Sponsored Content
Business Spotlight
Sponsored Content
Why Should I Have My
Hearing Tested?
A
dults can be screened for Hearing Loss using simple methods and
there are effective treatments for many forms of hearing loss.
Hearing Loss affects as over 30 million Americans of all ages and
will increase dramatically over the next decade due to Baby
Boomers. Only 12% of Patients are routinely screened for hearing
loss. At Swift Audiology, we encourage everyone to get their
hearing screened annually, establishing a baseline and monitoring
changes and needs, throughout the Patient’s life. Most hearing loss occurs
slowly over time and goes unnoticed until it is causing frustration and
emotional turmoil, for ourselves, our family, friends and coworkers.
Eventually this can even lead to isolation and depression if the hearing
loss is not treated.
Did you know that we hear with our brain and not with our ears? The
ears are the pathway, or transducer to get the information to the brain.
Missing information in speech, such as high frequency consonant sounds
(S – T – TH – B – F, etc…) over time, causes us to misinterpret,
misunderstand conversations and slows our
cognitive processing. It even impacts our memory.
If we don’t hear something well enough to
comprehend it, how do we remember it? This can
slow us down socially, impact our relationships,
our mental alertness and change our lifestyle
tremendously. This is a TRUE quality of life issue!
Recent studies released out of John’s Hopkins have
shown that untreated hearing loss can even lead to
early onset dementia.
Debra Swift - Founder
The most common type of hearing loss is
Over 25 years as your
preferred Hearing
sensorineural (nerve loss). It is indeed a myth that
Healthcare Provider
nothing can be done for NERVE loss. Over 90%
of hearing loss is nerve loss. This is a permanent hearing loss within the
Cochlea and cannot be cured medically or surgically. (Unless it’s a severe
to profound loss and hearing aids will no longer help, then a cochlear
implant may be recommended, but this is not common among older
adults). Aging, noise exposure, trauma, some medications and treatments
for cancer, viruses and hereditary factors, can all contribute to nerve loss.
There are very effective Hearing Aids for nerve loss, utilizing today’s
digital technology. (Most people wearing hearing aids have nerve loss).
These hearing instruments come in every size, style and color with
features to meet life style needs and each budget. These are
microelectronics and are in a variety of technology levels like all
computers and electronics. The price is dependant on the technology
which accounts for the price differences you see advertised. The
technology relates to how automatic and what features there are to help
you understand speech in noise. Recent styles have been developed to
leave the ear canal more open, without feeling plugged up and allowing a
more natural sound quality and clarity. Lyric Extended wear is invisible
and remains in the canal for several months at a time and can be worn
when sleeping and showering. This extended wear hearing instrument is
only available at Certified Lyric Practices and requires specialized training.
Prove it to yourself; get a hearing test! If you need hearing help,
Swift Audiology offers a complimentary “No Risk” hearing screening and
trial, if hearing aids are the appropriate course of treatment. There
is also a 45 day “NO RISK” return. For more information, visit
www.swiftaudiology.com or call 724.222.9010 for our Washington
office, 724.942.4700 for our McMurray Peters Township office or
412.364.8338 for our North Hills office.
South Fayette | Summer 2014 | icmags.com 39