What Does an Audiologist Do Compared to an Ear Doctor?

Dealing with hearing problems is downright frustrating. But it can be even more frustrating when you don’t know what type of specialist can help diagnose and treat your hearing issues. It can be confusing when deciding who to make an appointment with an audiologist, ear, nose, and throat doctor (ENT), or general practitioner.

If you are experiencing ear-related issues, you want to schedule an appointment with a hearing specialist that has the experience and knows how to treat your condition. At El Dorado Hearing of Tucson, we want to help you reach a stress-free resolution by helping you understand the different types of hearing specialists. Follow along to learn the difference between an audiologist and an ENT doctor.

What Is An Audiologist?

Often, individuals assume they should call an audiologist when experiencing hearing problems. An audiologist specializes in identifying, diagnosing, and treating issues with the auditory and vestibular areas within the ear. They have experience and knowledge in treating conditions such as hearing loss, tinnitus, or balance issues. Along with determining the root cause of the problem, they can match you with the best solution to resolve the condition.

Because hearing loss can happen gradually, it may be difficult for some individuals to cope with the loss of hearing after going an entire lifetime taking in the sounds around them. Audiologists have the skills and understanding to help these individuals cope with the natural changes and provide them with the necessary resources and tools to make the adjustments easier.

What Is An ENT Doctor?

You may also assume that an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor is who you should call for your hearing problem because ” ear ” is in their name. However, ENT doctors’ expertise is diseases, traumas, tumors, or abnormalities affecting the ears, nose, or throat.

ENTs, also referred to as otolaryngologists, treat a variety of head and neck conditions, including those related to:

• Sinuses
• Ears
• Tonsils
• Swallowing
• Smell

This means that while they can help with some nerve and sensory conditions impacting your ears, in most cases, they may not be the person to call if you’re experiencing hearing loss.

Call Our Hearing Specialists at El Dorado Hearing of Tucson

We understand how difficult it can be to deal with hearing problems on a day-to-day basis, which is why we do everything in our power to diagnose the issue and provide a treatment plan. To assist in managing your hearing loss, we provide complete hearing evaluations at El Dorado Hearing. Our hearing specialists are highly experienced and offer an in-depth hearing assessment to evaluate whether you have hearing loss and the extent to which the loss affects you.

For personalized hearing testing in Tucson, AZ, make El Dorado Hearing of Tucson first on your list. We strive to make our hearing offices a comfortable place where everyone feels welcome.

Or, take our online hearing quiz to determine the level of assistance you need from El Dorado Hearing of Tucson. If the evaluation concludes hearing loss, our team of skilled hearing specialists can get you fitted for hearing aids or provide another solution to improve or restore your hearing.

If you are ready to regain control of your hearing, visit us at one of our hearing clinics. Contact us today to set up an appointment with one of our caring and expert hearing specialists!