ENT vs Audiologist: Who Should You See First for Hearing Loss?

The short answer

An ENT (ear, nose and throat doctor) diagnoses and treats medical conditions of the ear. An audiologist measures hearing, fits and programs hearing aids, and manages hearing rehabilitation. If your problem is painful, sudden, one-sided or comes with dizziness, see an ENT first. If hearing has simply faded over months or years in both ears, an audiologist is a sensible first stop, and will refer you to an ENT if anything needs medical attention.

What an ENT does

• Medical doctor with an MBBS and specialist ENT training (MS or DNB).
• Diagnoses infections, perforated eardrums, fluid, wax problems, tumours and other ear disease.
• Prescribes medicines and performs surgery, for example eardrum repair, grommets, otosclerosis surgery or cochlear implantation.
• Decides whether a hearing problem is medically treatable before hearing aids are considered.

What an audiologist does

• Trained in hearing science, typically a BASLP or MASLP, and registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI).
• Performs the hearing tests: pure-tone audiometry, speech testing, tympanometry and, where needed, newborn and objective tests.
• Recommends, fits, programs and services hearing aids, and checks the result with real-ear measurement.
• Counsels on hearing loss, tinnitus management and communication, and refers you to an ENT when the findings suggest a medical cause.

See an ENT first if you have any of these

• Sudden drop in hearing in one or both ears. This needs same-day medical care. See sudden hearing loss: a medical emergency.
• Ear pain, discharge, bleeding or a foul smell.
• Hearing loss or ringing in one ear only.
• Dizziness, vertigo or loss of balance with hearing change.
• A blocked feeling after a cold or flight that does not clear. See blocked ear due to a cold.
• A head injury, or hearing change after an infection.

See an audiologist first if

• You are asking people to repeat themselves and the loss came on slowly in both ears.
• You want a proper hearing test and a printed audiogram.
• You think you may need hearing aids, or already wear them and need adjusting.
• You want to understand your options and costs before deciding anything.

Do you usually need both?

Often, yes, and they work together. The audiologist tests and, if the pattern looks medical (for example a conductive loss, or a big difference between ears), sends you to an ENT. The ENT treats what can be treated and then sends you back for hearing aids if hearing remains reduced. Neither replaces the other.

How to check an audiologist

Ask for their RCI registration number and qualification. Read our guide to choosing a trustworthy audiologist in India. At Prudent every test is done by an RCI-registered audiologist, and if your results point to a medical cause we will tell you plainly and refer you. Book a free hearing test, or ask about a home visit.