Cheboygan, MI
FAQs
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About Audiologists
An audiologist is a healthcare professional who specializes in both hearing and balance disorders. To become a licensed and certified audiologist in the United States, a doctoral degree in audiology (AuD) is required. The main goal for an audiologist is to help people improve their quality of life with better hearing. Audiologists work with people of all ages, from newborns to older adults. They will assist you by performing a thorough exam of your hearing and then determining the best treatment options should a hearing loss be identified. Additionally, audiologists go beyond testing and treatment to educate patients about hearing protection, effective communication skills and overall hearing health. They help prevent hearing loss by offering advice on things like protective devices and safe listening habits. If you experience ringing in your ears, trouble hearing clearly, or dizziness, an audiologist is the right person to see to gain answers and support. Audiologists collaborate with primary care providers, ear nose and throat specialists, speech-language pathologists, and other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care for patients with hearing and balance problems.
An audiologist and a hearing instrument specialist (HIS) both help people deal with hearing issues, but their training and focus differ. The key difference between audiologists and an HIS lies in their scope of practice and level of education. An audiologist holds a doctoral degree in audiology and is trained to diagnose, manage, and treat a wide range of hearing and balance disorders. HIS, while trained to perform hearing tests and hearing aid fittings, have a more limited scope of practice and usually require a high school diploma and on-the-job training. While an HIS will have specialized training, it is not a doctoral degree.
A hearing instrument specialist focuses mainly on fitting and adjusting hearing aids. HIS professionals can help people choose and manage hearing aids, but they do not diagnose the condition that may lead to the use of hearing aids. If you simply need a hearing aid, either type of professional can help, but an audiologist is typically the best choice if you have a more complex problem with your hearing or ears.
Evaluations and Treatments
Audiologists offer a wide variety of services to address hearing and balance issues. They provide thorough hearing tests to find out how well you can hear different sounds at varying pitches and levels, as well as determine how well your brain processes speech information. They can also perform balance evaluations to help find the cause or diagnose dizziness or vertigo. Many audiologists will remove excessive earwax buildup that could be muffling speech and sounds.
When it comes to treatment, audiologists can fit and program hearing aids, make recommendations and provide care for cochlear implants, remove excessive earwax buildup, and even offer therapies for tinnitus or related conditions. They may also help patients find an assistive listening device (ALD) and create a hearing protection plan for those at risk for hearing damage. The goal is to find the best solution for a person’s individual hearing needs, so that they can hear and communicate with ease.
An audiologist will determine whether you have hearing loss by performing a comprehensive hearing evaluation. One of the most common tests is called an audiogram. With this test, you wear headphones and listen to different sounds at various volumes and pitches. You signal to the audiologist, often with a hand raise or pressing a button, when you hear each sound.
Other test types include word recognition exams. In this test, you repeat words to see how well you understand speech. Speech testing will also be done in background noise, to determine the amount of difficulty someone has in those settings. Sometimes, they will choose to use special tools to check how your eardrum moves or to see if fluid is trapped in the middle ear. A comprehensive examination helps the audiologist to determine if a hearing loss is present and if so, the type of loss and how severe it is.
Understanding Hearing Loss
Numerous signs may point to hearing loss. One of the most common signs is finding it difficult to follow conversations in group settings or when there is background noise present. Some of the other most common signs are shared below:
- When people speak, their voices sound like mumbling to you.
- You have to ask people to repeat what they said.
- You laugh at jokes even though you may not have heard the details.
- You need to ask others about the details of a meeting or gathering you just attended.
- You play the TV or radio louder than your friends, spouse, or relatives prefer.
- You cannot hear the doorbell, car blinker or the telephone ring.
- You find that looking at people when they speak to you makes it easier to understand.
- You miss environmental sounds, such as birds chirping or rain falling.
- You find yourself avoiding certain places because they are too noisy.
- You hear a ringing sound in your ears, especially when it is quiet.
If you notice any of these signs, it is a good idea to schedule a hearing evaluation with an audiologist.
Yes, different levels of hearing loss exist, and each describes how much your hearing is affected. The levels range from mild to profound. A mild hearing loss means you might miss soft sounds and begin to struggle hearing in background noise. A moderate hearing loss makes it harder to follow conversations at normal volumes, especially when background noise is present. A severe hearing loss means you only hear loud sounds and speech can be significantly harder to hear. The greatest loss is a profound hearing loss. These individuals typically cannot hear any speech and will only hear very loud sounds. Knowing the level of your hearing loss will help your audiologist recommend the right kind of help or treatment, whether it is hearing aids, cochlear implants, or some other form of treatment.
Yes, hearing loss does fall into different categories based on where the problem occurs in the ear. Conductive hearing loss happens when sound cannot get through the outer or middle ear properly. Things like ear infections, problems with the ear bones, or earwax buildup may cause this. This type of hearing loss can often be treated with a minor procedure or medication.
Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when there is damage to the inner ear or the nerve that connects the ear to the brain. This type of loss is typically permanent, but implants or hearing aids can be helpful. Sometimes, people have a mixed hearing loss, which is a combination of both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. Knowing which category you fall into will help guide your personalized treatment plan.
