Audiologist
An audiologist is a regulated health professional trained to assess and manage disorders of the auditory and vestibular systems. In Canada, audiologists complete a graduate degree followed by supervised clinical placements. Registration with a provincial regulatory college is required to practice. In Ontario, the governing body is CASLPO.
Audiologists conduct comprehensive hearing evaluations, fit and program hearing aids, assess and treat tinnitus, perform balance assessments, and program cochlear implants through a process called mapping. Some audiologists hold additional specializations in pediatric audiology, vestibular disorders, or auditory processing. Audiologists are not medical doctors and do not prescribe medication or perform surgery. They work closely with ENT specialists and referring physicians when a patient's condition requires medical or surgical management.
In Ontario, hearing aids are covered under the Assistive Devices Program (ADP) when dispensed by a registered audiologist, making the professional designation directly relevant to funding eligibility.
