immediately. It’s a very rewarding career choice.” Dr. Dillon strives to provide each patient with superior care. “The main goal of our clinic is to provide a comfortable atmosphere with impeccable service to our customers. We want them to know we are here for them in the long run to fine tune their hearing aids by focusing on their personal preferences and lifestyles.” Dillon’s work finds its way outside of her clinic. She is a frequent speaker at health fairs and service organizations such as Kiwanis, and she finds great satisfaction from donating her time to community outreach clinics. “It’s critical to get the word out that there are solutions available for all hearing problems and hearing devices to suit everyone’s needs and budget.” Common activities such as mowing lawns, cutting wood or listening to your favorite music through headphones or ear buds can induce a gradual, but measureable, loss of hearing. Due to an increase in workplace, environmental and recreational noise since the 1950’s, audiologists are seeing a dramatic increase in the number of middle aged people experiencing hearing loss. “It’s all that loud music people listen to nowadays,” Dillon jokes. Hearing loss is no joking matter. Years of research have proven a link between hearing loss and mental health issues. Long term studies have shown that people with even minor hearing loss are at a greater risk for brain atrophy linked to dementia and Alzheimer’s. Citing a study published in the Archives of Neurology, Dr. Dillon explains, “when hearing is a constant struggle, your brain shuffles more of its resources toward deciphering what’s
Bella Vista Hearing Center 22 Sugar Creek Center Bella Vista, AR 72714 Phone: (479) 876-0110 Fax: (479) 876-0111 Email: information@bvhc.net www.bvhc.net
being said, and that can sap your ability to form and keep memories. . . for every 10-decibel loss in hearing, your risk increases 20%.” Hearing loss is about twice as common in adults with diabetes, and hearing loss is also associated with heart disease. According to Dr. Dillon, “The inner ear is extremely sensitive to blood flow.” Studies have shown that a healthy cardiovascular system—a person’s heart, arteries and veins—has a positive effect on hearing. Conversely, inadequate blood flow and trauma to the blood vessels of the inner ear can contribute to hearing loss. “In highlighting the connection between heart health and hearing health, we can empower people with that knowledge. This means many vascular diseases can be exacerbated by prolonging treatment of hearing loss when needed,” Dillon says. “It’s imperative that hearing loss be treated upon diagnosis; it’s not just your hearing health on the line, it’s the health of your heart and mind that is also at stake.” Tinnitus, or more commonly called ringing in the ears, is another recently recognized condition. According to Dr. Dillon, “When a person has a hearing loss, this creates a void between the inner ear and the auditory cortex. By filling this gap with stimulation from prescriptive hearing instruments, we are in essence giving your brain something meaningful to listen to, thereby reducing the subjective sounds being created by that damaged system. 82% of people find relief from tinnitus while wearing hearing aids.” Bella Vista Hearing Center provides comprehensive screening and care for patients of all ages. www.2njoymag.com
45