If you have hearing loss, you may be wondering what kind of doctor to see. This is a great question, as your hearing is as important as any other medical condition you may have, and it’s important to see an expert who can provide long-term care and guidance on your journey to better hearing.

If you’ve lost your hearing suddenly, this can be a medical emergency, and it’s important to visit a doctor immediately. However, if you’ve been noticing your hearing loss has gradually gotten worse, you may be part of the 2.8 million U.S. adults who have hearing loss that can benefit from using hearing aids provided by an audiologist.

What is an Au. D.?

An audiologist, hearing aid doctor, doctor of audiology, aud., ear doctor – no matter the term, these medical professionals receive professional degrees to diagnose, provide rehabilitation and fit hearing technology for people with hearing loss.

What degree does an audiologist have?

In the United States, audiologists must receive a Doctor of Audiology degree (Au. D.).

These degrees are typically three-year master’s level programs, following a Bachelor’s Degree, which includes didactic and clinical instructions, as well as an externship, similar to a medical residency. After an Au.D. is obtained, many audiologists receive a license before practicing clinical audiology.

an audiologist diploma — Diploma of Lyn Kirsch, Au. D.

Diploma of Stephen Kirsch, Au. D.

Is an audiologist a doctor?

Technically, yes, an audiologist with an Au. D. is a Doctor of Audiology. However, these doctoral degrees only became mandatory in the United States in 2007, so many experienced older audiologists may have instead completed Masters-level audiology programs.

New audiologists must earn a doctorate degree (Au. D.) after obtaining a bachelor’s degree. During this education, audiologists may specialize in a specific area, much like a general physician, practicing pediatric, geriatric or educational audiology.

According to Allied Health Schools, coursework may include:

Anatomy and Physiology: Peripheral Hearing
Psycho-acoustics
Signals, Systems & Acoustics for the Communication Sciences
Biological Foundations of Speech & Music
Amplification
Clinical Practice and Practicum

To receive a Doctor of Audiology License in the United States, students must complete more than 300 hours of supervised clinical experience, pass a national exam and complete nine months of post-grad clinical.

Drs. Stephen & Lyn Kirsch, of Kirsch Audiology, completed their Doctor of Audiology at A.T. Still University Arizona School of Health Sciences.

Prior to getting his Doctorate, Dr. Stephen Kirsch received a Master’s Degree in Communication Disorders at LSU Medical Center – New Orleans. Dr. Lyn Krisch holds a Masters Degree in Education and Audiology and had gotten a Bachelors in Communicative Sciences and Disorders.

Are audiologists medical doctors?

Audiologists are often not medical doctors or physicians (M.D.). Medical doctors specialized in hearing care are often called Ear, Nose, Throat doctors, or doctors of Otolaryngology.

Services provided by doctors of Otolaryngology are often necessary for more serious conditions in the middle ear, temporal bone or skull, and are often not needed for people with common sensorineural hearing loss.

These medical doctors provide more specialized care for serious hearing issues, such as surgical oncology, endocrine surgery, and endoscopic surgery, to treat conditions such as balance disorders, vascular malformations and sleep apnea.

Doctors of Otolaryngology also perform surgery for cochlear implants, which are hearing devices used to restore the ability to hear for people with no natural hearing. Cochlear implants consist of an internal implant that is inserted inside the cochlear (middle ear) to provide digital electronic signals to the hearing nerve, as well as a sound processor, which looks similar to a traditional hearing aid. Unlike hearing aids, cochlear implants can replace the function of the damaged inner ear, which is especially beneficial for those with profound hearing loss or deafness.

Can an audiologist prescribe medication?

Audiologists, or doctors of audiology, do not perform surgery, and therefore do not prescribe medications or prescription drugs.

While hearing aids are medical devices, they should not cause physical pain or ailments for the person using them. Thus, it is often not necessary for medications.

If you’re a hearing aid user who is experiencing discomfort, visit your audiologist for an evaluation. Your pain may be solved through a simple fix, like a new ear mold or adjustment to your hearing aid programs.

Is an Audiologist a good career?

Audiology is considered a great career. In fact, in 2015, Time Magazine chose audiology as the best career in America, based on attributes like stress levels, job security, and salary.

Audiologists are known for their high level of patient care and their love for communication. Audiologists often get immediate fulfillment each time they turn on a new hearing aid and seeing the difference that hearing technology can bring to a person’s life.

Audiologists, including the audiologists at Kirsch Audiology, are also often deep-rooted in philanthropic endeavors to help people with hearing loss all over the world. By providing personalized care and a properly fitted hearing device to someone with hearing loss, audiologists can often create an immediate solution for better hearing.

Start your hearing journey!

If you’re interested in visiting the Doctors of Audiology at Kirsch Audiology, you can make an appointment today! The audiologists at Kirsch Audiology are highly trained and skilled hearing care professionals with audiology degrees and extensive clinical experience to provide accurate hearing loss diagnoses and solutions.

Making an appointment with Kirsch Audiology is easy. Simply call his Santa Monica office, at 310-586-5533, or follow this link and make an appointment today!