#1 Audiologist in Muskogee, OK

In short, an audiologist is an ear doctor in the sense that they are experts in health care who help to prevent, diagnose, and treat hearing and inner ear balance disorders for people of all ages. However, an audiologist is not a medical doctor as they have not completed medical school or residency programs. Overall, audiologists are health care professionals who may be referred to as ‘doctors’ since they have completed a bachelor's degree in any field and obtained doctoral degrees related to hearing and balance disorders, but they are not medical doctors as they have not attended medical school.

No, audiologists are not ear doctors and do not attend medical school. However, they are health care professionals who must complete a postgraduate doctoral program degree, AuD, in the hearing and balance sciences to practice and treat hearing loss in the United States.  The Au.D. is the designator for the professional doctorate in the discipline of audiology. Completion of the degree typically requires four years of full-time study beyond the bachelor's degree. This is different than those who pursue a Medical degree and requires an additional certification of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A).

Seeing an audiologist is a smart choice if you have concerns about hearing loss or other issues with your ears. They are highly trained health care professionals who specialize in diagnosing, treating, and managing hearing and balance disorders. Audiologists can evaluate your hearing, discuss potential treatments, fit you with hearing aids or assistive listening devices, and help you manage any long-term care needs.

Audiologists are healthcare professionals with expertise in diagnosing, managing, and treating hearing loss and balance disorders. ENT doctors (ear, nose, and throat doctors), on the other hand, can diagnose and treat a wider range of medical issues related to ears, nose, throat, and neck. So while both professionals work in similar fields, an audiologist focuses mainly on hearing while an ENT doctor offers a more comprehensive range of medical services.

The cost of a hearing aid and assistive technology can vary significantly depending on the hearing aid technology. Generally, the average cost of hearing aids or assistive listening devices is approximately $2,500, although some companies may bundle the hearing aid with additional services, such as maintenance and repair, which can raise the overall cost.

There are three main types of hearing loss and each can be caused by different factors and require different hearing aid technology and features to have the best listening experience. The three types of hearing loss include:

1. Sensorineural hearing loss: When the problem is in the inner ear or a problem with the auditory nerve, a sensorineural hearing loss is the result. This commonly occurs from damage to the small hair cells, or nerve fibers, in the auditory system. Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common type of hearing loss in adults and accounts for more than 90 percent of hearing loss in all hearing aid wearers. The most common causes of this hearing loss are age-related changes and noise exposure. Loss may also result from disturbance of inner ear circulation, increased inner fluid pressure or from disturbances of nerve transmission. There are many excellent options for the patient with sensorineural hearing loss.
2. Conductive hearing loss: When there is a problem in the external or middle ear, a conductive hearing loss occurs. Conductive hearing loss develops when sound is not conducted efficiently through the ear canal, eardrum or tiny bones of the middle ear, resulting in a reduction of the loudness of sound that is heard. Conductive losses may result from earwax blocking the ear canal, fluid in the middle ear, middle ear infection, obstruction of the ear canal, perforation (hole) in the eardrum membrane or disease of any of the three middle ear bones. Individuals with conductive hearing loss can benefit from hearing aids, medical implants, medication or surgical options.
3. Mixed hearing loss: When there are problems in the middle and inner ear, a mixed hearing impairment is the result. Because mixed hearing loss involves both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss, treatment options from hearing aids to surgery depends on the nature of the impairment and the symptoms experienced.