What is the difference between An ENT and an Audiologist?

Hearing is a one of the five and a very complex sense with multiple causes and solutions on diagnosis. Usually, first-time patients find it difficult to determine which type of hearing care professional should you visit. Different professionals study and expertise in different areas of this field. This blog post will help you understand the key differences between an ENT Physician and an Audiologist. It will also help you determine when it’s appropriate to visit either of them. Let us focus on the most important differentiators.

Who is an Audiologist?

An Audiologist or hearing care professional studies and is practically trained to diagnose and treat illness and reduced or diminishing hearing. They are the licensed professionals with knowledge of hearing and assistive listening devices. Simply, they are the hearing care professionals who handle non-medical side of hearing problems. It’s always recommended that otologist performs surgeries with an audiologists’ assistance for technical and functional matters of implants or hearing devices. Audiologists are audiological professionals who help you with the technical side of hearing.  

Visit an audiologist for:

Counselling: Audiologists are often trained for counselling as they are involved throughout in the process of hearing care. Early age hearing loss is vital to be treated carefully. Further, such patients may need to take courses for speech and voice therapy. However, in the case of adults and elders counselling is essential to periodically check the level of loss of hearing. Hearing Aids: It is essential to see an audiologist before even purchasing a hearing aid or a hearing device. Audiologists examine the level of hearing loss, reasons for hearing loss and thus advise a doctor or hearing device. Note that every person may have the different level of hearing loss. Hearing aids should only be advised according to the necessities of the patient. Hearing issues: Physical or organic hearing problems. An Audiologist can examine the range of hearing loss. Recommendations: Audiologists work with various otology surgeons. It is recommended to take an advice from your audiologist for an appropriate doctor who may have handled cases like yours in the past. Weaker hearing in the crowd: Visit an audiologist if you think you find it difficult to hear in crowded places. Inability to hear high pitch: One of the initial signs of hearing loss is the inability to hear high pitch voices (female and young kids usually speak in the higher pitch). Inability to hear high pitch should be taken into consideration and shared with an audiologist. Your taste in music isn’t the matter of discussion. Tinnitus: A continued buzzing or ringing in the ears can be associated with hearing loss. See an audiologist. Hearing loss due to age: The most common type of hearing loss can be treated with hearing aids from an audiologist after diagnosing the percentage of hearing loss. Surgical interventions could be avoided in these conditions.    

Who is an ENT or otolaryngologist?

An otolaryngologist is trained medical professional who diagnose problems with the ear, nose, larynx (voice box). An ENT handles issues like autoimmune diseases, Meniere’s, tutors and similar hearing problems. It is advised to see an ENT doctor when hearing issues may have a treatable physical cause. They not only understand how the ear should work normally but also understand most of what can go wrong with the ear and how to treat those issues specifically. Doctors specializing in hearing loss and hearing related issued are called Otologists. Not all otologists perform surgery on ears but most do. Thus, otologists often work closely with audiologists who are not physicians or surgeons, to treat certain conditions.  

Visit an ENT doctor for: 

Autoimmune Problems: Patients known to have an autoimmune disease need to first be evaluated for their hearing loss by an ENT. Ototoxicity: Patients whose hearing loss may be the result of medications. If the hearing loss is permanent then an audiologist will be referred. Earwax removal: An ENT can remove excess earwax to ease problems with hearing Balance: Any balance issues related to the movement of the head requires medical evaluation. Otosclerosis (fused bones): Hardening within the ear can be a sign of bone growth that is impeding or fusing the normal movement within the ear. This may be best handled through surgery. Dizziness: Unexplained bouts of dizziness that may or may not be related to head movement. Ear Pain:  Any ear pain is a sign that a medical professional needs to be consulted. Head/Ear Trauma: In order to ensure that trauma to the ear is not correctable through surgery or other means an ENT should be seen. Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL): Often those with SSHL cannot be aided by traditional medical intervention and hearing aids will be needed, but before this step, those with SSHL need to be evaluated medically to rule out the existence of a serious medical condition or the possibility of treatment with steroids. Pediatric Hearing Problems:  Children are more likely to experience medically treatable reasons for hearing loss—like ear infections, sinus, or allergy problems, and so should first be evaluated by an ENT before being referred to an audiologist. Remember, an audiologist and ENT are different but closely related professions and they serve for different problems but similar purpose to treat your hearing problems. You can help someone with hearing loss by sharing this post with them or their family members.   Mathur Hearing Care Book an appointment with audiologists.