Choosing the right hearing healthcare provider can seem like a big task, especially if this is your first time visiting an audiologist or another doctor about your hearing health. Take time to find the doctor that offers the best hearing loss solutions for you. Here are some helpful tips for finding a hearing healthcare provider that fits your needs:
Who should you see?
When first addressing their hearing loss, many older adults are comfortable starting with their primary care physician. Your primary care physician will likely refer you to an audiologist or an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor), but if he or she doesn’t, it is OK to make an appointment with a specialist on your own. In fact, the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) recommends seeing an audiologist first, if you’re comfortable with it, because they are highly trained and most familiar with hearing loss concerns.
However, you should first check with your insurance provider to see if a referral is necessary. Some insurance providers will cover an audiologist visit, but others require a primary care physician to refer you before they will cover all or part of the hearing test cost. Medicare does not require an official referral but only a general written document, email or telephone call to another office explaining that you need to be evaluated for a hearing test.
Checking quality
If you are considering seeing an audiologist or otolaryngologist, the first thing to do is check with your insurance provider to determine which local offices accept your insurance. Then, if you feel comfortable discussing it with your friends or family members, they can be a great resource in finding a high-quality hearing health provider. Maybe one of the women in your breakfast group or golf club has seen a hearing specialist recently that she really liked, or maybe her husband or sister recently had his or her hearing checked and can give you advice. Checking with people you know and trust is always a great idea because they know you best and can feel comfortable and confident that you will be in good hands.
Another place to look is online. Look at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA) list of audiologists who have received ASHA’s Certificate of Clinical Competence. If you would be more comfortable having a doctor that spoke another language or if you want a healthcare provider that specifically works with adults 65 and older, you can customize those choices on this site. You can also check with the Better Business Bureau by calling or looking online to see hearing healthcare professionals ratings.
Other things to consider
Maybe you want to find a hearing healthcare provider near your home so you don’t have to travel far to appointments. You also might want to consider the technology offered, such as assistive listening devices or captioned telephones. If you choose to see an otolaryngologist, it might be a good idea to find one who has an audiologist in residence so you can keep your appointments in one building. This will help you stay organized but also ensure that your doctor and audiologist – who will be an expert in fitting hearing aids – are able to communicate with each other.
When you have your hearing tested for the first time, pay attention to how the healthcare professional treats you. Do they encourage your questions and really listen? Do they treat you with respect and seem genuinely concerned about your hearing health? Do they take time to explain your hearing test results to you? The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) offers a list of questions to ask yourself about what’s most important in a hearing healthcare provider.
