AUDIOLOGIST
OFF THE CLOCK WITH SUNNI MCBRIDE, DOCTOR OF AUDIOLOGY
The highlight of the year so far for Sunni was to be a part of the Starkey Hearing Foundation hearing mission to Guadalajara, Mexico. In four days, the team placed hearing aids on 2,000 people who had difficulty hearing. She hopes to go on another hearing mission soon. When she isn’t thinking about ears, Sunni loves to hike and snow ski. Her favorite hikes include Half Dome in Yosemite and Timpanogos in Utah. She also loves spending a lot of her time visiting 16 grandchildren in five states.
WHAT TREND IS DEFINING YOUR SPECIALTY TODAY?
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR YOUR PRACTICE?
“The aging demographics of our society and the relationship between aging and hearing loss make audiology and hearing aids a rapidly growing opportunity. Studies show that the most satisfied hearing aid users prefer customized solutions and personalized care. It takes a skilled professional to understand a patient’s needs, select appropriate instruments and provide attentive follow-up care.”
TELL US ABOUT THE STAFF AT YOUR PRACTICE.
“We have four doctors of audiology and a hearing aid dispenser to serve our patients’ needs. Our wonderful staff will treat you like family.”
HOW DO YOU GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY?
“We stay on the cutting edge, working with new and innovative hearing aid technology. As an Audigy-certified practice, we work with AGX hearing aids, developed by manufacturers who do more than 50% of all of the hearing aid research in the world. We are the leading providers of the Lyric Extended Wear Hearing Instrument, the only hearing aid you leave in the ear for months at a time. We are the only providers in the Los Angeles area of the Neurocompensator, the first and only neural-based hearing aid. We are also involved in ongoing research studies testing the safety of new cancer-fighting drugs and painkillers.”
“We have been co-sponsors of the Women’s Expo and the Successful Aging Expo for the last four years. We provide free hearing aids to needy people through the Starkey Hear Now Foundation.”
RECOMMENDED
LYRIC HEARING AID
One of the most unique products we provide is the Lyric Extended Wear hearing aid. The audiologist inserts this tiny hearing aid deep in the ear canal. You leave the hearing aid in place, day and night, until the battery dies. The battery can last between two and four months. When the aid dies, you return to the audiologist for a quick, easy removal and exchange for a new device. You can shower, sleep, exercise, etc. without removing the device. The patient never has to deal with batteries or with trying to get the aid into the ear. It’s invisible and amazing.
SHARED TIP
HEARING LOSS HAS NOW BEEN LINKED TO MANY COMMON CHRONIC CONDITIONS. Diabetes greatly increases the chances of having hearing loss as well as vision loss. Most doctors are careful to recommend having your vision checked closely, but they ignore testing for hearing loss. Heart disease and kidney disease are also linked to hearing loss. Recent research has shown the link between hearing loss and dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. When the hearing centers in the brain don’t get fully stimulated, changes in cognition in the brain begin to occur. You should have your hearing tested when you are 50 years of age (or sooner if you are experiencing difficulties). Tests should be repeated at regular intervals (two to three years). Don’t be afraid to use amplification if you need it. Modern hearing aids are small and highly effective. Don’t miss out on the sounds of life.
oursouthbay.com | 2013 Southbay Health?
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