Hearing Evaluation: Hearing testing is provided for
all ages from infants to seniors. Our state of the art diagnostic
testing determines where the hearing loss is located - in the
outer, middle or inner ear. Tinnitus
symptoms are also
addressed with hearing evaluations. Results of testing will determine
the treatment plan for the hearing loss. www.healthyhearing.com
Hearing Aid
Prescription & Fitting: A complete hearing evaluation and patient interview
will determine what type of hearing aids is most suitable for
your lifestyle and hearing needs. www.ahaanet.com
Assistive Listening Devices
(ALD): Specialized
equipment to enhance hearing abilities on the telephone, cell
phone, or listening to television. Many ALD can be used alone
or in conjunction with a hearing aid.
Custom Ear Plugs: Custom plugs for earmolds, swim
plugs, musician's plugs, stethoscopes, noise protection and for
cell phones are provided.
Who will I see about my Ear and Hearing Problems?
Audiologist:
An audiologist is a person who has a masters or doctoral degree
in audiology. Audiology is the science of hearing. In addition,
the audiologist must be licensed or registered by their state
(in 47 states) to practice audiology. In the field of audiology,
the master's degree has been the accepted "clinical"
degree for almost 50 years. However, the profession is undergoing
a transition to a doctorate level degree as the entry-level requirement
to practice audiology. In a few years, there will be very few
colleges and universities offering a master's program in audiology.
The Au.D. (Doctor of Audiology) is the clinical doctorate degree
and is issued exclusively by regionally accredited universities
and colleges. There are other doctoral degrees that have been
earned and utilized by audiologists to date, such as the Ph.D.
(still highly sought today by researchers and academicians), the
Sc.D. and the Ed.D.
Audiologists work in a variety of settings including hospitals,
schools, clinics, universities, rehabilitation facilities, cochlear
implant centers, speech and hearing centers, private audiology
practices, hearing aid dispensing offices, hearing aid manufacturing
facilities, medical centers, as well as otolaryngology (ENT physician)
offices. Although the vast majority of hearing problems do not
require medical or surgical intervention, audiologists are clinically
and academically trained to determine those that do need medical
referral. As a licensed healthcare provider, the audiologist appropriately
refers patients to physicians when the history, the physical presentation,
or the results of the audiometric evaluation (AE) indicate the
possibility of a medical or surgical problem. Many audiologists
also dispense (sell and service) hearing aids and related assistive
listening devices for the telephone, TV and special listening
situations.
Physicians:
Otolaryngology (pronounced oh/toe/lair/in/goll/oh/jee) is the
oldest medical specialty in the United States. Otolaryngologists
are physicians trained in the medical and surgical management
and treatment of patients with diseases and disorders of the ear,
nose, throat (ENT), and related structures of the head and neck.
They are commonly referred to as ENT physicians.
How Do I Know If I Have
A Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss occurs to most people as they age. Hearing loss can
be due to the aging process, exposure to loud noise, certain medications,
infections, head or ear trauma, congenital (birth or prenatal)
or hereditary factors, diseases, as well as a number of other
causes. In the year 2001, there were some 28 million people in
the USA with hearing loss. Hearing loss is the single most common
birth "defect" in America. Hearing loss in adults, particularly
in seniors, is common.
You may have hearing loss if…
- You hear people speaking but you have to strain to understand
their words.
- You frequently ask people to repeat what they said.
- You don't laugh at jokes because you miss too much of the story
or the punch line.
- You frequently complain that people mumble.
- You need to ask others about the details of a meeting you just
attended.
- You play the TV or radio louder than your friends, spouse and
relatives.
- You cannot hear the doorbell or the telephone.
- You find that looking at people when they speak to you makes
it easier to understand.
If you have any of these symptoms, you should see a hearing aid
consultant to get an "audiometric evaluation." An audiometric
evaluation (AE) is the term used to describe a diagnostic hearing
test, performed by a licensed hearing aid specialist. An AE is
not just pressing the button when you hear a "beep."
Rather, an audiometric evaluation allows the audiologist to determine
the type and degree of your hearing loss, and it tells the audiologist
how well or how poorly you understand speech. After all, speech
is the single most important sound, and the ability to understand
speech is extremely important. The AE also includes a thorough
case history (interview) as well as visual inspection of the ear
canals and eardrum. The results of the AE are useful to the physician
should the hearing aid consultant conclude that your hearing problem
may be treated with medical or surgical alternatives.
Written hearing tests, "dial a hearing test" and other
online hearing tests are not particularly accurate and are certainly
not diagnostic tests, but may be utilized as screening tools.
