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Better Hearing Month

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In 1927, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) designated May as Better Hearing and Speech Month. Encouraging people to think about their own hearing and get their hearing checked is the first step towards addressing the issue of hearing loss.

Noise is now acknowledged as an important public health issue and is actually a top environmental risk faced by the world today, according to the World Health Organization’s first World Report on Hearing.

The average person is born with about 16,000 hair cells within the inner ear, which allow your brain to detect sounds. You can lose 30-50% of those cells before changes in your hearing can be measured by a hearing test. Noise can also damage the auditory nerve that carries information about sounds to your brain. Although there is no treatment to restore normal hearing once it has been damaged, you can help prevent hearing loss.

Since 1967, Starkey has led the way in hearing aid breakthroughs, providing quality products that withstand the most grueling quality control processes in the industry. All of their hearing aids must first survive over 50 performance and durability tests. With over 360 active software and hardware patents, Starkey is a leader in better hearing.

Their new Genesis AI hearing aids feature an all-new processor, sound, design and software for an all-new patient experience. With the industry’s most advanced processor technology, it mimics the cerebral cortex of the human brain. It adapts to more listening situations than ever before, utilizing complex pattern recognition with advanced machine learning technology.

Early identification and intervention for hearing loss is important. Unidentified hearing loss causes many people to fail to realize they are missing certain words and sounds. Our highly-trained audiologists have completed several years of specialized education in order to appropriately treat patients for a variety of auditory conditions, including hearing loss. They will take the time to diagnose your symptoms and discover the best treatment option for you.

Dentistry & Physical Therapy: An Unlikely Duo

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While physical therapy and dentistry may not seem to be related, they can actually go hand in hand. While you may not have directly related issues, you may suffer from neck pain, jaw pain, or headaches. Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are disorders of the jaw muscles, temporomandibular joints, and the nerves associated with chronic facial pain. Continue reading “Dentistry & Physical Therapy: An Unlikely Duo” →

Finding Sinus Relief

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Chronic sinusitis occurs when your sinuses are swollen and inflamed for three months or longer, interfering with the way mucus drains and making your nose stuffy. Breathing through your nose may be difficult, and the area around your eyes may feel tender or swollen. It can be caused by an infection, growths in the sinuses (nasal polyps), or by swelling of the sinus lining. Continue reading “Finding Sinus Relief” →

The Benefits of Assisted Devices

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Individuals with disabilities, injuries, or older adults who are at an increased risk of falling may choose to use an assisted device. These devices such as canes, walkers, etc. can benefit patients in several ways.

Assisted devices promote independence and increase activity level and mobility. They reduce the stress on caretakers and family members, improving their quality of life and that of the person they are caring for. These devices also reduce the risk for falls and injuries, and reduce early entry into care homes and hospitals.

Finding the right type of assisted device is crucial. One of our physical therapists can help. By assessing your balance, gait, cognition, musculoskeletal challenges, cardiovascular fitness and any neurological conditions, they can help recommend what device best suits your needs. You may also need an assisted device that matches your weight-bearing status. The most common type of assisted devices include canes, walkers, wheelchairs, and more.

Canes and crutches both support the body’s weight and help transmit the load from the legs to the upper body. However, canes take less weight off the lower body and place greater pressure on the wrists and hands. Canes and walking sticks come in a variety of designs. However, they need to be sized properly and have a grip that you are comfortable using. It is estimated that 1 in every 10 adults over the age of 65 in the United States uses a cane.

Walkers are very stable devices that are used by nearly 5 percent of adults in the United States over the age of 65. The metal framework has for legs that provide support and stability to the user. Some walkers have wheels or glides on the base of the legs.

Wheelchairs are best for those who should not put weight on their lower limbs or who are unable to walk. They can be manually propelled by the user, pushed by someone else, or power electrically.

For more information on assisted devices, please visit our website at fyzical.com/peoria or call (309) 589-5900 today.

FYZICAL THERAPY & BALANCE CENTER – A DIVISION OF PEORIA EAR, NOSE & THROAT GROUP

The Importance of the Thyroid Gland

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Your thyroid gland is something you may not ever think about. As long as it’s functioning properly, it’s always working – making sure it produces the right amount of hormones necessary for all the cells in your body to work normally. However, when your thyroid gland malfunctions, the food you eat may not make the transition to energy that you need for all the processes that sustain your life. Continue reading “The Importance of the Thyroid Gland” →

Are over-the-counter hearing aids right for you?

