OUR AUDIOLOGY CARE
Changes to the auditory system, whether occurring progressively or suddenly, can result in a profound impact on an individual’s overall quality of life and relationships. This can occur because of difficulty understanding conversation or difficulty hearing environmental sounds, having sensitivity to sounds, having disturbance to tinnitus, or even noticing cognitive fatigue or slower processing. Early detection and intervention is always best when dealing with the effect of changes in the auditory system. Because of this, we believe your hearing should be checked annually just like your physical health.
When hearing changes or damage is identified, our Doctors of Audiology will evaluate the patient’s auditory system completely, help the patient to understand their condition further, and review the many aspects of the patient’s lifestyle so the patient can feel confident in their treatment selection for improvement. Our treatment options range from sound therapies, counseling, hearing instruments such as hearing aids or cochlear implants, Lenire for tinnitus management, and other assistive listening devices.
Our AUDIOLOGY SERVICES
- Comprehensive Hearing Tests
- Cochlear Implants & Bone Anchored Hearing Aids
- Cerumen Removal
- Custom Hearing Protection
- Sound Sensitivity and Misophonia
- VA Services
We offer a full spectrum of diagnostic testing. Based on your symptoms and experiences, our qualified audiologists will determine the evaluation plan that is right for you and use the test results to provide a treatment plan for you.
Cochlear implants and bone anchored hearing aids are two of the most advanced technologies used to treat hearing loss. These devices are designed to improve the quality of life for those with hearing impairments by providing them with improved sound clarity and volume. Cochlear implants directly stimulate the auditory nerve, while bone anchored hearing aids send sound vibrations through the bones in your skull. Both devices have been proven to be effective in restoring a person’s ability to hear, allowing them to participate more fully in their lives.
Cerumen (earwax) can build-up in your ears and cause a blockage, resulting in temporary hearing loss, pain, and pressure. We can remove it safely and pain free.
Custom hearing protection is a vital part of protecting your ears from loud and damaging noises. It provides a tailored fit that can help to reduce the risk of hearing loss, tinnitus, and other auditory issues. With custom hearing protection, you can enjoy all the activities you love without worrying about long-term damage to your ears. Whether you’re an avid hunter or musician, custom hearing protection can help keep your ears safe from harmful sounds. Investing in custom hearing protection is an important step towards preserving your long-term hearing health!
Custom hearing protection that we offer includes:
- Hunting/shooting
- Musician filtered plugs
- In-ear Monitors for musicians
- Environmental Reduction/Study filtered plugs
- Concert Music filtered plugs
- Custom ear-bud plugs for use with generic earbuds
- Sleep ear plugs
- Industrial ear plugs
Misophonia is a condition where people are overly sensitive to certain specific sounds. It can often invoke feelings of anger and fear in those who suffer from it. This can make everyday life very challenging for them as they may find themselves avoiding places or situations that contain the sound they’re sensitive to, often situations of social engagement. Sound sensitivity can occur for any sound and usually at volume levels that wouldn’t be deemed as “loud” by others. This often results in avoidance of various places or circumstances, often associated with a sense of fear. With the right treatment plan in place, those with misophonia and sound sensitivity can find relief from their symptoms and lead a more fulfilling life. Our Doctors of Audiology are trained to help these patients get back to their normal lives, no longer dealing with intrusive feelings or thoughts or avoiding places or circumstances.
Our office is able to provide healthcare for those who have hearing loss and/or tinnitus and are eligible for VA services. With the help of the VA Community Care Program for hearing health, individuals can enjoy improved communication with family members and friends, participate in activities that require high levels of auditory processing, and feel more comfortable in their everyday lives. We also partner with the VA to provide disability testing and assessment at their request.
- Comprehensive Hearing Tests
- Cochlear Implants & Bone Anchored Hearing Aids
- Cerumen Removal
- Custom Hearing Protection
- Sound Sensitivity and Misophonia
- VA Services
We offer a full spectrum of diagnostic testing. Based on your symptoms and experiences, our qualified audiologists will determine the evaluation plan that is right for you and use the test results to provide a treatment plan for you.
Cochlear implants and bone anchored hearing aids are two of the most advanced technologies used to treat hearing loss. These devices are designed to improve the quality of life for those with hearing impairments by providing them with improved sound clarity and volume. Cochlear implants directly stimulate the auditory nerve, while bone anchored hearing aids send sound vibrations through the bones in your skull. Both devices have been proven to be effective in restoring a person’s ability to hear, allowing them to participate more fully in their lives.
