October: National Audiology Month

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.