Hearing Aid Practitioners

Hearing Aid Practitioners (HAPs) in Alberta are trained at Grant MacEwan Community College in Edmonton. The course requires two years of specific academic work and a 184 hour practicum. They are a regulated health profession by the College of Hearing Aid Practitioners of Alberta under the Government of Alberta’s Health Care Professions Act.

Once HAPs have finished their program at Grant MacEwan, they are required to write the College of Hearing Aid Practitioner’s Professional Exam. They are also required to write a National Board of Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences exam within two years of graduating. The College of Hearing Aid Practitioners of Alberta also requires a minimum of 10 hours of continuing education per year.

What do Hearing Aid Practitioners do?

Give a complete audiometric hearing evaluation on adults and seniors
Refer patients to physicians when their hearing problems need medical or surgical evaluations.
Educate consumers and professionals on the prevention of hearing loss
Select, fit and dispense personal hearing devices and make recommendations on assistive listening devices, public and personal FM systems, and alerting systems.
Implement hearing conservation programs to prevent work-related and recreational hearing loss

When should I see a Hearing Aid Practitioner?

Hearing loss can happen at any age. If you think you or a family member has a hearing problem, you should consult a hearing aid practitioner.

What is an Audiologist?

Audiologists are a sub-group under the Speech and Hearing Professionals section under the Government of Alberta’s Health Care Professions Act. They are regulated by the Alberta College of Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists (ACSLPA). Audiologists are currently trained at only five universities in Canada. All audiologists must hold a Masters or Doctorate degree, which requires between six and ten years of post-secondary education.

What do Audiologists do?

Test and diagnose hearing and balance disorders in infants, children and adults
Refer patients to physicians when their hearing problem needs medical or surgical evaluation
Educate consumers and professionals on the prevention of hearing loss
Select, fit and dispense personal hearing devices and make recommendations on assistive listening devices, public and personal FM systems, alerting systems, and captioning services
Implement hearing conservation programs to prevent work-related and recreational hearing loss
Consult to schools, industry, health care professionals, local and government agencies
Conduct research on hearing, new testing methods, and new technology
Work with adults and children who need aural rehabilitation such as auditory training and speech reading

Where do they work?

Audiologists work in private practice offices, hospitals and medical centers, clinics, public and private schools, universities, rehabilitation or speech and hearing centers, health maintenance organizations, nursing homes, and industry and government agencies.

When should I see an Audiologist?

If you suspect your child may have hearing difficulties
If you are first time applicant to Worker’s Compensation Board (WCB), or Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)