What is the difference between an ear specialist (ENT), an audiologist and a hearing instrument practitioner /dealer? Who can dispense hearing aids in British Columbia?

An ear specialist (ENT) or otolaryngologist is a medical doctor who treats and diagnoses diseases of the ear, nose and throat. Ear specialists will typically complete a four-year university undergraduate degree, followed by a four-year medical degree, followed by a four or five year specialty residency program. In Canada , ear specialists do not dispense or prescribe hearing aids, although they may recommend them. Audiologists are health care professionals who are trained in communication disorders, including the physiology of speech and hearing organs, physics of sound, hearing loss, hearing loss prevention, aural rehabilitation, and treatment of hearing loss. Audiologists will typically complete a four-year university undergraduate degree, followed by a two or three year master's (graduate) degree. ‘Dispensing' audiologists will have further specialized training in fitting and dispensing hearing aids. Hearing instrument specialists (also called hearing aid dispensers, practitioners ...  more