Pennsylvania Ear Institute - Winter Newsletter 2018

8380 Old York Road, Suite 120 Elkins Park, PA 19027 215.780.3180 SalusUhealth.com/PEI

IN THIS EDITION For the Love of Hearing PEI Office News Upcoming Events at PEI Student Spotlight Tinnitus: The Ringing in Your Ears Hearing Aids: Finding the Perfect Fit

Upcoming Events at PEI

For the Love of Hearing: From January 1st through February 14th, join us for our “For the Love of Hearing” celebration. We want you to love life again through the gift of hearing. To sweeten the deal, PEI will include a complimentary accessory of your choice with the purchase of a pair of hearing aids (up to a $500 value).

Coffee Talks: During the month of January, join PEI for a short lecture series to learn more about topics related to the hearing and balance system. These free sessions are open to the public and light refreshments will be served. All lectures will be held from 3:00 to 3:30 p.m. In addition, we will be offering complimentary hearing screenings from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on each day.

• Jan. 11: “Hearing Aids” presented by Dr. Elizabeth Sedunov • Jan. 18: “Tinnitus” presented by Dr. Rebecca Blaha • Jan. 25: “Balance” presented by Dr. Bre Myers

Spring Cleaning: We welcome you to learn about new technology and exciting advancements that are debuted each spring. In March and April, please stop by PEI to have your hearing aids cleaned and checked; bring along any questions you have about taking care of your hearing aids.

WINTER NEWSLETTER 8380 Old York Road, Suite 120 Elkins Park, PA 19027 215.780.3180 SalusUhealth.com/PEI

2018

DON’T MISS A SINGLE SENTIMENT FROM YOUR LOVED ONES Most people assume that their hearing will always remain intact. However, hearing loss affects one in three adults over the age of 65. Some degree of hearing loss can occur naturally as we age but other factors can also play a role including: exposure of loud noise, impacted earwax, chronic ear infections and certain medications.

Hearing impairment usually develops gradually and unfortunately many people aren’t even aware they have a problem until it has advanced. However, just like annual eye exams, routine hearing exams are an excellent first line of defense.

Early detection increases the odds of successful treatment.

If left untreated, hearing loss can have a debilitating social and emotional impact on a person’s life. In fact, feelings of confusion, depression, and social withdrawal are common. Regular hearing exams can help audiologists spot hearing loss issues early so they can offer appropriate treatment solutions to help patients hear their best.

Don’t let hearing loss make you miss important conversations with your loved ones.

Schedule your hearing exam with us today!

PEI OFFICE

At PEI, our team of audiologists utilize state-of-the-art technology to ensure we are providing the most comprehensive care to our patients.

This past fall, we installed a new rotational chair that is capable of performing many advanced tests of the vestibular system. We’ve also added a new video head impulse test (vHIT), one of today’s most advanced vestibular tests. It is capable of recording accurate eye movements in response to fast head movements. This test increases our diagnostic acumen when evaluating patients with persistent problems who may have normal results with other tests.

8380 Old York Road, Suite 120, Elkins Park, PA 19027 | 215.780.3180 | SalusUhealth.com/PEI

TINNITUS: UNDERSTANDING THAT RINGING IN YOUR EARS

Many people experience a persistent ringing in their ears. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, this common affliction –known as tinnitus—affects roughly 15 percent of Americans. For some it is a minor nuisance, but for others, it is a major impediment to their quality of life.

“Patients with tinnitus most often report difficulty falling or staying asleep,” said Dr. Rebecca Blaha, tinnitus expert at the Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI). “Poor sleep leads to overall poor daily functioning. Patients also indicate feelings of depression and anxiety related to their tinnitus that reduce their enjoyment of many activities.”

It is important to note that tinnitus is not a disease itself, but a symptom. As such, it can occur as the result of a number of conditions.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for tinnitus. Unless the underlying condition responsible for symptoms is identified and can be treated, the only real course of action is learning to manage your reaction to the phantom sounds.

Audiologists have developed a variety of successful strategies for dealing with tinnitus. The most successful are counseling and sound therapy. Counseling methods are based on cognitive behavioral therapy and work to understand the physical process that causes tinnitus and manage the reaction to the sound. Sound therapy uses noise, nature sounds, music, or other engaging sounds to help direct attention away from the tinnitus and to reduce stress.

Patients with hearing loss can also be treated with hearing aids to improve communication and to provide sound therapy through the same device. Modern hearing aids are able to amplify the environment to help patients minimize tinnitus awareness. If amplification alone is not successful, a tinnitus therapy signal can also be enabled within the hearing aid to reduce tinnitus awareness and improve relaxation.

PEI offers tinnitus evaluation and management services. Our tinnitus expert will create a customized treatment plan to fit your needs. For more information, please call 215.780.3180.

FINDING THE PERFECT FIT: THE ART OF HEARING DEVICE SELECTION The cost of hearing devices can range from $2,000 to $7,000 per pair. Given such a significant investment, patients often wonder whether there are less expensive options. The truth is that more cost-effective hearing devices may be the perfect choice for you!

The advanced technology of today’s hearing devices can offer patients more features to choose from, but more is not necessarily better. For example, a person whose day-today life exposes them to a variety of

different listening environments may need more adaptable devices than someone who leads a quieter lifestyle.

Advanced technology can include connectivity to Bluetooth devices, multiple automatic adjustments that improve understanding in difficult listening environments and enhanced rechargeable options. However, if you find that during a typical week you are in mostly quiet settings, a more economical hearing device could be all that you need.

Our focus at the Pennsylvania Ear Institute is on hearing health, and not to sell patients the most expensive technology. We take the time to evaluate your needs and determine what is most appropriate for your lifestyle. We believe that by investing time into understanding what is important to you, we will be able to ensure your optimal hearing while providing you the best value.

Call us to schedule an appointment or visit SalusUhealth.com/PEI

AUDIOLOGY STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

STUDENT HOPES TO HELP FIREFIGHTERS HEAR BETTER The Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI) is working to help firefighters understand the importance of hearing protection thanks to a unique outreach and screening opportunity started by a student.

Kristen Ramos, a second-year audiology student in the Salus University Osborne College of Audiology, came up with the idea under the supervision of Dr. Lindsay Bondurant, director of PEI. “The firefighting profession lends itself to high levels of noise exposure,” Ramos said. “We want to not only raise awareness but to also provide preventative measures to help firefighters preserve their hearing.”

The pair began with a visit to the Ogontz Fire Company in Elkins Park in the fall where they took sound level measurements of the fire truck, the engine, air compressors and the sirens. A normal conversation is about 60 decibels, which is loud enough for both people to hear each other clearly. The measurements that were taken at the fire house averaged about 120 decibels – more than twice above the safe range.

After consolidating all of their data, the plan is to present the findings to the firefighters, and hearing screenings will be provided. Anyone who fails the screenings will be referred to PEI for a comprehensive hearing evaluation and offered hearing protection options such as custom earmolds.

While the goal is to educate firefighters on hearing conservation, for Ramos, it’s about so much more.

“They are all volunteer firefighters who are dedicated and passionate about saving people’s lives,” said Ramos. “I wanted to do something to give back to them and this was the perfect opportunity.”

8380 Old York Road, Suite 120, Elkins Park, PA 19027 | 215.780.3180 | SalusUhealth.com/PEI