You may have come across terms like “audiologist,” “hearing instrument specialist,” and “hearing aid dispenser” and wondered what they actually mean.

Calyn Russ-Whitt, Au.D., a HearingLoss.com®-certified audiologist, breaks down the real differences between these two hearing care professionals, from how they’re trained to what each is licensed to do, so you can make a more confident decision about who to reach out to.

If you’re not sure which type of provider to see or what to expect from a hearing evaluation, this blog is the right place to start.