Join Austin Hearing Services Amy’s Ice Cream Social

Title: Join Austin Hearing Services Amy’s Ice Cream Social
Location: 6805 N Cap. of Texas Highway Ste. 265 Austin, Texas 78731
Link out: Click here
Description: Come join us for a day of Amy’s Ice Cream, Games, and a Raffle for Free Hearing Aids.

May 29th and 30th. From 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Bring the whole family to Austin Hearing Services
6805 N Cap. of Texas Highway Ste. 265
Austin, Texas 78731

Contact Sarah if you will be attending (512) 851-0847
Start Date: 2012-05-29
Start Time: 10:00 am
End Date: 2012-05-30
End Time: 03:00 pm

Join Austin Hearing Services Amy’s Ice Cream Social

Title: Join Austin Hearing Services Amy’s Ice Cream Social
Location: 6805 N Cap. of Texas Highway Ste. 265 Austin, Texas 78731
Link out: Click here
Description: Come join us for a day of Amy’s Ice Cream, Games, and a Raffle for Free Hearing Aids.

May 14th and 15th. From 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Bring the whole family to Austin Hearing Services
6805 N Cap. of Texas Highway Ste. 265
Austin, Texas 78731

Contact Sarah if you will be attending (512) 851-0847
Start Date: 2012-05-14
Start Time: 10:00 am
End Date: 2012-05-15
End Time: 03:00 pm

Is My Hearing Loss Due to Noise Exposure?

Logically, it makes sense: those who have worked around high noise levels for many years and have trouble hearing must have a hearing loss that is caused strictly by noise exposure at work, right?

In actuality, other factors can play a role in how much hearing loss a person will have over the course of their lifetime. For example, certain health factors can make one person more susceptible to injurious noise than another. Smoking, diabetes and high blood pressure, for instance, can increase the amount of hearing loss suffered from over-exposure to noise.

The “accumulation of birthdays”, a.k.a, getting older, can also be a factor in the amount of hearing loss a person may have. Genetics can also play a part. So, the cause of one person’s hearing loss will depend on many different factors. This fact is also why two people can work in the same company for the same length of time doing similar jobs and have very different hearing losses.

When hearing loss is due to an over-exposure to noise, a very predictable pattern of hearing loss as well as a somewhat predictable degree of hearing loss will emerge. The amount of loss a person will experience is based on how loud the noise was during the actual exposure itself and how long the exposure lasted.
Long- term studies have been completed with the help of individuals who experienced up to 40 years of sustained noise exposure and with varying levels of noise exposure. The people involved with the studies had a hearing test every year.

The results provided a means of determining the pattern, type and severity of hearing loss that is typical of long-term noise exposure based on the number of years that noise was experienced and the loudness of the noise itself. Researchers found that hearing loss from over- exposure to noise causes a certain and progressive loss of hearing as long as the person continued to be exposed to that noise without the protection that proper earplugs or ear muffs provide.

Interestingly, once someone stops working around noise, the progression of the hearing loss can stop all together. It still is important to protect hearing and be diligent about good health practices.

If you think you have hearing loss due to noise exposure, there are two things to do right away: first, make sure to invest in good ear protection. Using ear protection in any instance of loud noise will make sure that you do not experience more hearing loss due to noise exposure. Second, make an appointment for a hearing evaluation.
This is important because hearing loss due to noise exposure can progress over time, making you unaware of how much you may be missing. We’ll be glad to test your hearing and make suggestions on how to best protect your ears from further damage.

Austin Hearing Services, Inc, 6805 N Capital of Texas Highway, Austin, TX 78731
(512) 851-0847

BTE Hearing Aids | Austin TX

“Austin Texas, Austin Hearing Services announces its concern for the possible confusion of consumers in the light of some recently released over the counter hearing aids. It is concerned that people may be misled, perhaps not intentionally, but because they are not completely familiar with the specialized field of personal electronics, such as hearing aids.”

Call Us Today (512) 851-0847

6805 N Capital of Texas Highway Austin, TX 78731

BTE Hearing Aids | Austin TX

It’s been over 50 years since Siemens debuted the worlds first BTE hearing aids. In that time, the iconic style is the first image that comes to mind when most people think of a listening device. This is due to it’s prominent placement on the rear of the ear as well the long standing success of the device in the marketplace.

