| Once you accept the fact that you may be | | | | include using a mirror and looking in the mouth, or by |
| experiencing hearing loss, the next decision is who to | | | | using a right-angle telescope and looking in the mouth. |
| see for treatment. The first choice for most people | | | | Other methods can go through the nose using a |
| would be the family doctor. He or she would then refer | | | | nasopharyngoscope or a fiber-optic endoscope. |
| you to a specialist such as an otolaryngologist (ear, | | | | Other tests that may be performed will check balance |
| nose, throat), otorhinolaryngologist (head and neck), or | | | | and coordination. This is to help rule out neurological |
| an otologist (ears only). Before a person gets a hearing | | | | problems. A tuning fork may also be used by the |
| aid, he or she must consult a doctor to be sure no | | | | doctor to help make a rough estimate of your hearing |
| medical reason exists to keep that person from | | | | ability. After this exam, depending on the results, your |
| wearing hearing aids. | | | | doctor may refer you to an audiologist. |
| An otolaryngologist must have five or more years of | | | | An audiologist will conduct hearing tests and give you a |
| specialty training in otolaryngology. These specialists | | | | complete examination. The audiologist can provide |
| treat conditions ranging from ear infections and minor | | | | counseling and therapy, and recommend different |
| hearing loss to otosclerosis and Meniere's disease. | | | | types of hearing aids. |
| Being experts in the diagnosis and treatment of | | | | Audiologists are licensed and/or certified professionals |
| different types of hearing loss, these specialists can tell | | | | who are trained to measure and identify hearing loss, |
| you if a hearing aid will help and which kind to use. | | | | and to help rehabilitate people with hearing or speech |
| An otologist/neurologist specializes in treatment of the | | | | problems. An audiologist can determine where your |
| ear and the brain. These physicians complete training in | | | | hearing loss occurs and can assess how much the |
| the diagnosis and treatment of diseases that affect | | | | loss will affect your ability to communicate. Because |
| the ear and base of the skull. This training is in addition | | | | an audiologist is not a doctor, he or she cannot treat |
| to their medical school, general surgery, and | | | | infections or diseases of the ear. They can offer |
| otolaryngology training. Otologist/neurologists are | | | | auditory training, speech reading techniques, speech |
| usually referred by an otolaryngologist because of | | | | counseling, and hearing aid evaluation and orientation. |
| complications of the case or conventional treatment is | | | | Audiologists will perform different tests to check |
| not working. | | | | different parts of the patient's ear. After these tests |
| On your first visit, your doctor will record a detailed | | | | are complete, the audiologist will let the patient know if |
| history of your hearing problems. He or she will then | | | | a hearing aid will help or not. Problems in the middle or |
| use an otoscope to look inside your ears. The doctor | | | | outer ear may be corrected with surgery or medical |
| will be checking for blockage, infection, or problems | | | | treatment. If the problem exists in the inner ear, such |
| with the eardrum or ear canal. | | | | as hearing loss from age, the only option may be a |
| This exam, known as a nasopharynx exam, can | | | | hearing aid. |
| reveal problems like middle ear effusion (sticky fluid in | | | | If the audiologist recommends using a hearing aid, a |
| the middle ear), sinusitis, allergies, a retracted eardrum, | | | | follow-up visit will be scheduled. This visit will feature |
| enlarged adenoids, or infections that could be | | | | tests to help evaluate which type of hearing aid will |
| obstructing the eustachian tubes. The doctor can | | | | work best with the type of hearing loss the patient |
| check the nasopharynx in different ways, which | | | | has. |