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How Often Should I Have My Hearing Tested?

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Most people are accustomed to making regular Hearing Test Austin Tx a routine part of their medical care. Annual physicals, dental exams, and vision tests are all commonplace. Fewer individuals pay as much attention to their hearing, however. It’s not that they intentionally neglect their hearing; many are simply unaware of how often they should have their hearing tested, and the number of physicians recommending routine hearing evaluations is small.   How often you have your hearing tested depends on your age. Newborn hearing screenings are essential, of course, and regular checkups throughout childhood are commonplace. Few adults give their hearing much thought unless they are experiencing a noticeable loss or a sudden change in their hearing ability. By then, their options for treatment may be more limited, so it’s important to follow the guidelines to detect hearing loss early.   Healthy adults ages 18-40 years old, who are not experiencing any noticeable hearing ...

Are Hearing Aids In Fort Wayne Waterproof?

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Before giving an answer to this question, it’s important to first clarify the difference between waterproof and water-resistant. While many people use these terms interchangeably, the reality is they mean very different things. Accidentally mistaking –resistant for –proof could mean a visit to the Audiologist Fort Wayne Indiana much sooner than anticipated. So how do these two terms differ, and what does this mean for your hearing recovery? To put it simply, waterproof hearing aids could be submerged in water without damaging the electronics, while water-resistant aids cannot. Water-resistant hearing aids Water-resistant or water-repellent refers to an item made to create a hindrance against penetration by water. Note that this is not a guarantee that water will not eventually seep in. With regards to hearing aids, this means that they have some sort of protective coating or sealant that protects them against casual contact with moisture, at least for short amounts of time. ...

Hearing Test Austin Tx

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  Hearing Test Austin Tx checks a person's ability to hear the loudness and pitch of sounds. The results are charted on a graph (audiogram) to help pinpoint the severity and causes of hearing problems. Tests include pure tone audiometry, using an audiometer, and speech discrimination tests. Special tests are available to test hearing in babies and children. How we hear The vibration of air molecules makes up a sound wave. Gentle vibrations make a soft sound, while large vibrations create a loud noise. The loudness of sound is measured in decibels (dB). A sound’s pitch or frequency is its number of vibrations per second. This is measured in hertz (Hz). Search today for an audiologist near me to check your hearing ability. Slow vibrations make a low-frequency sound (such as a foghorn), while rapid vibrations make a high-frequency sound (such as a whistle). Hearing Test Austin Tx checks a person's ability to hear sounds of different loudness and pitch. These tests are usua...

Austin Hearing Center’s 5 Reasons To Wear Two Hearing Aids

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Audiologist Austin is frequently asked whether it’s necessary to wear two hearing aids rather than one in the ear with the greatest measurable hearing loss . Considering the expense of each hearing aid, it doesn’t hurt to ask, but the answer is almost always yes – and here’s why. 1. Sounds Will Naturally Be Louder Wearing hearing aids in both ears increases the perception of loudness by up to 10 decibels. This is due to a concept known as binaural summation. Basically, amplifying sounds through hearing aids in both ears increases the overall quality of the sounds without having to adjust the gain. 2. Sounds Will Be Clearer There’s more to sound than just its volume; we also want to hear things – especially speech – crisply and clearly. The clarity of sound is noticeably better when you wear two hearing aids instead of one. 3. Your Brain Will Have An Easier Time Localizing And Focusing On Speech In Background Noise Although our ears receive sound, our brain processes it....

The Benefits Of Visiting An Audiologist Fort Wayne Indiana

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If you’ve been considering visiting an Audiologist Fort Wayne Indiana , there’s a good chance you already have a reason. Perhaps you haven’t had a hearing examination since you were a child, or you’ve noticed a change in your hearing recently. For whatever reason you’re thinking about making the visit, here are a few benefits that should get you motivated to make the call. Audiologist Fort Wayne Indiana Can Perform Comprehensive Hearing Tests There are a few places that can offer quick hearing exams to tell you whether or not you should be concerned about hearing loss. However, only audiologists perform hearing tests as comprehensively as possible. From beginning to end, they can ensure there aren’t any obvious issues, chart the full spectrum of your hearing, and recommend treatments to help you combat the effects of any hearing loss. The results from an audiologist’s tests are going to be more accurate and detailed than you can find anywhere else. Audiologist Fort Wayne Indi...

