Blog Archive
& J. are an adorable mother and son duo that were fit together this month at Professional Hearing Center. I was blessed and overjoyed to have been able to work with them as they both got started with their first set of hearing aids together! It has been such an...
Where did you grow up? I grew up in sunny San Diego. What do you enjoy most about working at Professional Hearing Center? I love my co-workers and getting to know and help our patients. At what office(s) do you work? I have worked at our Belton location for 8...
Where did you grow up? Springfield, MO What do you enjoy most about working at Professional Hearing Center? Helping patients and working with our amazing staff At what office(s) do you work? Lakewood What’s your favorite television show? Seinfeld If you could bring back any fashion trend, what would it...
Where did you grow up? I grew up in a small town called Wellsville, KS. What do you enjoy most about working at Professional Hearing Center? I enjoy working with the audiologists and learning about their individual specialties. Ex. Auditory processing, cochlear implants. At what office(s) do you work? I...
Where did you grow up? Oopsie - was I supposed to do this???? Grow up, WHAT???? I lived in Hutchinson, Dodge City, and Topeka prior to moving to the KC area. What do you enjoy most about working at Professional Hearing Center? The Peeps of course - no question about...
Where did you grow up? I was born and raised in Baldwin City, Kansas. The small community is located about 45 minutes southwest of Kansas City and is home to the Maple Leaf festival and Baker University. Where did you go to school? I graduated from Baldwin City High School....
Where did you grow up? I grew up on a family farm outside of Holton, Kansas. My Dad and Grandmother had grown up on the same farm. Where did you go to school? I attended Holton High School and completed my undergraduate and graduate degrees at Kansas State University. Through...
Where did you grow up? I grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. Where did you go to school? I went to the University of Tennessee for undergrad and graduate school. Go Vols! Why did you want to become an audiologist? I wanted to help a population that I felt tended to...
Where did you grow up? I grew up in Overland Park, KS. Where did you go to school? I graduated from Shawnee Mission West High School. I then attended University of Kansas for both my bachelors in Communication Disorders and my masters in Audiology. I received my Doctorate in Audiology...
Where did you grow up? I was born and raised in the Kansas City area. Where did you go to school? I went to St. James Academy in Lenexa for high school, Kansas State University for undergrad, and KU Med for graduate school. Why did you want to...
Where did you grow up? I grew up in Jefferson City, Missouri. Where did you go to school? I went to Jefferson City High School. I went on to Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri for my Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders and minors in Psychology and Disability Studies....
Where did you grow up? I grew up in O'Fallon, MO near St. Louis. Where did you go to school? I attended Timberland High School in Wentzville, MO, Rockhurst University for my Bachelors in Science majoring in Communication Sciences & Disorders and Psychology. I graduated from the University of Kansas...
Where did you grow up? Louisiana, Arkansas, and Missouri Where did you go to school? High School - Sedalia Smith-Cotton Undergrad/Grad - CMSU in Warrensburg - still have a hard time calling it UCM! Doctorate - Salus University in Philadelphia Why did you want to become an audiologist? I started...
Where did you grow up? I grew up outside of St. Louis, Missouri. Where did you go to school? I graduated from Francis Howell North High School in St. Charles, MO in 2007 and headed to Truman State University where I obtained a double major in Communication Disorders & Psychology...
Where did you grow up? I grew up in Sioux City, Iowa. Where did you go to school? I went to East High in Sioux City, then moved to Lincoln, NE for undergrad and received a BS in Speech/Language Pathology and Audiology. Graduate school brought me to the Kansas...
Where did you grow up? I grew up on a dairy farm south of Wichita, Kansas. Where did you go to school? I went to high school at Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic School. Upon graduation I went to KU for a year and then transferred to Wichita State University...
Where did you grow up? Born and raised in Overland Park, Kansas Where did you go to school? High school ~ Shawnee Mission West; Undergrad and Grad School ~ University of Kansas; Doctorate ~ Salus University Why did you want to become an audiologist? I always knew I...
Where did you grow up? I was born and raised in Belton, MO. Where did you go to school? I went to O’Hara High School in Kansas City. I received my undergraduate degree in Speech Pathology and Masters in Audiology from University of Central Missouri (UCM - formerly CMSU). I...
A majority of the population with hearing loss have the presence of hearing loss in both ears. Hearing loss is most commonly symmetrical. Therefore, a majority of patients treat both ears with the purchase of bilateral amplification. Typically, patients have better performance with two hearing aids versus one hearing aid....
In recent years, consumers have increasingly taken charge of their health and options for medical treatment, which includes bypassing traditional routes of care. We now have the ability to purchase glasses, contacts, invisalign-type braces, even colonoscopy screenings, online. Sound devices are no exception. Although not true hearing aids, to date...
There are four main types of dizziness: vertigo, disequilibrium, presyncope, and lightheadedness. Vertigo: An illusion of movement, classically described as “spinning”. Vertigo reflects dysfunction at some level of the vestibular system. Disequilibrium: A disturbance in balance or coordination. Observation of a patient's gait and careful neurologic examination is...
