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October: National Audiology Month

Posted on by Peoria Ear, Nose & Throat Group in ,

October is National Audiology Month, spreading awareness about the services audiologists provide and how they may be able to help you. Audiologists provide patient-centered care in the prevention, identification, diagnosis, and treatment of hearing disorders for people of all ages.

Hearing loss is explained in three ways: type, degree, and configuration.

Types

  • Conductive (this type makes sounds softer, since sound is not sent easily through the outer ear canal to the eardrum)
  • Sensorineural (when there is damage to the inner ear or nerve pathways from the inner ear to the brain. Most of the time, this type cannot be medically or surgically corrected)
  • Mixed (occurs when both conductive and sensorineural are experienced)

Degree – refers to the severity of the loss, ranging from Normal to Profound.

Configuration – refers to the degree and pattern of hearing loss across frequencies (tones).

You may be wondering if you or a loved one should seek the expertise of an audiologist. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has a list of questions you can check – if you answer Yes to one or more of the following, make an appointment to see an audiologist:

Health and Wellness

Do you have ear pain? Yes No
Are you worried about an earwax blockage? Yes No
Do you have noises in your ears (such as ringing, buzzing, clicking, or humming)? Yes No
Do you have dizziness or trouble with balance? Yes No

Television and Telephone

Do your friends and family tell you that your TV is too loud? Yes No
Do you have trouble hearing your favorite show but can hear commercials easily? Yes No
Do you have a problem hearing on the telephone? Yes No
Do you hear better in one ear than the other? Yes No

Communication and Relationships

Do you have trouble hearing in restaurants or large groups? Yes No
Do you ask people to repeat themselves? Yes No
Do you respond inappropriately in conversation? Yes No
Do family members or coworkers say that you misunderstand what they said? Yes No
Do many people you talk to seem to mumble (or not speak clearly)? Yes No
Do you have trouble understanding women and children? Yes No
Do people get upset because you don’t hear what they say? Yes No

 

Audiologists can also provide personalized treatment and services to people suffering from a variety of conditions such as issues with hearing loss, dizziness/balance, and tinnitus via treatment plans that include hearing aids and assistive technology. They can offer hearing screenings, and if you haven’t begun experiencing hearing loss, they can provide protection to help prevent future loss.

According to the Hearing Loss Association of America, people with hearing loss wait an average of 7 years before receiving help. But the earlier an audiologist can identify any issues through hearing tests, the easier the hearing loss is to treat and/or prevent! Our highly-trained Doctors of Audiology have completed at least eight years of university education in order to appropriately treat patients for a variety of auditory conditions. They will take the time to diagnose your symptoms and discover the best treatment option for you.

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

Fight The Fall – Fall Prevention Awareness

Posted on by Peoria Ear, Nose & Throat Group in

September is Falls Prevention Awareness Month, and FYZICAL is bringing the focus to this very important topic. According to the CDC, each year, more than 3 million people aged 65 or older are evaluated in emergency departments due to falls related to incidents.

Falls are not an inevitable result of aging. These are steps you can take to improve balance and decrease the chances of falling. It is never too early or too late to address the risk of falling.

Although common, falls can be dangerous and lead to many types of injuries. 1/10 falls results in an injury that causes a person to restrict activities.

FYZICAL Peoria brings balance and neurological rehab to the next level with specialized training and equipment for the treatment of dizziness and balance disorders. With a safety harness and overhead track system, patients can push themselves in activities that would normally provoke a fear of falling. A hallmark of our therapy process involves a unique system by Bertec. This equipment allows for Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP) and a controlled Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) experience.

CDP allows for evaluation of functional use of a person’s senses when trying to maintain balance in a falls risk environment. CDP consists of 3 subtests that evaluate which sensory systems a person is most reliant on, how quickly reflexes engage when the environment changes, and how quickly a person can learn a new strategy to maintain balance.

Our team compares your scores with age-related averages to determine if your CDP scores are appropriate for your age. The FYZICAL Peoria team then uses this information, to develop a tailored therapy plan for each patient.

The IVR capabilities of the Bertec allows for high level rehab exercises in simulated environments that could normally be a falls risk environment. A person with motion intolerance may benefit from a simulated grocery store experience or person with neuropathy may benefit from a visual display of how posture and weight barring are influencing overall balance.