Fort Wayne Audiology: Diabetes in Hearing and Balance Care

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Today I'll review the pathophysiology of diabetes on the cochlea and the vestibular canals, as well as on the neural system. The result is a disruption in the perception of hearing and in balance, which increases risk of falls. I'll explain how Fort Wayne Audiology Center will ensure the best patient outcomes for diabetes care. Diabetes in the Body What is happening in the body with diabetes? Keep in mind that what is happening in the cochlea and the vestibular system is also happening throughout the body when someone has diabetes. Diabetes causes microangiopathy, or small blood vessel disease (SMD). With small vessel disease, blood vessels weaken and slow the flow of blood through the body. This may lead to organ and tissue damage and result in loss of function or diabetic neuropathy. When you look at the effect of diabetes on the cochlea, there's a disruption in the microvascular system as well as neural degeneration. The VIIIth cranial nerve innervates both th...

Hearing Aids Fort Wayne indiana

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Are smaller hearing aids better? Many people believe that small hearing aids that fit in your ear are pricier, more up-to-date and ‘better’ - but in fact, any size and type of Hearing Aids Fort Wayne can be the modern, digital kind. Some smaller hearing aids can be difficult to manipulate if you have poor eyesight or dexterity. They can sometimes be a bit harder to keep clean and can be more affected by heat and moisture, as the mechanics of the hearing aid sit in the ear canal. They are usually only suited to people with mild to moderate hearing loss. Despite looking more discreet, invisible hearing aids are not necessarily more expensive than other types. What the hearing aid looks like has no bearing on the cost, as it’s the technology that’s important. Our guide to hearing aid prices shows how much you can expect to pay, based on the features you need. Less common types of hearing aids Hearing aid with tinnitus masker These are designed to mask the presence of tinnitus . ...

Fort Wayne Audiology: Diabetes in Hearing and Balance Care

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Today I'll review the pathophysiology of diabetes on the cochlea and the vestibular canals, as well as on the neural system. The result is a disruption in the perception of hearing and in balance, which increases risk of falls. I'll explain how Fort Wayne Audiology Center will ensure the best patient outcomes for diabetes care. Diabetes in the Body What is happening in the body with diabetes? Keep in mind that what is happening in the cochlea and the vestibular system is also happening throughout the body when someone has diabetes. Diabetes causes microangiopathy, or small blood vessel disease (SMD). With small vessel disease, blood vessels weaken and slow the flow of blood through the body. This may lead to organ and tissue damage and result in loss of function or diabetic neuropathy. When you look at the effect of diabetes on the cochlea, there's a disruption in the microvascular system as well as neural degeneration. The VIIIth cranial nerve innervates both the ...

Best Audiologist in Austin

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Going to the Audiologist Austin Tx and getting a hearing test for the first time may be nerve-racking, and perhaps you don’t know what to expect. Here are a few tips for those of you about to take your first trip to the audiologist. What to tell your audiologist There are many causes of hearing loss, whether it’s mild or profound. Make sure your Audiologist Austin Tx ensures that your hearing loss isn’t just a temporary inconvenience, or indicative of something else.   ●      Were you one of those kids who always seemed to have an ear infection? If so, it makes sense that you’re experiencing symptoms of hearing loss. Those who are prone to ear infections often have excess fluid around their eardrums. By performing a test of your middle ear function (a tympanogram), your audiologist can discern whether or not there’s fluid around your eardrum and make sure that it’s vibrating at the right rate. ●      Make sure your audiologist kno...

Audiologist Austin Tx

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There are various health tests that you probably readily attend on a regular basis. Perhaps you have an annual checkup with your primary doctor or you faithfully get your eyes checked to adjust your glasses prescription. But not so many people are as good at remembering to get their hearing tested . Your ears can experience health problems just like your eyes or any other part of your body. Hearing problems can influence your life, making it difficult for you to participate in many areas of society. Having regular hearing test austin tx is important, and you should be sure to book one if you haven't had one recently. There are some top reasons to have a hearing test as soon as you can. Detect hearing loss early Picking up on hearing loss as soon as possible means that you don't have to deal with the effects that it can have on your life. The sooner you detect hearing loss, the quicker you will be able to consider the options you have to address it. If you have regular hea...