Ototoxicity refers to the meaning that something is toxic to the ear. More specifically, something being toxic to the cochlea (the inner ear) and the auditory nerve. Sometimes, ototoxicity can even affect the vestibular (balance) portion of the auditory nerve as well. Being exposed to an ototoxic agent can cause...
For people who are living with hearing loss, captioned phones can be an excellent tool to aid in communication with friends, family members, and professional contacts. Telephone conversations are often difficult for people with hearing loss, as they are not able to rely on lip reading and contextual cues to...
Did your mother ever tell you to never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear? Well, turns out she was right. As an audiologist, I often see patients with the above question, or more specifically a variation of the question “Are Q-tips safe?, Are cotton swabs okay to...
Fitness is essential to overall well-being and health. When we think of fitness, we almost always assume physical fitness. Fitness can refer to other areas of health as well as ear fitness. Ear fitness involves keeping the ears stimulated at a safe level to ensure strong auditory processing. When...
We all know that a healthy diet is good for our overall health, but did you know that research also indicates that it’s also good for your hearing? A study conducted in 2019 from Brigham and Women’s Hospital reported women who had healthier diets had lower rates of hearing loss...
Cerumen, commonly known as earwax, is the protective yellow waxy substance secreted in the passage of the outer ear, i.e. ear canal. Cerumen has three main functions: 1. To protect the tympanic membrane or eardrum; 2. Moisturize and lubricate the ear canal; 3. Help fight against infection. So earwax helps...
Audiologists, Otolaryngologists & Otologists When you come to any of our offices, you may in fact encounter a few different types of professionals depending on the type of appointment or evaluation you are having that day. When you arrive at your appointment for check-in, you will be greeted by one...
https://www.healthyhearing.com/help/hearing-aids/cleaning Hearing aids are a great communication tool to improve relationships and overall quality of life. Sometimes, it can feel like extra work to wear them and take care of them if you are not aware of the most effective care methods. The most important part of maintaining...
If you follow Professional Hearing Center, you know that we are always growing and working to improve our services for our patients. Despite all of the changes and challenges in this past year due to the global pandemic, PHC has continued to grow and expand our services. I am going...
A hearing aid consultation is an appointment with one of our audiologists where you will discuss the different amplification options available to you. At this consultation, the audiologist will discuss your hearing loss and how amplification can benefit you. There are many options available for amplification these days, and many...
During surgery, intraoperative monitoring is used to assess a patient’s hearing system by testing the nervous system. This is done by using evoked potentials to monitor the integrity of the auditory nerve. Auditory evoked potentials are electrical responses recorded from the auditory nerve and brain following the presentation of a...
In a time where most communication has switched to an online or virtual setting, it is important to consider some strategies that can help you or others on the call hear better. Tips for hearing better on Zoom: Limit background noise and have others on the call also limit background...
With the spread of the Covid-19 Pandemic, our offices as well as many others have had to take a look into diversifying our typical ways of serving our patients in the safest way possible. We’ve done this throughout our locations in several ways, including teaching patients how to provide some...
“Ototoxicity is the pharmacological adverse reaction affecting the inner ear or auditory nerve, characterized by cochlear or vestibular function.” There are a variety of medications used for therapeutic purposes in fighting cancer and life-threatening infectious diseases that lead to inner ear damage. The symptoms of ototoxicity can include tinnitus, dizziness,...
There is no shortage of information regarding your hearing health and hearing aids on the internet. You may even see advertisements for online hearing tests. Online hearing tests should be considered a screening tool used to determine if more follow up is needed. There are a number of...
Although hearing aids and hearing amplifiers serve similar purposes, they are very different devices. Amplifiers, sometimes known as personal sound amplifying products, or PSAPs, are designed to increase all environmental sounds for people with hearing loss. PSAPs are not capable of distinguishing between what sounds they amplify. PSAPs are...
Did you know that hearing loss affects around 36 million Americans? The incidence of hearing loss increases drastically as the population ages. Around one third of the population aged 65-74 are affected by hearing loss and the number increases to half of the population of those aged 75+. Surprisingly, only...
Particularly during the summer, patients wonder about the water resistancy of their hearing aids. It is a great question! Today we will discuss how much moisture hearing aids can handle and some tips and tricks to protect your hearing aids from too much moisture. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) tests...
Restaurants are loud these days! Having a conversation in a noisy restaurant can be difficult, even for individuals with normal hearing. The challenges are greater for those with hearing loss. Here are some tips and tricks for dining out! Choose your restaurant based on more than just the food that...
People who have hearing loss usually exhibit one of the following strategies when communicating with others: Passive – Most people with hearing loss exhibit this communication style. Passive communicators tend to avoid social interactions or withdraw from conversations due to fear of not being able to communicate well or from embarrassment...
If you suffer from tinnitus, one of the best things you can do to help cope with the annoyance of the sound in your ears is to keep your ears and brain busy with a different sound. There are several sound apps available to help you. An audiologist at the...
People of all ages wear hearing aids. But, have you ever thought about your favorite furry friend having their hearing tested? The field of animal audiology is still very young; however, the hearing health of our favorite companions can be just as important! Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, is one of the...
