The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Hearing loss can take a toll on a person’s health and quality of life.
If you or a person close to you has hearing loss, you are probably aware of the challenges that it creates with communication.
But communication is just one of many problems related to hearing loss, says Jennifer Halter, AuD, an audiologist at Cleveland Clinic Willoughby HIlls Family Health Center. It is associated with a number of adverse health conditions, including: • Cognitive decline • Risk of falls • Higher incidence and rate of hospitalization • Limitations in the performance of activities of daily
living • Social and emotional loneliness Research has shown that hearing aids: Improve health-related quality of life Reduce the psychological, social, and emotional effect of hearing loss Provide relief from annoying tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Reduce listening effort and mental fatigue
The first step to improving your hearing and communication function is to have a complete audiologic evaluation (hearing test) by an audiologist. The purpose of this examination is to determine the severity and type of your hearing loss. The audiologist will direct you to an ear, nose and throat physician (ENT), if needed.
Based on the results of this initial hearing examination, it may be recommended that you return for a hearing aid evaluation appointment. During this one-hour consultation you will meet with an audiologist to determine which hearing aid style and level of technology are best suited for you – given your hearing profile, lifestyle, and budget.
Cleveland Clinic offers effective and affordable tiered levels of hearing devices – from basic to premium level technology – with prices that are highly competitive to “big box stores” and other practices’ sites.
More importantly, our doctoral-level audiologists offer you best-practice hearing health care. While the selection of appropriate hearing aids is essential, it is only one step along the path of improving your communication function. According to Dr. Halter, our goals are to make you satisfied with your hearing aids and to maximize the benefits you receive from them across a variety of everyday listening environments.