Unsure of whether balance therapy is appropriate for you? Please fill out the below self-assessment quiz for guidance.

This self-assessment quiz can help determine if you or your loved one are at risk for a fall:

I have fallen in the past year Yes (2) No
I use or have been advised to use a cane or walker Yes (2) No
I sometimes lose my balance while walking Yes (1) No
I worry about falling Yes (1) No
I use my arms to push myself up from a chair Yes (1) No
I sometimes have trouble stepping up onto a curb Yes (1) No
My body sways when standing stationary Yes (1) No
I take short narrow steps Yes (1) No
I stumble often or look at the ground when I walk. Yes (1) No
I frequently have to rush to the toilet. Yes (1) No
I have lost some feeling in one or both of my feet. Yes (1) No
My medication makes me feel light-headed or sleepy. Yes (1) No

If you scored four points or more, protect yourself and schedule your fall risk evaluation today.

Contact FYZICAL Peoria today by visiting our website fyzical.com/peoria or calling (309) 589-5900 to Fight the Fall.

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

What Is an Allergy and How Is It Treated?

Posted on by Peoria Ear, Nose & Throat Group in ,

Allergy causes are seemingly everywhere. They can include airborne allergens (such as mold, pollen, animal dander, or dust mites), foods (most common with peanuts, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, eggs, or milk), insect stings, medications, or other substances (like latex). When you have allergies, your immune system reacts by producing antibodies that identify a particular allergen as harmful, even though it isn’t. When you come into contact with that allergen, your system’s reaction can inflame your skin, sinuses, airways or digestive system. Over 50 million Americans (1 in 6) experience some type of allergy.

Symptoms range from mild to severe and can include sneezing, itchy eyes, nose, or throat, runny or stuffy nose, hives, swelling of the lips, tongue, or face, or a rash. In the most extreme cases, it may trigger a life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis. Those with a family history of asthma or allergies, who have asthma or another allergic condition themselves, or children may be more likely to develop an allergy.

The first step in treating an allergy is an accurate diagnosis by an immunologist or allergist, usually involving either skin pricks and/or blood tests. This decides whether symptoms are caused by an allergy and if so, what triggers it as accurately as possible. The diagnosis will target the appropriate treatment or clinical intervention to allow avoidance of the trigger.

Treatment options may involve managing symptoms through the use of antihistamine creams, pills, steroid creams, inhalers, or auto-injectors. For allergens related to food, drugs, venom, latex, or pet dander, avoidance is a possible approach. In cases of acute tongue swelling or anaphylaxis, rescue medications may be necessary. Another avenue is immunotherapy, where allergy shots containing a controlled amount of a specific allergen help stimulate the immune system gradually, building tolerance over time. It’s crucial to be aware of potential interactions during allergen avoidance, such as cross-reactions between latex and fruits/vegetables or tree pollen and fresh fruits.

Although seasonal allergies are common, the truth is that allergies can affect us at any time throughout the year. At Peoria ENT, our team of allergy & asthma specialists are dedicated to providing you with the highest quality of care. Our highly-trained providers have completed several years of specialized education and will take the time to diagnose your symptoms and discover the best treatment option.

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

Benefits of Balance Training and Orthopedic Rehabilitation

Posted on by Peoria Ear, Nose & Throat Group in

FYZICAL is much more than your typical physical therapy clinic – our goal is to help you discover how to achieve the pinnacle of healthy living, expand your boundaries, feel younger, and revitalize your health. Our physical therapists have advanced clinical education and training, specialty certifications, and years of experience to help you live your best life!

Benefits of Balance Training

Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in an emergency room for a fall-related injury. If you or someone you know suffers from dizziness or imbalance, keep in mind that intervention is key. There are steps you can take to improve your balance, decrease the chance of falling, and help to maintain your independence.

Balance and gait are intrinsically linked because one often impacts the other. Both rely on a complex number of body systems, including the inner ear, eyes, joint-muscle-nerve system, and cognitive functions. Therapy that improves gait and balance works with all these systems to keep them functioning in harmony.

