HearFlorida Audiology Group » audiology

HearFlorida: Awarded Hearing Center of the Week

admin — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 15:58:32 +0000

The HearFlorida Audiology Group was recently recognized by HealthyHearing.com as Hearing Center of the Week. The HearFlorida Audiology Group is led by Dr. Adam Locker, Au.D. HearFlorida was chosen largely in part because of the dedication to Audiology and its highly educated hearing care doctors. Dr. Adam Locker, Au.D. graduated from the University of Florida, LSU Medical Center and Salus University where he earned his degree and expert training in Audiology.

Not only is Dr. Locker an extremely qualified audiologist, but he currently serves on the National Committee for Coding and Reimbursement with the American Academy of Audiology. HearFlorida is not just an ordinary Audiology group. We strive to help their patients on a more personal level, we believe in treating every patient like family. “Hearing loss treatment simply isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ situation” says healthyhearing.com. The HearFlorida Audiology Group firmly believes that philosophy, and they assure the best hearing care treatment to their patients. The group works with patients of all ages who suffer with hearing loss issues. The HearFlorida Audiology Group is extremely qualified to treat their patients. They are deserving of their spot on healthyhearing.com because of their achievements and qualifications. Click here to read the article and learn more about HearFlorida.

More Birthdays & Hearing Loss

admin — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:01:43 +0000

Presbycusis, the loss of hearing that gradually occurs in most individuals as they age is usually a sensorineural hearing disorder – meaning it is caused by gradual changes in the inner ear typically brought on by repeated exposure to noise. This results in a loss of hair cells (sensory receptors in the inner ear), which can also occur because of various health conditions and certain side effects of some medications (Aspirin and certain antibiotics). Symptoms of presbycusis include difficulty hearing and discerning high pitched sounds, as well as difficulty understanding conversation, hearing others’ speech as mumbled or slurred, and loudness associated with certain sounds. In other words hearing but not understanding. For most people with presbycusis, these symptoms may be overcome with the use of a hearing instrument.
As Helen Keller once remarked, “Loss of vision means losing contact with things, but loss of hearing means losing contact with people.” At any age, hearing loss, if left untreated, can lead to social isolation, frustration and emotional problems and permanent loss of understanding ability. Older people especially, may withdraw from family and friends. This does not go well for their quality of life and longevity. Studies show that a strong social network is critical for living a long, healthy life. Many older people with hearing loss, however, are reluctant to seek help. This is where family and friends may play a helpful role. If you feel that a loved one is irritable and struggling to keep up conversation, you may want to contact one of our offices for help.

Which Hearing Aid Do You Need For Your Lifestyle?

admin — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:00:55 +0000

We can all agree that one of the most annoying things about hearing aids is having to constantly turn them up and down. With our HearFlorida product line, you can virtually eliminate that hassle right up front by simply purchasing the right hearing aid for your lifestyle. Each HearFlorida product comes pre-tuned for a certain noise level, ensuring your maximum comfort. It’s almost like having a hearing aid that is custom designed for your ear, without the expense that such a process would entail. There is no “normal” level of activity that means that one size fits all, so HearFlorida has created four separate products that take varying noise exposure into consideration.

Very Quiet Lifestyle -
Rare Background Noise

If you rarely encounter background noise in your everyday life, this is the hearing aid for you. Occasional church services, infrequent visitors and limited television use would be covered by the Very Quiet Lifestyle. Affordability is also a key factor in this line; the less technology you need, the less expensive the hearing aids are. This one is priced at entry-level rates.

Quiet Lifestyle
Limited Background Noise

This hearing aid allows you to function at a slightly higher level, allowing for weekly church services and more frequent visitors. Shopping trips with limited background noise would also be easier with a Quiet Lifestyle device than a Very Quiet Lifestyle device.

Casual Lifestyle
Occasional Background Noise

Driving, occasional restaurant visits and weekly small meetings are all activities that the Casual Lifestyle device covers, on top of the ones already listed for the Very Quiet and Quiet devices. If you watch television very frequently this is also the product of choice.

Active Lifestyle
Frequent Background Noise

If you aren’t yet retired and work part or full-time outside of the home, this is the best choice for you. This is the highest level of technology that HearFlorida has to offer, and with it you’ll be able to make out threads of multiple conversations, eliminate background noise and generally enjoy all of your daily activities.

Whichever one you choose, you know it will be backed with Hear Florida’s top customer service if you ever have any questions about your new HearFlorida hearing device.

Cool Technology in Hearing Aids from Oticon

admin — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:42:14 +0000

Oticon isn’t just a hearing aid. It also offers you wireless connectivity with your home phone, cell phone, television, and other appliances. The new Oticon ConnectLine™ technology allows you to connect to the following devices through your Oticon device: -home phone -cell phone -television -computer -music devices Best of all, Connectline’s Remote allows you to switch between these various technologies effortlessly with the click of a button. You can incorporate as many of the solutions as you want, and operation is really as simple as pushing one button. There are no complex controls to fiddle with, and Oticon and Hear Florida are available to hold your hand through the setup process. The Connectline technology works through the Oticon Streamer, a small iPod-like device that simply hangs around your neck. It allows you to change the volume of your multimedia devices remotely and with a simple ergonomically designed volume control. It may be purchased as an add-on for the Epoq or Dual Otican hearing aid products, so if you already have either you can simply upgrade rather than moving to an entirely new device, depending on the age of the product. Hear Florida is Florida’s largest Oticon distributor and is proud to be able to bring you this important technology. Contact us today to find out how to get set up with your preferred Oticon Connectline solutions.

