By Monica Duve, AuD

Our business name says it all; Killean Audiology & Hearing Aid Centers.  Yes, we are experts in all styles, brands and technologies of hearing aids.  But what about the Audiology part?  Do Audiologists offer just hearing aids?  While it is our main specialty, our Audiologists offer a wealth of services and support for a variety of hearing needs.

If you do not want to wear hearing aids, the best avoidance is prevention.  We offer custom molded hearing protection in partnership with several labs.  Custom hearing protection can be non-electronic, with sensitive filters that allow normal conversations to be heard but maximum constriction of loud decibel levels.  This type of hearing protection is called musician’s earplugs, preserving music fidelity but protecting the musician’s most valuable instrument, the ear.   These custom earplugs are also perfect for the factory worker, farmer, woodworker or other such workers.  For extreme noise, like hunting, we can get electronic hearing protection either custom molded or more standard, like electronic muffs.  All of our hearing protection can be verified in our clinic to assure OSHA compliance and maximum protection and comfort.

For those not quite ready for a full professional hearing aid fitting, we can consult and access many products to help with situational hearing needs.  Some examples include amplified telephones, television listening systems, generic budget amplifiers, loud alarm clocks and a plethora of other devices from resources we have in the office.  These items are called assistive devices.  Sometimes they are used in tandem with a person’s hearing aids.  Sometimes they are used alone to address a very specific individual need.  A consultation with your Audiologist will reveal which of these devices would be of most value to you.  We can even demonstrate many of them in our office. 

Even though an Audiologist primarily helps people cope with the communication effects of hearing loss, there are many other conditions of the ear that we can assist with.  I have numerous patients, for example, who seek advice and treatment here for tinnitus.  Tinnitus is that unwanted head noise, sometimes called “ringing in the ears” that is a symptom often accompanying hearing loss.  There are professionally guided ways to treat tinnitus so do not let someone tell you to just “live with it”.  You don’t have to.  We can handle tinnitus treatment, therapy or referral to world renowned experts if needed.  Audiologists can also help with hypersensitivity to sound, balance problems and a host of other ear related pathologies.  Audiologists often work in tandem with otolaryngologists for such medical conditions, providing the diagnostic hearing evaluations that help the physician diagnose the problem. 

So often, when I meet a new friend and reveal my profession, they often look at me like “huh”.  I’m never sure if they understand what an Audiologist does (and thus are just teasing me) or if they really do not know.  It is not surprising that most people think of hearing aids only when talking about this profession.    Hearing aids are indeed my primary specialty.  Hearing aids are advancing in technology at the same rate as cell phones.  In fact, most hearing aids work in tandem with smart phones, upping the value, benefit and cool factor of both devices.    From cleaning earwax to training you how to use Bluetooth with your hearing aids, Audiologists are the ultimate ear nerds.    Schedule a consult today in our office and discover how we can help with any of your hearing needs.