What Does an Audiologist Do? Your Guide to Hearing, Balance, and Brain Health
Introduction
Most people think audiologists just fit hearing aids, but that is only one part of what we do. An audiologist looks at the ear and the brain together. Hearing is not just about volume; it is about meaning, focus, and connection.
At Hoffman Audiology, we help with hearing, balance, and tinnitus. We also look at how stress, sleep, and thinking skills affect listening every day.
October is Audiology Awareness Month, a good time to learn how an audiologist can help. If you live in Durban, Ballito, or nearby, this guide explains what to expect during your visit. It also shows how we work with your GP and ENT. Lastly, it tells you when to book your care. By the end, you will know what an audiologist does, how tests work, and the signs that it is time to get checked. Your hearing is part of your overall health, not a separate issue.
The Ear–Brain Connection
Hearing happens in your ears, but it is processed in your brain. The ear captures sound waves and sends them as signals to the brain, which then interprets meaning, turning sound into understanding.
When hearing begins to decline, the brain has to work harder to fill in the gaps. This extra effort can cause mental fatigue, stress, and even memory challenges over time. Research shows that untreated hearing loss can increase the risk of cognitive decline, anxiety, and social withdrawal.
Caring for your hearing helps your brain, too. Healthy hearing supports better communication, focus, and emotional well-being.
Who Does What: Audiologist, ENT, GP, or Neurologist
It is easy to feel unsure about who to see when something feels off with your ears or balance. Here is how each specialist helps:
👨⚕️ GP (General Practitioner)
Your first stop for general health concerns, ear pain, or infections. GPs assess overall well-being and refer you to the right specialist when needed.
🩺 ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat doctor)
Handles medical and surgical ear, nose, and throat pathologies such as chronic middle ear infections, chronic sinusitis, and rhinitis, or structural conditions affecting the middle or outer ear. ENTs also perform cochlear and middle ear implants, working closely with audiologists like us for testing, fitting, and ongoing care.
🎧 Audiologist
Focuses on hearing, balance, tinnitus, and preventative ear care. Audiologists test, diagnose, and manage how your hearing connects to your daily life and overall health.
Some audiologists also offer rehabilitation services:
including aural rehabilitation when a new hearing aid or cochlear implant is fitted,
auditory training for improved processing,
support, counselling, training, and education in managing your devices and identifying changes in your hearing.
We also provide vestibular rehabilitation for those experiencing balance challenges.
🧠 Neurologist
Examines the brain and nervous system for symptoms like vertigo, imbalance, dizziness, or tinnitus. A neurologist also diagnoses Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, and other neurological conditions.
Audiologists are sometimes called in by neurologists to assess vertigo, imbalance, and dizzy patients once neurological causes are ruled out. Many people start with a neurologist for these symptoms, but if the brain is cleared, it is often time to see an audiologist to explore ear and balance function.
Together, these professionals create a complete picture of your health, from your ears to your brain.
What Happens During an Audiology Appointment
Your first visit is relaxed, thorough, and centred around understanding your needs.
Conversation and Case History
We start by learning about your lifestyle, listening habits, and medical background. We will ask questions about your current challenges, how they have affected your relationships, and even what type of phone you use. We are not nosey; we are thorough, and all the little nuances that make you, you, are important to us and to your success.
Hearing Tests (Audiogram)
An audiogram visually maps how well you hear across different pitches. Red circles mark the right ear, and blue crosses mark the left. The position of the dots shows which sounds are easier or harder to hear. We test each ear separately because our bodies are not always symmetrical. We also test different sound frequencies to find out what might be causing your hearing challenges. We go a bit extra with extended high-frequency testing to be thorough.
Speech-in-Noise Testing
This assesses how well you hear speech in real-world environments, such as busy restaurants or group conversations. This is probably the most important part of the test, because we do not hear in beeps and boops. We hear conversations in our busy lifestyles, which are hardly ever quiet. This part of the test shows us how your hearing performs in real-life situations.
Balance and Dizziness Assessments
Includes vestibular and positional testing to investigate causes of dizziness or imbalance. We are very thorough with this testing. We use a variety of questionnaires, bedside evaluations, and neurodiagnostic equipment to investigate how your eyes track moving targets. We also check how your eyes respond when you move your head and what happens when your head and body are positioned differently. This happens while we remove your ability to see. This information helps the ENT or neurologist managing your dizzy symptoms make an accurate diagnosis and start treatment. It also helps us design rehabilitation programmes that support recovery and improve stability.
Cognitive Screening (Cognivue Thrive)
This helps us see how your five main thinking areas are working:
memory,
problem solving (executive function),
processing speed,
reaction time,
and visual-spatial skills.
This is not an IQ test and is not reliant on hearing to complete. It helps us track how your brain continues to function. We can check if treating hearing loss and tinnitus has slowed down or even reversed any changes in thinking.
We explore the type and intensity of ringing or buzzing sounds to create coping strategies or sound therapy plans. This sounds simple, but it is far from a one-size-fits-all solution. Each person’s auditory experience is unique, like a fingerprint. Everyone’s tinnitus journey is different, which is why no one can ever say there is a single cure. We look at each case separately. We provide custom strategies and advice to reduce noise and improve quality of life.
At Hoffman Audiology, appointments last about an hour for hearing tests and around three hours for balance checks. This helps us understand not just what you hear, but also how you live, communicate, and connect with others.
