Services

Diagnostic Hearing Evaluations

The audiometric evaluation consists of pure tone air and bone conduction testing. Testing pure tones is done to determine the degree of hearing loss and whether hearing loss is conductive or sensorineural. Speech audiometry is obtained to evaluate the individual’s ability to understand speech at an elevated comfortable volume. Speech discrimination is also tested to determine how much a person will understand when wearing hearing aids.

ENG and Canalith Repositioning for BPPV -Balance Dizziness Testing

During the ENG test eye movements caused by positional or caloric stimulation of the inner ear balance structures are recorded. The results of the series of studies indicate the presence of dizziness or imbalance due to unequal neural messages to the vestibular system.

DPOAEs

Acoustically evoked otoacoustic emission testing allows the audiologist to understand how the outer hair cells of your inner ear are working.

Hearing Aid Dispensing & Fitting

Our staff emphasizes ongoing cleaning and maintenance after your hearing aid purchase to ensure you receive optimum performance and benefit from your hearing aids. We encourage all our patients to come in for a regular hearing aid evaluation and cleaning.

In Office Services

Repairs, Maintenance, Cleanings, 3 Year Warranty

Battery Sales

Common battery sizes are 10, 13, 312 and 675. To identify the battery size, manufacturers use an industry standard color code system.
- Size 10 yellow
- Size 312 brown
- Size 13 orange
- Size 675 blue

Assistive Devices

When hearing aids are not enough or not appropriate we offer devices for the TV, telephone, FM classroom amplification, body aids, and sound alert devices.

Custom Earmolds

Custom hearing protection for people who work or play in loud noise or music, industrial hearing protection. Custom earmolds for musicians, hunters, swim molds, iPOD, hands free cell phones and in-the-ear monitor molds.

List of Services Available

Diagnostic Audiological Assessment

A clinical hearing evaluation is to determine medical or non-medical reasons for a hearing loss.

This 45-minute evaluation consists of several tests: the hearing test and acoustic immittance measures. The audiogram evaluates hearing sensitivity and speech comprehension abilities. The acoustic immittance measures provide information about middle ear structures, the cochlea (inner ear sensory organ), and the acoustic and facial nerves. Both are performed by an audiologist.

During the hearing test, you will be asked to sit in a chair and put on headphones. The audiologist will ask you to press a button whenever you hear a tone, and to repeat words that you hear in the headphones.

For the acoustic immittance measures evaluation, the audiologist will place small, rubber probe tips in your ear canals. During the evaluation, you will feel a sensation of air pressure in the ear canals and hear a series of loud tones. You will not be asked to respond during this test.

Balance Screening

Your balance helps to protect you from injury. The inability to balance while performing activities of daily living (showering, dressing, walking, and climbing stairs) can lead to falls. As we get older, our ability to recover from a fall diminishes. Therefore, it is important to have your balance screened. This screening helps to identify those people who are at risk for falling. Once identified as "at risk for a fall" a full balance or vestibular assessment should be done. This helps to determine if rehabilitation such as excercises and activites can be recommended to reduce the risks or if other measures are needed.

Vestibular Assessment

Our sense of balance is controlled by the visual system, the inner ear, and the sense of movement from muscles. Any disturbance of these sytems may cause a feeling of dizziness or vertigo.

A vestibular or balance assessment is warranted when a person has nytagmus (rapid involuntary eye movement), complaints of vertigo, balance dysfunction, gait abnormalities, or when a pathology or disease of the vestiblar system is suspected.

With any vestibular assessment, it is essential to have both a thorough history and medical examination by a primary care physician or an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist, and audiologic/vestibular evaluations by your audiologist.

Video Otoscopy

The Video Otoscope gives you the opportunity to see your ear like you've never seen it before!

Our Video otoscopy system lets us view and record your ears' condition in a color image. It may help detect developing conditions that could require further attention. It could also detect a condition that when resolved could make an immediate improvement to your hearing.