Noise cancelling headphones are often used to eliminate ambient noise while listening to any other audio. They are a safe and effective way to get high quality sound from headphones at adequate volume. They are most often used for travel but are quickly becoming more popular for any headphone use....
Newborn Hearing Screenings were developed to assist in quickly and effectively diagnosing hearing loss present at birth. Catching hearing loss at an early age and enrolling a child in early intervention maximizes communication, literacy, and social-emotional development. The Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) set forth guidelines for early hearing...
In the world of Audiology, it is great to see our patients, family, and friends beginning to pay attention to hearing health and protecting their ears for the future. With technology getting more and more advanced, when it comes to measuring sound levels around us “there’s an app for that!” There...
It is estimated that 40–50% of adults over the age of 65 have a measurable hearing impairment. This rises to approximately 83% of individuals over the age of 70. Hearing loss is the third most prevalent chronic medical condition among older adults, after arthritis and hypertension. Besides hearing and communication...
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) A guide on how to wear masks with hearing aids for adult and pediatric patients Phonak (one of our hearing aid manufacturers) has put together this great information on how to successfully wear a mask with your hearing aids. Included are tips for adults and pediatric patients!...
Have you noticed an increased prevalence of hearing loss during this time of Covid-19? I sure have! This has caused me to stop and reflect on these changes. It is not necessarily that more hearing loss is being caused during this time. For the most part we are staying home...
Nutrition is fundamental to health. And nutrition is also connected to hearing health; however, this connection is often overlooked. No particular food will cause or prevent hearing loss. And hearing cannot be restored by changing diet. However, recent research has shown that nutrition may increase or decrease the risk of...
Middle Ear infections (Otitis Media) Infections can occur in the three different parts of the ear: external, middle, and inner. Otitis media, sometimes known as a middle ear infection, is an inflammation or infection in the space behind the eardrum known as the middle ear. Otitis media occurs most often...
Otosclerosis is a hearing disorder that is caused by an abnormal amount of bone growth in the middle ear ossicular chain. Our middle ear system is comprised of the tympanic membrane (more commonly known as the eardrum) and three little bones that make up the ossicular chain. The malleus, incus,...
Ménière’s disease is an inner ear disorder that leads to aural fullness, tinnitus, fluctuating hearing loss, and dizziness. Ménière’s disease produces a recurring set of symptoms as a result of abnormally large amounts of a fluid called endolymph collecting in the inner ear. Ménière’s disease can develop at any age,...
Connectivity Resources Resound: With the most recent firmware updates, iPhone and Android users can utilize both the Resound Smart App as well as directly stream music and phone calls from the hearing aids to their cell phones. Is my phone compatible with my hearing aids?https://www.resound.com/en-us/help/compatibility Connectivity manual:https://ww1.resound.com/~/media/REFRESH/US/00-DOWNLOADS/Guides/400694000_GU_ConnectivityGuide.ashx Phonak: With the...
As you may know, precautions are being put into place nationwide to decrease the transmission and spread of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus). We are deeply concerned about your overall health and want you to know that during these times, we are still open, available, and Coronavirus ready to help manage your...
Turn off hearing aid(s) by either: Opening the battery door(s) Placing on the charger Go to the Android phone’s home screen Tap on “Settings” Ensure Bluetooth if turned ON In the settings menu, tap on the Bluetooth icon Tap on the slider button to turn Bluetooth on Turn on Hearing...
Turn off hearing aid(s) by either: Opening the battery door(s) Placing on the charger Click on Settings Ensure Bluetooth is turned “ON” If “OFF”, click on Bluetooth and slide to on position Click on Accessibility Click on Hearing Devices Turn on hearing aids by closing battery door(s) or removing from...
Troubleshooting Tips 101 My hearing aid sounds weak: At home checks: -Clean the hearing aid (microphone covers) -Replace wax filter (if applicable) When to come in: If the above steps didn’t fix the problem. My hearing...
We are all experiencing some type of isolation at this time. It is difficult not to socialize and to distance ourselves from others. We as humans are social beings and want to be among others. I’ve never been so excited to see what’s in my mailbox when I hear the mail carrier! ...
Summer is coming! And with summer comes hotter weather and sweating! Moisture is one of the biggest contributors to hearing aids needing repair. Most hearing aid manufacturers have great protection against moisture built into their designs; however, moisture can still be a problem for hearing aids. It is recommended that if...
Over the past 20-25 years, the percentage of Americans with type 2 diabetes has nearly doubled to over 9% of the nation’s population. Diabetes is defined as high blood glucose levels as a result of underproduction - or no production - of insulin, which is needed to break down glucose...
When people are dizzy, they are often sent to a vestibular audiologist for a vestibular evaluation. The vestibular system is the balance part of the inner ear. A comprehensive vestibular evaluation is used to determine where the balance issue is occurring. The first thing you will realize when scheduling for...
Health literacy is a growing concept in the healthcare and public health field. According to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, health literacy is “the degree to which an individual has the capacity to obtain, communicate, process, and understand basic health information and services to make appropriate...
What is mild hearing loss? Hearing loss is determined by the softest sound a person can hear in decibels. In adults, mild hearing loss occurs when the softest sounds a person can hear on average fall between 26 and 40 decibels. In children, mild hearing loss occurs between 16 and...
