Total Hearing Care
Audiologists
Hearing Aids
Assistive Devices
Audiologic Rehabilitation
Total Hearing Care is the audiology division of the private medical practice Virginia Ear, Nose & Throat Associates. The practice consists of ear, nose and throat doctors (ENTs) or otolaryngologists, audiologists (hearing healthcare professionals), and highly trained clinical staff with a medical and scientific approach to managing hearing loss.
Hearing Loss
Contrary to popular belief, hearing loss is not only found in older adults. It affects over 28 million Americans of all ages and walks of life. Hearing loss ranges from mild to total, and typically develops from:
- exposure to loud noise
- illnesses and infections
- head injuries
- birth defects
- certain medications
- certain diseases
- aging
Take a survey for signs of hearing loss
AUDIOLOGISTS
Audiologists have extensive education and specialized training in prevention, assessment, and treatment of non-medical hearing disorders. They are the most qualified professionals to:
- conduct specialized hearing assessments for infants, children, and adults
- refer patients for hearing medical treatment
- perform balance evaluations
- recommend hearing aids, assistive listening devices, and personal alerting devices
- make custom ear molds and protection
- provide hearing rehabilitation for patients and loved ones
- educate on prevention of hearing loss
Our audiologists:
- Receive either a Doctorate in Audiology (Au.D.) or a Master's degree from an accredited university graduate program and they pass a national competency examination. They are licensed to practice Audiology and dispense hearing aids.
- Have extensive training and experience in identifying, assessing, and managing hearing loss in adults, infants, and children of all ages.
- Conduct and supervise newborn hearing screening programs.
- Use specialized equipment to accurately determine the nature of hearing problems.
- Refer patients to physicians when their hearing problems need medical or surgical evaluation.
- Select, evaluate, and fit hearing aids to meet the specific needs of each patient. They are knowledgeable about the latest advances in hearing aid technology.
- Present a variety of a treatment options to patients with hearing impairments including assistive listening devices and alerting devices.
- Provide hearing rehabilitation training through special classes and counseling to assist patients and their families/caregivers with the psychosocial adjustment to hearing loss.
- Administer and interpret tests of balance to evaluate dizziness.
- Help prevent hearing loss by providing and fitting special hearing protection devices.
- Educate consumers and professionals on the causes, prevention and rehabilitation of hearing loss.
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HEARING AIDS
Hearing aids typically come in 4 basic styles:
1) behind-the-ear (BTE)
2) full shell in-the-ear (ITE)
3) in the canal (ITC)
4) completely in-the-canal (CIC)
The appropriate style for a given patient is determined by:
- The degree of hearing loss
- The configuration of the hearing loss
- The size and shape of the ear and ear canal
- Patient preferences
- Patient lifestyle
- Desired hearing aid options
- Patient dexterity
Your audiologist will discuss your options with you and help you determine the best style for your particular needs.
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Sensory hearing loss results in deficits that cannot always be addressed using hearing aids alone. In some cases a patient may not be a good candidate for hearing aids but can obtain benefit from assistive devices. In children especially, assistive devices such as FM listening systems are critical in the classroom. If you have a hearing loss and cannot wear hearing aids or do not obtain sufficient benefit from hearing aids alone, ask your audiologist about appropriate assistive devices.
Assistive listening devices have the advantage of improving the listener's ability to hear the desired signal in background noise or at a distance. Most hearing impaired people experience most of their difficulty in background noise, so assistive listening devices are useful for the majority of hearing aid patients.
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AUDIOLOGIC REHABILITATION
At Total Hearing Care at Virginia Ear, Nose and Throat Associates, we understand that patients do not come to us because they have a desire to wear hearing aids. Patients seek out our expertise to help solve communication problems and improve quality of life issues that result from hearing loss.
Hearing aids are often an important tool in addressing those problems, but hearing aids alone may not provide a satisfactory resolution to all of the negative impact resulting from hearing loss. For that reason, we are unique in offering a comprehensive program of audiologic education and rehabilitation that will enable our patients and their friends, family, and significant others to successfully communicate. At the conclusion of the program, our patients are asked to provide us with constructive feedback that will enable us to continue to improve our services to the hearing impaired population.
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If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment, |