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) is a sudden and unexpected hearing loss, often affecting one ear, that can range from mild to complete. The cause is often unknown and can be viral. Symptoms include difficulty hearing, especially in background noise, muffled sounds, and difficulty understanding speech, particularly high-pitched sounds. SSHL requires fast action typically with a course of corticosteroids, often administered orally or through injection behind the eardrum. The earlier treatment is initiated, the better the chances of regaining hearing. The window for treatment is typically 2-4 weeks after the onset of the hearing loss. If you think you are experiencing sudden hearing loss, seek assistance right away.
Recognizing hearing loss in children, especially young children, can often be difficult, but there are signs to watch for. For example, if a baby does not respond to loud sounds, turns toward voices, or starts babbling around six months of age, it could be a sign that a hearing assessment is needed. As children grow, delays in speech development, not following simple directions, and unclear speech may also indicate an existing hearing problem.
Older children may turn up the TV too loud, seem to be daydreaming a lot in class, or often ask, “What?” They may also struggle with schoolwork and socially because they cannot hear instructions or interact normally. If you notice any of these signs in your child, getting a hearing test as soon as possible is important. Early treatment can make a huge difference in a child’s learning and social development.
Hearing Devices & ALDs
Choosing the right hearing aid style depends on a few different factors. The first is the severity of the hearing loss, then comes lifestyle, and finally, your personal preferences. Some hearing aids sit behind the ear, while others fit fully inside the ear canal. If you prefer a discreet look, smaller models may be appealing, but they may not be powerful enough for those with a severe hearing loss.
The audiologist will help you by explaining the pros and cons of each style in your circumstances. They will consider things like listening needs, lifestyle, comfort, ease of use, and any dexterity concerns when helping determine the best style for you. Working together, you can choose a hearing aid that will be comfortable and suit your lifestyle and hearing goals. Your overall satisfaction and success is important and an audiologist is there to guide you every step of the way.
Assisted listening devices (ALDs) are tools that help people hear better in specific situations, like at a theater or work. ALDs do not replace hearing aids, but they can work alongside them to help make sounds clearer. Assistive listening devices can help you hear conversations in a noisy room, listen to the television without increasing the volume to top levels, or follow a church service or lecture with greater ease.
Some ALDs use microphones that pick up the speaker’s voice and send it directly to your ears. Others connect to televisions, phones, or public sound systems through the use of wireless technology. ALDs can be a great option if you find yourself struggling even with hearing aids. When it comes to ALDs, your audiologist can help you decide what is the best option for your listening needs and lifestyle.
Understanding Tinnitus
Tinnitus is hearing sounds that do not originate from an outside source. People most commonly describe it as ringing, buzzing, clicking, or hissing in one or both ears. Tinnitus varies greatly. It can be loud or soft, constant or occasional, and affect one or both ears. Some people are able to ignore tinnitus, but for others, it can be highly distracting and upsetting.
Tinnitus itself is not a disease or disorder, but a symptom of another problem. Problems like ear injuries, hearing loss, or exposure to loud noises can cause tinnitus. Sometimes, medical conditions or certain medications can cause tinnitus. If you are suffering from tinnitus, it is important to see an audiologist to find out what may be behind the problem and then explore treatments that can help.
The most common causes for tinnitus are hearing loss and noise exposure. Prolonged exposure to loud noise, like when attending concerts, working with noisy machinery each day, or listening to headphones at high levels can lead to tinnitus. Over time, loud sounds can damage the tiny hair cells inside the ear that are responsible for helping with hearing, leading to tinnitus.
Other causes include age-related hearing loss, head injuries, ear infections, and some medications that have tinnitus as a side effect. This can consist of some antibiotics, but also high doses of aspirin. Medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or even thyroid problems can also play a role in the cause. Because tinnitus can have so many causes, it is important to work with an audiologist to find which treatment approach or approaches will work best in your situation.
While there is no cure for tinnitus, there are several forms of management that make it less noticeable. One option is hearing aids that help boost outside sounds. This can make the ringing less obvious overall. Some people find relief with sound therapy in which background noise, like white noise, covers the tinnitus sounds. Most hearing aids have this ability built in.
Other treatment options include counseling or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that help manage the emotional effects of tinnitus. Furthermore, lifestyle changes that reduce stress, proper sleep, and avoiding loud noises can make a difference. Some individuals find relief through stress reducing options such as yoga, meditation, massage therapy, and acupuncture, as these have been found to reduce stress and for some, alleviate the perception of tinnitus. To live more comfortably with tinnitus, you need a personalized plan, so meet with an audiologist to determine what is the best plan for you.
"Dr. Eimers' expertise shone through in the personalized approach."
- Kate T.
Harbor Springs Location
From hearing tests and tinnitus care to hearing aids and pediatric services, Dr. Eimers Hearing Clinic PLLC provides trusted audiology care across Cheboygan, Petoskey, and Harbor Springs. Wherever you are on your hearing journey, we're here to help you take the next step.
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