Even if you don’t think you’re at risk of falling over, feeling like you’re ‘running out of steam’ while walking could be a sign of slowing reflexes, which makes moving around seem more strenuous than it actually is. Balance can be substantially improved with specific training and rehabilitation.

At FYZICAL, we can help improve your balance and walking skills through balance therapy. Therapy can help compensate for imbalance or adapt to less balance, while maintaining physical activity.

Benefits of Orthopedic Rehabilitation

Orthopedic rehabilitation is a form of therapy that treats a wide variety of conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system. The musculoskeletal system provides stability and support to your body and allows you to move. The muscular system includes all types of muscles in your body, as well as the tendons. The skeletal system includes all the bones in the body, which connect to form joints.

Orthopedic issues can have a negative impact on your physical and mental health, leading to pain and decreased mobility, stress, anxiety, and depression. Physical therapists are movement experts who can identify, diagnose, and treat movement problems, designing treatment plans for each patient’s individual goals, challenges, and needs.

Orthopedic rehabilitation can include physical therapy rehabilitation, pain management, pre- and post-surgical care, and more.

Before you undergo expensive or invasive surgery, try physical therapy. For some conditions, including meniscal tears and knee osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tears, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disk disease, treatment by a physical therapist has been found to be as effective as surgery.

Contact FYZICAL Peoria today by visiting our website fyzical.com/peoria or calling (309) 589-5900!

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

Get to Know The Peoria ENT Physician Assistants

Posted on by Peoria Ear, Nose & Throat Group in

Physician Assistants (PA-Cs) are highly qualified, licensed members of healthcare teams that assist in diagnosing, treating, prescribing medication, and more. At Peoria ENT (PENT), we are grateful to have two incredibly talented Board-Certified Physician Assistants, Jamie Jelinek and Richard Miller, on our team. We wanted to provide a spotlight for the public to learn more about them and how they impact our patients each day!

Jamie Jelinek.
Jamie Jelinek, PA-C
Rich Miller PA-C.
Richard A. Miller, PA-C

 

Q: What first sparked your interest in medicine/surgery?

Jamie: In college, I worked as a nursing assistant at a local hospital. I was exposed to many different roles, but was most drawn to the PA (Physician Assistant) profession. I felt that PAs were in a unique position to broaden the care delivered to the patient and fill some crucial gaps that existed in medicine.

Rich: My grandmother and mother were both nurses and my father was a physician, so medicine was the first field I was exposed to as a young child.

 

Q: What drew you to the ear/nose/throat (ENT) specialty?

Jamie: I worked as a primary care PA for 2 ½ years before transitioning to ENT. I love that ENT, like family medicine, offers the opportunity to see people of all ages and form a longstanding relationship with many of my patients. I also find that the ENT specialty is narrow enough to become very familiar with the majority of problems that our patients face, but varied enough that I am constantly learning.

Rich: My neighbor is an ENT physician, and offered me a great position in 2008 where I didn’t have to be on call or work weekends.

 

Q: How long have you been at Peoria ENT?

Jamie: I’ve been there 8 ½ years.

Rich: I’ve been with PENT for 5 ½ years.

 

Q: What is your favorite part of what you do?

Jamie: I enjoy many aspects of my job, but the ultimate goal and reward is helping to relieve frustrating symptoms for patients. My favorite would have to be fungal ear infections!

Rich: Being able to treat and explain difficult ENT problems to patients is my favorite part of the job.

 

Q: What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Jamie: I enjoy yoga, hiking, boating, and spending time with my husband and 2 children.

Rich: I like skiing, camping, hiking, road/mountain biking, and spending time with my wife and three daughters.

 

Q: What is one fact most people don’t know about you?

Jamie: I am left-handed and love telling people fun facts about lefties!

Rich: I really had no interest in going into the medical field until I was a Certified National Ski Patroller from 1994-1996 at Keystone Ski Resort in Colorado.

