For over 35 years I have been a practicing Audiologist. I hold a Doctorate degree in Audiology along with a strong educational background in the field of Psychology.
I began speaking to community groups regarding the benefits of hearing aids and realized my message was one that most people did not know! Hearing aids are not just the bothersome little devices and just another sign that we are getting older. Hearing aids are sophisticated computers and when programmed properly to our own specific hearing loss, can actually help train your brain! The importance of hearing health led researchers at Johns Hopkins to discover that people who had hearing loss but did not wear hearing aids were 50% more likely to develop dementia than those who wore hearing aids! That's a powerful message that I believe everyone needs to hear (pun intended!). I have also been helping people with tinnitus, hyperacusis, and misophonia using these little ear-level computers along with a specific therapeutic program to alleviate their sensitivities and overcome their problems!
When my children were young I began my personal journey of finding therapies and educational programs to help children with learning differences. I slowly realized my purpose was to help parents think "out-of-the-box" and off the traditional path of speech therapy to computerized programs and innovative research based programs that help train the brain and rewire the areas of deficits so that the child can be the very best he can be. I worked as an audiologist, therapist, and advocate to help parents navigate through the educational system.
Now my journey has taken me on a road to help my generation of Baby Boomers as well as those older and younger realize that you can change your brain at any time in your life. Whether you are 5 years old or 105 years old you are never too old to learn and change the way your brain functions which in turn improves your life!
Today I lecture all over the country on topics related to hearing loss, learning disabilites, aging with grace, the ear-brain connection, balance and dizziness, tinnitus, turning the clock back on our brain as we age and many other topics. I enjoy speaking in lecture and workshop formats. I use my personal and professional experience along with humor and stories to bring awaress on the topic I am presenting.
Those that attend my lectures comment: "Thank you for such an interesting and enlightening hour on such an important topic to my life". "You are an excellent presenter and I will continue to come to any presentation you are giving". "So many important strategies and information. I'm glad I brought my notebook!!".
As a professional speaker, my focus includes but is not limited to the following:
- The Link Between Hearing Loss and Dementia - How Hearing Aids Save Your Brain
- Living wtih Hearing Loss - A Family Survival Guide
- Heairng Probems? - The Brain Connection
- New Developments in Heairng aids - Computers for your Ears
- Why Are My Ears Ringing? - A New Approach to Tinnitus Management
- Auditory Processing - Diagnosis and Innovative Treatment
- Dizziness, Vertigo and Imbalance - Why am I so dizzy?
- Can you please stop breathing - Understanding Misophonia