by Dr. Jennifer R. Raneri, AuD, CCC-A

Have you recently noticed that a family member has been having difficulty hearing? Maybe it was at a family picnic or a doctor’s appointment or watching television. Most hearing losses happen gradually and family members are oft en the first to notice. Unfortunately, the with the hearing loss may actually be the last to know. There are several signs of hearing loss, sometimes subtle. The individual may need to increase the volume on the television, have difficulty hearing on the telephone, misunderstand or answer questions inappropriately, or say “what” or “huh” frequently. This can be a difficult and frustrating time for a family. The support and encouragement of family members is what oft en motivates many people to get hearing help.

Hearing loss can happen at any age. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD, 2010), approximately 17 percent (36 million) of American adults report some degree of hearing loss. Other reported statistics on hearing loss include:

  • Only 1 out of 5 people who could benei??t from the use of hearing aids are actually using them.
  • Roughly 25 million Americans experience tinnitus, a ringing or buzzing sound in the ears. This can be a precursor or symptom of hearing loss.

Encourage the person with a suspected hearing loss to make an appointment for a diagnostic audiologic examination with a Doctor of Audiology. At your initial visit we will obtain a baseline test and discuss the results, as well as any further recommendations. It is always a good idea to bring a family member along for the testing and discussion. We strongly believe that the person with the hearing loss has to be well informed and educated about their hearing health.

If you are audiologically considered a candidate for amplii??cation, you should then have an in-depth discussion on treatment options with your audiologist. It is known that untreated hearing loss can lead to depression and social isolation. More recent research has found a correlation between untreated hearing loss and an increase of cognitive decline in older patients. There are treatment solutions for all hearing needs.

Hearing Aids

One solution for the treatment of hearing loss is through the use of hearing aids. There are various shapes and sizes of hearing aids, many being invisible on or in the ear. Advancements in signal processing allow the user to hear better in noise than ever before. Current hearing aids also feature Bluetooth technology, allowing you to wirelessly connect to audio devices such as mobile phones, iPods, computers, and televisions.

Cochlear Implant and Baha Bone Conduction Hearing Implant

We, at Collegeville Speech and Hearing are pleased to announce that our oi??ce has become the i??rst private practice in the greater Philadelphia area to become part of the Cochlear Provider Network. As part of this great network of professionals, we will be able to provide candidacy evaluations and the external i??tting and programming/mapping of implantable hearing devices.

We will work in conjunction with the Neurologists at Penn Medical Center for Implantable Hearing Devices. This provides an additional treatment option when traditional hearing aids are not enough.

While the treatment of hearing loss through the use of hearing aids or an implantable device is critical, this is just the beginning of the rehabilitative process. Hearing well is not about buying the right device; it is about i??nding the right professional. Hearing aids and implantable options are medical devices. They should be i??t by Doctors of Audiology who are trained in counseling, rehabilitation, i??tting, programming and verii??cation.

We will counsel patients as to the realistic expectations and explain how to use your device most ei??ectively. In addition, we have computer-based programs that allow the person with a hearing loss to participate in hearing and brain-processing activities.

At Collegeville Speech and Hearing, our mission is to improve the lives of children and adults with communication disorders. Our educated and experienced audiologists and speech-language pathologists are dedicated to providing you with the highest quality of services in a personalized, caring environment. We are proud to have been serving the speech and hearing needs of Collegeville and the surrounding areas since 1992.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at 610.454.1177 for more information.