Audiology

During an evaluation for hearing loss, our team of audiologists can help determine whether a hearing loss does exist, and, if so, help diagnose the cause.

Depending on the cause an degree of your hearing loss, our audiologiasts can also help determine whether hearing aids are the right choice for you.  The decision on style of hearing aid and features you desire is based on the characteristics of your hearing loss, and will take into consideration your lifestyle, level of activity, your physical characteristics, limitations, dexterity, cosmetic and style preferences and your budget.

Additionally, our audiologists are trained to evaluate you for any dizziness or vertigo which you may be experiencing.  Following an accurate diagnosis, our doctors can help determine the best treatment to resolve your balance problems.

Our full-time staff includes two audiologists with nearly 30 years of combined experience who are trained to help patients with the following hearing health care services:

  • Comprehensive hearing evaluation of infants (6 months and up) to adults in an enclosed sound booth
  • Electroacoustic analysis of the ear drum and middle ear function (Tympanometry)
  • Evaluation of dizziness and balance problems using Videonystagmography (VNG)
  • Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) evaluation and testing
  • Hearing aid evaluation and dispensing for patients with identified hearing problems
  • Wide variety of hearing aid styles, circuitry and manufacturers available
  • 30-day trial period on all hearing aids
  • Hearing aid checks, adjustment and servicing available for many different brands
  • Hearing aid accessories and batteries available
  • Dispensing of assistive communication devices (amplified telephones, alerting devices, infrared listening systems, CROS and BiCROS hearing aids, etc.)
  • Custom ear protection for recreational use (swimming, hunting, motorcycling), personal use (sleep plugs, Ipod and MP3 players, headsets) and noise protection (filtered ear plugs, musician’s plugs)

Audiologic Evaluations (Hearing Tests)
All adult hearing tests are done in an enclosed, soundproof booth with calibrated audiometric equipment to assure accurate results. Most include a measure of speech perception and understanding, as well as air and bone thresholds, which allows us to assess the hearing problem more thoroughly. Most infants up to the age of three are tested using behavioral observation in a sound field. Children ages three and up can often be tested conventionally under headphones.

Testing may reveal one of three types of hearing loss:

  1. Sensorineural, or nerve, hearing losses are primarily due to damage to the inner ear (cochlea) and  hearing (VIIIth) nerve. Quite often, hearing aids may be the best treatment for this type of loss.
  2. Conductive hearing losses are due primarily to damage at the eardrum (tymapanic membrane), the middle ear bones (ossicles) or fluid in the middle ear (otitis media). These types of losses are often medically treatable.
  3. Mixed hearing losses are an overlay of sensorineural and conductive problems.

Hearing Aids
A wide variety of hearing aid styles, circuitry, manufacturers and price ranges are available in our office. The style and circuitry chosen will depend on the degree of your hearing problem, your personal preferences, cosmetic considerations, lifestyle and other factors (dexterity, level of activity, size and shape of the outer ear and ear canal).  All hearing aids come with a 30-day trial period.

Hearing aid styles can range in size from completely-in-the-canal to behind-the-ear. The most widely fitted and sophisticated circuit available today is the digital circuit, which offers more accurate fitting, more control over annoying feedback, directional microphones and automatic adjustment of volume throughout the day. Programmable analog circuits are also available.

Custom Ear Plugs and Hearing Protection
Custom swim plugs are available for patients with chronic ear infections, damaged ear drums or PE tubes who need to keep their ears dry.
Custom noise protectors can be made for hunters, shooters, motorcyclists, musicians and anyone who is exposed to loud noise or machinery.
Sleep plugs can be made if you have trouble sleeping because of outside noise or snoring.
Custom earphones can be made for use with telephones, personal music players (radios, MP3, CD, iPods), stage monitors and headsets.