Call Us Today (512) 851-0847

6805 N Capital of Texas Highway Austin, TX 78731

The Classic Hearing Aid: BTE

Bte hearing aidsIt’s been over 50 years since Siemens debuted the worlds first BTE hearing aids. In that time, the iconic style is the first image that comes to mind when most people think of a listening device. This is due to it’s prominent placement on the rear of the ear as well the long standing success of the device in the marketplace.

Behind the ear listening devices or BTE hearing aids debuted in 1959 and have been continually improved since. While the industry has seen a proliferation of alternatives, this classic maintains popularity for several reasons.

For starters, the device’s “biggest in class” size allow it to be outfitted with a full set of controls,  such as volume and on/off switches. This benefit coincides with the power such units are capable of achieving. They are ideal for those with severe hearing loss.

While the fashionista in you may abhor the aesthetics of BTE hearing aids, modern devices are not the clunkers of the mid-twentieth century. Today’s devices are ergonomic and available in an assortment of colors. A newer style of mini-BTE units also exist, further decreasing the visibility of the hearing instrument for the chronically self-conscious.

One thing that hasn’t changed about these devices are their composition. Now, like then, each unit is comprised of a case, which houses the electronics, an earmold that has a tiny speaker to deliver sound and a tube used to carry sound between the other components.

Depending on the device you select, BTE hearing aids or behind the ear listening instruments are more affordable than other styles. This is no doubt a result of their market maturity and wide availability.

Not only can you get behind the ear units from giants like Siemens, Starkey and Widex, but they’re also available from more obscure, discount manufacturers on the web.

Unlike larger companies, discount sellers aren’t worried about developing the next generation of cutting edge devices, requiring millions of dollars in research and development. Likewise, they don’t have large branding or advertising costs. As a result, discount sellers are able to offer more competitive pricing on BTE hearing aids.

REFERENCES:
http://hearing.siemens.com/ca/10-about-us/01-our-history/milestones.jsp?year=1959

The Link Between Chronic Disease and Hearing Loss: Are you at risk?

Chronic Disease and Hearing LossThe Better Hearing Institute has developed a new syndicated article summarizing the link between chronic diseases and hearing loss. It has been released to 15,000 media outlets. This opinion editorial is now available for download. Hearing health professionals may modify the article to promote their practice. Here is the article in its entirety.

(ARA) – Hearing loss isn’t a harmless condition to be ignored. In fact, hearing loss often coexists with other serious health problems. And a growing body of research indicates that there may be a link. Studies show that people with heart disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and depression may all have an increased risk of hearing loss.

When left untreated, hearing loss alone can lead to a wide range of physical and emotional conditions. Impaired memory and the impaired ability to learn new tasks, reduced alertness, increased risk to personal safety, irritability, negativism, anger, fatigue, tension and stress are among its more common side effects. But when untreated hearing loss coexists with a chronic illness, the likelihood is all the greater that the individual will experience exacerbated levels of stress and diminished quality of life.

Here’s the good news: Research also indicates that professionally fitted hearing aids can help improve quality of life for people with chronic diseases when hearing loss does coexist.

“In the vast majority of cases, hearing loss can be addressed with hearing aids to help people hear better and improve their quality of life,” says Dr. Sergei Kochkin, executive director of the Better Hearing Institute (BHI).  “I strongly urge anyone with heart disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, Alzheimer’s, and/or depression to talk with their doctor and make hearing screenings a routine part of their medical care.”

BHI encourages people to take a free, quick, and confidential online hearing test at www.hearingcheck.org to determine if they need a comprehensive hearing check by a hearing professional. For more information on hearing loss, visit www.betterhearing.org.

The link between hearing loss and certain chronic diseases Numerous studies have long linked untreated hearing loss to diminished psychological and overall health. But an emerging body of research is now revealing a link between hearing loss and other chronic health conditions.

For example, hearing loss is about twice as common in adults with diabetes compared to those who do not have the disease, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Another study, published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases found that older adults with moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a higher prevalence of hearing loss than those of the same age without CKD.

Other studies have shown that a significantly higher percentage of people with Alzheimer’s disease may have hearing loss than their normally aging peers. In fact, older adults with hearing loss appear more likely to develop dementia, and their risk increases as hearing loss becomes more severe, according to a study published in the Archives of Neurology,. The researchers also found that the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease specifically increased with hearing loss.

The link between unaddressed hearing loss and depression also is compelling. An Italian study found that working adults aged 35 to 55 who were affected by mild to moderate hearing loss in both ears reported higher levels of disability and psychological distress — and lower levels of social functioning — than a well-matched normal control population.