So what is new with custom hearing aids? Custom hearing aids are amplification devices that are made using an earmold impression of the patient’s ear. They are programmed for the patient’s individual hearing loss by an audiologist. The entire hearing aid, which includes the battery, the amplifier, the digital chip,...
What is a cochlear implant? A cochlear implant is an electronic device that electrically stimulates the cochlear nerve which is the nerve for hearing. A cochlear implant is comprised of surgically placed internal components as well as external components that sit behind the ear similar to a hearing aid. The external parts collect and...
Hearing loss is the third most common health problem in the United States. For many people with hearing loss, hearing aids are an essential part of their journey toward better hearing. But what happens when hearing aids are just not enough? Some situations, such as busy restaurants, sporting events, and...
Genes contain instructions that tell cells how to grow and work. Many genes are involved with hearing. Genetic hearing loss can be either syndromic or nonsyndromic. Syndromic hearing loss can come from malformations of the ear or other systems. Nonsyndromic hearing loss has no visible abnormalities of the ear or...
There are several tests that may be completed during your child’s appointment with an audiologist based on their age and the reason for their visit. At their appointment, the audiologist will perform tests that assess the health of your child’s outer, middle, and inner ear. The outer ear includes their...
Dizziness or vertigo is grouped into 2 main categories: peripheral vestibular disorders and central vestibular disorders. This week I will discuss central vestibular disorders. See previous post for details about peripheral vestibular disorders. Central balance disorders are caused by dysfunction at the level of the brain. If the vestibular system...
Dizziness or vertigo is grouped into 2 main categories: peripheral vestibular disorders and central vestibular disorders. This week I will explain peripheral vestibular disorders. Stay tuned for next week's post about central vestibular disorders. Peripheral vestibular disorders are caused by a dysfunction in the vestibular system in the inner ear...
Work Noise, or unwanted sound, is one of the most prevalent occupational health problems. Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is permanent damage to the tiny hair cells in your ears, which are responsible for sending sounds to the brain. Hair cells are not replaceable and once damaged they are unable to...
Vestibular migraine (VM) or migraine associated vertigo (MAV) is defined as a migraine variant presenting with additional vestibular symptoms in addition to typical migraine symptoms. It is estimated that around 40% of migraineurs have a vestibular component to their symptoms. VM is the second most common cause of vertigo and...
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, otherwise known as BPPV, is the most common cause of vertigo. Vertigo is the sudden sensation that you are spinning or that the room is spinning. BPPV is characterized by brief episodes of mild to intense dizziness, which can be caused or provoked by specific changes...
Hearing aids are immensely helpful devices for individuals who have hearing loss. They provide many benefits for speech clarity and listening in the presence of background noise. However, hearing aids do not repair hearing or give you normal hearing again. It is still important to accompany your use of hearing...
It is imperative that hearing aid users clean their hearing aids daily in order to keep them in good working order. Parts of the hearing aid can often get clogged with earwax, dry skin, hair spray, or other cosmetics. We want your hearing aids to last a long time and...
The holidays are an exciting time to spend with friends and family. If you have hearing loss, it can be very difficult to follow conversations with those around you. Here at Professional Hearing Center, we are committed to keeping you involved with the people you love and activities you enjoy. ...
A very common question we often get when working with hearing aids is “Will wearing the hearing aids cause further hearing loss?” The quick answer to this is generally no. The overall goal of hearing aids is to make soft speech audible, normal conversation level comfortable, and loud sounds loud...
Modern classrooms are loud! This blog will define components of classroom acoustics and give tips to reduce background noise and reverberation in order to benefit learning environments. Acoustics describes how sound travels in a room. Background noise and reverberation can cause poor acoustics in classrooms (1). Background noise is any sound that...
The connection of hearing loss to other health conditions has been a hot topic lately. In the past few years, there has been an increase in society’s focus on wellness and hearing health. As baby boomers age, there is more availability of “big data” and epidemiological data analysis (1). This...
One exciting new advancement in hearing aid technology that is improving patient satisfaction for ease of use is the availability of rechargeable hearing aids. These rechargeable hearing aids eliminate the need for patients to change disposable batteries at home and instead place their devices on a docking station every night...
When a child receives any diagnosis, it can be accompanied by feelings of fear, frustration, and confusion for a parent. When a child is diagnosed with hearing loss, parents are often stepping into uncharted territory in parenting that many of their friends and family have not navigated. Often the first...
At Professional Hearing Center we find it very important to share our knowledge about ear-related topics with our community. Today I would like to discuss tinnitus. Tinnitus is the sound that an individual may hear that is within their head that most commonly no one else can hear. This is...
Bone conduction headphones are another way, besides traditional earbuds or headphones to listen to a device (music, videos, phone calls, etc.) without others hearing. If you have ever had your hearing tested by an audiologist, they typically test how well you can hear both through regular headphones and through bone...
Hearing Loss and Cognitive Decline A recent study investigating the association between hearing loss, hearing aid use, and cognitive decline was published in the Journal of American Geriatric Society. More than 3,500 individuals over 65 participated, and results found that self‐reported hearing loss was associated with accelerated cognitive decline in...
