Audiologist: roles, assessments and care for hearing and balance

Core services and assessments

Audiologists perform standardized tests and procedures to characterize auditory and vestibular function. Typical services include pure-tone and speech audiometry to measure hearing thresholds, immittance testing (tympanometry) to assess middle-ear status, otoacoustic emissions and auditory brainstem response testing for objective evaluation, and balance testing for dizziness and vestibular disorders. They also provide hearing conservation advice and tinnitus management; see more on tinnitus.

Intervention, devices and rehabilitation

When hearing loss is identified, audiologists recommend and fit amplification technology such as hearing aids and assistive listening devices, and they participate in cochlear implant candidacy evaluations and programming in collaboration with surgical teams. Rehabilitation services include auditory training, communication strategies, counseling for patients and families, and follow-up care to optimize device performance.

Education, regulation and settings

Education requirements vary by country but commonly include advanced professional training and clinical internships; many jurisdictions require certification or licensure. Audiologists work in hospitals, private clinics, schools, public-health programs, research labs and industry. They frequently collaborate with otolaryngologists (ENT physicians), speech-language pathologists, pediatricians and educators.

Notable distinctions and importance

Audiologists differ from ear, nose and throat doctors in that they do not perform surgery but specialize in diagnostic assessment, non-surgical management and rehabilitation. Early detection and management of hearing and balance disorders can improve speech and language development in children, reduce social isolation in adults, and decrease fall risk in older adults, making audiology an important component of multidisciplinary healthcare.

• Common tests: audiometry, tympanometry, otoacoustic emissions, vestibular evaluation
• Typical collaborations: ENT, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, educators
• Workplaces: clinics, hospitals, schools, research and industry