Monica Walker
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With so many websites springing up with products that claim to be the answer to all your hearing loss problems, it can be tempting to think that audiologists aren’t needed anymore.
But here’s the thing — an audiologist does so much more for your hearing health than a product ever could.
That’s why I chose audiology and why I opened my office here in Sandy Springs, Georgia — to care for all your hearing needs.
There are a lot of myths about how to treat hearing loss, but in all honesty, trusting your hearing care to an audiologist is the only thing that makes sense.
What Is an Audiologist?
An audiologist is a doctor of hearing, balance, and associated disorders at any age.
Because we are experts in everything related to the causes of hearing loss — the main reason people see us — we can determine what part of the auditory system is causing the hearing loss and treat it accordingly or refer you to a specialist who will.
Not only that:
We also provide rehabilitation strategies for all associated speech and hearing disorders: tinnitus, vestibular problems, cochlear implants, auditory processing disorders, misophonia, hyperacusis, and hearing aid.
We provide hearing services for infants, young children, and school children.
We’ve been extensively trained in hearing conservation
Our hearing research and education is ongoing and required to stay licensed.
We work in hospitals, medical clinics, universities, schools, government organizations, VA hospitals, ENT offices, and with the military.
This is why it takes 75 semester hours and 12 months of supervised experience to become an audiologist (about 8 years).
Basically, audiologists expertly care for your auditory health to make it the best it can be.
What’s Wrong with an Online Hearing Test?
Because of these years of education, I struggle with the thought that an online hearing test is a good way to determine if the patient has a hearing loss, what type of hearing loss they have, and to what severity.
Yes, an online hearing test can be a good beginning for someone who has never checked their hearing because it might let them know if there’s a problem, but there’s so much missing in an online hearing test that a comprehensive hearing test will find.
When you take an online hearing test, you listen to a catalog of sounds and at the end of the test, you are told if you have trouble hearing.
Unfortunately, these tests are not conducted in the right setting with the right equipment.
You have no opening conversation; no visual ear inspection; no cutoff of external noise in a soundproofed room; no headphones or earplugs; no professional equipment to measure your hearing of pure tones, speech, or background noise; and no eardrum pressure testing.
There’s also no discussion after the hearing test about your thoughts, feelings, and preferences when it comes to treating your hearing loss and how you can align treatment with your lifestyle.
And the biggest issue of all is that the cause of your hearing loss and diagnosing your type of hearing loss correctly is not addressed.
I can find underlying health issues that might affect your hearing and also provide ongoing treatment and preventative care for it.
I work with local medical specialists and speech-language pathologists to make sure your hearing loss is treated correctly, no matter the cause.
Why Having an Audiologist Diagnose and Treat Your Hearing Loss Is the Wisest Choice
Your hearing loss is part of an entire auditory system that changes over the years and with each episode of trauma or illness.
It has a history and a future. As an audiologist, I travel with you and your loved ones through both.
I’m with you for the long haul.
With regular comprehensive hearing checks, I can follow your level of hearing loss over time and know at a glance if I need to change your hearing care plan.
During your visit, I can stay up to date on your overall health and note if there’s anything that might affect your hearing in that too.
There’s no online test that can compensate for this kind of care.
If you or a loved one is struggling with a hearing loss, I can provide the expert audiology care you need.
Contact me to schedule an appointment or to ask any questions.
My phone lines are open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, and I am more than happy to take your call and help you in every way I can.
