7 Deal-Breakers When Selecting an Audiologist

One of the most critical decisions that you will make during your journey of treating your hearing loss is choosing the right hearing care professional. If you are lucky enough to end up with a good audiologist, your hearing loss treatment will not only be easy, but also highly effective. Otherwise, you may end up with unpleasant memories, several regrets, and a lot of money wasted. Here are seven deal-breakers you should consider when you are selecting an audiologist for yourself.

1. Poor qualifications – Nothing says good professional like an impressive educational training. If an audiologist ranks low in educational qualifications and professional accreditations, it is time to cross them off your list and move on. Look for someone who is, at least, university-qualified or has a doctorate in audiology, which is equivalent to a PhD. A solid training and educational foundation makes for a great hearing care professional.
2. Interests invested in manufacturer – It is unfortunate, but true, that many audiologists receive financial incentives from manufacturers for dispensing a certain brand of products. Such an audiologist has deep-rooted personal interests in the manufacturer’s needs rather than those of the patient, inhibiting them from making impartial product choices for you.   
3. Poor customer care – You should be expecting utmost customer care when you visit your audiologist since you are providing them with thousands of dollars’ worth of business and also because it is basic courtesy. Walk out immediately if you see yourself queueing for appointments or meeting with a different audiologist each time.
4. Narrow range of brands – It is not only difficult but also financially unviable to have to choose a hearing aid from among a narrow range of brands. Each individual has different needs and only a wide variety of brands of hearing aids will be able to provide you with enough options to make the selection that satisfies your personal preferences, lifestyle choices, and budget constraints.
5. Not conducting hearing tests – Most people want a single-stop solution for all their hearing needs. If your audiologist can’t conduct hearing tests for different purposes, it can be pretty inconvenient for you to run from office to office taking tests, collecting reports and then submitting them elsewhere.
6. Stringent payment plans – Like any other business, an audiologist must be able to provide you with an easy payment plan for your treatment. Their office should also offer you all the assistance you need regarding insurance and tax rebates, so that you don’t have to worry about the money and can invest your focus on the treatment.
7. Not offering hearing aid repairs – Your audiologist is your go-to person as far as hearing loss treatment is concerned. If your hearing aids need repair after you have worn them for some time, you would not want to waste time running from one handyman to the other in the hope that someone would be able to fix your hearing aids for you. An audiologist must be able to do quick and affordable hearing aid repairs for you, as well as provide you with replacement batteries and other accessories that you may need from time to time.

When selecting an audiologist for yourself, make sure to find a professional you are comfortable with, has extensive knowledge and offers a variety of advanced hearing devices for you to choose from. Your audiologist will be a partner in your hearing health for years to come, so select the professional best suited to treat your hearing loss needs.