Living Well 60+ September – October 2015 | Page 22

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

Listen Up!

Audiologist can help you monitor changes in hearing
by Jamie Lober, Staff Writer

The audiologist is an important
person to have in your life. “A lot of
people wait until there is an issue
before they actually see an audiologist,” said Dr. Larry Eng, president
of the American Academy of Audiology. “But I think an audiology
appointment or hearing test should
be done at a time when a person
has their normal physical so [their
physician] can monitor changes in
hearing and make recommendations.”
An audiologist specializes in
testing hearing and balance. “We
are not the ear doctor,” Eng said. “A
person comes to see the audiolo-

gist first and, based on the results,
they may be referred on to their
regular physician.” The audiologist
also assesses how well a person
understands speech because that
can determine whether a hearing
aid will be effective.
Hearing loss is gradual, Eng said,
so you should pay attention when
those closest to you ask why you
have the television on so loud or
why you cannot hear well over the
phone.
Hearing loss can happen to
anyone. People such as construction workers who are frequently
exposed to loud noises may first
complain of a ringing in the ears.
“Earplugs are a good idea if you

may potentially be working in a
noisy environment or if you go to a
lot of concerts,” said Eng.
Early intervention is the key. If
you use a phone or iPod regularly,
keep the volume down. It has also
been found that people who wear
earpieces in one ear when talking
on the phone may have damage in
that ear.
“Eighty-five percent of hearing
losses could be treated medically
or surgically, but the remainder is
usually damage due to noise exposure or nerve damage, where you
cannot regenerate those hair cells,”
said Eng.
If a person has a sudden hearing
loss from nerve damage, there is a

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window of opportunity to see an
ear, nose and throat doctor. “The
only treatment for nerve damage is
the use of hearing aids,” said Eng.
Hearing aids are not the same as
they were in the past. “Hearing aid
technology has come a long way
and changed significantly in the
past five years,” said Eng. Hearing
aids can now be streamed through
computers, phones and iPads.
Cochlear implants are another
option. “They have advanced to be
able to utilize streaming devices
directly to their implant processor,”
said Eng.
Just as you get your eyes checked
regularly, your hearing should be
regularly checked as well. “Everyone should come in to get a
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