If you live in the U.S., here are links to qualified resources that will direct you toward a professional near you.If you have read this far, you have already taken your first step toward better hearing. The next step is a checkup with your family doctor where you describe your symptoms and, if necessary, get a referral to a specialist. You might have a condition that can be treated with medical intervention. For instance, some forms of conductive hearing loss can be treated with drugs or surgery that might restore some or all of the lost hearing.
If the doctors determine you are suffering from sensorineural hearing loss that can’t be treated with a medical intervention, your search for help isn’t over. The next step then is to visit an audiologist or licensed and certified hearing aid dispenser. If you live in the U.S., here are links to qualified resources that will direct you toward a professional near you.
Hearing Tracker Audiologist Directory
HearingTracker.com is a comprehensive source of information about hearing loss, reviews of hearing aids, and reviews and rankings of providers of audiology services. Launched in 2014, it currently focuses on service providers in the United States. Its stated mission is “to identify and highlight providers that embrace best practices. We believe this will introduce a level of transparency that will slowly improve the overall standard of care in our industry, and help bring about a much needed change in hearing aid success.” In addition to an excellent database and geographical directory of audiologists, it provides detailed information on what level of services each provides.
HealthyHearing.com provides information about hearing loss for consumers and helps them find assistance. Its interactive database includes hearing centers staffed by degreed audiologists and/or licensed and certified hearing aid fitters; it also includes practices with otolaryngologists, or ENT’s (MD’s specializing in ear, nose and the throat conditions. Just plug your zip code into the database and a list of hearing health care professionals will pop up.
The American Academy of Audiology (AAA) is a professional society for audiologists. Its database is similar to the one provided by Healthy Hearing but is limited to audiologists who are members of the organization.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Organization (ASHA)
ASHA is the professional organization for health professionals who deal with all kinds of hearing and speech issues. Their interactive database includes listings for audiologists and speech-language pathologists who hold the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from ASHA.
Currently we are researching equivalent sources to locate hearing health professionals in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia, and we will publish them as they become available. For now, a good place to start is the list of professional organizations fpr audiologists throughout the world published by WorldAudiology.com. Look for the links to organizations in each region, then click through to those that provide listings of professionals.
- Click here to learn more about hearing tests and audiograms.
- Click here for advice on how to buy a hearing aid.
- Click here to find out about types of hearing loss.
- Click here to find out about causes of hearing loss.
- Click here for information on tinnitus and other noises in your ears.
- Click here to learn about cochlear implants and other surgical solutions.