Perhaps the link between cardiovascular disease and hearing loss is the most widely recognized. In a study published in the June 2010 issue of the American Journal of Audiology, the authors reviewed research that had been conducted over the past 60 plus years. They found that the negative influence of impaired cardiovascular health on both the peripheral and central auditory system, and the potential positive influence of improved cardiovascular health on these same systems, was found through a sizable body of research.

“With so much evidence emerging on the potential link between hearing loss and various chronic illnesses, it becomes all the more pressing for people to identify and address hearing loss early on,” Kochkin says. “Talk to your doctor. Get your hearing checked. And be assured that in most cases, today’s state-of-the-art hearing aids, programmed to the specific hearing requirements of the individual, can help people hear better and thereby regain quality of life.”

The Better Hearing Institute is a not-for-profit educational organization whose mission is to educate the public about the loss of hearing, its treatment and prevention. www.betterhearing.org.

Come Join Us For Our Open House

Open HouseOur Open House November 16 thru 18


There will be light refreshments; a drawing will be held each day for a TV Listening System by Sennheiser, the grand prize winner will get a pair of hearing aids. The days are Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday next week the 16, 17 18, possibly the 19th, from 10:00 to 5:00 each day.

Call Our Office For An Appointment For Our Open House (512) 851-0847

Toilet Paper and Hearing Aids

Hearing Aids5 HUGE reasons you should NOT buy your hearing aids at the same place you buy bulk toilet paper.

1.     Life and Death.  Ok, that’s over dramatic, but it is true that your hearing is part of your overall health. I recently reviewed an audiogram that had been done by a warehouse store, and was alarmed that the patient hadn’t been referred on to a medical doctor- this person had the red flag signs of an acoustic neuroma (auditory tumor).

While an acoustic neuroma won’t kill you, it will destroy your hearing over time.  Most “Free hearing tests ” will provide the tester just enough information to sell you a hearing aid.  At Audiology Concepts we complete a comprehensive evaluation and work closely with physicians when needed. Doctors of Audiology have 8 years of schooling, and supervised clinical requirements to ensure we are trained at diagnosing all types of hearing loss, and recognizing the signs of a more serious auditory or vestibular (balance) related problem.

2.     A bargain is only a bargain when it is the same product (same warranty, etc) at a lower price.   FACT:  The club warehouses do not sell top tier manufacturers.  Rather they sell a company that is affiliated with a top tier manufacturer.  They are not the same.  Beware of flashy marketing, or sales people that mention the top tier name, not the actual manufacturer.  Their hearing aids cost less for a reason- the technology is less superior.

3.     A hearing aid (at any cost) is worthless if it is not programmed correctly.   A hearing aid is like a miniature computer that is programmed specifically to a patients hearing loss, previous amplification experience, age, and ear canal characteristics.  Part of the cost of hearing aids is the expertise of the person (audiologist or dispenser) setting your instruments.  I’ve recently “re-fit” several hearing aids purchased elsewhere because they were set or fit improperly.  Audiology Concepts uses state of the art verification equipment to ensure you have the hearing you paid for.

4.     Physician trusted professionals.  Physicians refer their patients, family, friends and themselves to Audiology Concepts!   They know we have all their patients’ best interest in mind.  Physicians do not refer their patients to bulk retail stores, period.

5.     Service.  Unfortunately many new hearing aid users don’t understand how important the service part of a hearing aid purchase is.   Its all the little things we do to go above and beyond.  At Audiology Concepts we do these things because we care, not because our corporate manager told us to.   Sometimes it’s the smallest things that make the biggest difference.  Here’s just a few of the services we provide that you wont find in the large retail stores:  loaner hearing aids (for instruments in repair), a pay it forward program, trade in options, demo hearing aids and accessories, complimentary insurance coverage check and claim submissions.

In today’s market consumers are bombarded with so many buying decisions.  While its smart to “shop around” for the best deal, its also imperative that you understand what you are losing at a big box warehouse compared to a medical based audiology clinic like Audiology Concepts.

This was Used with Permission—Click Here For The Original Article

Buying Your Own Hearing Aids | Austin TX

Austin Texas, Austin Hearing Services announces its concern for the possible confusion of consumers in the light of some recently released over the counter hearing aids. It is concerned that people may be misled, perhaps not intentionally, but because they are not completely familiar with the specialized field of personal electronics, such as hearing aids.

Call Us Today (512) 851-0847

6805 N Capital of Texas Highway Austin, TX 78731