Hearing health care can be a steep learning curve for many patients. It’s not something which is commonly discussed until help is required. One common question is the difference between an audiologist and an ear, nose and throat (ENT) physician. In actuality, both of these providers work together closely to holistically treat the patient. But the two are distinct professions with important distinctions. Scope of Practice Before delving into the differences, it is important to define the … [Read more...] about Understanding the Difference Between an ENT and Audiologist
Jeff Lane Audiologist
Accessorize Your Hearing
Technology is constantly evolving, often at a rapid pace, with the goal of improving and simplifying the experience of the user. If you buy a new phone, you get a pair of wireless earbuds. Hearing aids are similar. While modern hearing aids can significantly improve a wearer’s quality of life, some situations could still be improved with the addition of an accessory such as listening to someone behind you while hiking or catching all the information at a meeting. Fortunately, there are a wide … [Read more...] about Accessorize Your Hearing
Using VR in Tinnitus Management
The second most frequent request I receive from patients, after improved hearing, is to make their tinnitus go away. While tinnitus is not dangerous, it can certainly diminish sufferers’ quality of life. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for tinnitus. Instead, the focus is on mitigating the impact on daily life. Studies show that amplification, sound therapy, dietary modifications and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are all effective forms of tinnitus management. But are there any new … [Read more...] about Using VR in Tinnitus Management
Understanding Your Results
The first step on any hearing health journey is undergoing an examination. This exam provides you and the audiologist an understanding of your current state of hearing and allows for proper recommendations to be made. The findings are presented in a report called an audiogram. An audiogram contains both a written section and a graph. While the audiologist does review the audiogram during the appointment, it can sometimes be difficult to remember or fully grasp how to interpret your results. … [Read more...] about Understanding Your Results
How to Care for a Loved One with Hearing Aids
According to the Labor of Bureau of Labor Statistics, 16% of the population provided eldercare between 2017 and 2018. Combine that with one in three people over the age of 65 having a hearing loss, and there is a very good chance you are or will be caring for someone with hearing aids. Hearing care professionals will diagnose the hearing loss and fit the devices. But, once fit, a majority of the daily use and maintenance falls to the wearer. Or, by extension, the caregiver. It is therefore … [Read more...] about How to Care for a Loved One with Hearing Aids
Making Sure Hearing Aids Work for You
As audiologists, our main goal is always to improve our patient’s safety and quality of life. Typically, this is done through the fitting of hearing aids. Surveys have shown that one major barrier to accessing hearing aids is cost. In an effort to help address this barrier, Congress recently granted permission for hearing devices to be sold over the counter. Now it can be even more challenging for patients to know which option best suits their needs. Fortunately, you do not have to figure it out … [Read more...] about Making Sure Hearing Aids Work for You
Accessorize Your Hearing
Technology is constantly evolving, often at a rapid pace, with the goal of improving and simplifying the experience for the user. If you buy a new phone, you get a pair of wireless earbuds. Hearing aids are similar. While modern hearing aids can significantly improve a wearer’s quality of life, some situations could still be improved with the addition of an accessory – situations such as listening to someone behind you while hiking or catching all the information at a meeting. Fortunately, there … [Read more...] about Accessorize Your Hearing