Brand Profile: Widex Hearing Aids

admin — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:56:43 +0000

While every brand of hearing aid that we carry is equally special, we will use this space to give you a breakdown of what makes each brand unique in acronym and technical term free language.

Widex Hearing Aids are very popular for a few reasons. Their sleek styling and availability in different colours make them look like a headphone accessory rather than a hearing aid. They also come with SmartSpeak technology that talks you through the adjusting of program functions in plain English. They also feature Integrated Signal Processing™, a technology exclusive to the Widex brand. This special technology does a number of things including:

-filtering speech from noise in crowds
-feedback and whistling minimization
-dual microphone system that picks up audio signals clearly and distinctly

With a Widex hearing aid, you can detect high pitched sounds that you couldn’t hear before. Widex technology transposes them into lower, audible frequencies that you can hear. With Widex, you also have the option of expanded venting, meaning less chance of blockage in your ear canal. EcoTech II technology ensures a long and efficient battery life, so you don’t need to worry about your batteries running low at a crucial time.

Hearing Loss Safety: How to Respond to Emergency Signals with Hearing Loss

admin — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:31:12 +0000

One of the challenges that you have to overcome with hearing loss is how to respond to emergency signals such as fire alarms, police sirens, and security systems.

At Work

Your employer has a few options for making fire alarms more accessible for you. They can install a “Fire Alarm Notification Appliance”, which usually incorporates strobe lighting into the traditional auditory signal. Companies that manufacture such devices make the strobe happen in such a way that it does not affect epileptics. There may be tax credits available to your employer or their building superintendent for switching over to such a system.

Buddy System

Enlist a few “buddies” at work that will let you know if there is an emergency. If you work at a larger company, make sure that your buddy system is formalized in an emergency response plan that is circulated to everyone at the company.

At Home

The key component that developers of emergency signal devices for deaf people is how to wake them up in case of emergency. Many such devices use a combination of lights and vibration to awaken a sleeping adult in enough time to get them out of harm’s way. If you have been living with hearing loss for some time already, you may already be familiar with alarm devices manufactured for those with hearing loss that vibrate. Manufacturers are constantly coming up with ways to awaken those with hearing loss more quickly. Contact your local Doctor of Audiology for more information about you hearing loss. Hear Florida Audiology Group is available to provide hearing services throughout South Florida with convenient locations in Boynton Beach, Boca Raton, and Miami.

Police And Ambulance Sirens

Police and ambulance sirens are a bit trickier. The only way to really be sure that you can see them is to check your rear view and side mirrors as often as possible, especially when driving on busy streets and highways. If you travel often with a person that is not hearing impaired, come up with a touch signal, three rapid taps on your shoulder, for example, that means “police or ambulance behind you”.

In the end, you have to be responsible for your own safety, so rely the most on measures that put you in control rather than relying on other people.

Tips for Parents and Grandparents with Hearing Loss

admin — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:13:07 +0000

Interacting with kids can still be exciting and fun even with hearing loss, as long as you follow a few ground rules.

Educate Kids, 4 Years and Up
Sit down your kids or grandkids and have a conversation with them about how you can’t hear very well. Older kids will want to know why. Make sure that they know it is nothing to be sad about, just something they have to keep in mind when they are interacting with you. Kids can sometimes understand these issues better than adults can, so don’t hold back with details.
Be Patient with Younger Kids
Kids under 4, and even under 5 in some cases, aren’t necessarily going to be sympathetic or attentive when it comes to your hearing loss. At this age, a child is more about exploring their own individuality than interacting in the world. Don’t be angered or disappointed if they forget about your hearing problems and don’t address you directly or speak loud enough for you to hear.
Purchase Books About Deafness
If your child is old enough to read, buy them books on deafness. If they are younger, read them books on dealing with hearing loss. This page is a wealth of information on deafness and hearing loss for kids, including suggested book titles.
Make Efforts to Interact with Your Kids and Grandkids
Often people with hearing loss will simply avoid interactive situations. If you really don’t wish to speak with people that often because of your hearing loss, pick up text messaging, Facebook, or e-mail. It is very important to keep in touch with your loved ones, and these methods will give you an easy way to keep in touch with your younger loved ones. In the case of younger children, try to interact with them as much as you can. You will draw as much joy from it as they will.
Remember that Kids are Highly Adaptive
Don’t worry about your kids having to interpret what you say. If your kids are younger, they will get used to dealing with your hearing loss. If they are older and getting close to teenage years when your hearing loss begins to manifest, there will be resentment of your hearing loss just as teenagers resent nearly every facet of their parents. If your child is in those difficult years, ask for their patience and understanding and they will generally give it.

At a conference for those with hearing loss, there was a seminar for mothers who were coping with hearing loss. The results are here, and we highly recommend giving it a read if you are a parent or grandparent that is coping with both your own hearing loss and children.