If you’ve ever searched “hearing doctors near me” or wondered “what is an ear doctor called?” you’re not alone. A lot of people use the terms hearing doctor, ear doctor, ENT, audiologist, and audiology doctor interchangeably, but in reality, they’re not the same thing.
At Archer Hearing Centre, our Markham audiologists specialize in hearing tests, hearing aid fittings, tinnitus management, wax removal, and more. So does that mean you should see an audiologist? Well, it depends on your needs and concerns.
In this post, we’ll break down the different hearing professionals and hearing care doctors to help you make an informed choice.
Audiologist: The Hearing Health Care Professional
What is an Audiologist?
An audiologist is a regulated healthcare professional who specializes in the identification, assessment, rehabilitation, and prevention of hearing loss, balance disorders, and related conditions. This includes prescribing and fitting hearing aids that are programmed for each individual’s hearing loss.
Is an Audiologist a Doctor?
While people often ask, “Is an audiologist a doctor?”, the answer is no, an audiologist is not a medical doctor, though, like any professional, an audiologist could pursue a doctorate degree.
That said, in Canada, audiologists complete a master’s degree in audiology, which is the professional standard for practice here. They’re highly trained professionals who provide comprehensive hearing solutions.
What Type of Training Does an Audiologist Have?
In Canada, audiologists must earn a university degree, complete a master’s degree in audiology, pass a certification exam, and do ongoing professional development to stay current in the field.
In Ontario, audiologists are licensed and regulated by the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario, or CASLPO.
What do Audiologists do?
The scope of practice for audiologists in Canada includes:
- Adult hearing tests
- Balance assessments
- Pediatric hearing tests
- Prescribing, fitting, and dispensing hearing aids, bone-anchored hearing aids, and assistive listening devices
- Programming hearing devices
- Tinnitus management
- Central auditory processing evaluations
- Earwax removal (cerumen removal)
- Rehabilitation and counseling for individuals and families adapting to hearing loss
If you’re looking for someone to test your hearing, recommend and fit hearing aids, or manage conditions like tinnitus or central auditory processing disorder, an audiologist is the right professional to see.
ENT Specialist: The Ear, Nose, and Throat Doctor
What is an Otolaryngologist (ENT)?
Another common question patients ask is “What is an ear specialist called?” The medical term is otolaryngologist, often referred to as an ENT doctor or ENT specialist.
ENT stands for ear, nose, and throat, and these physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions affecting these areas, as well as the related structures of the head and neck.
Is an Otolaryngologist a Doctor?
Yes, an otolaryngologist is a medical doctor.
What Type of Training Does an ENT Have?
According to the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, individuals must complete university, followed by four years of medical school and five or more years of specialty training. They then have to pass a certification exam to become designated as an otolaryngology doctor.
What does an ENT Doctor do?
While this is not an exhaustive list, an otolaryngology doctor can:
- Diagnose and treat ear infections, eardrum perforations, and congenital ear malformations
- Perform ear surgery
- Manage chronic sinus, throat, and nasal conditions
- Surgically treat benign tumors and cancer of the head and neck
- Perform facial reconstructive and cosmetic surgery
- Provide medical or surgical treatment for hearing disorders
Is an Otology Doctor Different Than an Otolaryngology Doctor?
Otology is a subspecialty of otolaryngology. To become an otology doctor, or hearing doctor, an ENT must complete two additional years of training in otology, which focuses specifically on ear and hearing-related conditions.
Hearing Instrument Specialist: A Limited Scope
What is a Hearing Instrument Specialist?
A hearing instrument specialist, also called a hearing instrument practitioner, selects, fits, and dispenses hearing aids and other assistive listening devices.
What Type of Training Does a Hearing Instrument Specialist Have?
In Ontario, individuals must complete a 2- or 3-year college program and receive a certificate or diploma to become a hearing instrument dispenser. They then have the option of completing an internship program and passing a licensing exam to become a hearing instrument specialist.
What Does a Hearing Instrument Specialist Do?
A hearing instrument specialist can:
- Test peripheral hearing
- Select, fit, and counsel people on hearing aids
- Dispense hearing aids and associated devices
- Offer earwax removal (only if they meet specific educational requirements for cerumen removal)
What’s the Difference Between a Hearing Instrument Specialist and an Audiologist?
Both audiologists and hearing instrument specialists can perform hearing tests for the purpose of fitting and dispensing hearing aids. Like an audiologist, some hearing instrument specialists can also perform earwax removal. That’s where the overlap between their scopes of practice ends.
Hearing instrument practitioners have a much more limited scope and usually cannot provide services to children. Audiologists, on the other hand, can offer care to patients of all ages, from newborns to adults.
Audiologists are qualified to assess, identify, and manage patients with peripheral and central hearing loss, hyperacusis, tinnitus, and balance disorders. They also have advanced training in rehabilitation and counseling that extends beyond fitting hearing aids.
Choosing the Right Hearing Doctor or Hearing Care Professional
Still wondering which doctor for hearing is right for you? Not sure which hearing doctor or professional to see first? If you have concerns about your hearing or balance, an audiologist is a great place to start.
Our Markham audiologists can perform comprehensive testing to identify the type and severity of your hearing loss. If you require medical or surgical treatment, they can coordinate with an ENT specialist to ensure you get complete care.
In Ontario, only an audiologist or a physician can prescribe hearing aids. This means that if you are seeing a hearing instrument specialist to get hearing aids, a prescription must be obtained from an audiologist or physician (either your family doctor or ENT) before your hearing aid fitting.
Take the First Step Toward Better Hearing
At our independently owned hearing clinic in Markham, our licensed audiologists are regulated healthcare professionals. This means we adhere to the highest standards of care, and you’ll always receive safe, professional, ethical service.
Whether you need a hearing test, you’d like to explore your hearing aid options, or you have a more complex issue, we’re here to help. Schedule an appointment at Archer Hearing Centre today!
