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Ear Doctor or Audiologist? Who to See in Alberta
Not sure if you need an ear doctor, an ENT or an audiologist? A plain guide to who does what in Alberta, when you need a referral, and where to start.
In this guide 11 sections
- The short answer
- What an ENT (ear doctor) does
- What an audiologist does
- Audiologist or hearing aid practitioner?
- Where your family doctor fits in
- Do you need a referral in Alberta?
- Signs you should see a doctor first
- What about ear wax?
- How it all works together
- Getting your hearing checked in Edmonton or Calgary
- Common questions
When something feels wrong with your ears, the first question is often the hardest one. Who do you actually call? People search for an “ear doctor” and find family doctors, ENT specialists, audiologists and hearing aid shops, all using slightly different words.
The good news is that each of these has a clear role. Once you know who does what, it is much easier to get to the right place the first time. This guide explains the difference, when a referral is needed in Alberta, and how to decide where to start.
The short answer
- Hearing changes, ringing, hearing aids or plugged ears from wax: start with a hearing care professional, such as a Registered Hearing Aid Practitioner or audiologist. No referral needed.
- Ear pain, infection, fever or discharge: start with your family doctor or a walk in clinic.
- Sudden hearing loss: see a doctor right away, the same day if you can.
- Ongoing ear disease, surgery or a problem that needs imaging: an ENT specialist, usually through a referral.
The rest of this guide explains why.
What an ENT (ear doctor) does
When people say “ear doctor,” they usually mean an ENT, which stands for ear, nose and throat. The formal name is otolaryngologist. An ENT is a medical doctor who has gone on to specialize in conditions of the ears, nose, throat, head and neck, and who can do surgery.
An ENT is the right specialist for things like:
- Ear infections that keep coming back or will not clear up
- A hole in the eardrum, or problems with the tiny bones of the middle ear
- Conditions that may need surgery, such as some cases of otosclerosis
- Hearing loss that is very different between your two ears, or that needs a scan to rule out other causes
- Some balance and dizziness problems
- Growths in or around the ear
ENT specialists can prescribe medication, order imaging and perform procedures. Many people with an ear problem never need one, but when you do, they are the right person.
What an audiologist does
An audiologist is a hearing health professional with university level training in how hearing and balance work. Audiologists do not perform surgery or prescribe medication. Their focus is measuring hearing, figuring out what kind of hearing loss you have, and helping you hear and cope better.
An audiologist is usually the right place to start for:
- A full hearing test, including an audiogram, speech testing and a check of how your eardrum moves
- Choosing, fitting and fine tuning hearing aids
- Tinnitus assessment and management
- Sound sensitivity, sometimes called hyperacusis
- Custom hearing protection and ear plugs
- Hearing tests for children old enough to take part
A good audiologist also knows when something is outside their lane. If your test results or symptoms point to something medical, they will tell you and suggest you see your doctor, who can refer you to an ENT if needed. Our guide on what an audiologist does covers how audiologists differ from hearing aid dispensers.
Audiologist or hearing aid practitioner?
In Alberta, “audiologist” is a protected title, and audiologists are regulated by the Alberta College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (ACSLPA). Hearing aid practitioners are a separate regulated profession, overseen by the College of Hearing Aid Practitioners of Alberta (CHAPA). A Registered Hearing Aid Practitioner can test your hearing, fit and fine tune hearing aids, make custom ear molds and earplugs, and help with tinnitus. Neither one diagnoses medical conditions.
Our team at Medicine Place Hearing Care includes Registered Hearing Aid Practitioners and a registered audiologist, Renaldo Macalalad, R.Aud. We test hearing and fit hearing aids, and when something needs an ENT, we tell you and send you to your family doctor for a referral.
Where your family doctor fits in
Your family doctor, or a walk in clinic doctor, is often the best first stop for anything that looks like an infection or an injury. Pain, fever, fluid coming from the ear, swelling, or symptoms after a blow to the head all belong here. They can examine you, treat common problems and refer you to an ENT if needed.
