Questions to Ask When Selecting an Audiologist

Picking the right audiologist for you can be a daunting task. You have a million questions not only about them and what they do but also about the business and location, hours of operation and payment. Write your questions down as you think of them so you will not forget them in the moment.

Write down your questions for the audiologist

But you may be wondering, I have all of these questions, but which ones are the most important? Which questions do I need to make sure that I ask and which questions can wait for another time or are not really important? As any health care professional will tell you there is no stupid question. There is no question that is not important enough to be answered at the moment. Humans are curious by nature so be curious and ask as many questions as you want.  Here are some key questions you should ask, though, when picking your audiologist.

• Clinic information. Ask about the clinic. What are the hours of operation? Location? Parking? Accessibility? Clinics outside of the office? Payment process? Ways to pay? Communication – via telephone, text or email? Ask about how they keep your information private. Booking appointments? Cancelation fees? Fees in general? Ask about anything you think is relevant when it comes to the clinic and how it is run.
• Testing. Ask about the testing procedures. What testing is done in house? What testing needs to be referred? What tests do they do often and why do they do them? Get the audiologist to explain any and all testing that will and might be done on you. Be sure you understand what is being said and if not be sure to ask for clarity.
• Education and experience. Ask your potential audiologist where they went to school. Check their credentials with that school or with the local hearing health professional association. Check with the local association to see if there have been any investigations or grievances with the potential audiologist. Check with the potential audiologist what experience they have. Where did they do their clinical practices? Do they specialize in a specific field?

The best thing to do when seeking a potential audiologist is to book a consultation visit with the person. Talk to them and feel them out. See if you mesh on a personal and professional level. You need to be comfortable with the person who will be looking after your ears. You need to be able to talk to them openly and honestly so be sure that you like and are completely comfortable with whom you pick.