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Approximately 15% of American adults over the age of 18 report some trouble hearing, and nearly 25% of those between the ages of 65 and 74 have hearing loss severe enough to affect their daily life. In an effort to make a more accessible solution, the FDA recently made over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids available at some retail stores in Illinois. However, they can be purchased without a professional hearing evaluation and are not yet available through licensed, professional audiologists who are experienced experts in hearing loss. While this may make them a more convenient option, they may not be the best solution for you.

Prescription hearing aids require a hearing evaluation – the audiologist performing your evaluation can help determine if hearing aids are the correct remedy for your issue(s) and exactly which device will personally meet your exact needs. Prescription hearing aids can be fit for all ages, can be customized to the individual wearer, and are programmed and supported by a professional. Follow-up care and instructions are provided, and the state mandates a return policy.

For comparison, OTC hearing aids are currently only available for those aged 18+ with only mild to (at best) moderate hearing loss. No professional fitting or support is provided, and they come with self-guided instructions. One size fits most, and there is no state requirement for a return policy. It’s a more ‘cookie-cutter’ approach to hearing loss solutions.

Prescription Hearing Aids Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids
Who fits them? Programmed and Supported by a Professional (Licensed Audiologist) Self-fit, no professional fitting or support
Intended User? For any age, any medical status For Ages 18+, best for those without complex ear conditions
Degree of Hearing Loss? Any degree – hearing aid is programmed to the individual hearing loss profile Self-perceived mild to moderate
Design? Full-range, including standard and customized options Limited: one-size-fits-most
Follow-Up? Follow-up care and instructions provided by a professional Come with self-guided instructions

Peoria ENT Group believes a hearing aid is only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to providing you or your loved one with a hearing solution. Our Doctors of Audiology partner with our Doctors of Medicine to find the very best solution to fit your specific needs and lifestyle. We provide a comprehensive menu of hearing evaluation, selection, fitting & dispensing of hearing aids and assistive devices, counseling, and continued support.

IF A HEARING AID is part of the solution, you can rest assured you will be provided the most advanced technology, the best warranty available, and the longest trial period offered anywhere. We know the products we offer are proven to work in real-life situations with the highest degree of patient satisfaction.

For more information, please visit our website at peoriaearnosethroat.com or call (309) 589-5900.

Your body on a lack of sleep

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man not sleepingYou may know that sleep is good for you. But did you know that not getting enough sleep is linked with many long-term health problems, including diabetes, obesity, and depression?

Sleep helps heal our bodies and minds by allowing time for us to grow and repair cells and form new pathways for learning and remembering. Why is sleep so hard for us to achieve? Things like traveling or too much caffeine can trigger insomnia, though stress and worry can also keep you from resting well. Find out what else gets in the way of sleep and what you can do to help.

Learn more about how lack of sleep impacts your overall wellbeing >

13-year-old making ‘ear savers’ for masks using 3D printer

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Read the original article here!

EDWARDS (WEEK) – 13-year-old Ben Jones has started making, what are called ear savers, for those wearing masks at Peoria Ear Nose and Throat Medical Group.

The teen from Edwards is using his 3D printer. The idea came to him after he saw boy scouts from Canada doing the same. Jones says he is used to just making figurines on his printer, so it has been a learning curve when it comes to making ear savers. Now that he has the hang of it, he can make nearly 45 ear savers per day.

” I’m not making masks, I’m making the ear savers because nurses that use them, their ears get really raw, the back of them, after using a mask for a really long time, and they’re going to be using masks for a really long time because of the pandemic,” Jones said.

So far, Jones has made more than 100 ear savers for Peoria Ear Nose and Throat Medical Group. Doctor James Klemens says this is a game changer for the one size fits all model for masks.

“You can’t necessarily pull the masks very tight, so wearing those ear savers, it has an adjustable setting,” Doctor Klemens said.

Doctor Klemens says in addition to the ear savers, the medical group has been looking for a piece to connect a new type of face mask. Doctor Klemens explains the mask is a reusable device that can be washed and used with a filter. In the UK, doctors have figured out how to use a scuba mask connected to a filter as a replacement for an N 95 mask.

“One of the reasons we haven’t been able to do more elective procedures is because we don’t have enough protective gear,” Doctor Klemens said.

Doctor Klemens asked Jones if he could create something new on his 3D printer to connect the scuba mask to the filter, and Jones was able to do that.

“It’s going to really be the difference between us being able to get the real back log of surgical cases that, maybe they weren’t urgent at the beginning of all this, but the longer that we wait, more of them need to be done,” Doctor Klemens said.

“I’m just trying to be helpful because I know a lot of other people with 3D printers are doing this so I’m just doing my part to help people out during this pandemic,” Jones said.