Is the provider an Audiologist?

Audiologists evaluate, diagnose, treat, and handle hearing loss in adults and children. Audiologists work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, private practice, ENT offices, colleges, and schools. Did you know that many of the hearing providers are not Audiologists? Other types are:

• Hearing Aid Technician
• Hearing Aid Dispenser
• Hearing Aid Specialist
• Hearing Instrument Specialist

Often times, these providers give themselves fancy-looking acronyms like HIS, HAD or HS. These professionals typically can offer help with hearing aids, but there are many differences between Audiologists and Dispensers.

1. The degree Dr. Ivory has requires four years of formal and clinical audiology training after a standard 4-year bachelor's degree. The minimum requirement for hearing aid dispensers in many states is a high school diploma, passing a test, and a short apprenticeship with a licensed hearing aid dispenser.
2. The scope of practice is much more limited for hearing aid dispensers and is typically limited to working on hearing aids. Audiologists can work with pediatric patients, tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and balance issues.

Are they a licensed Doctor of Audiology?

The Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) is the highest level degree for an audiologist. The Au.D. program is structured to produce audiologists that are skilled in providing not just hearing aids and hearing aid fittings, but also diagnostic, rehabilitative, and other services associated with hearing, balance, and tinnitus management.  In other words, a Doctor of Audiology can provide care for almost all aspects of your hearing healthcare.

Do they offer remote hearing care?

For many consumers and audiologists, teleaudiology (also known as remote hearing care) is still a relatively new concept. Over the last few years, hearing aid manufacturers have launched smartphone apps that allow hearing care providers to make adjustments to hearing aids without the patient having to step foot in the office. With the recent coronavirus pandemic, the need to deliver care virtually became even more important. Residents of Glendora and surrounding areas will be happy to know that  Dr. Kevin Ivory has been providing to-notch virtual hearing care since 2019.

Does the Audiologist perform Real Ear Measurements?

Dr. Ivory is one of less than 30% of hearing care providers that routinely uses Real-Ear Measures when programming hearing aids and never “guesses” the prescription. Hearing aid fittings using real ear measurements result in superior outcomes, higher patient satisfaction, higher long-term benefit and usage, as well as, improved aided benefit both in quiet and in noise. During Real-Ear Measurements (or REMs), a tiny wire called a probe microphone is inserted into the ear canal alongside the hearing aid(s). Dr. Ivory obtains readings of the exact sound levels the patient is receiving near the eardrum while listening to various recorded speech samples (live speech mapping). REMs allow Dr. Ivory to more accurately adjust the sound levels and frequencies to match target amplification levels based on the user’s hearing loss across the speech frequencies.

Does the Audiologist follow other Best Practices?

Choosing an Audiologist that follows best practices can be the key to a successful hearing care experience. In addition to Real Ear Measurements, other best practices in Audiology are electro-acoustical analysis, speech-in-noise testing and outcome assessments. Because Dr. Ivory follows these best practices, he is currently the only Audiologist in Glendora, CA recommended by YouTube sensation Dr. Cliff.  You can learn more about the Dr. Cliff endorsement here.

Does the Audiologist fit different brands?

While many of today's hearing aids are excellent, each patient has different needs based on their hearing loss and lifestyle. Unfortunately, some hearing care providers only work with one or two hearing aid manufacturers. This can create a challenge when their preferred brand does not have the features needed by a particular patient. Dr. Ivory and Glendora Hearing Aids & Audiology offer many different hearing aid brands, by the top manufacturers in the industry. Brands we work with include Oticon, Starkey, Phonak, Widex, Resound, Signia, Unitron and more.

Do they have good patient reviews?

Before choosing an Audiologist, we recommend verifying their online reviews to make sure their current patients are happy with the care they have received. With over 100 reviews on Yelp, Facebook, Google and more, Glendora Hearing Aids & Audiology is proud to have an overall rating of 4.9 out of 5. If you are reading this and searching for an Audiologist near Glendora (including Azusa, Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, Temple City, Arcadia, Baldwin Park, Covina, La Verne, San Dimas and Claremont) you can research our reviews by following the links below.

Our Reviews on Yelp

Our Reviews on Facebook

More Reviews of Our Practice

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