Tinnitus is most commonly referred to as the conscious perception of a noise or sound in a person’s ear. Some individuals state that their tinnitus sounds like a ringing, buzzing, humming, hissing, roaring, or even a pulsating sound that resembles a heartbeat. Tinnitus affects anywhere from 15-20% of people. Interestingly...
It all starts with the million-dollar question: How do I get my family member to consider hearing aids? For me, the journey began with my mom complaining that my dad was deliberately ignoring her. She did not understand that he was at a terrible disadvantage when she would talk to...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Hearing Screening and Follow-up Survey, about 2 out of every 1,000 infants screened at birth show some degree of hearing loss. Additionally, children may develop hearing loss later in childhood due to infection, medication, or a genetic condition. Therefore, early identification...
What is Misophonia? (more commonly known as “please stop chewing/breathing/grinding your teeth/etc so loud it’s driving me CRAZY”) Misophonia - or “hatred of sounds” - is a disorder in which certain sounds cause a negative emotional or psychological response ranging from slight annoyance to anger, panic and the need to...
If you have difficulty tolerating everyday sounds, you may suffer from hyperacusis. Hyperacusis is a hearing disorder that causes sounds which would otherwise seem normal to most people to sound unbearably loud. This condition is characterized as an increased sensitivity to normal environmental sounds; however, it is not discomfort around...
Hearing aids are becoming more and more advanced each year. Manufacturers spend countless hours and dollars conducting research about what people with hearing loss need assistance with the most, and which situations tend to create the most difficult listening environments. Many times the use of hearing aids in general is...
Where did you grow up? I grew up in Memphis, TN but moved around a lot as a kid since my dad was a Master Chief in the Navy. Where did you go to school? I went to high school in Memphis, then to the University of Tennessee for my...
Pressure equalization (PE) tubes are commonly used in infants and children to treat recurrent middle ear infections. PE tubes are small, hollow cylinders made of plastic or metal that are surgically inserted into the eardrum. This surgery is performed by an otolaryngologist. The surgery requires a tiny incision in the...
Where did you grow up? I have lived in Kansas City all my life and love it here! Where did you go to school? I went to Olathe South High School, Kansas State University for undergrad (Go Cats!), and the University of Kansas Medical Center for grad school. Why did...
Cerumen is the medical term for earwax. Earwax comes in many different forms. It can be dry and flaky or thick and sticky depending on the physical characteristics of your skin and oils. Cerumen is natural and actually quite beneficial. It only becomes an issue if it builds up and...
Where did you grow up? I grew up in Baldwin City, Kansas - home of the Maple Leaf Festival! Where did you go to school? I went to Baldwin High School, Johnson County Community College and the University of Kansas for undergraduate classes, and the University of Kansas Medical Center...
Hearing is a crucial part of any child’s development, especially in the first few years of life. Even a mild or partial hearing loss can affect a child’s proper speech and language development. Fortunately, many hearing issues in children can be overcome if hearing loss is caught early and monitored...
Where did you grow up? I was born and raised in Kansas City. My parents have lived in the same house in Old Leawood since I was three years old! Where did you go to school? I attended St. James Academy in Lenexa for high school, K-State for undergrad, and...
Real ear or probe-microphone measurements are a method audiologists use to verify the amount of amplification hearing instruments provide at the patient’s eardrum. This method takes into account the device, hearing loss, and ear canal acoustics to objectively fit hearing instruments to a patient’s ear. Verification is considered best-practice for hearing aid...
Where did you grow up? I grew up in west central Illinois in a little town called Macomb. Where did you go to school? Our only high school in town was Macomb Jr/Sr High School, so that's where I went. I then went on to attend Western Illinois University, again...
Professional Hearing Center is excited to announce that we now offer Lyric! What is Lyric, and what is unique about it? Lyric hearing aids are completely invisible and can be worn for up to 12 weeks without removal. This type of hearing aid is hassle-free and can be worn 24/7! ...
Where did you grow up? I grew up in O'Fallon, MO which is a suburb outside of St. Louis. Go Cards! Where did you go to school? I went to high school at Timberland High School. Then I moved to Kansas City to attend Rockhurst University. Then I attended the...
Where did you grow up? Overland Park, KS Where did you go to school? High School: Shawnee Mission West, Undergrad and Master's Program: KU, Doctorate: Salus University Why did you want to become an audiologist? I knew I always wanted to do something in healthcare, but not until I lucked...
At this point in the hearing aid world, Bluetooth capability inside of hearing aids is standard. In this blog post I will discuss what Bluetooth technology, in my opinion, is the best. In 2014 we began seeing hearing aids that were direct to iPhone. 2017 brought Bluetooth connectivity with non-iPhone...
Where did you grow up? I grew up in Overland Park, Kansas. Where did you go to school? High school: Blue Valley Northwest Undergrad: K-State Grad school: KU Med Why did you want to become an audiologist? I knew that I wanted a career that was a helping profession and...
