HEAR the words, feel the. connection

Transcription

1 HEAR the words, feel the connection

2 Welcome! Lakeside Diagnostic Hearing and Tinnitus Centre provides leading client-focused hearing healthcare. It is a team based audiology centre which provides comprehensive audiologic care and hearing rehabilitation for all ages. Audiologic care is the protection, preservation, evaluation and treatment of the hearing and balance functions and is provided by audiologists, either individually or as part of a health care team, who use their professional skills to improve the quality of life for each patient. The centre works with your physician to share information, findings and treatment planning and is locally owned and operated by Nichole Sorensen, B.Sc., M.A., RAUD, registered Audiologist who has provided audiology care in the Okanagan since Lakeside Hearing is part of the WorkSafeBC Provider Network and also provides services through Veteran s Afairs Canada, NIHB, Social Services, and out of province WCB.auditory cortex of your brain. Any sounds that are not picked up by your ears are also not sent to your brain.

3 What is a Diagnostic Hearing Assessment? Hearing Assessments are Not All Created Equal The following information provided by the BC association of speech language pathology and audiology is helpful in diferentiating a diagnostic hearing evaluation from a hearing screening. Hearing assessments are not all created equal. A complete hearing test, also referred to as a diagnostic hearing test or a hearing evaluation includes a full assessment of your hearing ability, your speech understanding ability, and an ###### assessment of your outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear. This type of test can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour or more, depending on the degree and type of your hearing loss, and is typically performed by an audiologist. ###### A hearing screening is an abbreviated version of a standard hearing test. It is a test only of your ability to hear diferent tones for each ear. The screening will only indicate if a hearing loss is present or not. A hearing screening typically ###### takes less than 15 minutes. This type of test can be performed by any number of individuals, including public health or school nurses, Speech-Language Pathologists, ENT medical oice assistants, hearing aid dispensers or ###### dealers, audiometric technicians and audiologists. The Medical Services Plan (MSP) of British Columbia does not cover the cost of hearing screenings or tests unless performed at a hospital (under the direction of an ENT). Hearing tests performed in public health units are typically free of charge to the public. All other tests are subject to a charge, at the discretion of the audiologist or dealer. Free hearing tests are normally, in fact, hearing screenings.

4 Hearing Loss Treatment Plan Steps to better hearing: Diagnostic Hearing Evaluation: In depth assessment of your outer, middle and inner ear function. Consultation: Discuss your hearing levels, any present hearing loss, hearing loss prevention, communication strategies, tinnitus, and treatment options Hearing aid selection: Discuss together what your hearing needs are and choose a manufacturer, style of hearing aid and color based on your personal preferences, hearing loss and lifestyle. Hearing aid fitting: Get your hearing aids programmed by your audiologist based on your unique needs and comfort level. Learn how to use your new devices, cleaning tips, insertion and using accessories, Bluetooth and smartphone apps where applicable. Hearing aid follow up: 1-2 weeks after your fitting, it is important to come in and do some fine tuning and have an opportunity to ask any questions you have or go over something again. Come in for regular cleaning of your hearing aids (every 3-6 months) and get annual hearing assessments at no charge. Successful outcomes are determined by: Level of Existing Hearing Loss Central Auditory Nerve Function Level of Hearing Aid Technology Motivation Additional benefits Your hearing device purchase is tax free You may be eligible to claim the Disability Tax Credit Adjustments, hearing tests, cleanings, and repairs within warranty are all included in the purchase of your hearing aids.

5 w Audiogram of Familiar Sounds Understanding the Audiogram An audiogram is a graph that charts the result of your hearing test. Results of the audiogram show the softest sounds you can hear, and if there is a hearing loss, the type, severity and degree. Word Recognition testing, both in quiet and in noise, is extremely important when determining appropriate technology levels to address your hearing diiculties.

6 Anatomy of the Ear We hear with our brain, not our ears. Your ears act as messengers for your brain by receiving sounds and transferring them along the hearing branch of the Vlllth cranial nerve to the auditory cortex of your brain. Any sounds that are not picked up by your ears are also not sent to your brain.

7 Hair Cells I can hear, but I have trouble understanding. The cochlea contains both inner and outer hair cells, often referred to as nerve endings. These hair cells are responsible for sending information to the auditory cortex of your brain via the Vlllth cranial nerve. Once your hair cells become damaged, speech becomes unclear and you have more diiculty understanding speech, particularly in noisier situations. The hair cells of the cochlea cannot be repaired by medication or surgery. Today s sophisticated digital hearing aids provide auditory stimulation and help restore speech clarity, which not only significantly improves your interaction with others, but may even contribute to delaying or preventing diseases like dementia. To learn more about the link between hearing loss, auditory deprivation and dementia, please visit lakesidehearing.com. The goal of amplification is to find the proper balance between suiciently high performance and the resulting cognitive load.

8 Better Hearing Starts with your Brain The Auditory Pathways Primary Auditory Cortex Medial Geniculate Inferior Colliculis Superior Olive Cochlear Nucleus Auditory Deprivation A lack of sound stimulation to your brain, results in an accelerated deterioration along the hearing nerve pathway. Depriving your brain of sound can permanently weaken the ability of your brain to understand speech, much like an unused muscle becomes weak over time.

