Another speaker at our conference, Fan-gang Zang, Ph.D. of University of California, Irvine, presented his discussion on tinnitus and a new tinnitus therapy that he is helping to develop. At least 50 million Americans have some kind of tinnitus, which is explained as a perception of sound in the head when no external sound is…
Updates from the conference – “Hearing Science”
There are several causes of acquired hearing loss today and audiologists can monitor patient’s hearing but we don’t have the ability to prevent the loss. Exposure to loud noise is the most common reason for acquired hearing loss but also there are medications or therapies that people must take that can damage their hearing. Aminoglycoside…
Annual California Academy of Audiology Convention
I just got back from our annual state convention, which took place in Anaheim this year. It is very inspiring to get together with audiologists from all over the state to network and share information about new developments in Audiology. I am in my fourth year serving on the Board of Directors of the state…
Financing plans for hearing aids
Hearing aids are essential for good quality of life for the hearing impaired, but people put off getting them due to the big upfront expense. A few years ago when the economy started to slow down, we had people asking how they could afford to buy aids. Valley Audiology now offers a financing plan through…
Cell phones and hearing aid compatibility
Manufacturers rate cell phones models based on their compatibility with hearing aid microphones and telecoils. The highest rating a phone can receive is a “4” so a phone rated M4/T4 is the best model for a hearing aid wearer to purchase. If you are in the market for a new cell phone, check out the…
How do I know if I have a hearing loss?
Typically hearing loss comes on so gradually that it is difficult for the person with the loss to realize what they are missing. Here are some of the first symptoms that my patients report: -Turning up the TV or radio volume louder than other family members want it -Difficulty understanding conversation when there is background…
Movie captioning arrives in the East Bay!
The Century Theater in Pleasant Hill has captioning! When buying your ticket at the box office, ask them for a captioning device. You will need to leave your driver’s license or other form of ID. You set up the device in your cup holder and position it so you can read while watching the movie….
Great article about getting hearing aids
Here is a great article I read about one man’s journey to hearing aids. Rick Anthony, the founder and director of The Solutions Network, a consulting company, writes his article in Boomerliving.com. His story is very familiar! http://www.boomer-living.com/2011/07/for-god%E2%80%99s-sake-get-a-hearing-aid%E2%80%9D/
The Widex Clear has been released to the US market
The new Widex Clear hearing aid has been fit on patients in Europe for months and the reviews are sounding great! Because the hearing aid has a sound generating feature called Zen, Widex had to get approval from the FDA before releasing it to the U.S. market. The new technology includes a sound softening feature…
Importance of Good Staff
I’ve just returned from vacation and, once again, I’m thrilled by the competence of my staff. The patients are all well taken care of even when I’m not here. I am making a point of this publicly in my blog because the quality of the staff is an essential point to consider when choosing a…