This is a question that we as audiologists hear every day, and as approximately 37 million people suffer some form of hearing loss, insurance coverage - or the lack of - is something that has a tremendous impact on the communication ability of so many. We know that hearing...
Where did you grow up? Not any one place! I started in Macomb, IL, then moved to Monroe, LA, Hammond LA, North Little Rock, AR (where I lived the longest), then to Sedalia, MO. Where did you go to school? Sedalia Smith-Cotton High School, CMSU in Warrensburg for my bachelor's and...
Where did you grow up? I grew up in Jefferson City, Missouri. Where did you go to school? I went to high school at Jefferson City High School. Then I attended Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, for my undergraduate education where I received a Bachelor of Science degree in...
Where did you grow up? Wichita, KS Where did you go to school? Bishop Carroll Catholic High school, Undergrad - Kansas State University, Graduate - University of Kansas Medical Center Why did you want to become an audiologist? Growing up I always knew I wanted to be in a helping...
May is Better Speech and Hearing Month! In honor of that, this month we want to recognize our interprofessional collaboration with our own speech-language pathologist, Teri Burns. Let’s get to know her! Teri, put bluntly, what do you do? I am a Speech-Language Pathologist (sometimes called a SLP or a...
Where did you grow up? I was born in Oklahoma City and lived in Oklahoma until I was ten years old. I moved to Overland Park, Kansas and lived there until I got married. Where did you go to school? I attended Blue Valley North High School, Kansas State...
Continuing Better Speech and Hearing month, this week our speech-language pathologist Teri Burns shares some information with us on Muscle Tension Dysphonia, which is a common condition she treats. You can reach our office at 816-478-4200 if you or a loved one is in need of a voice evaluation. What...
Where did you grow up? I grew up outside of St. Louis, MO. Where did you go to school? I graduated from Francis Howell North High School in St. Charles, MO in 2007. From there, I moved to Kirksville, MO to attend Truman State University where I majored in Communication...
For Better Speech and Hearing Month, last week we had the chance to learn about our speech-language pathologist, Teri Burns. This week we would like to share some information on one of the common disorders that she treats: dysphagia. Teri is excellent and has many years of experience working with...
Where did you grow up? I’ve grown up all over! I was born in Oklahoma, lived in Maine for 7 years, then moved in Monroe, Louisiana where my family still lives. Where did you go to school? I moved to Norman, Oklahoma to attend the University of Oklahoma (OU)....
Where did you grow up? Iowa! I grew up in Sioux City. Where did you go to school? East High ('01), University of Nebraska - Lincoln ('05), University of Kansas ('09) Why did you want to become an audiologist? As a speech language pathology major, I took an Intro to...
Where did you grow up? Wichita, Kansas Where did you go to school? Kapaun Mt. CarmelKUWichita State University Why did you want to become an audiologist? I love working with older adults and wanted to be in a helping profession. Who is someone that has had an influence on you...
Where did you grow up? Born and raised in Overland Park, Kansas Where did you go to school? High School - Shawnee Mission West Undergrad and Grad - KU Doctorate - Salus University Why did you want to become an audiologist? I always knew I wanted to work...
Professional Hearing Center wants to offer you a chance to get to know the audiologists a little better! We are starting a series where each week you will get to learn a little bit more about one of our audiologists. This week we are starting with our fearless leader, Kelly...
One of the many things we do at Professional Hearing Center is evaluations for cochlear implants (CI) and bone anchored systems (BAS). Dr. Anna Grashoff is our go-to audiologist for most of these evaluations, so we’ll discuss a few things with her in today’s blog. 1. Hi there! To start...
Professional Hearing Center is pleased to offer patients custom earplugs and hearing protection. We offer a wide selection to fit a variety of different needs. All custom plugs require an appointment to have impressions taken of your ears. An impression is a silicone cast of your ear that the manufacturer...
Hearing loss is common for individuals with diabetes. According to a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health, hearing loss is twice as common in an individual with diabetes compared to individuals without diabetes. It was also discovered that individuals who are pre-diabetic are 30% more likely to have...
Professional Hearing Center has 14 locations around the greater Kansas City area to serve all of your audiology-related needs! This video highlights our Legends location! Get a glimpse of what you can expect when you schedule an appointment with us at this office. To schedule, call 913-745-6910.
Noise exposure is a common cause for hearing loss. Noise exposure can be the result of recreational noise or occupational noise. It is estimated that 22 million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise levels every year. It is important if you are subjected to high noise levels to wear...
Listening skills and communication strategies involve more than auditory access. Oftentimes, changes in the environment or the communication partner’s behavior yield huge improvements in understanding. Communication Strategies for an Individual with a Hearing Loss Once you have taken the step towards better hearing and have been fit with hearing aids...
Professional Hearing Center has 14 locations around the greater Kansas City area to serve all of your audiology-related needs! This video highlights our Lee's Summit Medical Center location. Get a glimpse of what you can expect when you schedule an appointment with us at this office. To schedule, call 816-478-3008.
From the American Academy of Audiology Schools are required to provide hearing screenings to all children. American Academy of Audiology (2011) Screening guidelines suggest children have a hearing screening: When enrolling in school for the first time. In grades 1, 3, 5, and either 7 or 9. If the student...