9 Which best describes your lifestyle? ACTIVE Activities at Home Casual Conversations Small Group Conversations Meetings Shopping / Public Places Golf / Outdoor Activities Busy Restaurants Concerts / Sporting Events CASUAL Activities at Home Casual Conversations Small Group Conversations Meetings Shopping / Public Places Golf / Outdoor Activities QUIET Activities at Home Casual Conversations Watching Television

10 Hearing Aid Styles Behind the ear (BTE) This style rests behind the ear and is suitable for severe to profound hearing losses. The hearing aid can be attached to a custom ear piece or a thin tube with a dome. BTE s are easy to use and maintain. Receiver in the ear (RITE) A smaller behind the ear option suitable for mild to severe hearing loss. Easy to use and maintain. Mini Receiver in the ear (minirite) A popular discrete solution for mild to severe hearing losses. This hearing aid can be used with a silicone dome or a custom ear piece. Very low maintenance and high durability. In the ear (ITE) This hearing aid is suitable for mild to severe hearing loss. It is custom made for the individual s ear and is easy to use even with dexterity or vision issues. In the canal (ITC) Suitable for mild to moderately severe hearing loss. Is smaller than ITE hearing aid and sits in the lower portion of the ear canal. Completely in the canal (CIC) This hearing aid style sits deeper into the ear canal for a more discrete custom hearing aid solution. Suitable for mild to moderate hearing loss. Invisible in the canal (IIC) Suitable for mild to moderate hearing loss. This style sits the deepest in the ear canal of all the hearing aid styles, making it invisible. he audiologist will discuss which style is best for you based on your hearing loss, lifestyle, hearing needs and your preference / comfort.

11 Choose Your Perfect Fit What will hearing devices do for me? Will reduce the rate of or stop nerve decline (auditory deprivation) Help you hear better within the limits of your existing hearing loss and nerve function Make soft sounds audible and improve speech clarity Generally help reduce the awareness of tinnitus Provide sound therapy for those who struggle with tinnitus and hyperacusis and decreased sound tolerance. Successful outcomes are determined by: Level of Existing Hearing Loss Central Auditory Nerve Function Level of Hearing Aid Technology Motivation Additional benefits Your hearing device purchase is tax free You may be eligible to claim the Disability Tax Credit Image Oticon

12 We are Independent Audiologists Independence Matters We are locally owned and operated, allowing us to provide a wide range of services and products tailored to each individual s unique needs.

13 Protect Your Hearing IMMEDIATE DAMAGE jet engine pain threshold VERY LOUD ambulance siren rock concert LOUD chainsaw 95 - motorcycle 85 - blender 70 - vacuum 65 - conversation Safe Listing Levels 50 - rainfall 40 - quiet oice 30 - whisper 20 - leaves 15 - pin falling

14 Custom Ear Molds EAR DEFENDERS Protect your ears from damaging loud sounds at work, home, or concerts! SWIM PLUGS Keep your ears dry and protected from outer ear infections SLEEP PLUGS Sleep like a baby and block out road noise, voices, and snoring! MUSIC Preserve the sound quality of music while protecting your hearing with musician plugs or in ear monitors LISTEN Do your earbuds fall out while running or working out? Do they hurt if you leave them in too long? Custom earpieces keep them in place and comfortable.

15 Tinnitus Treatment What is Tinnitus? Tinnitus is most often described as high-pitched ringing but can also take the form of a buzzing, hissing, pulsing, whistling, roaring, or various other sounds. As many as 360,000 Canadians sufer from annoying tinnitus and nearly half of those experience it to such a degree that it significantly afects their quality of life. Many tinnitus suferers have diiculty sleeping and/or concentrating. Tinnitus does not cause hearing loss, but it may accompany decreased hearing. The tinnitus centre provides specialized assessment and tinnitus care for those sufering from persistent, bothersome tinnitus and/or hyperacusis (reduced sound tolerance). Tinnitus clinic participants undergo audiologic evaluation, followed by group or individual education, counselling and sound therapy provided by an audiologist trained in Progressive Tinnitus Management and Tinnitus Retraining Therapy. Treatments are aimed to lessen the impact of tinnitus on daily life. Participants require physician referral so that causes of tinnitus that might be addressed medically are ruled out. The centre s tinnitus management program is an evidence-based, clinically proven strategy to assess and manage tinnitus. It consists of 4 levels of hierarchical multi-disciplinary services based on individual needs. What can be done? Hearing Aids / Combination Devices Ear Level Sound Therapy Sound Generator

16 Aural Rehabilitation Feeling Isolated? Let us help. Hearing loss can lead to isolation, frustration, and fatigue for the individual and family members. We ofer a group multi-disciplinary aural rehabilitation program to support and help you stay active, communicate in diicult situations, and enjoy more of life and all of its moments. We provide you with the education and resources to help you and your family manage your hearing loss and communication needs. We will guide you on ways to maximize your hearing, communicate efectively, and reduce the negative impact your hearing loss may have on you and your family. Classes are ofered once a week over a four week session. The program is family centered. Family members are encouraged to participate. We also ofer a multi-disciplinary integrated auditory, motor, cognitive training program through the Interior Development Centre which focuses on speech in noise training, balance, co-ordination, and cognitive training. The goal of our aural rehabilitation is to help you and your family: understand and manage your hearing loss make the best use of your hearing aids explore assistive listening devices that might help retrain your brain to process speech in background noise learn speech reading techniques manage conversations learn efective communication techniques maintain relationships, reduce stress, and minimize the efects of hearing loss on your social and emotional well-being Join our Support Groups! You are not the only one with a hearing loss. Joining a support group will give you the opportunity to learn from others experiences. How do they handle traveling, meetings, appointments, going to the hospital, telephone conversations, hearing in theaters, diicult family members or work associates? Have they used assistive listening devices? What has worked? Support groups are excellent forums for problem solving and mutual support. They are also good for your sense of humor an essential ingredient for coping with a hearing loss!