These screenings are usually free and can be scored within a few
seconds. Written hearing screenings may point the patient (or
consumer) in a particular direction and may help validate that
a hearing problem may indeed exist. Therefore, we have designed
a written hearing screening to provide you with some general guidelines
about your hearing ability. It is free and it may offer you insight
regarding the likelihood that a hearing loss is present.
Types of Hearing Loss:
The external and the middle ear conduct and transform sound; the
inner ear receives it. When there is a problem in the external
or middle ear, a conductive hearing impairment occurs. When the
problem is in the inner ear, a sensorineural or hair cell loss
is the result. Difficulty in both the middle and inner ear results
in a mixed hearing impairment (i.e. conductive and a sensorineural
impairment). Central hearing loss has more to do with the brain
than the ear, and will be discussed only briefly.
Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound is not conducted efficiently through the ear canal, eardrum, or tiny bones of the middle ear, resulting in a reduction of the loudness of sound that is heard. Conductive losses may result from earwax blocking the ear canal, fluid in the middle ear, middle ear infection, obstructions in the ear canal, perforations (hole) in the eardrum membrane, or disease of any of the three middle ear bones. A person with a conductive hearing loss may notice that their ears may seem to be full or plugged. This person may speak softly because they hear their own voice quite loudly. Crunchy foods, such as celery or carrots, sound very loud and this person may have to stop chewing to hear what is being said. All conductive hearing losses should be evaluated by a physician to explore medical and surgical options.
Sensorineural
hearing loss is
the most common type of hearing loss. More than 90 percent of
all hearing aid wearers have sensorineural hearing loss. The most
common causes of sensorineural hearing loss are age related changes
and noise exposure. A sensorineural hearing loss may also result
from disturbance of inner ear circulation, increased inner fluid
pressure or from disturbances of nerve transmission. Sensorineural
hearing loss is also called "cochlear loss," an "inner
ear loss" and is also commonly called "nerve loss."
Years ago, many professionals said there was nothing that could
be done for sensorineural hearing loss - that is totally incorrect
today. There are many excellent options for the patient with sensorineural
hearing loss.
A person with a sensorineural hearing loss may report that they
can hear people talking, but they can't understand what they are
saying. An increase in the loudness of speech may only add to
their confusion. This person will usually hear better in quiet
places and may have difficulty understanding what is said over
the telephone.
Central
hearing impairment
occurs when auditory centers of the brain are affected by injury,
disease, tumor, hereditary, or unknown causes. Loudness of sound
is not necessarily affected, although understanding of speech,
also thought of as the "clarity" of speech, may be affected.
Certainly both loudness and clarity may be affected too.
Hearing Aids
There are essentially three levels of hearing aid technology.
We refer to these as analog, digitally programmable, and digital.
Analog technology is the technology that
has been around for many decades. Analog technology is basic technology
and offers limited adjustment capability. It is the LEAST expensive.
Digitally
Programmable technology
is the "middle grade" technology. Digitally programmable
units are analog units digitally controlled by the computer in
the office to adjust the sounds of the hearing aid.
Digital technology is the most sophisticated
hearing aid technology. Digital technology gives the audiologist
maximum control over sound quality and sound processing characteristics.
There are qualitative indications that digital instruments do
outperform digitally programmable and analog hearing aids. Digitals
are not perfect, but they are very good. Digital hearing aids
have been widely available since 1996.
Digital Hearing Aid Technology The term DIGITAL is used
so often today, it can be confusing. When the term "digital"
is used while referring to hearing aids, it generally means the
hearing aid is 100% digital. In other words, the hearing aid is
indeed a "complete computer". 100% digital hearing aids
have been commercially available since 1996 and are wonders of
modern technology. 100% digital hearing aids can process sound
using incredibly fast speeds such as 100 to 200 million calculations
per second. Interestingly, most 100% digital hearing aids have
analog components, such as the microphone and the receiver. 100%
digital hearing aids transform analog information into a digital
signal and process the sound to maximize the speech information
you want to hear, while minimizing the amplification of sounds
you do not want to hear.
Digital technology is tremendous and it allows the hearing professional
maximal control over the sound quality and loudness of the hearing
aid. Importantly, digital technology allows the hearing professional
to tailor or customize the sound of your hearing aids to what
you need and want to hear. In summary, if you want the best technology-
get 100% digital hearing aids.
