On August 16th, the FDA announced rules for over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids, promising sweeping changes for hearing healthcare and purportedly creating a new class of more affordable and accessible types of hearing aids. Now, retailers can sell OTC hearing aids directly to consumers with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss without seeing an audiologist.
An Audiologist is a medical professional dedicated to the diagnosis, management, and treatment of hearing and balance issues in patients of all ages. To become a licensed audiologist, an individual must complete their Master’s Degree or Doctoral Degree from an audiology graduate program at an accredited university or a Doctorate in Audiology (Au.D.). In some cases, states may require additional licensing or certifications on top of a degree. To better understand audiologists’ training, knowledge, services, and importance, let’s delve a little deeper into the question, “What is an audiologist?”