Hearing is a sense we are committed to using 24/7. It offers awareness, a sense of security and most importantly, a real connection with our world and the people in it.
We are hearing healthcare professionals dedicated to improving your quality of life.
The Patient Journey
Many are inclined to take our sense of hearing for granted - until there’s an apparent problem. Many are also likely to ignore any signs of hearing problems because they expect that hearing loss is a benign consequence of aging. This presents a dilemma...
- The first concern is that hearing loss is frequently ignored until it reaches a moderate degree of impairment because the individual attributes any errors in communication to the other person speaking or to the environment.
- Secondly, an untreated hearing loss - even one that’s mild in nature, can have significant consequences for cognitive health later in life. The earlier the intervention, the greater the chance of an ideal outcome.
- The third, and very important concern, is that much of the hearing loss we treat could have been prevented. Audiologists would prefer to protect your sense of hearing rather than treat a loss after it develops. ‘Cradle to grave’ monitoring of one’s hearing can help to prevent the cases of noise induced hearing loss that are so prevalent.
Hearing loss is not inevitable. Looking after your ears with the same diligence used to look after your vision, your teeth or your blood pressure would change the whole direction of the patient journey.
For those actually dealing with a diagnosed hearing loss, the journey has indeed changed dramatically over the past 20 years. Although much attention is paid to the size of hearing aids, what’s most impressive is actually the technology now available to customize sound reception for each individual. Hearing aids have become highly advanced personalized amplifiers that offer high end sound, noise and wind reduction, sound programs specialized for speech or for music, direct connectivity to cell phones, landlines and televisions. The most recent options can even include artificial intelligence which learns your listening needs and modifies your hearing aids to adapt to your specific needs. The research is ongoing with new and exciting developments coming about every 16 months.
Despite the the technological advancements, the science without the art will not take an individual down the best path. Hearing aid fittings are rehabilitative processes. The amazing functionality and performance of today’s hearing aids must be matched by the clinical services of skilled and motivated health professionals.
The most impressive ‘patient journey’ is one the Audiologist and the Client travels together!