What Does a Hearing Aid Specialist Do?

In very broad terms, a qualified hearing instrument specialist (HIS) will work with individuals who have hearing loss. They will also specialize in recommending hearing aids to those with hearing loss. But you might still have a few questions about hearing aid specialists.

If you happen to be in the early stages of managing your hearing loss, you are going to come across a wide range of professionals. And while they’re all involved in the field of hearing loss and hearing aids, they do have different roles. Each will play a different part in your overall care. 

What is a hearing aid specialist?

A hearing instrument specialist is a professional that will assess people who have already been diagnosed with hearing problems. They will then match them up with the correct hearing aid or hearing device. Most hearing aid specialists will deal with age-related hearing loss or hearing loss that is noise-induced; these are referred to as sensorineural hearing loss.

The primary role of a hearing insurance specialist is to match patients with the most suitable hearing aid. They will take into consideration these factors, the function of the patient’s needs. For example, this will look at the application level, the ability to use directional microphones and even Wi-Fi connectivity.

They will consider the severity of the patient’s hearing loss, as are some models of hearing aids that are better than others, depending on the level of hearing loss.

And of course, the patient’s preference for the hearing aid style that they would like to wear is very important for the patient to feel confident. 

After the careful selection of a hearing aid, will come in the fitting. A hearing aid specialist will help to calibrate the hearing aid. They will set it up for the needs specific to the wearer. This will likely involve things like adjusting the settings, ensuring that the device is the correct size and shape for the patient.

A hearing instrument specialist can be referred to as a hearing aid dispenser (HAD) in some states, hearing aid deal or a healing instrument dealer. They were to use the initials HIS after their name and, in some cases, HAD depending on their state.

What can a hearing instrument specialist do?

As mentioned above, all hearing specialists will deal with different areas.

In this case, a hearing instrument specialist can:

• Repair non-functional or damaged hearing aids
• Hearing aid specialists can remove wax in some states
• Take impressions of the ear
• Administer and interpret hearing tests, including emittance screening, pure tone screening, otoacoustic screening, as well as bone conduction and speech auditory process.
• Select, fit, program, spent and maintained a range of hearing aids.

What kind of hearing aids are there?

After the diagnosis of hearing loss, you will be given a range of information about the best hearing aid for your needs. You will hear about and discuss the following styles:

• In the ear (ITE): Will sit in the outer ear bowl and comes in half-and full-shell varieties.
• Invisible in canal (IIC): These hearing aids are placed into the ear canal and are almost entirely invisible
• Behind the ear (BTE): This hearing aid is the style most people are familiar with. They will have a piece behind the ear that is hard plastic, and a small piece that fits into the outer ear.
• In the canal (ITC): These hearing aids sit just inside the ear canal and can barely be seen.
• Completely in canal (CIC): These devices fit in the canal and offer one of the most discreet solutions.

There are a few things to consider when choosing the right hearing aid for you, and it’s important to know that there are no good or bad hearing aids; they just need to be appropriately selected. A hearing aid specialist can guide a patient through the entire process and even make the necessary adjustments to the device to ensure that the patient has maximum comfort.

Where do hearing instrument specialists typically work?

Hearing instrument specialists will most likely work in a hearing clinic, testing hearing abilities, fitting instruments and providing repairs. 

You might also find them at the hearing aid manufacturers, and they may also have their hearing care practices. 

Learn more about Stanwood Hearing and what our professionals do by calling us today at 360-502-4644.