Accurate Hearing Aid Center

10/21/2022

Today's. Excuse the finger.

07/18/2022

Wisconsin doctor helps Barbie debut pink hearing aids
MADISON, Wis. — Underneath Barbie’s high pony comes a first: a pair of hot pink hearing aids.

“Yeah, I mean I grew up with Barbie,” education audiologist Dr. Jen Richardson said.

It’s why she was delighted to help the 63-year-old doll maker Mattel diversify barbie’s design.

“I wanted to just make sure that it was as authentic as possible,” she said about her months’ long effort with the top toy manufacturer.

She said she believes kids with hearing loss deserve representation.

“I was really excited to hear that. Finally, a Barbie with hearing aids was coming out,” Dr. Richardson’s patient, nine-year-old Addison Anderson said.

Just like this new Barbie, the little girl also needs hearing aids for profound hearing loss. Anderson said she loves the doll’s look.

“This one has hearing aids, brown hair, like a bunch of colors on the dress and not just a plain old barbie,” Anderson said.

Richardson agreed this Barbie could turn head with her fashion forward hearing aids.

“There’s so many more things even being made now jewelry wise that you can add to your hearing aid and things like that,” Richardson said. “So you know it’s fun to be able to switch it up and try different colors as you’re going through life and trying to decide, you know, what it is that, that you like.”

She said diversifying the doll line was important for Mattel to do.

“Even a child who doesn’t have hearing loss can now see someone who does and realize, ‘Oh, there’s that out there. I didn’t even know it,’ so just the awareness,” Dr. Richardson said.

Adding awareness, what Dr. Richardson did when she partnered in 2020 with Mattel’s sister company, Middleton-based American Girl, for its first doll with hearing loss. She said continuing projects like this matter.

“Everyone has differences. You know, to me, there’s there’s no one that is, you know, truly normal,” Richardson said. “You know, and that’s really what makes us unique, and that’s what I’m really excited about that they’re embracing.”

Those interested can purchase the doll at https://www.amazon.com/Barbie-Fashionistas-Brunette-Ponytail-Behind/dp/B09NMQDJRZ.

07/14/2021

Don't let hearing loss isolate you from friends and family. Learn about the dangers of hearing loss and what to do about it.

10/24/2016

Your end-of-the-year hearing checklist

Contributed by Debbie Clason, staff writer, Healthy Hearing | Thursday, October 20th, 2016

Before you know it, 2016 will be only a memory. If you have hearing loss or wear hearing aids, holidays and financial obligations can make year's end a stressful time if you're not prepared. And if you have any hopes of avoiding that last minute rush again this year, now is the time to take action. So, while you’re figuring out what to serve for Thanksgiving and where you’re going to fit an extra inflatable mattress when your niece decides she wants to crash at your (already full) house, don’t forget to think about hearing health, too. Advance preparation now can lead to more serenity when you need it the most.

Plan for more enjoyable holidays

Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah

multigenerational family enjoying holiday dinner together
Plan now so everyone can enjoy the
celebration.
Even if no one in your family has hearing loss, making a communication plan for those chaotic holiday gatherings may provide a more enjoyable experience for everyone. If you are hosting dinner, implement these hearing-friendly ideas:

Create different listening environments. The kids play together in one room, while adults listen to the ball game in another. When it’s time to gather at the table, turn off the music and the television so you can focus on the conversation.
Assign seats. If someone on your guest list has hearing loss, they’ll enjoy the conversation at the table much more if they’re seated where they can see everyone’s faces. Ask them where they’d like to sit. If they have a "better ear," it may dictate where the best seat at the table is for them.
Don’t dim the lights. Many people with hearing loss rely on good lighting to read lips and take advantage of visual cues during group conversations -- whether or not they wear hearing devices.
Delay clean up. Clinking, clanging dishes make it difficult to hear the conversation and take you away from your guests. Try waiting until everyone has left to clean the dishes.
Advocate for yourself. If you have hearing loss and are attending a family gathering, don’t be afraid to politely speak up if the television’s volume is interfering with your ability to participate in dinnertime conversation or if you need closed captioning turned on during the big game. If you’re comfortable, share your concerns privately with your host or hostess before the event begins. It never hurts to have others advocating for you, too.
New Years Eve

There’s no better way to welcome in a fresh beginning -- or give a particularly trying year the boot -- than with a party. Here are a few suggestions for making the gathering more hearing friendly:

Pass on the noisemakers. One of the most common forms of hearing loss is caused by noise -- whether from consistent exposure or a one-time exposure to loud noise. New Year’s noisemakers can contribute to permanent hearing damage because of the level of sound they emit. Opt instead for confetti or silly string.
Watch the volume. Whether you’re attending a party or hosting one, be mindful of the level of sound coming from those speakers. If you can’t hear the person speak who’s standing next to you, the music is too loud.
Buddy up. If you have hearing loss, find someone willing to help you navigate the conversation, whether you’re standing in a group of friends or sitting at the dinner table. If you’re the host and have invited a friend or family member with hearing loss, ask a mutual friend in attendance to check in with them at different intervals during the evening.

09/03/2016

A discussion of the types of hearing loss. We can help you hear better, no matter what type you have.

You already love Spotify, but do you know how to get the most out of it? Click here to learn all the Spotify Tips and Tricks you never knew existed. http://b...

06/23/2016

Mom’s Voice Sparks Dance Party For Toddler With New Hearing Aids “He started freaking out and did the happy dance.”
Taylor Pittman
Voices Staff Writer, The Huffington Post

To celebrate his new hearing aids, one toddler busted out some cute moves.

