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Home Help Hearing loss Hearing professionals ... Audiologists and other hearing professionals By Shantelle Shakes, coordinator, Hearing Directory Last updated on: February 24th, 2025 Which type of licensed hearing care professional should you see? In Canada, there are several choices available. Key points: Hearing professionals with higher credentials or alternate training can offer services others cannot. Both an audiologist and hearing practitioner/specialist can perform a hearing test. In Canada, only an audiologist can conduct hearing tests on children. Not every hearing clinic is staffed with an audiologist. Find a license audiologist near you or an alternative hearing professional. Audiologists and other hearing professionals can diagnose and treat hearing loss to help you or a loved one hear better. In some cases, hearing professionals with higher credentials or alternate training can offer services others cannot. In Canada, a hearing professional can be: an audiologist, hearing aid practitioner / hearing instrument specialist or an ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT). Informally known as "ear doctors" or "hearing doctors", hearing professionals offer a variety of services to help you hear better. Read on to learn more about these credentials and who to go to for your hearing health needs. What is an audiologist? An audiologist is a hearing professional with a master’s degree in audiology. They are able to treat patients of all ages, children included. In Canada, audiologists are not considered doctors. Beyond their ability to conduct hearing tests and fit and service hearing aids, audiologists are trained to assess and treat hearing, balance and auditory processing disorders. Can an audiologist help with: Hearing tests? YES Hearing aid fitting and servicing? YES Tinnitus? YES Hearing-related balance disorders? YES Earwax removal? YES Hearing loss in children? YES Surgery to treat hearing loss? NO In Canada, you do not need a referral to see an audiologist. However, not every hearing clinic has an audiologist or needs one to operate. If you would like to see an audiologist specifically, browse our directory to find a clinic with an audiologist near you. What is an ENT? ENTs are ear, nose and throat physicians. They are also known as otolaryngologists. These doctors are trained to diagnose and treat diseases of the ears, nose, sinuses, larynx, mouth and throat. Some types of hearing loss are linked to severe issues that are best treated by a doctor. You may need surgery for hearing loss caused by trauma or an infection, for example. You will also need surgery if you require cochlear implants. In these cases, ENTs are licensed to perform your surgery. Can an ENT help with: Hearing tests? NO Hearing aid fitting and servicing? NO Tinnitus? YES Hearing-related balance disorders? YES Earwax removal? YES Hearing loss in children? YES Surgery to treat hearing loss? YES Unlike other hearing professionals, you will need a referral to see an ENT. Some hearing clinics have an in-house ENT should you need one, but you do not need to have a hearing issue to get an ENT referral. You can also get an ENT referral from your doctor. Hearing instrument specialists and hearing aid practitioners Hearing instrument specialists or hearing aid specialists (HIS) and hearing aid practitioners (HAP) have the same credentials and perform the same services. They are “hearing instrument specialists” if they’ve received their credentials in Ontario. These hearing professionals offer limited hearing health services compared to audiologists. They are trained in a two-year college program to conduct hearing tests, remove, select and fit hearing aids, and offer counselling to those with hearing loss. They can also recommend assistive listening devices. Can an HIS/HAP help with: Hearing tests? YES Hearing aid fitting and servicing? YES Tinnitus? YES Hearing-related balance disorders? NO Earwax removal? YES if certified to do so. Hearing loss in children? NO Surgery to treat hearing loss? NO Hearing professionals with higher credentials or alternate training can offer services others cannot. ^{Image credit: Oticon.} Age-related hearing loss or noise-induced hearing loss are common issues that a hearing instrument specialist/hearing aid practitioner can treat. You are likely to meet one of these hearing professionals when you visit a hearing clinic. For basic hearing care services, a hearing clinic near you will likely have the hearing professional you need. If not, your healthcare provider can refer you to the right professional. Whether you visit an audiologist, ENT or hearing specialist, seeking a hearing professional is the first step to hearing better. Get started today. ^Sources: ^{Canadian Academy of Audiology. Audiology and hearing FAQs. https://canadianaudiology.ca/audiology-faqs/} ^{Helpmehear.ca. "Careers." https://helpmehear.ca/about/} Shantelle Shakes, coordinator, Hearing Directory Shantelle Shakes is the coordinator for Hearing Directory. She has over nine years of experience in the health industry, with eight of those years in hearing healthcare. After graduating from York University with an honours BA in professional writing, minor in creative writing, Shantelle began her marketing career with a major hearing healthcare provider. Through a variety of roles within that company, Shantelle gained a thorough understanding of hearing health and the client experience. She aims to use her knowledge of the industry as well as her communications background to help others understand their hearing and connect with the hearing care they need. 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Audiologists and other hearing professionals

By Shantelle Shakes, coordinator, Hearing Directory

Last updated on: February 24th, 2025

Which type of licensed hearing care professional should you see? In Canada, there are several choices available.

