Ch- Ch- Ch- Changes

Are you singing now?  (thank you David Bowie...)

BIG changes happening here in our Toledo office.  We've outgrown our space, it is tight in here!  Any of you that happen to see Alison know she has to use a different office nearly every single day.  We're sharing offices...we're just running out of room.

So, we are expanding our office into the suite next door!  It's an exciting time, but we also know that there will be some inconveniences along the way.  Noise, dust, missing walls, etc.  They're all going to happen.  But in the end, we hope to have a brand new, beautiful space to share with you.

Each audiologist will have their very own office, no more sharing needed.  Plus we're adding a second lab/workspace to better serve you.  We can't wait for you all to see it when it's done (in fact, WE can't wait to see it completed)!  We're planning on hosting an open house sometime in the summer to show it all off.

Our target end-date is sometime in April.  Cross your fingers with us that all will go as planned!

Commone Myths in Hearing Health

from Healthy Hearing

Myth #1: Q-tips are a great way to clean my ears. Nothing could be farther from the truth. In fact, q-tips, as well as other items such as hairpins, keys or paper clips, actually impact the wax and drive it deeper into your ear. Over time, this impacted wax can harden and create a multitude of health problems. Since the ear drum is easily reached with a q-tip, you also run the risk of accidentally puncturing your ear drum while trying to clean it. So what’s the solution? As a general rule, your ears are self cleaning. Ear wax only collects in the outer 1/3 of the ear canal and is typically washed away as the dead skin naturally sloughs from your ear and daily shower water enters the canal. If you suspect your ears need more cleaning than what your soap and washcloth can provide, consult your doctor.

Myth #2: Supplements won’t improve my hearing. Actually, studies show vitamins, minerals and other dietary nutrients are effective in combating hearing loss. Vitamins A, B complex, C and E provide antioxidant benefits, increase blood circulation, bolster your immune system and fight infection. Minerals such as magnesium, potassium and zinc protect inner ear hair cells and support nerve transmission. Other nutrients such as coenzyme Q10, an antioxidant, support your immune system and enhance circulation. Fish oil and folic acid – those found in leafy green vegetables -- are also effective in preventing or delaying hearing loss.

Of course, before you decide to take any dietary supplement, it’s wise to consult your physician. He can determine the cause of your hearing loss and tell you whether any of these supplements will interfere with medications you’re already taking or cause unwanted side-effects. In the meantime, eat a well-balanced diet. The results will be beneficial to more than just your ear health.

Myth #3: Hearing aids won’t help nerve deafness. This is a double-edged myth as it contains two misleading perceptions. First of all, sensorineural hearing loss is a much more accurate term to use than “nerve deafness.” This type of impairment deals with problems in the inner ear – or more specifically, the cochlea (sensory) and the hearing nerve (neural). Not only is it the most common type of hearing loss, hearing aids are recommended to treat sensorineural hearing loss in almost 90% of cases.

Myth #4: Hearing aids make me look old. If you still believe this myth, it’s time to come in and see the new variety of wireless, virtually invisible, hearing aids on the market today. While not everyone is a candidate to wear the undetectable models, many others are small, flesh or hair-colored and fit unobtrusively behind your ear. Those with a sense of whimsy may opt for the brightly-colored models some hearing aid manufacturers are producing. Communicating effectively is a large part of enjoying a healthy life – and much more youthful than not being able to hear at all.

Myth #5: Hearing aids will restore my hearing back to normal. Hearing aids work with the hair cells in your inner ear to amplify sound. Although they have come a long way in the past 20 years, they won’t completely restore your hearing and you may hear sound differently than before. Many variables determine how well hearing aids will improve your ability to hear, including the type of hearing loss you’re experiencing as well as the severity. Once you’ve had a hearing evaluation to determine what is causing your hearing loss, an audiologist will help you choose the best hearing aid to improve your hearing impairment.

And...We're OFF!

The Audiologists at Kenwood Hearing Center will be traveling this weekend. We're all heading to Orlando, FL with Audigy Group and Oticon, to learn about Oticon's latest advancements in hearing aids.

They've launched a new product that we're excited to bring into our line-up, and we're using this weekend to fill our brains with the ins and outs of this new technology.  We'll be excited to share it with all of you upon our return.  (Details to come about a new lunch seminar we're planning!)

So, pardon our absence for a few days.  Our office will be back up and running at full speed come Monday!  But remember, our assistant Lisa is always here to help with minor repairs and cleanings.

Hearing Aids and Moisture

If there is one thing that hearing aids don't like, it's moisture.

