Our Services
Video Otoscopy
This instrumentation allows you and the hearing professional to see your ear on a television screen. The professional can identify potential medical conditions that would require a physician evaluation; or see if excessive earwax is an issue.
Audiometric Evaluation
Your complete hearing evaluation will be performed by a licensed, certified hearing professional, using state of the art equipment that is meticulously maintained.
Hearing instrument consultation
This is a multipart discussion, centered on your hearing loss, your lifestyle, and your hearing needs. The following topics are discussed:
- Levels of technology. Today's hearing instrument technology ranges from very basic to very sophisticated. The highest levels of technology incorporate computer algorithms that process sound in very complex ways. These aids manage background noise extremely well; they control feedback to the point of near-elimination; and they incorporate other features such as data-logging that allow the hearing professional to fine-tune the instruments with a degree of precision never previously possible. Which of these features, in which level of technology, is most appropriate for you is something very dependent on how varied your communication situations are.
- Size. Hearing instruments come in a variety of sizes, each with advantages and disadvantages. What is right for you will depend on your hearing loss, your ear canal size and shape, and your preferences regarding how discreet you want the instruments to be.
- Price. Hearing instruments are a significant investment. They are worn at all waking hours, every day, for 4-6 years. An instrument with the right capabilities at the right price is crucial. For those who prefer this option, we offer multiple financing plans.
Assistive Listening Devices
ALDs work together with hearing instruments to provide additional benefit in adverse listening conditions. These situations occur when there is a distance between the speaker and listener or when the environment has background noise or reverberation. There are also products that work separately from hearing instruments. Some examples of ALDs are:
- Amplified telephones. These phones can be land-line or cell phone; some work through an existing hearing instrument and some work independently. They also can feature amplified ringers or flashing lights.
- Alerting devices. These are products that turn an acoustic signal into a visual or vibrotactile (touch) signal. They include smoke detectors that send a signal to a bed shaker; devices that flash a lamp when a phone rings; and doorbells that send a signal to a vibrating pager.
- Large area listening systems. The premise of these devices is to transmit speech from a speaker to the listener over a distance. The speech is picked up by a microphone; sent into a transmitter and broadcast to a receiver, worn by the listener; and the listener then hears the speech as if they were much closer to the speaker. There are a variety of ways to accomplish this: using FM radio or infrared signals to transmit the signal; plugging the hearing aid directly into the receiver or using the device on its own, etc.
We are familiar with these systems and how they work for people with hearing impairment. Should you benefit from one of these systems, we can help determine the best one for you.
Hearing Instruments
The right hearing instrument for each patient is dependent on many factors. The two main choices for hearing instrument selection are style and level of technology, as discussed above. There are many hearing instrument manufacturers from which to choose, once the decisions about style and level of technology have been reached. Many hearing instrument dispensing practices are limited to using only one manufacturer. Each manufacturer has its own philosophies, strengths, and weaknesses, so the knowledge of the practitioner of multiple manufacturers is a key factor in the success of the fitting.
Other Devices for Non-Hearing Impaired
We also provide other products for people without hearing impairment. These include:
- Custom earplugs. These are custom made and block out loud sounds.
- Custom swim plugs. These can be made in a variety of colors, with or without handles, and floatable.
- Custom Bluetooth molds. These can be attached to a Bluetooth headset for more comfortable wearing and better sound.
- Custom iPod/MP3 player molds. These can attach to the earbuds of an iPod or MP3 player for a custom fit and higher sound quality. Since the custom mold helps block external noise, the sound clarity of the music device is improved, and the volume of the music does not have to be as loud.
- Custom shooter plugs. These can be made with a small amount of amplification or without; they allow soft sounds to come through but shut down and block sound when a loud sound is present (i.e., a gunshot).
- Custom specialty molds. These include newscaster molds, racing receiver molds, and surveillance molds.
- Tinnitus maskers. Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the ear when there is no external sound present. It is usually described as ringing, roaring, buzzing, or crickets. People with severe cases of tinnitus can sometimes be helped with the fitting of a tinnitus masker; a device that puts out a constant sound that can mask the tinnitus.
