Disability is especially high in people in their 80s, the age cohort growing fastest in the world, about 4 percent a year. The subject is of interest to the World Bank, which provides loans and grants of money to many of the world's poorer countries.
What's an Audiologist? Audiologists are health-care professionals who evaluate, diagnose, treat, and manage hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance disorders in newborn, children, and adults. Audiology is a well-respected and highly recognized profession.
Most of them do not fit or dispense hearing aids, but many have an audiologist or hearing aid specialist on staff for those patients who can benefit from hearing aids. Otologist or neurotologist: A specialized type of ENT physician, one who has had further training focusing on conditions of the ear.