Hearing aids are delicate little electronic devices!  They pack an enormous amount of sophisticated electronics within their tiny shells.  And, they are almost sealed containers.  While most manufacturers specially coat all their components and casing against moisture, it's not 100%. However, because that case is almost sealed, the little moisture that might slip in there has a more difficult time of getting out. 

Think of a fly that finds it's way into a two-liter pop bottle, searching for that last sugary drop.  Easy in, not so easy out.

So what do you do about, aside from not wearing your aids in the shower or dancing in the rain with them?  Every night you should be taking some extra precautions to keep your aids in tip top shape. It is especially important in areas, or during those summer months, with higher humidity.

For many people, using a simple Dry Jar (which we give you with the purchase of any aids from our office) every night will do the job.  Dry Jars work on one simple principle - a desiccant removes moisture from the air.

For people who struggle to keep moisture under control, a more sophisticated, electronic device is available, called a Dry & Store. These devices combine controlled heat, a desiccant (and depending on the model, germicidally pure air, by use of a light fixture) to remove moisture from your hearing aids.  These are available for purchase in our office.

People who are unable to control the moisture levels in their hearing instruments can face poorly or non-functioning hearing aids and countless repairs that add up quickly.  Take charge!  Make sure you are doing what you can to maintain the life of your hearing aids!

If you have any questions, or would like to talk to someone in our office about moisture problem, or you would like more information about the Dry Jars or Dry & Stores, please give us a call.  419-534-3111

HEARt

Need help with that?  Give us a call 419-534-3111

Why Do Hearing Aids Cost So Much?

Professional Services Required for Maximum Benefit 
In order to receive maximum benefit from hearing aids, a professionally trained audiologist is involved in the fitting process which typically involves an average of five direct contact hours during the first year. In many cases, audiologists will provide unlimited service during the warranty period (from one to three years) or beyond, for no additional charge. This follow-up care may be "bundled" into the upfront cost of the hearing aid. In other words, when a hearing aid is dispensed, it is typically part of a package that routinely includes certain required professional services such as verification of the hearing aid fitting including, but not limited to, real ear (or probe tube) measurements and aided sound field testing. This package may also include ear impressions, selecting/ fitting/adjusting/reprogramming the hearing aid, patient and family counseling regarding hearing aid use, maintenance and realistic expectations and follow-up appointments. 

Mail order or budget clubs may sell hearing aids at lower prices because they are often placed on the user with minimal or no instructions and/or adjustments. (Their components may be less expensive, too.) The user may be charged for return visits including minor tubing changes and adjustments. In the long run, the patient may pay as much or even more than they would from a full-service audiology practice.

The minimum training required for a dispensing audiologist has been a master's degree, which is now transitioning to a doctoral degree (Au.D.). Mail order discount centers, by contrast, are often staffed by sales people with minimal technical training. Why does it matter? Audiologists know that the most important consideration in hearing aid selection is not the hearing itself; rather, it is the skill and knowledge of the professional dispensing the hearing aid. The audiologist's responsibility is to ensure that a suitable instrument is selected and to provide an understandable explanation of its merits and limitations. 

High Tech/Low Volume 
Hearing aids are sold in relatively low volume when compared with other electronic devices. For example, approximately 1.7 million hearing aids are sold in the U.S. per year as compared to several million stereos; yet, the amount of time and resources manufacturer's spend on development and research is considerable. One manufacturer reports spending more than twenty million dollars developing a single model. 

Return for Credit Policy
"Return for Credit" policies are standard among hearing aid manufacturers and required by state and federal hearing aid guidelines, allowing new hearing aids to be returned within an established evaluation period. The costs associated with these policies are considerable, especially for custom products, and naturally must be absorbed in the overall pricing structure. 

Weighing the Costs
Communication is vital to human existence. According to a groundbreaking study published by the National Council on Aging (1999), "Untreated hearing loss has serious emotional and social consequences for older persons." The benefits hearing aid users reported in their lives ranged from improved relationships at home and sense of independence to improved social and sex life. According to the study, the families of hearing-aid users noticed improvements in every dimension the survey measured. An additional "Beyond Fifty" survey conducted by the AARP and Harris Interactive (2003) found that the ability to stay connected to family and friends contributed to quality of life more than overall health. So if wearing hearing aids allows you to resume activities you enjoy, improve relationships with friends and family, retain your independence, etc. the cost becomes a lot more justifiable.

from ADA-Doctors of Audiology / www.audiologist.org

What a gift we share!