid fitting and hearing aid adjustment appointments, so you want to make sure you choose a professional conveniently located to your home, work or school.

Also, consider the office hours offered by the audiologist, will you be able to take off school or work to go to an appointment, or do you need to look for a practice with evening or weekend visits? Finding a practice that fits easily into your day-to-day life helps ensure you’ll remain proactive in your hearing health. 

Personal experience

Once you’ve created a short list of audiologists you’re considering, call the office to get a feel for the staff. Do they answer the phone pleasantly and promptly? Do they make you feel welcome or like you’re a bother? The right audiologist will have a staff in place that is patient, answers your questions and provides you with the information you need.

Find someone you can trust

And finally, a good audiologist has your best interests at heart. Don’t settle for second best; opt for someone who takes an interest in you and your lifestyle. Building trust and rapport is crucial to understanding you as a person and therefore learning about your hearing needs.

You need to feel comfortable enough to tell the specialist about the situations in which your struggle most to hear, and this means trusting the person you are confiding in.

But the good news is there are many exceptional audiologists out there who will go the extra mile to ensure your hearing needs are met.