Are Audiologists Medical Doctors?
The short answer is no, audiologists are not medical doctors. Audiologists do not have to earn a doctorate degree to practice audiology. All audiologists earn a master's degree in their field. Some audiologists go on to earn a doctor of audiology degree, which is the equivalent of a PhD, but it is not a medical degree. They are a doctor in the sense that they have a doctorate. But, they do not undergo full medical training.
In addition to their degree, audiologists can earn certificates in their field or specialize in certain areas. For instance, an audiologist who has earned his master's degree may go on to earn his doctorate and specialize in pediatric audiology.
Audioprosthologists, Board Certified
International Hearing Society http://ihsinfo.org/ihsv2/Education/030_ACA_position.cfm
Audioprosthology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Audioprosthologists, Audiologists, and Hearing Instrument Specialists all provide services and testing for the hearing impaired. All are required from each individual state to pass certain requirements and regulations, most of which the same practical exam must be taken by Audioprosthologists, Audiologists and Hearing Instrument Specialists. Only Doctors of Audiology can diagnose but still cannot prescribe any type of medication.
There is a Difference:
To get the most accurate data for your hearing aid prescription, reNew Hearing® tests all eleven (11) speech spectrum frequencies. This includes all the half octaves, not just the minimum 5 required by law or the "norm" 7 to 9 frequencies tested elsewhere. We perform the most extensive Speech Discrimination (Word Recognition) tests by using the "Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Q/MASS Speech Audiometry" which uses a complete 50 word per ear measurement, as opposed to using the "quick" 10 word, or the "adequate" 25 word test typically done at other locations.
reNew Hearing® treats every patient with dignity and first-rate care. We and office staff are highly-trained and exceptionally friendly. We understand that for many, visiting a hearing specialist can be a stressful experience. Our comfortable surroundings and compassionate hearing professionals will ease your fears.
We take the necessary time - no rushed appointments here - to explain in detail and in plain English not Latin, so our patients can make an educated investment in their hearing. We guarantee you will be pleasantly surprised by our level of personalized service.
Internet Sales Policy
Hearing aids are medical devices, and as such they need to be prescribed and fitted by someone trained and qualified to do this. Buying a hearing aid without an initial face-to-face consultation, professional fitting, and subsequent follow-ups could result in you purchasing an ineffective hearing instrument for your loss, or worse, damaging your hearing further. Additionally the consultation includes an examination which can highlight other serious ear health conditions. For these reasons, reNew Hearing does not endorse Internet Retailers who will sell instruments to customers without a face-to-face consultation, and most hearing aid manufacturers will not supply those retailers.