If you are not sure how urgent something is, Health Link at 811 lets you speak with a registered nurse anytime in Alberta.
Do you need a referral in Alberta?
To see an audiologist or a hearing aid practitioner: no. You can book a hearing test with us directly, with no doctor’s note.
To see an ENT specialist: usually yes. Specialist care in Alberta generally works through a referral from your family doctor or another physician. That is one reason it can help to get a hearing test first if hearing is your main concern. A recent hearing test gives your doctor and the ENT useful information if you do end up needing a referral.
Some private insurance plans have their own rules about referrals for hearing tests or hearing aids. It is worth checking your plan before your visit. Our hearing aid cost guide covers funding programs like Alberta Aids to Daily Living.
Signs you should see a doctor first
Go to a doctor before booking a hearing test if you have any of these:
- Hearing loss that came on suddenly, over hours or a few days
- Ear pain, fever, or fluid or blood coming from the ear
- Severe dizziness, especially with hearing changes
- New ringing in only one ear along with hearing loss in that ear
- Weakness or drooping on one side of the face
- Symptoms that started after a head injury
Sudden hearing loss in particular is time sensitive. Our guide to sudden hearing loss explains why you should not wait.
What about ear wax?
Plugged or muffled ears from wax are very common, and they do not usually need an ENT. A family doctor can often help, and our Edmonton clinics offer ear wax removal for $30 per ear, with a flat $30 for the visit if we check and there is no wax to remove. Wax removal is available at our two Edmonton clinics only, not in Calgary. Avoid cotton swabs and ear candles, which can push wax deeper or cause injury.
How it all works together
In practice, these three roles often work as a team. A common path looks like this:
- You notice you are missing parts of conversations, so you book a hearing test with a hearing care professional.
- They test your hearing and explains the results.
- If it looks like age related or noise related hearing loss, you talk through options like hearing aids right there.
- If anything looks unusual, they give you your results and suggests you see your doctor, who can refer you to an ENT.
Either way, you leave knowing more than when you walked in, and with a clear next step.
Getting your hearing checked in Edmonton or Calgary
You can book a hearing test with our Registered Hearing Aid Practitioners without a referral at any of our clinics:
- Medicine Place Hearing Care 97 North, 13514 97 St NW, Edmonton, in the same building as the Medicine Place walk in clinic and open Saturdays
- Medicine Place Hearing Care East, 4243 118 Ave NW in Beverly, Edmonton
- Our Calgary clinic, 6564 4 St NE in Hunterhorn Plaza
If getting out is hard, our mobile hearing care team visits homes and care residences across the Edmonton area.
Common questions
Is an audiologist a doctor?
An audiologist is a regulated hearing health professional, not a medical doctor. Some audiologists hold a clinical doctorate in audiology, but they do not perform surgery or prescribe medication. For medical treatment, your family doctor or an ENT is the right person.
Can an audiologist refer me to an ENT?
Specialist referrals in Alberta usually come from a physician. If your hearing test shows something that needs a closer look, your audiologist or hearing aid practitioner can give you your results and recommend you see your family doctor, who can make the referral.
Should I see an ENT or an audiologist for tinnitus?
For most people, a hearing care professional, such as a Registered Hearing Aid Practitioner or audiologist, is a good place to start, because a hearing test is the first step in understanding tinnitus. If your tinnitus is in one ear only, pulses with your heartbeat, or comes with sudden hearing loss or dizziness, see your doctor first.
Who should I see for hearing aids?
An audiologist or a Registered Hearing Aid Practitioner. At our clinics, every hearing test and hearing aid fitting is done by a registered professional: a Registered Hearing Aid Practitioner or our registered audiologist.
Still not sure where to start? Call any of our clinics and tell us what is going on. If we are the right place, we will book you in. If not, we will point you to who is.