Understand the Difference: Hearing Health Providers in Ontario

Not all hearing care providers have the same education, training, or clinical focus. This page explains the difference between Hearing Instrument Specialists, Audiologists with a Master’s degree, and Audiologists with a Professional Doctorate degree so patients can make an informed choice about their hearing care.

How to Check Your Provider’s Credentials

Look at the letters after the provider’s name:

H.I.S. = Hearing Instrument Specialist
M.Sc., M.Cl.Sc., M.H.Sc., or M.A. = Audiologist, master’s level
Au.D. = Audiologist, Doctor of Audiology
Au.D.(C) = Audiologist, Certified Doctor of Audiology

Hearing Instrument Specialist — H.I.S.

A Hearing Instrument Specialist usually completes college or technical training, often 1–2 years.

Their main focus is hearing screenings, hearing aid selection, fitting, support, and ongoing hearing device care.

Audiologist — Master’s Level - M.Sc., M.Cl.Sc., M.H.Sc., or M.A., or with C (= certified)

An audiologist completes university education, including a master’s degree in audiology, usually about 6 years total.

Their main focus is hearing assessment, hearing rehabilitation, hearing devices, and patient-centered care.

Doctor of Audiology — Au.D. or Au.D.(C)

A Doctor of Audiology has completed advanced doctoral-level audiology education, usually about 8 years total.

Their main focus includes advanced assessments and diagnostics, clinical knowledge, tinnitus care, hearing rehabilitation, hearing devices, and comprehensive patient-centered care.

At Ottawa Hears Audiology, your care is led by Genia Kanne-Shmigol, Au.D.(C), Doctor of Audiology, providing advanced ear, hearing, tinnitus, and hearing device care in Ottawa and Kanata North.