4
5
• The doctor may refer the person to an audiologist for a
separate test, a hearing aid evaluation.
• The hearing aid evaluation will help the audiologist
select and fit the appropriate hearing aid.
A person who is younger than 18 years old with hearing
loss should have a medical evaluation by a doctor,
preferably an ENT, before buying a hearing aid. The purpose
of a medical evaluation is to identify and treat medical
conditions that may affect hearing but that a hearing aid
won’t treat on its own.
Following the medical evaluation and if appropriate, the
doctor will provide a written statement that the hearing
loss has been medically evaluated and the person is a
candidate for a hearing aid. The doctor may refer the
person to an audiologist for a hearing aid evaluation, which
is different from the medical evaluation and is intended to
identify the appropriate hearing aid.
The audiologist will conduct a hearing aid evaluation
to assess the person’s ability to hear with and without
a hearing aid. This will enable the audiologist to select
and fit a hearing aid for the person’ individual needs. An
audiologist can also provide evaluation and rehabilitation
since, for people younger than 18, hearing loss may cause
problems in language development and educational and
social growth. An audiologist is qualified by training and
experience to assist in the evaluation and rehabilitation of
hearing loss in people younger than 18.
FDA Required Information
