Naro Audiology & Hearing Solutions - Bay Minette

Audiologist Versus Hearing Aid Dispenser: What is the difference?There are vast differences in the professional roles in diagnosing and treatment of hearing loss. It is still common today for someone to get screened, tested, or fitted with a hearing aid by someone and still not know what qualifications that person had. How do you know who you can trust? An important distinction to understand when treating your hearing loss is the difference between an Audiologist and a hearing aid dispenser. An Audiologist is a Doctor of Audiology who is extensively trained in the science of hearing; while a hearing aid dispenser applies for a license after meeting some basic requirements (see below).Audiologist: An Audiologist is trained to diagnose, treat and monitor disorders of the hearing and balance system. They are trained in anatomy and physiology, amplification devices, cochlear Implants, electrophysiology, acoustics, psychophysics and auditory rehabilitation. Doctors of Audiology complete, at a minimum, an undergraduate and doctoral level degree in audiology, as well as a supervised externship prior to state licensure and national certification. This usually requires 8 years of post-secondary education (4 years of college and 4 years of graduate school). The graduate school years focus on the medical, diagnostic and rehabilitative aspects of hearing loss, hearing aids and the vestibular system. Upon completion of training, Audiologists must also pass a national standardized examination in order to be eligible for state licensure. Continuing education requirements must be met in order for an Audiologist to maintain state licensure.Hearing Aid Dispenser: A hearing aid dispenser is licensed to perform audiometric testing for the sole purpose of selling and fitting hearing aids. In order to obtain a license, hearing aid dispensers are required to pass an exam. Prior to taking the exam, certain requirements must be met, which vary from state to state. In many states, hearing aid dispensers are only required to have a high school diploma. In other states, hearing aid dispensers must complete two years of college or post-secondary education in any field prior to applying for licensure. Some states require completion of distance learning coursework prior to taking the exam.In summary, the requirement for state licensure to dispense hearing aids is based on the minimum education necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare of the patient. The differences in education required for Audiologists versus hearing aid dispensers reflect the significantly larger range of professional practices that Audiologists are permitted to engage in.Audiologists are highly trained degree professionals. Audiologists receive extensive training in assessment of hearing, diagnosis, fitting and adjustment of hearing aids that helps to ensure:         An accurate diagnosis;         An appropriate treatment plan of intervention;         A positive outcome from the hearing aid. At Naro Audiology & Hearing Solutions, our mission is to provide professional audiological services and hearing health care while developing excellent rapport with our patients by giving individualized attention and personal, compassionate care. We do our best to accurately test and diagnose every patient.  For the hearing impaired, we seek to improve quality of life and maximize communication by listening to the patients' needs, accurately diagnosing their hearing loss and providing a vast array of communication solutions and cutting edge technologies to meet the needs of the patient.  Naro Audiology serves Bay Minette, Brewton, Fairhope, and Foley.  Contact Naro Audiology at 251-758-4326.  We are hear for you!

If you care for your hearing aid properly and give it a little tender-loving care, it will serve you well. Unfortunately, as with most things, sometimes hearing aids stop working. If it does, there are a few things you can do to troubleshoot, and, hopefully, get your hearing aid back up and running again.When your hearing aid seems to die, first check the opening of the speaker for wax and dirt. If you see some, use the tool that came with your hearing aid to clean the speaker and microphone. Then try your hearing aid again. With a bit of luck, the problem is solved! Blockage by wax is one of the most common causes of hearing aid malfunctions. Be sure to replace the wax guard, if your hearing aid has one, every two or three weeks to reduce wax build-up.Another common cause of a malfunctioning hearing aid is a weak or dead battery. Try placing a new battery into your hearing aid and retest it to see if it takes care of the problem. The best way to use a new battery is to peel off the tab and let it rest for five minutes before putting it into your hearing aid. This way, the battery gets a full charge and longer life.Check your hearing aid regularly to make sure there's no corrosion in the battery compartment. Corrosion can happen if your hearing aid is regularly exposed to moisture or humidity, so keep it as dry as possible. Use the drying kit that came with your hearing aid or ask your audiologist about getting one.Hopefully, after doing these two things, your hearing aid is functioning properly again. If not, make an appointment with your audiologist. They can look in your ear canals and make sure wax accumulation isn't affecting your ability to hear. If not, your audiologist may be able to troubleshoot and fix your hearing aid in the office. When necessary, they can send it to the manufacturer for further troubleshooting and repair.Almost anything malfunctions once in a while, but with proper care you should have less hearing aid downtime.This article was submitted by Naro Audiology.  You can find them online at narolaudiology.com or at one of their four locations.  Call 251-970-3277 for an appointment.