Cerumen (earwax) can build-up in your ears and cause a blockage, resulting in temporary hearing loss, pain, and pressure. We can remove it safely and pain free.
Custom hearing protection is a vital part of protecting your ears from loud and damaging noises. It provides a tailored fit that can help to reduce the risk of hearing loss, tinnitus, and other auditory issues. With custom hearing protection, you can enjoy all the activities you love without worrying about long-term damage to your ears. Whether you’re an avid hunter or musician, custom hearing protection can help keep your ears safe from harmful sounds. Investing in custom hearing protection is an important step towards preserving your long-term hearing health!
Custom hearing protection that we offer includes:
- Hunting/shooting
- Musician filtered plugs
- In-ear Monitors for musicians
- Environmental Reduction/Study filtered plugs
- Concert Music filtered plugs
- Custom ear-bud plugs for use with generic earbuds
- Sleep ear plugs
- Industrial ear plugs
Misophonia is a condition where people are overly sensitive to certain specific sounds. It can often invoke feelings of anger and fear in those who suffer from it. This can make everyday life very challenging for them as they may find themselves avoiding places or situations that contain the sound they’re sensitive to, often situations of social engagement. Sound sensitivity can occur for any sound and usually at volume levels that wouldn’t be deemed as “loud” by others. This often results in avoidance of various places or circumstances, often associated with a sense of fear. With the right treatment plan in place, those with misophonia and sound sensitivity can find relief from their symptoms and lead a more fulfilling life. Our Doctors of Audiology are trained to help these patients get back to their normal lives, no longer dealing with intrusive feelings or thoughts or avoiding places or circumstances.
Our office is able to provide healthcare for those who have hearing loss and/or tinnitus and are eligible for VA services. With the help of the VA Community Care Program for hearing health, individuals can enjoy improved communication with family members and friends, participate in activities that require high levels of auditory processing, and feel more comfortable in their everyday lives. We also partner with the VA to provide disability testing and assessment at their request.
HEARING DEVICE SERVICES
- Hearing Aid Evaluations
- Hearing Aid Fittings
- Hearing Aid Repair
- Clean and Check
- Assistive Listening Devices
It’s important to make sure the correct hearing device is paired to a patient’s individual needs. In this, no two patients are exactly alike. There are many options available to a patient when it comes to choosing the right product for them and our audiologists focus on using prescriptive, FDA-approved, and research-proven devices to help achieve success for our patients by also implementing Measurement-Based Care (measured pre- and post-treatment outcomes). This type of care ensures that we help patients choose products that are documented with research to meet their needs and reduce their risk for cognitive decline associated with untreated hearing loss.
A spectacular hearing aid is useless if it’s not customized in its settings and programming to meet your needs. Our providers are oftentimes requested to provide a second opinion regarding hearing aids obtained elsewhere and a patient’s lack of success with the product, and the issues don’t typically exist with the product, but rather how it was set up for the patient initially, both physically and digitally. At Western Colorado Hearing Clinic, your hearing care professional will customize the hearing aid to fit your specific needs. This process involves programming the hearing aid to fit your hearing loss and lifestyle, as well as ensuring the coupling of the product to the ear is precise and accurate, and verifying this all using Real Ear Measurements. Regular follow-up visits are crucial to ensure that your hearing aids are providing optimal results, and to make any necessary adjustments, if needed.
Some minor hearing aid repairs can be done in the office setting in a short period of time; others will need to be sent to the manufacturer for repair. We can help determine what kind of repair is necessary to get your hearing aid working at its optimal level.
We clean and perform checkups on your devices to make sure they are working properly. This is recommended per the hearing aid manufacturer and allows for a nice touch-point for our patients to receive any extra care or help they might need.
Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) are an important tool for people with hearing impairments. They provide a way to make it easier to understand speech, with watching TV, in lectures, and even in noisy restaurants. ALDs can also be used to help people with hearing impairments communicate better in social situations and make sure that they don’t miss out on important conversations.
- Hearing Aid Evaluations
- Hearing Aid Fittings
- Hearing Aid Repair
- Clean and Check
- Assistive Listening Devices
It’s important to make sure the correct hearing device is paired to a patient’s individual needs. In this, no two patients are exactly alike. There are many options available to a patient when it comes to choosing the right product for them and our audiologists focus on using prescriptive, FDA-approved, and research-proven devices to help achieve success for our patients by also implementing Measurement-Based Care (measured pre- and post-treatment outcomes). This type of care ensures that we help patients choose products that are documented with research to meet their needs and reduce their risk for cognitive decline associated with untreated hearing loss.
