What to Consider Before Choosing an Audiologist

When its about hearing problem then most of the people in our families ignore it for years. And the usual thinking is that the dadi or nanaji is just getting old so they are not listening properly, or someone will say that TV volume is little high, what is the big deal. But let me tell you that hearing loss affects the whole life of a person, the conversations, the confidence and even the memory in older age. Since many families now start searching for the best audiologist only when the problem becomes serious, I thought to share few points that you should check before going to anyone.

1. Qualification and RCI Registration

This is the first thing to check and most of the people don't even know about it. In India a qualified audiologist usually has a BASLP or MASLP degree, and they should be registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India. Many hearing aid shops have a sales person doing the testing who has only done some short training, so don't feel shy to ask the registration number, a genuine audiologist will show it happily.

2. Proper Testing Setup

A hearing test done in a noisy shop with the traffic sound coming from outside is not going to give the correct result. The clinic should have a sound treated room for the test, and they should do the full evaluation like pure tone audiometry and tympanometry, not just one quick beep test and then straight away showing you the hearing aids. For small kids the tests are different like OAE and BERA, so if the patient is a child then check whether the clinic does these tests or not.

3. They Should Not Push One Brand

Some clinics are tied up with one company and whatever your problem is, they will suggest the same brand only. The best audiologist will explain the options from two three brands in different budgets and tell you clearly which features you really need and which ones are just for show. A retired person who is mostly at home does not need the same model as someone who is attending meetings in office whole day.

4. Trial Before Buying

Hearing aids are not cheap and they take time to get used to, the brain needs few weeks to adjust to the new sounds. So ask whether they give a home trial for some days before you pay the full amount, most of the good clinics allow this without any problem.

5. After Sales Service and Follow Ups

This is the point where people regret later. Buying the hearing aid is only the start, after that it needs fine tuning, cleaning, battery or charging problems, and sometimes repair also. If the clinic is far away or they don't pick the phone after the sale is done, the machine will just lie in the drawer. Choose someone who is near to your home and who calls you for the follow up visits on their own.

6. Experience With Your Type of Problem

Not every audiologist is equally good with every case. Some are very good with elderly patients and their patience level is also high, some work mainly with children and speech therapy, and some focus on tinnitus which is the ringing sound in the ear. If your case is a particular one, ask them how many similar patients they are handling.

7. Clear Pricing and Real Reviews

Ask the full cost in the first visit only, the test fees, the hearing aid price, the warranty and what is included in the service. Some places show a low price first and later add the charges for moulds, batteries and every visit. Also check the Google reviews but read the long ones, not just the stars, because those tell you how the clinic behaves after the sale.

Having said that, one more thing I will add is that if there is sudden hearing loss in one ear, pain, discharge or dizziness, then first meet an ENT doctor because it can be a medical problem which needs treatment and not a hearing aid. The audiologist and ENT usually work together in such cases and a good clinic will itself tell you to see the doctor first.

At the end of the day, choosing the best audiologist is not about the biggest showroom or the most advertised brand. It is about someone who tests properly, explains patiently and stays with you after the sale, so take one or two consultations if needed and then decide, the right choice will make the daily life of your family member much easier.