Hearing Aid StylesA wide range of technology and a host of features are available in each hearing aid style. The cost of hearing aids generally depends on the technology and the number of features the instrument has and not necessarily on the style selected. Today's digital hearing aids are typically offered in various technology levels, such as basic, entry, advanced or premium level. Basic digital hearing aids generally require the wearer to make some manual adjustments in certain listening environments, such as turning a volume control up or down, or pushing a button to change listening programs. In contrast, a premium or more advanced hearing aid responds automatically to changes in the listener's environment, making changes based on the signals being detected by the hearing aid. The hearing aid wearer is not required to make any manual changes. As the level of the technology increases in hearing aids, so does the availability of advanced features. Examples of some of the advanced features found in today's digital hearing aids are shown below.When selecting a style the following is considered:The degree of the hearing loss (power requirements)Manual dexterity and visual abilitiesPatient budgetCosmeticsSkin sensitivitiesAnatomical/medical considerationsLifestyle and listening needsStyles of Hearing Aids Hearing aids are available in many different sizes and styles thanks to advancements in digital technology and miniaturization of the internal components. Many of today's hearing aids are considered sleek, compact and innovative offering solutions to a wide range of hearing aid wearers.In the ear (ITE)  Hearing aids worn in the ear are usually custom-fit, based on a cast or impression of the ear. They're available in different skin tones to camouflage with the outer ear. There are several styles each is listed below, ranging from smallest to largest.Completely in canal (CIC) One of the smallest custom styles, CIC instruments, fit deeply and entirely within the ear canal. They fit mild-to-moderate hearing losses and offer high cosmetic appeal, as they're nearly invisible when worn.In the canal (ITC)ITC instruments sit in the lower portion of the outer ear bowl, making them comfortable and easy to use. Because they're slightly larger than CIC models, they have a longer battery life, and can host additional features such as directional microphones for better understanding in noisy environments, and controls such as volume controls. They fit mild and moderate hearing losses.Full shell in the ear (ITE)Full shell models sit flush within the entire ear bowl. Their size allows the maximum number of additional controls and features such as directional microphones, which require space on the outer portion of the instrument. They use a larger battery size than the smaller styles and can fit a larger receiver with enough power for even some severe hearing losses. Because of their flexibility, they're widely recommended for mild-to-severe hearing loss.   Behind the Ear Behind-the-Ear (BTE) models sit behind or on top of the outer ear, with tubing/wiring that routes sounds down into the ear that connects to an ear tip or earmold to secure them in the ear canal. BTEs come in a variety colors to blend with hair or skin tones, and even chrome colors, leopard print and other funky designs to suit personal styles. Different BTE sizes accommodate different features, controls, battery types and degrees of power (larger instruments generally have more power than smaller ones). While many people choose discreet BTEs that are unnoticeable when worn, others are tempted to show off the cool designs. There are several styles each is listed below.Mini BTE with slim tube and tipMini BTEs are designed to hide behind the outer ear and have ultra-thin tubing/wiring to discreetly route sound into the ear. The tubing/wiring connects to a soft tip that sits in the ear canal but doesn't occlude it. The result is a natural, open feeling as airflow and sound enter the ear naturally around the tip, while amplified sound enters through the tip. This is known as open fitting and is recommended for mild-to-moderate high frequency losses.  Receiver in ear (RIC)RIC models are mini BTEs that have the speaker of the instrument incorporated in the ear tip, instead of in the main body of the instrument. RIC instruments fit mild-to-severe hearing losses. This hearing aid style looks similar to the Mini BTE when worn on the ear.  BTE with Earmold BTEs with earmolds fit mild through severe hearing losses. Their longer shape follows the contour behind the outer ear and can house many features, including a program button and volume control. The earmold color and style, as well as the wearer's hairstyle, determine exactly how they'll look on each person. Contact Naro Audiology & Hearing Solutions at 251-551-9441 to schedule an appointment at one of their four locations.