 

Jamie and Rich are invaluable members of the PENT team, and we are fortunate to have them help treat our patients!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Importance of Hearing

Posted on by Peoria Ear, Nose & Throat Group in ,

Hearing is essential for maintaining relationships and connections, fully participating in community activities, and experiencing life events to the fullest. Your quality of life is directly impacted by the ability to engage, listen, laugh, and enjoy those moments. Celebrate your ears and all they can do for you with these facts:

  1. Ears never sleep! When we are asleep, our ears still hear 100% of the sounds around us, even if we’re not aware of them. Our brain is responsible for processing all sounds, and it learns to ignore the sounds so you can sleep soundly.
  2. Your ears have very tiny hairs – and they’re very important! These tiny nerve fibers help us maintain balance, but they’re also there to help us hear. They are delicate and sensitive, and can be easily damaged or broken. Once they break, they don’t grow back. Some of the main reasons for this type of hair cell loss include sound exposure, natural aging, and ototoxic medications.
  3. The average hearing range for a human is between 20 and 20,000 Hz. Bats, dolphins, elephants, pigeons, and moths have so-called “superpower hearing”—an extraordinary ability to hear sounds inaudible to humans. There are also some animals that have almost no sense of hearing, including the armadillo, squid, octopus, cuttlefish, naked mole rats, and spiders.
  4. Without your ears, you would lose your balance. Inside your inner ear is a maze-like structure known as the semi-circular canals, which are part of the vestibular system. Information coming from that system is processed in the brain and then sent to other organs that need this information, such as the eyes and muscles. This allows us to maintain balance and know what position our body is in.

Hearing has a huge impact on everyday life. When your hearing starts to fade, everything becomes slightly more difficult, less enjoyable, and more confusing. If you detect the signs of hearing loss, arrange a consultation with Peoria ENT. Our highly-trained Doctors of Audiology have completed several years of specialized education in order to appropriately treat patients for a variety of auditory conditions. They will take the time to diagnose your symptoms and discover the best treatment option for you.

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

 

Osia System Implanted by Dr. James Klemens

Posted on by Peoria Ear, Nose & Throat Group in ,

Last week, our first US commercially available Osia System featuring the OSI300 implant was implanted by Dr. James Klemens and his surgical team! Pictured here is Dr. Klemens and his surgical RN, Jessica Wilson.

Dr. Klemens tells us why he chose the Osia System: “Cochlear Americas has a well known track record for reliability. Couple that with the wide frequency range that the Osia [System] can amplify in a fully implantable device and it is easy to see why it has become my go to recommendation for patients with hearing loss that don’t do well with traditional hearing aids. The new MRI compatible magnet makes it even easier to recommend.”

https://www.linkedin.com/company/cochlear/

October: National Audiology Month

Posted on by Peoria Ear, Nose & Throat Group in ,

October is National Audiology Month, spreading awareness about the services audiologists provide and how they may be able to help you. Audiologists use technology, creative problem solving, and social skills to help those with hearing disorders better communicate and connect with the world around them.

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. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders also reports the following statistics:

  • Among adults aged 20 – 69, men are almost twice as likely as women to have hearing loss
  • About 2% of adults aged 45 – 54 have disabling hearing loss. This rate increases to 8.5% for those aged 55 – 64.
  • Roughly 10% of the U.S. adult population has experienced tinnitus lasting at least 5 minutes within the last year.
  • People with hearing loss wait an average of 7 years before receiving help, according to the Hearing Loss Association of America.

Audiologists treat people of all ages – not just those who are older! By providing professional and personalized services, they can improve patients’ quality of life. Audiologists can also provide personalized treatment and services to people suffering from a variety of conditions such as issues with dizziness/balance, hearing aids and assistive technology, and tinnitus. They can offer hearing screenings, and if you haven’t begun experiencing hearing loss, they can provide protection to help prevent future loss.

The earlier an audiologist can identify any issues through hearing tests, the easier the hearing loss is to treat and/or prevent. Our highly-trained Doctors of Audiology have completed several years of specialized education in order to appropriately treat patients for a variety of auditory conditions. They will take the time to diagnose your symptoms and discover the best treatment option for you.

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

Let’s Get FYZICAL – Fight The Fall

Posted on by Peoria Ear, Nose & Throat Group in

September 22nd is National Falls Prevention Awareness Day, and FYZICAL is bringing the focus to this very important topic. Each year, more than 3 million older people are injured in falls and receive treatment in emergency departments.

