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October is Audiology Awareness month
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Hi ,

October is a special month for Audiology as it is recognized as “Audiology Awareness Month.” As Doctors of Audiology we like to take this month to reflect on what audiology means and the importance of protecting our hearing.

Audiologists are just that- doctors of hearing. We think about hearing on all levels. From hearing protection and conservation, to treatment of hearing loss and other hearing related matters such as tinnitus and balance issues.

In the month of October, (and every month) we encourage you to practice healthy hearing habits! Here are some do and don’t for hearing health:


Do’s:
  1. Do get your ears and hearing checked regularly.
  2. Do go to a professional to have excessive ear wax removed.
  3. Do use earplugs to protect your hearing around loud sounds.
  4. Do dry your ears after showering or swimming.
  5. Do stay physically active. Staying physically active helps keep the heart and circulation system healthy, which helps keeps your ears healthy.
Don’ts
  1. Don’t put cotton swabs in your ear canal.
  2. Don’t crank up your headphones.
  3. Don’t ignore pain or drainage from your ears — go to a doctor.
  4. Don’t smoke. Smoking is known to affect hearing through the circulation system.
  5. Don’t assume hearing loss is just for older people. Hearing loss is an increasing danger to younger individuals due exposure to loud sounds via earbuds.


https://www.starkey.com/blog/articles/2018/10/Dos-donts-of-good-ear-health
In this issue's article, Dr. Tubbs, who practices at our Broomfield location, will be talking about the different types of professionals who treat and work with the ears. If you feel you need hearing help, feel free to contact any of our seven locations.

Ch'ears'!
Whitney Swander, Au.D
Owner, Doctor of Audiology

P.S. Feel you need help towards better hearing? Call today to schedule an appointment for any of your hearing needs. 720-896-7345

 
Often in my profession, I get asked “Why should I see an Audiologist?” It's an age-old question and with OTC hearing aids just hitting the market, it is important for patients to understand what a Doctor of Audiology can offer and how we are different from others who work in the hearing industry.

Audiologists are doctors of hearing.

We undergo eight years of schooling, starting with a Bachelor’s degree, typically in health and sciences, and then go on to earn our doctorate. During our four years of graduate school, we specialize in learning how hearing works and how to best treat certain hearing loss, and conditions such as tinnitus and balance. We then become licensed in the state where we practice and maintain continuing education credits to keep our minds fresh.
In our scope of practice, we can offer a variety of services and treatments such as removing foreign objects from ear canals, including earwax, treating tinnitus, providing aural rehabilitation, treating hearing loss and more.
As Audiologists, we like to work from the outside in to find where a person may be having hearing difficulties. We always start with an inspection of the outer ear, which includes the cartilaginous piece we see to help funnel sound into the ear canal. Once the ear canal is clear, we then move on to check our middle ear. This is done with an otoscope and allows us to see inside the ear.
The middle ear includes the eardrum and the 3 tiniest bones in the body known plainly as the hammer, anvil, and stirrup. If the middle ear is functioning well, we then test the inner ear, which includes our hearing organ, the cochlea, which houses hair cells that send signals to the brain to help us process the sounds we hear.  The cochlea also contains part of our balance system that can be a cause for vertigo or dizziness. Because part of the balance system is also located in the inner ear, some audiologists also test and treat different balance disorders
In our industry, we often work closely with Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENTs) doctors to help our patients on their hearing journeys. Audiologists also always report back to primary care providers to keep them updated on any hearing health changes that could apply to other areas of their health. There are known medications that can cause hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ears), and we often look for those when discussing treatment options with the team of medical providers. We are able to refer patients to other medical providers in case there are potential surgeries that could help more than any hearing aid could.
Hearing aid specialists (HIS) must have completed high school, or, in some states, possess a two year degree. In addition, HIS's must pass a written and practical exam to become licensed by the State in which they practice. They are trained in the interpretation of hearing assessment instrumentation, hearing devices electronics, specifications and programming hearing devices. The bigger difference is that audiologists conduct diagnostic hearing evaluations to determine if the hearing loss could be medically or surgically treated. Audiologists look at a person's overall health to see what other factors could be contributing to their hearing loss, and use that information to create an individualized hearing treatment plan. We recommend annual hearing tests for people with hearing aids and without, to monitor any changes. Most adults have never had a hearing test, other than a school screening during childhood. Hearing loss can occur at any age so it is important to have your ears checked at least once a year.
Untreated or unknown hearing loss can lead to a life of isolation, depression, frustration, and much more. If you or a loved one are experiencing signs of hearing loss, tinnitus, or dizziness, we recommended calling our office to schedule an appointment with our amazing Audiologists!
From the Audiologists at Hearing HealthCare Centers, we thank you for your support and trust. We are proud to serve the front range community!
 
If you didn't get a chance to check out Dr. Swander, who was a guest speaker on The Dr. Cliff Show, there is a link below to view the full video. Dr. Swander was able to share her insights and thoughts on OTC Hearing Aids.
 
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(303) 499-3900

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(970) 221-5011
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Hearing HealthCare Centers - Boulder, 4800 Baseline Road #E-108, Boulder, CO 80303, United States


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