Services
Comprehensive audiologic evaluations—children and adults
A hearing evaluation includes otoscopy, tympanometry, acoustic reflexes, and audiometric evaluation. Otoscopic examination allows the audiologist to inspect the ear canal and eardrum for excessive wax buildup or other debris, abnormal growths, ear infection, and/or eardrum perforation. Tympanometry assesses the mobility of the tympanic membrane (eardrum) as well as the pressure in the middle ear. Acoustic reflexes are involuntary contractions of the tiny bones in the middle ear generated by presentation of high-intensity sound stimuli. Audiometric evaluation evaluates the sensitivity of a person’s hearing at different frequencies using an audiometer. Results of the test are plotted on a chart called an audiogram. If any part of the evaluation indicates a need for medical intervention, the audiologist will refer the patient to a physician for medical treatment.
Otoacoustic emissions testing
Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) testing evaluates for the presence or absence of echoes generated from within the inner ear in response to different sound stimuli. These echoes, or emissions, disappear after the outer hair cells of the cochlea have been damaged, sometimes even before the hearing loss shows up on audiometric testing. Newborns and infants are often screened for hearing loss using this technology. Results of otoacoustic emissions testing can also help differentiate between hearing loss resulting from cochlear dysfunction vs. hearing loss resulting from neural (retrocochlear) dysfunction.
Hearing Aid Evaluations, Fittings, and Verification
If need for amplification is present, recommendations for hearing aids are made taking into account the patient’s hearing loss, hearing needs, lifestyle, and budget. Hearing aids can often be programmed immediately following the hearing evaluation, unless the hearing loss requires special order of hearing aids not currently in stock. Real-ear measures and speech mapping are performed, using a microphone threaded in your ear canal to verify that the hearing aid is producing precise levels of amplification for different stimuli at different frequencies based on your degree of hearing loss.
Hearing aid repairs
Daily cleaning and general maintenance are the responsibility of every patient with hearing aids and will help ensure that the hearing aids continue to function well. The Center for Audiology offers repair services on most makes and models of hearing aids. In the office, we can replace wax filters, ear mold tubing, and in-the-ear receivers, clean battery contacts, and replace battery doors. In the event the problem is due to an internal circuit failure, we send the hearing aid to the manufacturer for repair, and are happy to provide you with a loaner hearing aid until the hearing aid returns from repair, if necessary.
Assistive Listening Devices
The Center for Audiology is the source for many amplified and alerting devices, including amplified telephones, captioned telephones, vibrating alarm clocks, strobe light telephone and doorbell signalers, FM systems, and TV infrared systems, and TV and telephone Bluetooth systems. We also provide annual seminars, open to the community, in order to educate the public about these products.
STAP Program
The Specialized Telecommunications Assistance Program (STAP) is a Texas state program that provides assistance to qualified individuals with documented hearing and/or vision loss to enable them to obtain telecommunications devices so that they can access the telephone network. Individuals must fill out an application and send it to the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (DHHS) along with a photo ID documenting residency in the state of TX. The DHHS office will review the application, and if approved, the person will receive a voucher that may be redeemed for qualifying devices. The STAP application is located under “patient forms” and can be downloaded for you to print. Please feel free to call our office with any questions, and/or schedule an appointment so that we can review your options and determine which telephone device is most appropriate for your needs.
Earmolds (Musician, Noise, Hearing Aid, Swim)
All custom ear molds are made by taking an impression of the ear using a soft, silicone material that is placed into the ear and left to harden for approximately 5 minutes. The impression is then sent to an ear mold lab for manufacture into a custom ear mold.
- In ear monitors for musicians protect your ears while allowing you to hear with extreme clarity. The monitors help eliminate feedback, lower onstage noise levels and reduce vocal fatigue. If you are having trouble keeping your Bluetooth ear piece or iPod earbud in your ear, we offer custom molds that will help keep these in while you are on the go!
- Custom hearing protection reduces the intensity of loud sounds such as loud music, gunfire, loud engines and airplanes. Inserted correctly, custom noise molds can help prevent permanent, noise-induced hearing loss.
- Hearing aid earmolds are custom-made earpieces that connect to behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids via tubing. Amplified sounds from the BTE hearing aids are directed into the ear canal via the hearing aid ear mold.
- Swim molds are custom-made earpieces that prevent water from entering the ear canal while swimming or bathing. These are recommended for individuals with pressure-equalizing (PE) tubes in the eardrum, eardrum perforations, or anyone prone to swimmer’s ear.
LACE- Listening and Communication Enhancement- Program
Think of LACE as “hearing therapy”. LACE is a computerized, self-paced, interactive aural rehabilitation program that can train your brain to develop improved listening skills, particularly in challenging sound environments like restaurants, crowds, or group settings. This program has been found to be very helpful to individuals who continue to have difficulty understanding speech even with hearing aids, especially those who have lived with hearing loss for a long time prior to seeking help with hearing aids. This program has also been found to be beneficial for people without hearing loss who wish to improve their listening skills. After each home-based “hearing therapy” session, your results are sent to The Center for Audiology via a secure server for analysis, and may help guide future hearing aid adjustments.