Cascades Hearing Center |
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- Hearing Aids
- Hearing Problems in Children
- Testing hearing in infants
- Vertigo or Dizziness
- Tinnitus or ringing in the ears
see also:
Our Audiologists
Hearing Aids
Hearing aids help you hear better. They don’t solve your hearing problems, but they can make a huge improvement! Hearing aids come in all sizes, from the familiar behind-the-ear styles to the tiny ones in the ear canal you can barely see. The patient’s preference and his ability to manipulate the controls usually determine the choice of style.
The type of circuits available for today’s hearing aids include analog, programmable and digital. Analog or traditional hearing aids make sounds louder; they are the least costly aids available. Programmable and digital aids amplify and clarify speech and reduce the effects of background noise; they represent the latest technology available today.
We offer comprehensive hearing examinations at all three offices.
Hearing Problems in Children
Why is hearing loss, even mild in degree, a problem? Children have only a few years in which they acquire language, learn to speak clearly (articulation) and learn to process facts (learning potential). When children are learning language and speech, it is very important they hear as much as possible. Even a mild hearing loss can affect speech/language development, particularly between 12 and 30 months of age. If they cannot hear it, they cannot reproduce it correctly.
A child may do poorly in school because he cannot hear information correctly or because his listening skills did not develop properly during the formative years. He may be accused of having "attention" or "behavioral" problems when in fact the problem is only a treatable hearing loss.
If you suspect hearing loss and/or your child has been having many ear infections, get your child tested ASAP!!!
View a chart showing everyday sounds and the loudness in decibels.
Types of Hearing Loss in Children
Conductive hearing loss can be due to a number of causes, most commonly, middle ear fluid/infection where the fluid/infection builds up behind the eardrum. Hearing loss of varying degrees can result: mild, moderate, severe or profound. The auditory nerve is NOT affected by this and once the fluid/infection clears up, hearing usually returns to normal without requiring hearing aids. Ear infections left untreated can cause long-term or permanent damage. Some forms of conductive hearing loss can be permanent.
Sensori-neural hearing loss, also known as "nerve damage", can and does occur in children. Its causes include certain maternal diseases, heredity, excessive prematurity and lack of oxygen. This type of hearing loss is permanent, and hearing aids are usually recommended. The hearing loss can be of any degree of severity: mild, moderate, severe, or profound. Even with hearing impairment, children can lead a very active and "normal" life.Testing hearing in infants
There are several ways to evaluate a baby’s hearing. The simplest assessment is called behavioral testing. With the child in the booth with a parent, we observe the child’s behavior when sound is presented through the speaker. Other tests can be done that evaluate the middle ear system, checking for fluid or wax. There are more sophisticated tests available if we suspect a hearing problem that may affect your child’s performance in school. We have the ability to test hearing from birth. A checklist for your baby’s hearing can be found here.
Vertigo or dizziness
Vertigo is the swirling sensation you can get when experiencing an inner ear imbalance disorder. Either the room or your head may swirl. A patient may have Meniere’s disease, benign positional vertigo, or vestibular neuronitis, as well as many other conditions, which we can diagnose. You will need to be seen by a doctor for evaluation, and you may need additional testing such as advanced hearing tests (evoked response auditory testing) and balance tests (VNG).
Tinnitus or ringing in the ears
Tinnitus is a buzzing or ringing sound that you hear in your head. This is usually caused by a hearing loss, which at times may be above the normal speech frequencies and thus not easily detected by the individual. We cannot always cure someone of tinnitus, but we can perform a complete assessment of the problem and help you deal with this bothersome symptom and exclude serious conditions that may be causing it.
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