Key points:

Hearing professionals with higher credentials or alternate training can offer services others cannot.
Both an audiologist and hearing practitioner/specialist can perform a hearing test. In Canada, only an audiologist can conduct hearing tests on children.
Not every hearing clinic is staffed with an audiologist. Find a license audiologist near you or an alternative hearing professional.

Audiologists and other hearing professionals can diagnose and treat hearing loss to help you or a loved one hear better. In some cases, hearing professionals with higher credentials or alternate training can offer services others cannot.

In Canada, a hearing professional can be:

an audiologist,
hearing aid practitioner / hearing instrument specialist or
an ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT).

Infographic detailing the different types of hearing care providers in Canada. — Informally known as "ear doctors" or "hearing doctors", hearing professionals offer
a variety of services to help you hear better.

Read on to learn more about these credentials and who to go to for your hearing health needs.

What is an audiologist?

An audiologist is a hearing professional with a master’s degree in audiology. They are able to treat patients of all ages, children included. In Canada, audiologists are not considered doctors.

Beyond their ability to conduct hearing tests and fit and service hearing aids, audiologists are trained to assess and treat hearing, balance and auditory processing disorders.

Can an audiologist help with:

Hearing tests? YES
Hearing aid fitting and servicing? YES
Tinnitus? YES
Hearing-related balance disorders? YES
Earwax removal? YES
Hearing loss in children? YES
Surgery to treat hearing loss? NO

In Canada, you do not need a referral to see an audiologist. However, not every hearing clinic has an audiologist or needs one to operate.

If you would like to see an audiologist specifically, browse our directory to find a clinic with an audiologist near you.

What is an ENT?

ENTs are ear, nose and throat physicians. They are also known as otolaryngologists. These doctors are trained to diagnose and treat diseases of the ears, nose, sinuses, larynx, mouth and throat.

Some types of hearing loss are linked to severe issues that are best treated by a doctor. You may need surgery for hearing loss caused by trauma or an infection, for example. You will also need surgery if you require cochlear implants. In these cases, ENTs are licensed to perform your surgery.

Can an ENT help with:

Hearing tests? NO
Hearing aid fitting and servicing? NO
Tinnitus? YES
Hearing-related balance disorders? YES
Earwax removal? YES
Hearing loss in children? YES
Surgery to treat hearing loss? YES

Unlike other hearing professionals, you will need a referral to see an ENT. Some hearing clinics have an in-house ENT should you need one, but you do not need to have a hearing issue to get an ENT referral. You can also get an ENT referral from your doctor.

Hearing instrument specialists and hearing aid practitioners

Hearing instrument specialists or hearing aid specialists (HIS) and hearing aid practitioners (HAP) have the same credentials and perform the same services. They are “hearing instrument specialists” if they’ve received their credentials in Ontario.

These hearing professionals offer limited hearing health services compared to audiologists. They are trained in a two-year college program to conduct hearing tests, remove, select and fit hearing aids, and offer counselling to those with hearing loss. They can also recommend assistive listening devices.

Can an HIS/HAP help with:

Hearing tests? YES
Hearing aid fitting and servicing? YES
Tinnitus? YES
Hearing-related balance disorders? NO
Earwax removal? YES if certified to do so.
Hearing loss in children? NO
Surgery to treat hearing loss? NO

Patient shaking hands with audiologist. — Hearing professionals with higher
credentials or alternate training can offer
services others cannot.
^{Image credit: Oticon.}

Age-related hearing loss or noise-induced hearing loss are common issues that a hearing instrument specialist/hearing aid practitioner can treat. You are likely to meet one of these hearing professionals when you visit a hearing clinic.

For basic hearing care services, a hearing clinic near you will likely have the hearing professional you need. If not, your healthcare provider can refer you to the right professional.

Whether you visit an audiologist, ENT or hearing specialist, seeking a hearing professional is the first step to hearing better. Get started today.

^Sources:

^{Canadian Academy of Audiology. Audiology and hearing FAQs. https://canadianaudiology.ca/audiology-faqs/}

^{Helpmehear.ca. "Careers." https://helpmehear.ca/about/}

Shantelle Shakes, coordinator, Hearing Directory

Shantelle Shakes is the coordinator for Hearing Directory. She has over nine years of experience in the health industry, with eight of those years in hearing healthcare. After graduating from York University with an honours BA in professional writing, minor in creative writing, Shantelle began her marketing career with a major hearing healthcare provider. Through a variety of roles within that company, Shantelle gained a thorough understanding of hearing health and the client experience. She aims to use her knowledge of the industry as well as her communications background to help others understand their hearing and connect with the hearing care they need.

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