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.

Understand the Difference: Hearing Health Providers in Ontario

Not all hearing care providers have the same education, training, or clinical focus.

At Ottawa Hears Audiology, your care is led by Genia Kanne-Shmigol, Au.D.(C), Doctor of Audiology, audiologist. She provides advanced hearing and tinnitus assessments, as well as independent hearing device prescription, selection, fitting, verification, and follow-up care. She is the only audiologist in Kanata to hold this highest level of professional audiology degree, with a focus on hearing rehabilitation, hearing devices, and supporting optimal cognitive function.

Understanding the Scope of Practice

Doctor of Audiology — Au.D.

An audiologist with additional doctoral-level education and advanced clinical training. Although the regulated scope of practice is the same as that of a master’s-trained audiologist in Ontario, the Au.D. reflects a higher level of professional education and advanced clinical knowledge, including hearing device fitting, verification, rehabilitation, and the relationship between hearing and cognitive function.

Audiologist — Master’s Degree

Provides comprehensive hearing assessments, hearing rehabilitation, tinnitus care, auditory processing services, and hearing device prescription, fitting, and verification.

Hearing Instrument Specialist — H.I.S.

Focuses mainly on basic hearing testing for hearing aid purposes, hearing aid selection, fitting, programming, maintenance, and support.