Hearing Aids Dispensing

The five basic types of Hearing Aids:
We can help you select what is best for your hearing loss and lifestyle:

Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC)
In-the-Canal (ITC)
In-the-Ear (ITE)
Behind-the-Ear (BTE)
Open-Fit Recenter Behind-the-Ear (RBTE)

We offer the following Audiological Services

Hearing Test
Hearing Aid Sales
Hearing Aid Checkup
Hearing Aid Repairs
Hearing Aid Cleaning
Battery Sales
Custom Earmolds
Custom Noise Protection Earplugs
Custom Water Protection Earplugs
Custom Sleep Plugs
30 Day Trial

ALL-MAKE REPAIR SERVICES At Hearing Healthcare Associates

Almost any brand or style of hearing aid may be repaired, whether purchased from us or from another hearing aid center.

Hearing aids older than 6 years of age may not be repairable, due to an unuseable condition or unavailability of compatible repair parts.
ESTIMATES ARE FREE !

Please make an appointment, allowing us proper time to repair your hearing aid(s) right the first time to eliminate the need for a return/second appointment to repair it again!

Hearing aids may be mailed in or dropped off at our offices for servicing at your convenience if an appointment time is not practical.

Please contact us for answers to questions you may have regarding repair services.

1-800-891-9308

Hearing Healthcare Associates can do service work and repairs on almost any hearing aid. If you think your hearing aid may need repair, even if you didn't buy it from us, we'll be happy to check and repair it if needed. The hearing aid check is free, and many repairs can be done on-site. Sometimes we can make the repair while you wait. If we can't repair your hearing aid while you wait, we may be able to offer you a loaner hearing aid. Although nothing can replace your hearing aid, a loaner will keep you hearing well while your hearing aid is getting repaired. If you live out-of-town, you can send us your hearing aid for testing and repair. We'll return it to you promptly. Just be sure to enclose a note with your name, address, and daytime telephone number, along with a description of the problem.

Custom Fit Hearing Protection

Our world is a noisy environment. You really can’t escape. It’s everywhere. Traffic and construction, sporting events and concerts, chain saws and jet engines, bottomline, exposure to loud noise will eventually take its toll on your hearing. You can take steps to protect your precious hearing with individually crafted, custom-fit hearing protection. Earplugs designed for specific noise-reduction applications and environments. From protecting musicians to motorcyclists. Dentists to defensive backs. Hunters to highway patrolmen.

Custom Hearing Protection Considerations

For maximum protection, "full-shell" style protectors are recommended.
Filtered sound plugs provide less noise attenuation than solid plugs.
Custom hearing protectors are designed to fit in the ear only one way. Right/left identification dots or designators are available on all custom products.

Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)

This test provides objective information about the upper auditory system including the inner ear and brainstem. This is a simple and non-invasive test on part of the patient. Electrodes are placed on the ears and head while a click stimulus is presented through soft foam earplugs. This test records the brainwave response to the stimulus. The audiologist will complete analysis and interpretation of the results and your physician will discuss the test results with you.

Electronystagmography (ENG)

This test provides objective information about the condition of the vestibular (balance) portion of the inner ear. This test comprises of subtests that have the patient look at different visual stimuli, lie in different positions and introduce cool and warm water to the ears. The audiologist is looking for an eye movement called nystagmus and will measure the eye movement as part of a larger reflex, the vestibuloocular reflex that helps determine the condition of the inner ear.

Electronystagmography (ENG) is a study used to clinically evaluate patients with dizziness, vertigo, or balance dysfunction. The vestibular system monitors the position and movements of the head to stabilize retinal images. This information is integrated with the visual system and spinal afferents in the brain stem to produce the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). ENG provides an objective assessment of the oculomotor and vestibular systems.

Essentially, the standard ENG test battery consists of 3 parts: oculomotor evaluation, positioning/positional testing, and caloric stimulation of the vestibular system. The comparison of results obtained from various subtests of ENG assists in determining whether a disorder is central or peripheral. If the inner ear is determined to be the cause of the vertigo or dizzy sensation, this peripheral disorder will have recommendations and treatment. If the disorder is central then your physician will determine if additional testing is warranted.

