hoorzorgspecialist

A hoorzorgspecialist is a health care professional who focuses on hearing care and related balance disorders. They assess hearing, diagnose common disorders, provide treatment and rehabilitation, and support patients in managing their communication needs.

Core duties include conducting hearing tests such as pure-tone and speech audiometry, performing tympanometry or other diagnostic tests as appropriate, fitting and adjusting hearing aids and other amplification devices, performing ear exams and cerumen management, and offering counseling on communication strategies, device use, and tinnitus or balance issues. They may also coordinate with physicians to refer patients for medical treatment when necessary.

Work settings include hearing care centers, hospitals, ENT clinics, and general practice offices. They work with people of all ages, including children, and often operate as part of a multidisciplinary team with ENT doctors, audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and technicians.

Training and regulation vary by country. In many places, the role requires post-secondary education in hearing care, with hands-on clinical training and ongoing professional development. Licensure or certification may be required or encouraged, depending on national or regional rules. The field emphasizes patient-centered care, device verification, and evidence-based practice.

In Dutch-speaking contexts, hoorzorgspecialist is used to describe professionals providing non-surgical hearing care and rehabilitation, including device fitting and counseling. The exact scope and titles differ internationally, where analogous roles include audiologists, hearing aid dispensers, and hearing care practitioners.