What is an audiologist?

      An audiologist is a professional who specializes in evaluating and assisting in treatment of people with hearing loss. Both of our audiologists hold master's degrees from accredited universities with special training in prevention, identification, assessment, and non-medical treatment of ear disorders. Audiologists are required to complete a full-time internship and pass a demanding national competency examination. By virtue of their graduate education, professional certification and licensure, audiologists are the most qualified professionals to administer testing for hearing and balance functions.

What audiology services are provided by Milwaukee Otologic?

      Our audiology department provides hearing aid services including evaluations, dispensing, repairs, modifications and rehabilitation. We are also equipped to complete vestibular evaluations including electronystagmography (ENG) and computerized dynamic posturography. We perform electrophysiological measures of hearing through auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing. Our office is one of the few in the state that provides cochlear implant rehabilitation. We also provide the structure and financial support for two patient support organizations, the Cochlear Implant Club of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Meniere's Network.

As long as people don't mumble or I'm not in a noisy place, I can hear just fine. Why do I need a hearing aid?

     Often we hear patients say that others mumble, when it is actually their hearing sensitivity for higher pitched sounds which is the culprit. When hearing is worse for the high pitches, one is often aware that someone said something, but may be unclear what exactly was said. Although each person's hearing is different, a large percentage of patients with hearing loss we see are due to noise exposure and/or age. Typically, this type of hearing loss is revealed as normal for low pitches (vowel sounds) and increases in severity for high-pitched sounds (consonants like s, sh, k, t, f and th). It is those crucial high-pitched consonants that start and end most of our words. When we choose a hearing device, the circuitry is chosen for the exact loss of the person, usually with an emphasis that is greater for those high pitches. After the fitting, there are also fine tuning visits that are needed to adjust the sound to the individual's preference.

Do I need one or two hearing aids?

     One hearing aid is only recommended when the other ear has normal hearing or when one ear requires and aid but the other is considered unaidable due to the severity of the loss. The majority of losses are relatively equal in severity for both ears. By providing amplification to both ears, most people find it easier to hear. Hearing aids in both ears have been found to make localizing a sound easier for the hearing impaired person. They also don't need to turn each aid up as loud because they can hear from both sides. And we find they usually feel more "balanced" with two hearing aids than with only one. Studies have also found that if only one ear is aided, the ability to understand speech in the unaided ear often deteriorates over time compared to the aided ear. Even if one ear is worse than the other, both ears should obtain the prescribed amount of amplification to make hearing and understanding easier. If both eyes were poor or one worse than the other, would you only get a lens for the poorer eye? Of course not. That same philosophy should also be applied to hearing aids.

I have hearing loss due to nerve damage. Can a hearing aid help me?

      In most cases, hearing aids are found to be beneficial for patients with nerve damage. Although hearing aids do have limits in their abilities, many people find that a majority of the time their aids help them to better communicate and participate in the world around them. We provide a 30-day trail period, which allows you to try the aids without having to commit to the purchase. This allows the individual time to experiment with the amplification and also gives the audiologist time to make any necessary adjustments.

How much do hearing aids cost?

      The cost of hearing aids varies tremendously depending on the style of the instrument and the technology of the circuitry inside (for example analog, programmable and completely digital). Your audiologist will help you narrow down the choices after taking into account information such as the audiogram, manual dexterity, and personal needs and preferences. There is no charge to make an appointment and speak with an audiologist regarding your hearing and amplification needs.