When Should You See an Audiologist?

Ontario’s regulated audiologists and speech-language pathologists continue to follow public health guidelines to keep you and your loved ones safe.  Appointments can be in-person or through virtual care (on-line). Learn more, visit CASLPO's COVID-19 Information page.

Your hearing helps you communicate with others and participate fully in the world around you. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to warning signs of hearing loss, like if you need to turn up the volume on the television or if your child doesn't respond when you talk to them.

Having trouble hearing affects us differently at different life stages. Seniors may have a hard time keeping up in conversation with friends and family, hearing doorbells and alarms, and understanding healthcare providers. Children might get easily frustrated and could act out.  Hearing problems in children can contribute to lower grades, trouble interacting with others and a hard time speaking.

Important Tips To Know

If you or someone you know has trouble with hearing and will go to visit an audiologist for help, here are some helpful tips:

1. Audiologists can help with much more than hearing aids. These highly trained professionals provide assessment, treatment, (re)habilitation and consultation services for hearing, balance, tinnitus (noise or ringing in the ears), noise sensitivity and auditory processing difficulties (problems with how the brain processes sound).
2. You don’t need a referral from your family doctor. Audiologists work in different health and educational settings, including private practices, hospitals, schools, industrial settings and hearing aid manufacturers.
3. Audiologists must be registered with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO) in order to practice. The College is here to protect the public interest and help ensure audiologists provide safe, competent and ethical care that follows standards. You can visit the website to check to see if an audiologist is registered to practice in Ontario, file a complaint or to find a speech-language pathologist near you.
4. Learn what you can expect during your visit. At your first appointment, the audiologist will ask you questions about your hearing or balance difficulties and about your health history in general. They’ll perform a variety of tests and examine your ears with an otoscope. The audiologist will talk to you about your hearing status, discuss your options and make recommendations. They may also refer you to another healthcare professional.
5. You can turn to CASLPO for help if you have any concerns about the care you receive from an audiologist. As a health profession regulator, CASLPO is here to protect the public. You can get more information, file a complaint or find an audiologist near you.

Audiology Problems – An Overview

Consult an audiologist if you have concerns related to hearing or experience:

Audiology Signs and Symptoms

• You notice that your baby is not responding to sound
• Your child has recurrent ear infections
• Your child complains of ear aches
• Your child's speech and/or language is delayed
• Your child's speech is unclear or difficult to understand
• You notice that you need to turn up the TV or radio volume excessively
• You have a history of industrial noise exposure
• You have a genetic ear disorder
• You experience ringing in your ears (tinnitus) and/or dizziness

If you have concerns about someone's hearing or balance, contact an audiologist. The College can assist you in finding an audiologist in your local area.

Audiologists work closely with and will often refer clients to other health professionals, such as physicians, and speech-language pathologists in the provision of hearing health care services.