Collin County Living Well Magazine Fall 2014 | Page 17
The Value of the Audiologist in Hearing Care
By Elizabeth Brassine, Au.D.
F
rom the moment we wake up to the time we go to
sleep, sound plays an important role in our lives.
Whether it’s alerting us to danger, delivering
needed information, or making us simply laugh, smile or
cry, sound informs, entertains and connects us to the world.
Consequently, when we experience hearing problems and
begin to lose this vital sense––and eventually, most of us
do––we also begin to lose those connections and diminish
our ability to be engaged, entertained and informed. It’s not
uncommon to hear people who suffer from hearing impairment say it impacts their “quality of life.”
The sooner we seek treatment for hearing problems, the
more successful we’ll be at slowing the negative social,
psychological, cognitive and health effects that come with
it. Once you suspect your hearing has declined, it’s time to
take action. The next step is to seek out a hearing care professional who will give you a thorough evaluation including
a lifestyle discussion. Your hearing professional will show
you the best solutions to fit your unique needs and lifestyle.
Did you know that the single biggest contributor to a
successful outcome of hearing aid use is the professional?
According to one large study (MarkeTrak VIII), the professional, along with the clinical protocol they use, makes
a bigger difference to success with hearing aids than the
technology itself. Also, in focus studies completed by the
Hearing Industries Association and those reported in Consumer Reports, the success or satisfaction (or, as it’s called,
delight in the studies) of hearing aid usage was found not
to be related to the type of loss, style of hearing aid, type of
payment or referral source but due to the hearing care professional themselves. Specifically, the consumers reported
the following items as things that audiologists did that led to
delight with their hearing aids:
• Assume that the patient had little or no prior information
• Offer educational information on hearing loss and causes of
loss
• Explain how the hearing aids work
• Discuss which hearing aids would be more appropriate
for given person and reasons why
• See patients routinely for follow up appointments
• Provide explanations of first-week experiences and what
to expect
If you’re concerned about your hearing, visit your audiologist today!
Elizabeth Brassine is a Doctor of Audiology and the owner
of Hearing Services of McKinney.
HEARING SERVICES
Better Hearing Keeps You Connected!
of McKinney
• Staffed by 3 Licensed, Doctors of Audiology
• Hearing Aid Fittings, Maintenance and Repairs
• Invisible Fittings/Open Fittings
• Evaluation Period On All Hearing Aids
• Hearing Evaluations For All Ages
• Wireless/Connectivity Hearing Solutions
• Battery Purchase Programs
“After 10 years of training hearing
• Custom Ear Protection
professionals, I decided to come home
• Assistive Devices
to McKinney to do what I love
most-helping the hearing impaired”.
• 25 Years of Experience
Financing
Options
Available
Mon-Fri: 8:30am- 5:00pm
Other times available by appt.
Liz Brassine, Au.D.
972.838.1300
www.hearinmckinney.com
4201 Medical Center Dr, Suite 270
Across from Medical Center of McKinney
LIZ BRASSINE, Au.D.
DOCTOR OF AUDIOLOGY
Collin County Living Well Magazine • Fall 2014
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