HEARING LOSS AND BALANCE DISORDERS

What is an Audiologist? / Hearing services / Vestibular Services /

Beth P. Mann, M.S./ CCC-A Head of Audiology

What Is an Audiologist?

• An audiologist is the only professional who, by virtue of academic and clinical training and appropriate certification and/or licensure, is uniquely qualified to provide a comprehensive array of services related to the assessment and rehabilitation of persons with auditory and vestibular impairments, and to the prevention of these impairments.
• An audiologist must have at least a Master's level education focusing on hearing, vestibular, and communication disorders and appropriate prevention and treatment of these disorders, including rehabilitation through the use of hearing aids and other assistive listening devices.
• An audiologist's education must be followed by approximately a one year supervised internship.
• An audiologist must have appropriate certification and/or licensure to practice in the state. In North Carolina an audiologist needs additional licensure to provide hearing aid services.

Hearing Services

• Diagnostic Audiological Testing -- Comprehensive hearing testing designed to determine the degree and type of hearing loss. This includes pure tone air and bone conduction testing, speech reception and recognition testing, and other specialized tests depending on your hearing.
• Immitance measures -- Testing performed to determine the functioning of the ear as a whole including its various structures. Included in immitance measures are tympanometry (to test for ear infection and problems with the ear drum or ear bones), acoustic reflex testing, and testing of eustachian tube function.
• Hearing Rehabilitation -- Includes the evaluation and fitting of hearing aids and assistive listening devices to help compensate for hearing loss. Also includes counseling and training in communication strategies, lip reading, and finding support groups.
• Auditory Brain stem Testing (ABR) -- ABR testing is specialized electrophysioligic testing which provides more information regarding your hearing function. It may be performed if a benign growth on the hearing nerve is suspected, if you are having dizziness or ringing in the ears, to determine if a newborn has hearing loss, or if objective information about your hearing is required.

Vestibular Services

• Electronystagmography (ENG) -- A compilation of tests to evaluate your vestibular (balance/equilibrium) system. The test involves recording your eye movements while you are put into different positions, are asked to complete visual tasks, and while cool and warm air is put into your ears.
• Auditory Brain stem Testing (ABR) -- ABR testing is specialized electrophysioligic testing which provides more information regarding your hearing function. It may be performed if a benign growth on the hearing nerve is suspected, if you are having dizziness or ringing in the ears, to determine if a newborn has hearing loss, or if objective information about your hearing is required.
• Canalith Repositioning -- This is performed on patients with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). BPPV is a condition which may occur from a disturbance to the vestibular system where tiny inorganic particles detach from a lining in your semicircular canal and falls onto an area called the cupula. It is usually reflected by vertigo caused from a quick turn of the head or looking up.

Go to top of page.

(Back to Medical Topics)

(Back to Homepage)