How to Choose the Right Audiologist

You might be seeking a hearing healthcare professional for many reasons – perhaps you suspect you are beginning to experience hearing loss, perhaps you recently moved to a new area and are in need of a new audiologist, or perhaps you are having another type of difficulty with your hearing. In any case, it’s important to know how to select the right audiologist for your needs.

However, many people are unsure of where to start or how to pick a good audiologist. After all, it can be a daunting task to choose a new healthcare professional, especially if you have not needed hearing healthcare in the past. We want you to feel confident in your choice of audiologist, so we have provided a few important tips to help you choose the hearing healthcare professional who is right for you:

• Check Your Insurance – Although most insurance policies do not cover hearing aids, some cover diagnostic hearing testing. If testing is covered by your plan, check your insurance provider directory to ensure that you are visiting a hearing healthcare professional or clinic that is in their provider network. This ensures that you pay the least amount of money for any covered services.

You may also want to check with your insurance company about any requirements; some require that you get a professional referral to an audiologist before they will pay for any services.

• Ask for a Referral – If you have a trusted family physician, ask them to refer you to a good hearing healthcare professional. Most physicians will be able to recommend a hearing clinic or audiologist who will provide excellent service. You might also consider asking your friends or family members who have seen an audiologist for recommendations. Chances are good that if your friends and family members received good service, so will you.
• Read Reviews – Just as with family physicians, many audiologists and clinics have reviews and ratings available online. Try checking Healthgrades, Google, Healthy Hearing, Yelp, or any other review websites you trust. Other patients provide their reviews and ratings based on their own experiences at the clinic, so you can get a sense for the level of care provided by the audiologist and their staff.
• Consider Credentials and History – When researching a hearing healthcare professional, keep an eye out for their credentials, education, and experience. Professional credentials like M.S., M.A., Au.D., BC-HIS, and CCC-A indicate advanced education and training, which can mean good quality of service.

In addition, consider the history of the clinic. Would you rather visit a hearing clinic that has been in the community for 30 years or one in its first month? While new clinics can be great, it’s likely that a clinic with a long history in the community has a tradition of providing good service, which is why they’re still in business!

• Don’t Look Too Far – Your hearing clinic should be convenient to you. Try to find a hearing healthcare professional located not too far from your home so you can easily visit for follow-up appointments, hearing aid adjustments, device cleanings, and regular hearing checks.
• Keep Your Expectations High – You should expect to receive good service from your hearing healthcare professional. If you feel like the clinic you visited was interested more in your money or getting you in and out of the office than in truly serving you, you might want to look for a different provider. You should feel that your audiologist cares about your individual needs.

With these essential tips, you’re ready to find the audiologist who is right for you! If you would like to learn more about how to choose a good hearing healthcare professional, please contact us today.