Is YOUR Audiologist Professionally Licensed?  In the State of Illinois, Audiologists are required to possess a professional license from the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation.  To check the license status of your audiologist, click on this link, https://www.idfpr.com/dpr/licenselookup/default.asp and select the profession AUDIOLOGIST in the pull-down menu, and simply type in their name.  

What can you expect when you see a licensed audiologist?

A licensed audiologist, in addition to conducting a hearing test or other tests should examine each patient's ears, and determine if a possible medical problem may exist before fitting a patient with hearing aids.  If a problem does exist, the audiologist will refer the patient to a licensed physician for a medical examination, and for written clearance for the use of hearing aids.  Tumors, hematomas, perforated ear drums, and other medical conditions must be treated, and the patient formally released for hearing aid use by the physician.  A licensed audiologist should never force a patient to sign a waiver for hearing aid fitting if a medical problem is evident during an ear exam.  If you do feel forced into signing such a waiver, contact the FTC, or your local Better Business Bureau.

Facts about hearing loss:

There are generally two main types of hearing loss:     Generally, only the second type of loss described below can be corrected by a licensed audiologist.

Conductive (from a punctured ear drum, wax, birth defects, heredity, etc.)  These types of hearing losses are usually treated by a licensed physician, through surgery or other medical treatment.  

Sensorineural (nerve based)  A Licensed Audiologist may often improve a sensorineural hearing loss with the use of hearing aids.  Sensorineural loss is caused by damage to the inner ear.  This damage can be caused by aging, viral or bacterial infections, heredity, trauma, noise exposure, benign tumors, uses of certain drugs, and a variety of other causes.  Sensorineural loss often affects selected ranges of hearing, so the degree of hearing loss as well as the frequency range over which the losses are experienced will vary between individuals.  Thus, these types of hearing loss require hearing aids which are custom tailored to their particular loss.   

You can have confidence in a Licensed Audiologist.

Licensed audiologists have the required experience, education and training as well as the proper equipment to diagnose sensorineural hearing loss, and fit patients with appropriate hearing aids for their particular needs.

Licensed Audiologists are qualified to perform hearing tests and examinations.  These hearing tests enable the audiologist to select, program, and fit a hearing aid to a patient's particular needs.  In order to maintain their license, audiologists are required to take a number of hours of continuing education in their field each year.  In fact, many state governments, associations, and insurance companies are very closely considering requiring a doctorate degree in this field, in order to receive or renew licenses.

Licensed Audiologists will strongly recommend that their patients come back for follow up visits, for the purpose of cleaning and checking the hearing aid, and/or adjusting it to better meet the patients needs.  

Best Hearing Center, Inc. is co-owned and operated by Dr. Audrey G. Freeman, Au.D., a licensed audiologist.  She received her Doctorate of Audiology in July of 2003 and has been practicing Audiology for over 21 years.  Dr. Freeman provides caring, consultative hearing care in a no-pressure environment, and offer the patients only the best service.