According to ABC News, doctors determined that 2-year-old Kaiden Orantes has been experiencing progressive hearing loss and prepared the toddler to receive hearing aids. On June 14, his mom, Caitlin Orantes, shared a video on Facebook of her son using the hearing aids and listening to her voice more clearly. The toddler appropriately celebrated with a dance party.

“He started freaking out and did the happy dance,” Caitlin told ABC News.

Doctors don’t know why Kaiden has progressively lost his hearing since being born, according to Inside Edition. His mother said he has no hearing in his right ear and very little hearing in his left. Despite his hearing loss, the toddler loves music, which his mom said has been “therapeutic” for both of them.

“He has this drum set that he plays very well, and he’s just all about singing,” Caitlin told Inside Edition.

With his love for music and those dance moves, this kid clearly belongs on a stage.

12/16/2014

"Opening your ears" can improve balance, report researchers.

10/03/2014

Cumulative noise exposure can cause hearing loss in teachers No Comments Ringing bells, slamming lockers, loud announcements, chattering students – the classic sounds of back-to-school are not always ...

09/07/2014

http://news.yahoo.com/keep-mind-fit-check-hearing-120000222.html

WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2014 / Get your hearing tested and address hearing loss, the Better Hearing Institute (BHI) is urging in recognition of World Alzheimer’s Month in September. ...

08/09/2014

Three dozen children who attend the CARE Learning Academy-SCV Tutors got an up-close and personal look at all the sights and, especially, the sounds of a professional audiology center last week as they toured Nola Aronson’s Advanced Audiology.

06/07/2014

If your hearing aid gets wet!
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/06/if-your-hearing-aid-gets-wet/index.htm

What should you do if your hearing aid gets wet? Here are some tips from the experts at Consumer Reports.

04/23/2014

For this month, we are offering a discount of $500 off the purchase of each new hearing aid. Call or visit for details.

04/07/2014

TMH Living Well: Hearing loss in adults and kids
The Memorial Hospital
Saturday, April 5, 2014

Does it seem like people around you are mumbling more than usual? When you are in a loud, busy restaurant, do you find it hard to understand what people are saying? Are you noticing that friends and family are hearing little noises, like an alarm going off in the other room that you don’t hear? Do others complain that you have the volume too high on your television, stereo or ear buds?

If so, you might be one of the 20 percent of adults in the United States with hearing loss. If you are 65 or older, your risk for hearing loss is higher, as one in three people have some hearing loss in their later years.

Causes of hearing loss

The most common causes of hearing loss are overexposure to loud noises and aging. As we age, changes can occur in our inner ear that cause slow but steady hearing loss. Age-related hearing loss, presbycusis, always is permanent.

Hearing loss caused by noise happens either slowly throughout time or suddenly. Someone who is exposed to loud noises frequently may not notice hearing loss for many years, but the damage is silently adding up.

“People damage their ears without knowing it by doing everyday tasks like running the lawnmower, using a w**d eater and working with a table saw,” said Neilene Folks, PA-C, TMH Medical Clinic.

Have you ever attended a loud concert and left with a buzzing or ringing in your ears? This sensation indicates that some hair cells have died in your cochlea, or inner ear, and consequently damage has occurred.

“Men in our community trap shoot or work in places that expose them to loud noises, like driving trucks or working in the coal mines. It’s important they limit their exposure to loud noises and wear ear protection,” TMH Medical Clinic Director Terri Jourgensen, RN, said.

Treating hearing loss in adults

If you answered yes to some of the questions above, it’s time to get your hearing checked. Start with your family physician to rule out temporary causes of hearing loss, including excessive wax build up or infection. If your doctor suspects age or noise-related hearing loss, he or she will likely send you to an audiologist for a hearing test.

Hearing loss is diagnosed as mild, moderate or severe. If you have mild hearing loss, you may choose to wait on treatment. For more moderate to severe cases, hearing aids are the solution. Cochlear implant surgery is reserved for serious cases.

According to the Mayo Clinic, hearing aid manufacturers have made great strides in recent years, especially in addressing high-frequency hearing loss and in customizing hearing aids. Hearing aids have been greatly improved by applying digital technology — where a computer chip converts incoming sounds and then adjusts the signal to meet your specific needs. Finding just the right hearing aid can be tricky, so manufacturers often let you try one for 30 days first.

Kids and hearing loss

Hearing loss in children is less common than in adults. Occasionally, children are born with congenital hearing loss, and chronic ear infections can lead to temporary or permanent hearing loss. If your child has frequent ear infections, you may want to request a hearing test.

According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, one in five teens has some level of hearing loss from listening to loud music through their ear buds.

“Loud music can cause sudden hearing loss and damage to the ears. Some of that doesn't come back,” Folks said.

As a parent, monitor your child’s use of earphones. Limit the amount of time they listen each day (no more than 2 to 4 hours) and limit the volume level. The louder the sound, the less time teens should listen. Helping determine a safe volume level on their player, and not letting them go above that level (e.g. if you can hear the music, it’s too loud) is important. Also, spend the extra money on earphones that have scientifically proven hearing protection — look for noise-isolating earphones with safe sound output and smooth frequency.

This weekly article with tips on living well is sponsored by The Memorial Hospital at Craig — improving the quality of life for the communities we serve through patient-centered healthcare and service excellence.

01/26/2014

Sarah Churman, a 29-year-old who was born deaf, tries out her cochlear implants for the first time with some amazing results.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNdV76hIiuM

Sarah Churman, 29, was born deaf. Until recently, she had never heard the sound of her own voice. But thanks to a hearing implant, Churman was able to experi...

01/04/2014

Hearing health is important!