From the American Academy of Audiology Bone-Anchored Implants Bone-anchored implants are surgically implantable systems used to treat specific types of hearing loss. Sounds are sent to the inner ear through bone vibrations (conduction), bypassing the outer ear and middle ear. How Does a Bone-Anchored Implant Work? Bone-anchored implants have three...
From the American Academy of Audiology 2-3 in 1000 children are born with a significant hearing loss.[1] Children of any age can be evaluated for hearing loss. Hearing loss can lead to significant difficulties with understanding speech and language, academic performance, and emotional challenges. Early identification of hearing loss can reduce...
From the American Academy of Audiology Listeners with hearing loss have greater difficulties understanding speech in challenging listening environments (e.g. noisy environments) even when wearing assistive devices, such as hearing aids or cochlear implants. Oftentimes, there are three main barriers to improved understanding for anyone with a hearing loss: Distance...
From the American Academy of Audiology 1 in every 200 babies are born with congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection.[1] 1 in 5 of these babies will have long-term health problems.1 What is Cytomegalovirus (CMV)? CMV is a common virus that can infect people of all ages. It is a member of...
From the American Academy of Audiology One in three people older than age 60 have hearing loss; one in two people older than age 85 have hearing loss.[1] Hearing loss related to age is called presbycusis. It is a combination of changes to the Structures of the inner ear Blood...
When you make an appointment at Professional Hearing Center, your first point of contact is one of our Patient Care Coordinators. This group of wonderful ladies takes care of everything from phone calls to appointments to fixing hearing aids and keeping us audiologists in line. I thought we’d do an interview...
From the American Academy of Audiology Approximately three of every 1,000 babies have a significant hearing problem at birth.[i] More than 5,000 babies are born with hearing loss each year.[ii] Babies are not able to tell you they have hearing loss, and the first year of life is critical to...
Today I’d like to introduce you to Dr. Danielle Barton, one of our audiologists at Professional Hearing Center. She has recently completed a program in tinnitus management, and we’ll talk about that today. 1. Hello! You have a lot of letters after your name. I know you’re a doctor of...
During this video you will learn about receiver-in-the-ear hearing aids and learn how to put one in your ear!
Why do people put off wearing hearing aids? This is a question we, as audiologists, ask ourselves almost daily. We see people all day long with hearing loss, many of them untreated, and when the subject of amplification comes up we are often met with some form of a resounding...
Does your hearing aid sound weak or muffled? Does your hearing aid seem dead even after changing the battery? Have you not had your hearing aids professionally cleaned in over six months? These are all signs that you may need to change your wax trap (or wax filter) on the...
From the American Academy of Audiology It is estimated that half of children born with hearing loss have a genetic cause.1 Genes make up DNA-units of heredity that are passed from parents to children. If a gene does not form normally, it is called a mutation. Some of these...
From the American Academy of Audiology What is hidden hearing loss? Hidden hearing loss a relatively new term. It describes hearing loss that cannot be measured by standard hearing tests, even though patients report difficulty hearing, especially in background noise. How is hidden hearing loss measured? ...
From the American Academy of Audiology It is estimated that the annual incidence of sudden sensorineural hearing loss is 1 in 5000 people or about 4000 new cases per year in the US. 1 Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is defined as a rapid onset of hearing loss...
A “comorbidity” is defined as the simultaneous presence of two or more chronic diseases or conditions in a patient. Examples of this include anxiety/depression, obesity/high blood pressure, COPD/pneumonia, and diabetes/neuropathy. Likewise, there are several conditions that have been linked to hearing loss. These comorbidities have been found to affect people...
Foam Earplugs- Visitors to factories or construction sites are often given such ear protection. The advantage is that they are very easy to use and cut out a sufficient amount of noise if inserted correctly. The disadvantage of these is that they can irritate the ear and can be difficult...
October is national Protect Your Hearing month! Facts about hearing loss in the United States: Approximately 37 million people over age 18 report some degree of hearing loss, and twice as many men as women between ages 20-69 have hearing loss. About 25 million Americans also report tinnitus, or ringing...
What is Listening Fatigue? Hearing loss leads to communication difficulties. To maintain optimal understanding, listeners with hearing loss must allocate more cognitive resources, or brain power, to listening than do listeners without hearing loss. This increase in cognitive resources required to listen to speech has been referred to as an...
Adults with untreated hearing loss are less likely to participate in organized social activities, leading to feelings of depression. Nearly 33% of adults 70 years and older have a hearing loss that impacts daily communication. Less than 25% of adults with significant hearing loss use hearing aids. On average, it...
According to the CDC, over 9 percent of the U.S. population has diabetes and the prevalence of diabetes increases with age1. Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes mellitus is a disorder where the body has high blood sugar due to abnormal insulin. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. Without the...
More than 5 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease.1 Hearing loss is a sudden or gradual change in how well you can hear. Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions in older adults.2 As we get older, we are also more at risk for dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, compounding...
1. How do I know if I need a hearing aid? The first step is to have your hearing tested by an audiologist, who will then explain the results to you and offer recommendations. If your hearing isn’t surgically or medically correctable, then hearing aids will be recommended. We’ll go...
