Which professional diagnoses hearing losses or auditory problems?

• A. Audiologist
• B. Speech-Language Pathologist
• C. Otolaryngologist
• D. Educational Diagnostician

Answer: (A)

Determining who diagnoses hearing problems centers on the professional who specializes in measuring hearing and interpreting what those results mean. An audiologist is trained to assess hearing through a battery of tests, determine the type (conductive, sensorineural, or mixed) and degree of loss, and plan the appropriate management—such as fitting hearing aids, recommending assistive devices, or coordinating further medical care. They also provide counseling and guidance for interpretations and next steps.

Other roles touch hearing in different ways but aren’t the primary diagnostic authority for hearing loss. An otolaryngologist is a physician who treats medical or surgical ear conditions and may diagnose hearing loss from a medical perspective. A speech-language pathologist focuses on communication disorders and therapy rather than diagnosing hearing thresholds. An educational diagnostician looks at learning-related disabilities in schools, not the clinical diagnosis of hearing status.