A spectacular hearing aid is useless if it’s not customized in its settings and programming to meet your needs. Our providers are oftentimes requested to provide a second opinion regarding hearing aids obtained elsewhere and a patient’s lack of success with the product, and the issues don’t typically exist with the product, but rather how it was set up for the patient initially, both physically and digitally. At Western Colorado Hearing Clinic, your hearing care professional will customize the hearing aid to fit your specific needs. This process involves programming the hearing aid to fit your hearing loss and lifestyle, as well as ensuring the coupling of the product to the ear is precise and accurate, and verifying this all using Real Ear Measurements. Regular follow-up visits are crucial to ensure that your hearing aids are providing optimal results, and to make any necessary adjustments, if needed.
Some minor hearing aid repairs can be done in the office setting in a short period of time; others will need to be sent to the manufacturer for repair. We can help determine what kind of repair is necessary to get your hearing aid working at its optimal level.
We clean and perform checkups on your devices to make sure they are working properly. This is recommended per the hearing aid manufacturer and allows for a nice touch-point for our patients to receive any extra care or help they might need.
Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) are an important tool for people with hearing impairments. They provide a way to make it easier to understand speech, with watching TV, in lectures, and even in noisy restaurants. ALDs can also be used to help people with hearing impairments communicate better in social situations and make sure that they don’t miss out on important conversations.
TYPES OF HEARING AIDS
When it comes to hearing aids, there is no one-size fits all option. Hearing aids come in many different sizes and fitting styles (how they attach to your ear). Today’s hearing aids are considered sleek, compact, and innovative – offering solutions to a wide range of hearing aid wearers. We work with the leading hearing aid manufacturers to ensure that our patients have the best choices available.
- Invisible in-the-Canal (IIC)
- Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC)
- In-the-Canal (ITC)
- Full Shell or In-the-Ear (ITE)
- Receiver In Ear (RIC)
- BTE with Earmolds
The smallest custom style, IIC instruments, sit invisibly in or past the second bend of the ear canal. These devices use the smallest batteries for hearing aids.
One of the smaller custom styles, CIC instruments, fit deeply and entirely within the ear canal, leaving only the face plate of the instrument visible. Depending on the size of the person’s ear canal, some CIC wearers can opt for rechargeability.
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 can host additional features such as directional microphones for better understanding in noisy environments, rechargeability, and wireless connectivity via Bluetooth with cell phones.
Full shell models sit flush within the entire ear bowl. Much like the ITC option, their size allows for additional controls and features such as directional microphones, rechargeability, and Bluetooth connectivity. They are an ideal option for patients who need something larger to hold onto for dexterity purposes.
RIC models are the most commonly worn hearing aids with the microphone, amplifier, computer, and battery source housed behind the ear in a small package, and the speaker fitting discretely down inside the patient’s ear canal. These devices often use an eartip that is light in the canal with many various options for shape and size. These devices are rechargeable, equipped with Bluetooth connectivity, and waterproof.
BTEs with earmolds fit the most 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.
- Invisible in-the-Canal (IIC)
- Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC)
- In-the-Canal (ITC)
- Full Shell or In-the-Ear (ITE)
- Receiver In Ear (RIC)
- BTE with Earmolds
The smallest custom style, IIC instruments, sit invisibly in or past the second bend of the ear canal. These devices use the smallest batteries for hearing aids.
One of the smaller custom styles, CIC instruments, fit deeply and entirely within the ear canal, leaving only the face plate of the instrument visible. Depending on the size of the person’s ear canal, some CIC wearers can opt for rechargeability.
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 can host additional features such as directional microphones for better understanding in noisy environments, rechargeability, and wireless connectivity via Bluetooth with cell phones.
Full shell models sit flush within the entire ear bowl. Much like the ITC option, their size allows for additional controls and features such as directional microphones, rechargeability, and Bluetooth connectivity. They are an ideal option for patients who need something larger to hold onto for dexterity purposes.
RIC models are the most commonly worn hearing aids with the microphone, amplifier, computer, and battery source housed behind the ear in a small package, and the speaker fitting discretely down inside the patient’s ear canal. These devices often use an eartip that is light in the canal with many various options for shape and size. These devices are rechargeable, equipped with Bluetooth connectivity, and waterproof.
BTEs with earmolds fit the most 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.