Contributed by Lisa Packer, staff writer, Healthy Hearing June 7, 2018 Summer is here and it’s time for fun in the sun. For many of us, summer fun includes splashing in the nearest body of water. But what happens when our desire to cool off in the water leads to...
Daily: Remove your hearing aids when applying cosmetics, hair spray, suntan lotion, perfume, and aftershave as they may get into the hearing aid and cause damage. Clean your hearing aids using a soft cloth, tissue or proper cleaning tools to remove earwax, grease or moisture. Do not use water or...
By Allison Tsai May 2018 You go to routine doctor visits for all kinds of preventive care: eye exams, A1C tests, blood pressure checks, and more. But when was the last time you had a hearing test? If you can’t remember, it’s likely been too long. “Anyone with diabetes should...
Consumers have many different experiences when they look into treating their hearing difficulties. One major difference in success with hearing treatment is whether you look to over-the-counter amplifiers or true hearing aid technology and fitting from an audiologist. This week’s blog is a testimonial from our lovely patient, Jerry, who...
By Bel Marra Health, www.belmarrahealth.comApril 13, 2018 7:00 am Last Updated: April 13, 2018 7:10 am Hearing loss can affect your ability to follow conversations, enjoy your favorite song or movie, and take part in daily activities. Yes, these are all detrimental effects of hearing loss, but there are some...
Daily: Remove your hearing aids when applying cosmetics, hair spray, suntan lotion, perfume, and aftershave as they may get into the hearing aid and cause damage. Clean your hearing aids using a soft cloth, tissue or proper cleaning tools to remove earwax, grease or moisture. Do not use water or...
Contributed by Lisa Packer, staff writer, Healthy Hearing July 14, 2016 After a long cold winter, we might welcome the warm temperatures but for hearing aids, summer is no picnic. The arrival of warm weather brings special concerns that require changes in how you care for your hearing aids. Enjoy...
PROTECT YOUR EARS!! In a study of 112 airport employees exposed to some noise while at work, 42% had a moderate high frequency hearing loss. Airport ground crews are listed as one of the noisiest professions! Prolonged exposure to noise levels above 80 decibels can damage your hearing. Airport ground...
July 4th is around the corner! This means good food, family time, and LOUD noises (specifically fireworks). There are multiple ways to protect your ears from these loud sounds. One of these, the most popular, is generic foam earplugs. In order to assure the earplugs are working properly is making sure they are...
“My hearing is normal, but I am constantly asking people to repeat what they said. “If it’s quiet, I can hear, but if lots of kids start talking in my classroom, I have a really hard time hearing my teacher.” “When my mom talks really fast, I can’t keep up...
The human body is intricately designed to execute the most basic to complex functions. Many of these functions occur involuntarily to enrich our quality of life. The ear works in the same way. Our ears rapidly work to transmit and optimize the sounds in our environment for the purpose of...
Most of the time, hearing aids will help you hear and understand better in almost any situation. However, hearing is very subjective, and no two people will hear speech and environmental sounds the same way, even if their hearing loss is identical. I always tell my patients that I can...
What causes BPPV? BPPV occurs when some of the calcium carbonate crystals (or otoconia) that are normally embedded in the utricle become dislodged and migrate into one or more of the three fluid-filled semicircular canals, where they are not supposed to be. These particles can interfere with the normal fluid...
What is a cochlear implant? A cochlear implant is an electronic medical device designed to help people with very significant hearing loss who no longer receive benefit from hearing aids. Unlike hearing aids, which amplify sounds, cochlear implants do the work of the damaged parts of the inner ear to...
Hearing aids have improved dramatically in a short period of time; they are no longer the bulky whistling devices of before and a far cry from the ear-trumpets pictured on the left. It is not very difficult to imagine why ear trumpets were never en vogue. Research and development have...
What are the different types of hearing aids? Hearing aids are available in many different styles and technology. They can be very small and sit deep inside the ear canal (IIC) to the larger, more powerful behind the ear (BTE) style. The degree of your hearing loss helps determine which...
Hearing aid batteries While there are rechargeable batteries available on the market, the most common type is still the zinc-air button disposable battery. Because zinc-air batteries are air-activated, a factory-sealed sticker allows them to remain inactive until it is removed. Once peeled from the back of the battery, oxygen will...
ENT is an acronym for a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of Ear, Nose, and Throat disorders. The true name for this specialty physician is otorhinolaryngologist. According to the American Academy of Otorhinolaryngology, otorhinolaryngology is the oldest medical specialty in the United States. These physicians have completed...
Audiologists are healthcare professionals who are skilled in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of hearing and balance disorders. As audiologists, we take pride in combining our enthusiasm for serving others with evidence-based practice to improve the lives of inpiduals in our communities. Becoming a credentialed hearing healthcare provider is a...
Professional Hearing Center is an ever-growing private practice of state licensed and nationally credentialed audiologists in the greater Kansas City area. The practice was started by Dr. Kelly Spiller in 2008 in Belton, Missouri. As the practice grew, Dr. Spiller opened a second location in Liberty, Missouri. In 2015, Dr....