Falls are not an inevitable result of aging. They are preventable, and there are steps you can take to improve balance and decrease the chances of falling. Early intervention is key if you or someone you know is suffering from imbalance.

Most people have experienced a fall at some point, maybe after losing their balance or tripping over an object. Although common, falls can be dangerous and lead to many types of injuries. Fortunately, the most common causes of falling are also preventable.

How can physical therapy help prevent falls?

Improving your walking skills (gait) and your balance are interrelated challenges. At FYZICAL Peoria, we help you master these skills to decrease your risk of injury, while also increasing your confidence and independence.

Gait and balance training have a number of benefits, including avoiding injuries associated with falls or dizziness, increased confidence with your footing and movement, and reduced pain from poor gait or posture.

What happens in this training?

First, your gait is evaluated to determine potential problems. Simple movements to test balance are also part of this screening. These basic evaluations help us know what to focus on in therapy.

Poor posture as well as hip and ankle weakness can lead to balance problems. Strength and flexibility can help counteract these. Steps as simple as leg lifts (while seated in a chair), standing on one leg, walking heel-to-toe, or visual tracking exercise can all help alleviate these issues.

This self-assessment quiz can help determine if you or your loved one are at risk for a fall:

I have fallen in the past year.

Yes (2)

No

I use or have been advised to use a cane or walker.

Yes (2)

No

I sometimes lose my balance while walking.

Yes (1)

No

I worry about falling.

Yes (1)

No

I use my arms to push myself up from a chair.

Yes (1)

No

I sometimes have trouble stepping up onto a curb.

Yes (1)

No

My body sways when standing stationary.

Yes (1)

No

I take short narrow steps.

Yes (1)

No

I stumble often or look at the ground when I walk.

Yes (1)

No

I frequently have to rush to the toilet.

Yes (1)

No

I have lost some feeling in one or both of my feet.

Yes (1)

No

My medication makes me feel light-headed or sleepy.

Yes (1)

No

If you scored four points or more, schedule your fall risk evaluation today.

Contact FYZICAL Peoria today by visiting our website fyzical.com/peoria or calling (309) 589-5900 to Fight the Fall.

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

Allergies and Children

Posted on by Peoria Ear, Nose & Throat Group in

Allergy causes are all around us. They can include airborne allergens (such as mold, pollen, animal dander, or dust mites), foods (particularly peanuts, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, eggs, or milk), insect stings, medications, or latex or other substances. When you have allergies, your immune system reacts by producing antibodies that identify a particular allergen as harmful, even though it isn’t. When you come into contact with that allergen, your system’s reaction can inflame your skin, sinuses, airways or digestive system. Nearly 18% of children suffer from one or more allergy, and almost 6% have a food allergy.

Any child can develop allergies, but they are more common in children with a family history of allergies. Early identification of childhood allergies will help improve your child’s quality of life, reduce the number of missed school days, and help you avoid having to use sick time or vacation time to care for your child.

Symptoms range from mild to severe, including sneezing, itchy eyes, nose, or throat, runny or stuffy nose, hives, swelling of the lips, tongue, or face, or a rash. In the most extreme cases, it can trigger a life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis.

If you suspect your child has an allergy, make an appointment to see an allergist. It can also be helpful to start a diary before the appointment and keep track of what symptoms your child experiences and any possible ‘triggers’ that may have caused them.

At Peoria ENT, our team of allergy & asthma specialists are dedicated to providing you with the highest quality of care. Our highly-trained providers have completed several years of specialized education and will take the time to diagnose your symptoms and discover the best treatment option. Our providers treat both pediatrics and adults to find the right treatment for you, no matter your age.

Treatment options for allergies may involve managing symptoms through various approaches. These can include using antihistamine creams or pills, steroid creams, inhalers, or auto-injectors. Another approach involves avoiding allergens, which is particularly useful for allergies triggered by food, drugs, venom, latex, or pet dander. In cases of acute tongue swelling or anaphylaxis, rescue medications are available. Additionally, immunotherapy can be employed, wherein allergy shots containing a small amount of a specific allergen are administered to stimulate the immune system without causing a full reaction. This gradually builds up the body’s tolerance to the allergen over time.

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