Hearing loss can take a toll on a person’s health and quality of life.

If you or a loved one has hearing loss, you are probably aware of the challenges that it creates with communication.

“Communication often becomes more difficult with hearing impairment,” says Sharon Jones Braden, AuD, an audiologist at Cleveland Clinic Lorain Family Health and Surgery Center. Other related problems include:

• Cognitive decline.

• Risk of falls.

• Higher rate of hospitalization.

• Limitations in the performance of activities of daily living.

• Social and emotional loneliness.

When hearing loss is suspected, a complete audiologic evaluation (hearing test) by an audiologist is the first step. Based on the results, a hearing needs assessment may be conducted to ascertain how to improve a patient’s hearing.

“The hearing needs assessment helps us determine specific devices that are best suited based on the patient’s hearing profile, lifestyle and budget,” says Dr. Jones Braden. “While many hearing enhancement devices are available over the counter, it’s important to get expert guidance from a clinical audiologist regarding the best devices to address individual hearing issues.”

More importantly, our doctoral-level audiologists offer the best-practice hearing health care. According to Dr. Braden, our goals are to guide our patients on their journey to better hearing and to make sure the appropriate devices are fit to their needs. Proper fit will maximize benefits for patients across a variety of everyday listening environments.