In the case of the most common inner ear disorder, BPPV (Benign Paroxysamal Positional Vertigo), balance rehabilitation may be used. BPPV is caused by false stimulation of the sensors in the vestibular canals. The false stimulation is caused by tiny particles called canaliths, which have fallen out of place in the inner ear. A balance rehabilitation procedure called Canalith Repositioning Therapy (CRT) is designed to reposition or realign the canaliths. The CRT procedure involves a series of head maneuvers, manipulations and excercies to reposition the canaliths. Successful in 80% of cases; often just one session relieves symptoms.

The test protocol indiciates that ceratin medications not be taken 24-48 hours before the test. Specifically, medications used to control dizziness symptoms such as Meclizine or Antivert, prescription pain pills, Valium, tranquilizers, or sleeping pills should be avoided. Other types of medications that could affect the test outcome include strong cold pills, allergy pills and antihistamines. Alcoholic beverages should also be avoided 24 hours before the test.

Videonystagmography (VNG)

A videonystagmography (VNG) is used to evaluate inner ear balance centers, visual systems that contribute to balance and structures within the brain that coordinates these activities. In reality, the VNG test battery consists of several different procedures used to evaluate the function of the ears, eyes and brain. Your audiologist is looking for an eye movement called nystagmus and will measure the eye movement as a part of a larger relex, the vestibulocular reflex. This reflex helps to determine the condition of the inner ear.

The test battery consists of three parts: oculomotor evaluation, positional/positioning testing, and caloric stimulation of the vestibular system. The comparison of results obtained from these sub-tests of the VNG helps to determine if the balance disorder is peripheral or central. If the inner ear is determined to be the cause of the vertigo or dizzy sensation, this peripheral disorder will have recommendations and treatment. If the disorder is central then your physician will determine if additional testing is warranted.

In the case of the most common inner ear disorder, BPPV (Benign Paroxysamal Positional Vertigo), balance rehabilitation may be used. BPPV is caused by false stimulation of the sensors in the vestibular canals. The false stimulation is caused by tiny particles called canaliths, which have fallen out of place in the inner ear. A balance rehabilitation procedure called Canalith Repositioning Therapy (CRT) is designed to reposition or realign the canaliths. The CRT procedure involves a series of head maneuvers, manipulations and excercies to reposition the canaliths. Successful in 80% of cases; often just one session relieves symptoms.

The test protocol indiciates that ceratin medications not be taken 24-48 hours before the test. Specifically, medications used to control dizziness symptoms such as Meclizine or Antivert, prescription pain pills, Valium, tranquilizers, or sleeping pill should be avoided. Other types of medications that could affect the test outcome include stong cold pills, allergy pills and antihistamines. Alcoholic beverages should also be avoided 24 hours before the test.

Industrial Hearing Conservation Services

Clinical expert testimony concerning compensation claims
Over 33 years of experience
Noise level surveys
Comprehensive Audiologic evaluation for OSHA Log employees
Pre-employment evaluations
Annual evaluations
Rehire evaluations
Terminate evaluations
Termination Retirement
Retire evaluations
Return evaluations
Retest evaluations
Diagnostic evaluations

Custom Fit Swim Plugs

Do you and your kids love the pool? Do you enjoy diving, splashing, and dunking? Stay in ’til they are shivery, purple, and wrinkled. But water in the ears? No thanks! Protect your ears with — custom swim plugs from Hearing Healthcare Associates.

The next time you or your children take the plunge, remember to protect their ears with colorful, unsinkable Custom-made swim plugs from an impression of your ear — they fit perfectly to keep the water out. Manufactured from the finest soft silicone, your swim plugs are clearly marked for left and right ears. And they have handles! Kids can easily insert and remove them.

So before your kids go near the water, see a Hearing Healthcare Associate professional and ask about our custom fit swim plugs.

