What is an Audiologist?

Audiologists are specialists in hearing health care who provide diagnostic and rehabilitative services to individuals with hearing and balance problems. Specifically, audiologists specialize in the prevention, detection, assessment, and rehabilitation of hearing and balance disorders. Many audiologists fit and dispense hearing aids, counsel patients on the use and care of hearing aids and provide follow-up care. In addition, many are also involved in programs which monitor and help prevent noise-induced hearing loss.

Hearing Diagnostic Services Provided

The audiologists at ENT, Ltd. are committed to individualized care. Each patient has unique needs and abilities. Our recommendations and continuing care are specifically developed to meet those needs through comprehensive diagnostic services to both the adult and pediatric population

• Routine hearing evaluations – A hearing (audiometric) test is part of an ear examination that evaluates a person's ability to hear by measuring the ability of sound to reach the brain. Sounds are actually vibrations of different frequencies and intensities in the air around us; air in the ear canals and bones in the ears and skull help these vibrations travel from the ear to the brain, where you “hear” them. Hearing tests check for hearing loss, identify how severe it is, and determine what is causing it. Hearing tests help determine what kind of hearing loss you have by measuring your ability to hear sounds that reach the inner ear through the ear canal (air-conducted sounds) and sounds transmitted through bones (bone-conducted sounds). Most hearing tests ask you to respond to a series of tones or words, but there are some hearing tests that do not require a response.

• Otoacoustic emissions testing (OAE) – OAE or otoacoustic emission testing is the recording of sounds that the ear produces itself. Otoacoustic emissions were first reported by Kemp in 1978. They appear to be generated by motile elements in the cochlear outer hair cells. OAEs are measured by presenting a series of sounds to the ear through a probe that is inserted in the ear canal. The probe contains a loudspeaker that generates the sounds and a microphone that measures the resulting OAEs that are produced in the cochlea and are transmitted through the middle ear into the outer ear canal. The resulting sound that is picked up by the microphone is digitized and processed using signal averaging methodology.

• Tympanometry – Tests the movement of the eardrum when an ear infection or other middle ear problem is suspected. The Audiologist places the tip of a hand-held tool into the ear. The tool changes the air pressure inside the ear and produces a clear tone. Then, the tool measures how the eardrum responds to the pressure and the sound. The results of this test are used to help figure out what is going on in the ear. The results of tympanometry tell doctors whether there is fluid behind the eardrum or whether an ear tube is blocked. The test can also discover whether there is a hole in the eardrum. This information helps doctors decide what kind of treatment may be needed.

• Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) Evaluation – ABR testing is used to screen problems with the acoustic nerve and auditory brainstem. The test requires a patient to lie relaxed and still for approximately 30 minutes. Clicking sounds are played through earphones while the response is recorded.

• Electronystagmography (ENG/VNG)is a diagnostic test to record involuntary movements of the eye caused by a condition known as nystagmus. It can also be used to diagnose the cause of vertigo, dizziness or balance dysfunction by testing the vestibular system. There is an interaction between the eyes, eye muscles and the inner ear balance system. During an ENG test, eye movements are recorded by special video cameras fitted on goggles placed over the eyes. A computer analyzes the eye movements and provides information about the kind of messages the inner ear is sending to control the movement of the eyes through the central nervous system. This is currently the best way to check how well the inner ear balance mechanism works.

Rehabilitative services include

• Hearing aid counseling, dispensing, and repair
• Cochlear Implant recommendations, mapping and programming
• Assistive listening device and FM system recommendations
• Custom swimplugs, hearing protection devices (HPDs) and musicians filtered HPDs

Hearing Aids/ Hearing Aid Evaluation

Upon completion of the hearing evaluation the doctor may recommend that you meet with one of our licensed audiologists to determine the type of hearing aids that best address your needs. Areas of discussion will focus on

• Degree of hearing loss
• Ear or Ears affected
• Technology of the devices
• Style of the hearing aids
• Cost of the hearing aids and non-refundable services

Hearing Aid Fit

• We offer a 45-day trial period during which you can assess the advantages of amplification in the real world which allows valuable time for you to adjust to the devices
• Time for the audiologist to make changes to the devices
• Option to return the hearing aids if you are not satisfied
• At ENT, Ltd., we offer digital hearing aids which provide the highest flexibility and fidelity in hearing instruments today.

Other benefits include:

• Three month interest-free payment plan
• Two-year warranty for Loss, Damage and Repair.
• Dehumidifier
• No-cost hearing aid visits while under warranty
• Minor repairs scheduled in office

Hearing Aid Repair

• Some hearing aid problems require factory repair. The cost for out of warranty repairs varies based on the manufacturer and the age of the instrument.

Hearing Aid Supplies

• Batteries
• Dry aid bricks
• Waxguards
• Cleaning tools