During my time at Mayo Clinic (both as a student and employee), I would occasionally be in the Operating Room for cochlear implant surgeries. No, I was not completing any surgical component. Instead, it was my job to test the implant device prior to the surgical site being stitched closed. When the surgeon and anesthesiologist…
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Guest author: Brynn N. Morales, B.S. The final blog during Better Speech and Hearing month will focus on the main complaint audiologists hear from patients: the inability to hear in the presence of background noise. The first two blogs this month introduced (1) screeners to help determine if medical assistance is needed in the hearing assessment…
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Guest author: Brynn N. Morales, B.S. To kick-off Better Speech and Hearing month, the blog last week addressed hearing screening questionnaires that determined if a medical professional needs to be involved in the assessment process (CEDRA) and the effect hearing acuity has on lifestyle (HHI). However, most people think of hearing screeners as a procedure…
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Guest author: Brynn N. Morales, B.S. The year 2020 has been unique for everybody and Designer Audiology is no exception. As a small healthcare business, we have been focusing on the safety and health of our staff, patients, and community. Social distancing and stay-at-home directives have turned our “daily” lives upside down. Each Monday during…
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This week I was able to meet up with a colleague while at a conference. During our dinner conversation, we reminisced about “the way things were.” Ten (or more!) years ago, things seemed much simpler: landline phones were often saved for endearing or emergency calls, television was watched in real-time, and a tablet computer meant…
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Memorial Day starts the unofficial start to summer. Students are graduating, swimming pools are opened, and travel plans take-off. It can be a fun few months for all. As travel plans begin, don’t forget about hearing devices. Caring for hearing aids, bone anchored hearing aids (BAHA), and cochlear implants is probably more important when traveling,…
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I fly quite a bit in a year, partially for family events, some for business. Most of my flights are on Southwest Airlines. The “normal” seats are larger and more comfortable, the flight attendants are friendlier, and the tickets are usually cheaper. With a busy schedule, plans often change and tickets need to be cancelled,…
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We recently did a special week of posts on our Facebook Page featuring five TED talks. These influential videos from expert speakers showcased five topics related to hearing. Monday Julian Treasure says our increasingly noisy world is gnawing away at our mental health — even costing lives. He lays out an 8-step plan to soften…
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On September 29, 2017, The Baltimore Sun published an article titled “Lower cost, better hearing,” addressing the high cost of hearing aids. The story discussed a consumer who was quoted $7000 for a pair of devices. The consumer was ultimately fit in Baltimore for half the initial cost at a non-profit where hearing aids are…
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Guest Author: Amber Frazier, Student Clinician Conversation is key to healthy relationships. But when and where is the ideal time and place to have a meaningful conversation? Should couples and partners converse about important topics at home? In the car? At a restaurant? Communication encompasses three variables: the speaker, the listener, and the environment. Each of these variables…
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