How’s Your Hearing? Ask Your Certified Audiologist in Fairfax VA.
The state of Virginia says you may purchase hearing aids from two types of dispensers: Audiologists and Hearing Instrument Specialists (hearing aid dealers). Both are licensed to dispense hearing aids. However audiologists are specialists in treating your overall hearing health care. There are significant differences between audiologists and hearing instrument specialists. The general requirement for a Hearing Instrument Specialist is a high-school diploma and passage of a written and practical state examination see https://www.asha.org/Advocacy/state/info/VA/Virginia-Hearing-Aid-Dispensing-Requirements/ . A Doctor of Audiology, (Au.D.) has eight years of advanced education in an accredited college or university and must also pass a standardized, national competency examination. Annual continuing education units are required. A few of the Doctoral-level courses include:
- Hearing Aid Technology
- Hearing Aid Evaluation
- Neuro Anatomy
- Earmold Techniques
- Hearing Conservation
- Geriatrics
- Cochlear Implant Technology
- Auditory Evaluation of Infants
- Advanced Hearing Testing (OAE and ABR)
- Ethics
- Cerumen (Earwax) Removal & Management
- Pharmacology
- Genetics
- Psychology of the Hearing Impaired
- Tinnitus Therapy & Treatment
A recent survey was conducted by Carren J. Stika*, Ph.D. & Mark Ross**, Ph.D. found the following:
“Interestingly, while for the hearing instrument specialists there was no significant relationship between the cost of the hearing aids and subsequent satisfaction, there was such a positive relationship for the audiologists. In other words, those people who purchased expensive hearing aids from audiologists tended to be more satisfied than those who purchased similar hearing aids from hearing instrument specialists.”
Your hearing health is valuable. When it comes to you hearing, ask an expert. Ask your Certified Doctor of Audiology in Fairfax Virginia.
