Hearing aid technology

There have been dramatic advances in hearing aid technology in the past 5 years. Fully digital hearing aids fitting completely in the ear canals are now available. These advanced “personal hearing computers” offer tremendous adjustment and fitting capabilities and can automatically adjust to sounds and speech in the environment. Our professionals are specially trained in the fitting and adjustment of the most advanced hearing instruments. Our professionals can also fit any product or technology from the most conventional to the most advanced. We offer a complete range of products to meet the needs of all patients.

Trial period

Every product in our clinic is fit on a trial basis for 45 days. This makes it possible for the patient to properly evaluate the device in his or her personal environment.

Screening for hearing loss

Hearing screening helps identify those patients with auditory impairment that may interfere with education, health, development, or communication. If a hearing screening indicates a possible loss for hearing, he or she should be referred for a complete audiological evaluation.

It is recommended that every adult be screened at least every 10 years to the age of 50 and at 3 year intervals thereafter. School age children should be screened at least annually (preferably in the fall) from kindergarten to 3rd grade and at 7th and 11th grade.

Screening for hearing impairment should also be performed for the following reasons: concern expressed by patient or family member, a “failing score” on a self assessment hearing test and medically high risk (heart disease, excessive exposure to noise, AIDS, kidney ailments, diabetes mellitus, and ototoxic drug use for example), learning or speech delay for children.

Screening tools

Tools used to screen hearing, include tuning forks and specifically designed screening audiometers to be used in the physician’s office. The use of a self assessment hearing questionnaire can also be very informative. Screening evaluations are available at our clinic.