Batteries

All hearing aids have batteries. They come in different sizes and have a positive side and a negative side. It is important that the battery is inserted properly into the hearing aid. The average life of a hearing aid battery varies from 1 to 4 weeks depending on things such as the size of the battery, the power of the hearing aid, and the setting of the volume control.

All batteries currently sold are the zinc-air type. Zinc-air batteries last longer then the older mercury batteries and are much better for the environment. They come with a paper tab stuck to the battery. This tab prevents the battery from activating while it is being stored. These batteries can be stored for over a year as long as the paper tab is never removed. To start a zinc-air battery, just remove the paper tab. Once a battery is activated, it will begin to drain.

Batteries should be stored in a cool, dry place. They should not be refrigerated as this may shorten the life of the battery. Hearing aid batteries are different then normal batteries in that they operate at full power until they are almost fully drained, and then they stop quite abruptly. They do not slowly get weaker and weaker like most other batteries. Because of this, a hearing aid user should own a battery tester and should always carry extra batteries. If a hearing aid is not going to be worn for an extended period, the battery should be removed from the hearing aid to prevent corrosion. The battery should also be removed if the hearing aid accidently becomes wet.

Batteries sizes:

#675 This is the largest size battery. It is usually used in Behind-The-Ear hearing aids. It has the largest energy storage capacity of hearing aid batteries.
#13 This is the most common size of battery used for In-The-Ear hearing aids. It has less storage capacity then the #675, but it is also a smaller battery.
#312 This is often used for In-The-Canal size hearing aids. It is thinner then the #13 battery and has a shorter total lifetime.
#10 This is one of the smallest sizes available and is used for the Completely-In-the-Canal size of hearing aids. They don't have too much energy storage capacity, but the small size makes them ideal for the very small hearing aid sizes.

Hearing Healthcare Associates has these batteries available at all three of our locations or you can call or email us and we can send them out to you. Our batteries are $7.00 for an 8 pack and do carry an expiration date on them. We also offer a prepaid battery card club. This club can save you $12 off of the cost of your batteries. For more information call 1-800-891-9308.

Medicare Part "B" covered shoes and inserts
DIABETIC SHOE PROGRAM

Effective May 1, 1993 Congress amended the Medicare statue to provide coverage for one pair custom-fit extra depth shoes and three pair of custom-molded inserts annually to people with diabetes who qualify under Medicare Part B.

Designed to prevent lower-limb amputation in people who have diabetes, the Medicare benefit can prevent suffering and prolong the life of the diabetic foot.

Senior Healthcare Associates recognized the need for this program and designed the Diabetic Shoe Program to fit into our “Umbrella of Services” complete with Podiatrists and Pedorthists to effectively serve the pressing need of the diabetic to have proper footwear in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and the general public.

Please feel free to call today and learn more about the Diabetic Shoe Program and the many different styles of Medicare Part “B” Approved Therapeutic Shoes that Senior Healthcare Associates has to offer.

On-Site Residential Care Facility Services
AUDIOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS

Our professional audiologists provide complete diagnostic hearing evaluations to your residents when referred by either our physicians (in conjuction with our cerumen removal program) and/or the resident’s attending physician.

Our audiometric testing services include medical history, otoscopy, hearing testing and impedence audiometry. Following the testing, appropriate recommendations are made and follow-up services are provided. We will also provide you with the information necessary to complete the "Minimum Data Set" from information on each resident evaluated regarding his/her hearing abilities, handicaps and/or rehabilitation procedures needed. If a hearing instrument is recommended, we will discuss approval with the professional staff and/or family. We will service instruments and perform maintenance checks of residents' hearing devices when we are at your facility. As a convenience to the facility, hearing aid batteries are available which can be mailed when requested.

More than 28 million Americans have hearing problems, one out of every ten people. Among the geriatric population this proportion escalates to over 25% - more than four out of every 10 senior citizens have a communicatively disrupting hearing loss. It is not uncommon for the hard of hearing person to be labeled as a difficult patient when in fact the person’s problem may be due to significant hearing loss. In many cases, these hearing losses are correctable through rehabilitation, either medically or through providing amplification.

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