Hearing Associates

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Our expert staff of AudigyCertified™ professionals provide services to those from newborn to over a hundred years old. These include basic behavioral tests and sophisticated computerized otoneurological evaluations. When appropriate, the latest digital hearing instruments may be utilized to help compensate for a hearing impairment. For individuals who work in high noise areas, we administer Hearing Conservation Programs in accordance to OSHA guidelines. Diagnostic Testing If a hearing loss is suspected, an appointment with one of our certified Audiologists should be made for the purposes of testing and evaluation. After the age of 50, a regular hearing test should be considered as important as one's yearly physical checkup. Testing is painless, comfortable and safe. Basically, it consists of answering questions about your hearing health, recognizing everyday words at different volume levels, and identifying different sounds. Your ability to hear each tone, or frequency, produces a unique hearing pattern which is recorded on an audiogram. The test is completed in a sound booth using earphones and bone conduction oscillator. The Audiologist then uses the audiogram to determine the type and severity of hearing loss. These tests should help determine whether a hearing loss is best treated medically or with hearing aids. Tinnitus Evaluation and Treatment Dr. Sara K. Downs has been treating people with tinnitus since 2001 when she trained with Dr. Pawell Jastreboff, the researcher who is credited with creating Tinnitus Retraining Therapy. She does comprehensive tinnitus evaluations to help find the source of the tinnitus and then designs a treatment plan that is customized to each patient. She is trained in Tinnitus Retraining Therapy and Neuromonics and she also gives advice about relaxation, nutrition and lifestyle changes, as well as good sleep habits. Dr. Downs is passionate about treating tinnitus and continues to explore emerging technologies as they come available. She will be attending the Tinnitus Research Initiative Conference in Dallas this summer. Dispensing of Digital Hearing Aids All patients undergo a comprehensive hearing exam prior to receiving hearing aids to determine the cause and extent of the loss. A detailed case history is also completed. Once a patient becomes a candidate for hearing aids based upon their hearing handicap all options are discussed with the patient including style of the hearing instrument and technology level required to meet their communication goals. The hearing aids are then programmed to match their unique hearing loss. At this point every patient undergoes comprehensive instruction on how to listen again. Emphasis is placed on how the brain must relearn to focus on specific sounds that the individual wants to pay attention to and ignore irrelevant noises. All patients are also instructed on use and care of the hearing instruments and follow-up tests are performed to assure optimal programming of the aids. Hearing Aid Checks and Servicing The cornerstone of our customer service is the follow-up our patients receive once fit with hearing aids.

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