If you think you may be losing your hearing, then an audiologist is the ideal person to discuss your problem. These professionals are trained specifically for evaluating the cause and extent of the hearing loss and in advising the proper treatment for any hearing problems. Audiologists are the specialists who possess the most up-to-date information on hearing aids and treatment for hearing loss. If you feel you have some form of hearing loss, and want to see what can be done about it, you should visit an audiologist.  Audiologists can also give hearing loss facts to other people as well. They assist people in deciding which hearing aids will help them the best. Some audiologists go into schools to hold clinics for children, giving hearing tests to the kids and uncovering potential hearing problems. Some audiologists participate in researching and developing programs to promote hearing conservation.  As a matter of fact, there are times when it is the audiologist who diagnoses and advises treatment on these types of conditions. In other cases, an audiologist might send the patient to another physician that can provide a more accurate diagnosis. Ear, nose, and throat doctors could also employ audiologists to offer diagnosis capabilities and treatment advice for people who are experiencing hearing problems. Typically, audiologists know the most about hearing aids, and are able to provide suggestions to hearing loss sufferers regarding the right aid for what they require.  Many audiologists will employ specialized equipment to test the hearing of their patients. A number of causes can be responsible for hearing loss, including genetics, environment, and aging. Part of the evaluation an audiologist completes will involve pinpointing a cause of hearing loss, since this information may impact how the hearing loss is treated. Audiologists may be called on to help figure out the cause of other medical issues, such as dizziness or loss of balance.  Audiologists aren't only in hospitals or doctor's offices; many public schools and clinics employ their own hearing loss specialist. You can even find audiologists in their own private practice, but this requires them to understand the business end of health care in addition to the diagnosis and treatment side. Some audiologists choose to administer to a cross section of patients, while others may specialize in working with children or the elderly population in the area. Some work in research-based jobs, such as an audiologist who evaluates noise pollution in a particular environment to protect employees from hearing loss.  Every state requires audiologists to be licensed; in addition, most states mandate continuing education in order for licensure to be maintained. A few states require audiologists to obtain licenses in order to write prescriptions for hearing aids, but most only mandate that hearing specialists be licensed for payment. An audiologist must familiarize him or herself with all of the training required by the state they are practicing in and be certain they remain in compliance with the state's audiology regulations.  In order to be an audiologist, a master's degree in audiology has to be obtained. It is important to note that some states require that an audiologist also obtains a doctorate degree. As of 2007, the Bureau of Labor Statistics determined that eight states mandated doctorate degrees for audiologists. The degrees need to be obtained from institutions who are accredited in audiology. In order to receive a doctorate degree in audiology, a person has to undergo eight years of university education, combined with supervised clinical experiencse.  Once the primary problem is diagnosed, an audiologist can recommend different treatment options that will help patients regain their hearing and enjoy a higher quality of life once again. In order to understand what audiology is one must first examine the type of training audiologists are given, the testing protocol they use to make their diagnosis and of course the treatment options they will recommend.  An audiologist is a specialist working in the field of audiology, they study many different patients with a variety of ages and hearing problems. Audiologists us a variety of testing procedures to check for and advise treatment for hearing loss of any level and of any cause.