Fort Wayne Audiology Center

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 Hearing loss may be big trouble for people of any age, but it does not require it to affect your quality of life. Many hearing difficulties can be managed medically or surgically, while continual hearing loss can be resolved with Hearing Aids In Fort Wayne 95 percent of the time. What is an Audiologist? An Audiologist is an extremely qualified person that has extensive knowledge of how to diagnose and handle illnesses and pains associated with the ear. Why Should I See an Audiologist? Audiologists have excellent levels of training and are expected to have a Master’s or Doctorate level quality. Audiologists are trained to recommend particular types of hearing loss, and how to best control how hearing loss affects daily movements. Hearing Instrument Specialists are not expected to have the equivalent high level of educative degrees as Audiologists at Fort Wayne Audiology and they give services only for the examination, choice, and fitting of hearing devices. At Fort Wayne, the...

Hearing aids and the brain: What's the connection?

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I certainly am. But first, how about a quick review? At Fort Wayne Audiology The term “auditory plasticity” is sometimes used to describe the brain's capacity to change. We typically think of hearing as it relates to the ear, but sound travels along many nerve fibers and through many nuclei before reaching the auditory cortex. Along these pathways, the acoustic content of the signal (i.e., frequency, intensity, and timing information) is coded by highly organized neural systems. Even though we are typically born with the capacity to code this acoustic information, our brain—specifically the central auditory system—“changes” as a function of auditory deprivation and stimulation.  It reorganizes itself throughout our lifespan according to the auditory input that it receives. What do you mean when you talk about “deprivation” and “stimulation”? Think of the saying “Use it or lose it.” The central auditory system of a person who has been diagnosed with a conductive or sensorin...

Hearing Aids Fort Wayne

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      There are many types of hearing aids (see below) and many manufacturers, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, and each more or less suitable for different people and conditions.  Fort Wayne Audiology will recommend the best solution for you, based on your amount and type of hearing loss, your lifestyle, budget and other factors you'll discuss with your audiologist during your consultation.   Types Of Hearing Aids Invisible-In-The-Canal (IIC) The IIC is a new kind of hearing aid that fits deep in your ear canal where no one can see it. Designed with the most advanced hearing technology, this invisible solution can be used for many levels of hearing loss. Completely-In-The-Canal (CIC) Like the name suggests, the entire CIC hearing aid fits into the ear canal. There is nothing on the outside of the ear, making it virtually unnoticeable. The CIC hearing aid is custom-made to fit into your ear canal to ensure a perfect fit.  Re...

5 Things to Expect During an Ear Cleaning

If this is the first time you are going to an audiologist for an Austin Ear Cleaning appointment, it is completely normal to be a little nervous. Experts recommend having your ears professionally cleaned if you’re experiencing any pain, itching, or hearing loss. Ear cleaning, however, is a simple procedure that is pain-free, although may feel uncomfortable at first. Here is a brief overview of what you can expect during your ear cleaning. 1. Medical history The first thing that you will do when you go for your ear cleaning at your audiologist’s clinic is to fill out a form telling them about your medical history. It is very important to be honest because certain conditions, such as a compromised immune system, may make it impossible for you to receive an ear cleaning because of the risks involved. The Best Audiologist In Austin would want to know if you have any active infections or history of damage to the inner ear in order to determine whether it is safe to conduct ear irrigat...

Little Changes in Hearing Can Impact Your Brain

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When you are born with a loss of hearing, your brain develops a little differently than it otherwise might. Surprised? That is because we commonly have false ideas about brain development. Your mind, you tell yourself, is a static thing: it only changes because of damage or trauma. But the truth is that brains are a little more dynamic Hearing Aids Fort Wayne Hearing Affects Your Brain You have probably heard of the idea that, as one sense wanes, the other four senses will become more powerful to compensate. The well-known example is always vision: your senses of hearing, taste, and smell will become stronger to compensate for the loss of vision. There could be some truth to this but it has not been verified scientifically. Because the architecture of your brain can be and is altered by loss of hearing. It is open to debate how much this is the case in adults, but we know it is true in children. The physical structure of children’s brains, who suffer from hearing loss, has been...