Q: What is the difference between an Audiologist and a Hearing Aid Specialist or Hearing Aid Dealer?
A: Many people are confused by these terms, and some hearing aid specialists create new terms such as audioprostologist, to further confuse the public.
According to the Ohio Revised Code 4747.01(B), a Hearing Aid Dealer is defined by the following; "Practice of dealing in" or "fitting of" hearing aids. This means the sale of a hearing aid and the measurement of and testing of human hearing by means of an audiometer or by any other means for the purpose of selecting, adapting and selling a hearing aid to any person and includes the making of impressions for earmolds. According to the Ohio Revised Code, the requirements to become a Hearing Aid Dealer are: you must be 18 years old, of good moral character, free of contagious or infectious disease, have a high school diploma or equivalent and must pass the qualifying test.
The Ohio Revised Code 4753.01(G) defines the practice of Audiology as the planning, directing, supervising and conducting of habilitative or rehabilitative counseling programs for individuals or groups of individuals who have or are suspected of having disorders of hearing; any service in audiology, including prevention, identification, evaluation, consulting, habilitation or rehabilitation, instruction and research; participation in hearing conservation, hearing aid and assistive listening device evaluation, selection, preparation, dispensing, and orientations; fabrication of ear molds; auditory training and speech reading, and administering tests of vestibular function and tests for tinnitus. The educational requirements to become and Audiologist are now a 4-year Doctoral degree in Audiology after completion of a 4 year undergraduate degree. Audiologists must also pass state licensing boards.
To summarize, the difference between an Audiologist and a Hearing Aid Dealer is education. When choosing a facility to have your hearing tested, ask that all important question, "Do you have Audiologists on staff?" The Audiological staff at Kenwood Hearing Center has called "Dealers" and asked if they have and Audiologist on staff and have been told by several office that they did not, but that the dealers can do the same thing as an Audiologist. not only is this not true, but it is also illegal for dealer to imply that they are the same as an Audiologist.
Your hearing is your most precious sense, trust it to an Audiologist.
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