Services Audiologists Provide
Audiologists do far more than test hearing. At Hoffman Audiology, our services cover every aspect of ear and balance health, including:
Comprehensive Hearing Assessments for Adults and Children
We conduct in-depth evaluations to understand your hearing across all speech and environmental frequencies, from birth to the later years. Our equipment allows us to perform objective tests for babies, interactive play audiometry for toddlers, and diagnostic evaluations for adults. This full picture lets us tailor advice, technology, and treatment to each person’s needs.
Hearing Aid Fitting and Fine-Tuning Using Advanced, Discreet Technology
We fit and program devices using real-ear measurements for accuracy. We also have follow-up sessions to ensure comfort and clarity. As independent audiologists, we are not tied to any one manufacturer or method. This gives us access to all the best hearing technology worldwide. We match the right device to your lifestyle, not to brand incentives.
Tinnitus Management Through Personalised Strategies
We design personalised plans to help you understand, cope with, and reduce the distress caused by tinnitus. This includes education, practical support, and management techniques to improve daily quality of life.
We always start with a comprehensive case history to identify possible triggers, which can include
stress and anxiety,
poor sleep,
grinding teeth or TMJ dysfunction,
noise exposure,
neck or back tension,
and medication effects.
Ninety percent of people with tinnitus present with hearing loss, even if they are unaware of it. If identified, we treat the hearing loss first, followed by lifestyle and stress management to reduce the tinnitus further. There is no quick fix, but with commitment from both sides, improvement is absolutely possible.
Balance and Vertigo Assessments & Rehabilitation
We have many neurodiagnostic tools to test your vestibular system. This helps us decide the cause, the side of dysfunction, and the best treatment course. We create a rehabilitation programme to strengthen your system. This reduces the risk of falls and feelings of dizziness or instability. The assessment is comprehensive and may require multiple sessions. We go at your pace.
Cognitive Screening (Cognivue Thrive)
We use cognitive screening to identify:
any reduced or poor function in memory,
executive function,
visuospatial processing,
processing speed,
and reaction time.
Hearing and cognition are closely linked, so we assess brain function at the onset of treatment and again annually to track changes. Early detection can make a meaningful difference in long-term brain health.
Wax Management and Ear Cleaning Using Safe, Professional Methods
Depending on your ear health, we may use warm-water irrigation or manual wax removal. We avoid cotton buds and home remedies that can push wax deeper or damage the ear. Our approach keeps your ears healthy and your hearing clear.
Ongoing Hearing Care and Counselling for Long-Term Support
Hearing rehabilitation is a journey. Sometimes sessions feel like counselling, sometimes like coaching, and other times like a practical chat about communication challenges. Our team provides ongoing follow-ups, listening strategies, and education to make your daily life easier and more connected.
Auditory Processing (APD) Assessments and Management for Children
We assess and support children who struggle to follow instructions, get distracted easily, or find it difficult to focus in noisy classrooms. APD can look similar to ADHD, but it is not the same. We work closely with parents and teachers to create strategies that improve listening, literacy, and learning outcomes.
Newborn and School Screenings
We help identify hearing concerns early by offering newborn and school hearing screenings. If your school does not currently offer them, get in touch with us, and we can make the arrangements.
Industrial Hearing Monitoring
We assist with baseline, annual, and exit audiograms for employees and employers who work in noisy environments. We can conduct tests on-site or at our clinic. We also provide customised ear protection, including digital, rechargeable shooting plugs that block harmful noise while letting you hear natural sounds like conversation and birds.
Sleep, Snore, and Swim Plugs
Custom-moulded earplugs made just for your ears for better rest, safer swimming, and quiet comfort.
Each service is designed to help you stay connected, confident, and in control of your hearing health.
When Should You See an Audiologist
You do not have to wait for severe symptoms to check your hearing. In fact, you really should not wait until something drastic happens. You should have your hearing checked annually, just like your eyes, teeth, and well... TV licences!
Early assessment prevents long-term strain on your ears and brain, known as cognitive overload.
Here are some signs it is time for a visit:
Turning up the TV or struggling to follow conversations
Feeling fatigued or mentally drained after social settings
Experiencing ringing, buzzing, or humming in your ears
Feeling unsteady, dizzy, or light-headed
Having a history of noise exposure or medication that can affect hearing
Do you have two ears? Test them both!
Most adults should have a baseline hearing test by age 50, or sooner if symptoms appear.
FAQs About Audiologists
Do I need a referral to see an audiologist?
No.
You can book directly with Hoffman Audiology for any hearing, tinnitus, or balance concerns. Some medical aids require a GP or ENT referral if you are considering hearing aids. We can help confirm this with your provider when you see us.
Can stress or medication affect my hearing?
Yes.
Stress can tighten muscles and affect blood flow, leading to dizziness or ringing. Certain medications, such as chemotherapy, HIV, or TB treatments, can also impact hearing. Stress also affects how your brain processes sound and information. If you find it harder to focus when stressed, it is worth managing both the stress and your auditory health.
Is hearing loss permanent?
Not always.
Some types of hearing loss can be treated medically or surgically, while others can be managed with hearing technology and therapy. The key is early diagnosis. Middle and outer ear problems are often temporary, while sensory (inner ear) hearing loss is permanent but treatable with hearing aids or other interventions.
Takeaway: Caring for Your Hearing and Your Health
Hearing care is brain care. When you take steps to protect your hearing, you protect your memory, focus, balance, and emotional well-being too.
If you have noticed changes in your hearing, balance, or concentration, it might be time for a check-up.
Book your appointment at our Essenwood (Durban) or Ballito clinic and take the first step toward healthier hearing and a clearer mind.