Getting used to Hearing Aids:
People learn at different rates. Some people need a day or two
to learn about and adjust to their hearing aids, most need a few
weeks and some may need a few months. There is no perfect way
to learn about hearing aids. I usually recommend you wear the
hearing aids for a few hours the first day, and add about an hour
a day for each day that follows. Do not try to set an endurance
record. Over a period of time you will lengthen the amount of
time that you wear the aid. Eventually you will wear the hearing
aids most of your waking hours. It is recommended that you interact
with those people you are most familiar with during your first
few days. Start off listening with your hearing aids in a favorable
listening environment and work towards more difficult listening
situations. Let your friends and family know that you are using
your new hearing aids.
Helpful Steps to Learning
to Use a Hearing Aid:
- Use the aid at first in your own home environment.
- Wear the aid only as long as you are comfortable with it.
- Accustom yourself to the use of the aid by listening to just
one other person - husband or wife, neighbor or friend. - Do not
strain to catch every word.
- Do not be discouraged by the interference of background noises.
- Practice locating the source of the sound by listening only.
- Increase your tolerance for loud sounds.
- Practice learning to discriminate different speech sounds.
- Listen to something read aloud. - Gradually extend the number
of persons with whom you talk, still within your own home environment.
- Gradually increase the number of situations in which you use
your hearing aid.
- Take part in an organized course of aural rehabilitation, see
your audiologist to learn about these courses.
Physical Fit:
One concern with all new hearing aids is the physical fit. Hearing
aids need to be comfortable, not too tight and not too loose,
they should fit just right. Do not wear the hearing aids if they
cause any discomfort or irritations. Do call your audiologist
to schedule an appointment time to remedy the problem as soon
as possible. Do not wear them if they are uncomfortable
Realistic Expectations:
Hearing aids work very well when fit and adjusted appropriately.
They amplify sound! You might find that you like one hearing aid
better than the other. The left and right hearing aids will probably
not fit exactly the same and they probably won't sound exactly
the same. Nonetheless, hearing aids should be comfortable with
respect to the physical fit and sound quality. Hearing aids do
not restore normal hearing and are not as good as normal hearing.
You will be aware of the hearing aids in your ears. Until you
get used to it, your voice will sound "funny" when you
wear hearing aids. Hearing aids should not be worn in extremely
noisy environments. Some hearing aids have features that make
noisy environments more tolerable; however, hearing aids cannot
eliminate background noise.
Your own voice:
When you wear hearing aids for the first time, you will probably
notice your voice sounds funny! You will hear your voice amplified
through the hearing aid. You may describe this sensation as feeling
"plugged up" or hearing your voice echoing. This is
normal and will usually go away in a few days after you have given
yourself a chance to get accustomed to your new hearing aids and
learned to adjust the volume control. There are adjustments that
the audiologist can do to relieve these symptoms, should these
persist beyond the first few days of wearing your new aids.
What is Tinnitus
Tinnitus is an abnormal perception of a sound which is reported
by patients that is unrelated to an external source of stimulation.
Tinnitus is a very common disorder. It may be intermittent, constant
or fluctuant, mild or severe, and may vary from a low roaring
sensation to a high pitched type of sound. It may or may not be
associated with a hearing loss. It is also classified further
into subjective tinnitus (a noise perceived by the patient alone)
or objective (a noise perceived by the patient as well as by another
listener). Subjective tinnitus is common; however, objective tinnitus
is relatively uncommon. The location of tinnitus may be in the
ear(s) and/or in the head.
What causes tinnitus
(ringing in the ears)?
Tinnitus is the term for the perception of sound when no external
sound is present. It is often referred to as "ringing in
the ears," although some people hear hissing, roaring, whistling,
chirping, or clicking. Tinnitus is not a disease but a symptom
of another underlying condition - of the ear, the auditory nerve,
or elsewhere. Tinnitus can be intermittent or constant, with single
or multiple tones. Its perceived volume can range from very soft
to extremely loud. 50 million Americans experience tinnitus to
some degree. Of these, about 12 million have tinnitus which is
severe enough to seek medical attention. Of those, about two million
patients are so seriously debilitated by their tinnitus, that
their day to day functioning is affected. The exact cause (or
causes) of tinnitus is not known in every case. There are, however,
several likely factors which may cause tinnitus or make existing
tinnitus worse: noise-induced hearing loss, wax build-up in the
ear canal, certain medications, ear or sinus infections, age-related
hearing loss, ear diseases and disorders, jaw misalignment, cardiovascular
disease, certain types of tumors, thyroid disorders, head and
neck trauma and many others. Of these factors, exposure to loud
noises and hearing loss are the most common causes of tinnitus.
Treating a hearing loss, either by medical management, if indicated,
or with hearing aids, may offer relief of tinnitus. Other new
and effective tinnitus treatments are also available. If you have
tinnitus, a comprehensive hearing evaluation by an audiologist,
and a medical evaluation by an otologist is recommended.