Understanding Audiologists and Their Expertise
What is an Audiologist?
Audiologists are specialized healthcare professionals dedicated to evaluating, diagnosing, treating, and managing conditions related to hearing, balance, and tinnitus. At El Paso Hearing Aid & Audiology Center, our audiologists hold doctoral degrees in Audiology (Au.D.) and are licensed to practice in Texas and New Mexico. Our professionals maintain certifications from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CCC-A) and many are Fellows of the American Academy of Audiology (AAA), demonstrating their commitment to the highest standards of patient care.
What Services Do Audiologists Provide?
Our audiologists at El Paso Hearing Aid & Audiology Center offer a comprehensive range of services, including:
- Comprehensive diagnostic hearing evaluations
- Personalized hearing aid fittings and programming
- Expert hearing aid maintenance and repairs
- Specialized pediatric hearing evaluations
- Custom hearing protection for musicians, workers, and recreational activities
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) assessment and management
- Balance disorder evaluations and treatment
- Auditory training for hearing aid adaptation
- Support for cochlear implant patients
- Hearing loss prevention education
Recognizing Hearing Loss
How Do I Know if I Have Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss often develops gradually, making it difficult to recognize. You might be experiencing hearing loss if:
- You find yourself asking people to repeat themselves frequently
- You have difficulty understanding conversations in noisy environments like restaurants
- Family members complain that you set the television or radio volume too high
- You miss environmental sounds such as doorbells or bird songs
- You find yourself straining to understand what others are saying
- You have trouble understanding phone conversations
- You find it easier to understand people when you can see their faces
- You find yourself withdrawing from social situations because of difficulty hearing
- You experience a persistent ringing, buzzing, or hissing in your ears (tinnitus)
- You feel mentally fatigued after social gatherings due to the effort of listening
Most people wait an average of seven years before seeking help for hearing loss. If you recognize these signs, we encourage you to schedule a hearing evaluation with our team.
What Causes Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss can result from various factors, including:
- Age-related changes (presbycusis)
- Exposure to loud noise (occupational or recreational)
- Genetic factors
- Ototoxic medications (drugs that damage hearing)
- Ear infections or fluid buildup
- Head or ear trauma
- Medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or thyroid disorders
- Congenital factors present at birth
- Meniere’s disease or autoimmune inner ear disease
- Tumors affecting the auditory system
At El Paso Hearing Aid & Audiology Center, we conduct thorough evaluations to determine the specific causes of your hearing difficulties, allowing us to create personalized treatment recommendations.
Diagnosing Hearing Loss
How is Hearing Loss Diagnosed?
A comprehensive hearing evaluation at El Paso Hearing Aid & Audiology Center typically includes:
- A detailed discussion of your medical history and hearing concerns
- Visual examination of your ear canals and eardrums
- Pure-tone audiometry to measure your hearing sensitivity across different frequencies
- Speech recognition testing to evaluate how well you understand words at different volumes
- Speech-in-noise testing to assess your hearing ability in challenging listening environments
- Tympanometry to evaluate middle ear function
- Otoacoustic emissions testing to assess inner ear (cochlear) function
- Additional specialized tests based on your specific symptoms
These tests allow our audiologists to determine the type, degree, and configuration of your hearing loss, which forms the foundation for appropriate treatment recommendations.
What Are the Different Degrees of Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss is categorized by severity, measured in decibels (dB):
- Normal hearing: 0-25 dB (able to hear soft whispers)
- Mild hearing loss: 26-40 dB (difficulty hearing soft speech, subtle conversational details may be missed)
- Moderate hearing loss: 41-70 dB (conversation becomes difficult without amplification)
- Severe hearing loss: 71-90 dB (cannot hear conversational speech without powerful amplification)
- Profound hearing loss: 91+ dB (cannot hear most sounds; may rely on visual cues for communication)
Understanding your degree of hearing loss helps our audiologists recommend appropriate intervention strategies and select the most beneficial hearing technology for your needs.
What Are the Different Types of Hearing Loss?
There are four primary types of hearing loss:
- Sensorineural hearing loss: Occurs due to damage to the inner ear (cochlea) or the auditory nerve pathways. This is the most common type, accounting for approximately 90% of hearing loss cases. It typically results from aging, noise exposure, or other inner ear damage. While not medically reversible, it can be effectively managed with properly fitted hearing aids.
- Conductive hearing loss: Results from problems in the outer or middle ear that prevent sound from reaching the inner ear effectively. Causes include earwax blockage, ear infections, fluid buildup, perforated eardrum, or abnormalities of the middle ear bones. Many conductive hearing losses can be treated medically or surgically.
- Mixed hearing loss: A combination of both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss components. Treatment typically addresses the conductive component first, followed by management of the remaining sensorineural component.
- Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder (ANSD): A less common condition where sound enters the inner ear normally, but the transmission of signals from the inner ear to the brain is disorganized. This requires specialized testing and management approaches.
Hearing Aids and Technology
What Style of Hearing Aid Is Right for Me?
Hearing aid selection is highly personalized based on several factors:
- Your specific type and degree of hearing loss
- Your listening needs and lifestyle
- Your manual dexterity and vision
- Your cosmetic preferences
- Your budget considerations
- Anatomical factors like ear canal size and shape
- Skin sensitivity concerns
- Technology preferences and connectivity needs
At El Paso Hearing Aid & Audiology Center, we offer various styles, including:
- Behind-the-Ear (BTE): Versatile, powerful options suitable for most types of hearing loss
- Receiver-in-Canal (RIC): Discreet yet powerful, with excellent sound quality
- In-the-Ear (ITE): Custom-made to fit in the outer portion of the ear
- In-the-Canal (ITC): Smaller custom options that fit partially in the ear canal
- Completely-in-Canal (CIC): Nearly invisible options that sit deeply in the ear canal
- Invisible-in-Canal (IIC): The smallest, most discreet custom hearing aids
Our audiologists will guide you through the selection process to find the perfect fit for your needs.
What Are Assistive Listening Devices?
Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) are technologies that enhance hearing aids or work independently to improve your ability to hear in specific situations. Unlike hearing aids, which improve overall hearing, ALDs are designed for particular listening environments.
Examples include:
- Television listening systems that stream audio directly to your hearing aids
- Phone amplifiers for clearer telephone conversations
- Alerting devices that use visual or vibrating signals for doorbells, smoke alarms, and telephones
- Personal FM/digital systems that help in noisy environments or distance listening
- Specialized devices for public venues like theaters and places of worship
- Smartphone apps that convert speech to text for additional communication support
Our audiologists can recommend appropriate ALDs based on your specific communication challenges.
Tinnitus Management
What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is the perception of sound when no external sound is present. It affects more than 50 million Americans and is commonly described as ringing, buzzing, hissing, whistling, or clicking sounds in the ears. Tinnitus is not a disease itself but typically a symptom of an underlying condition.
Tinnitus can be:
- Subjective: Heard only by the affected person (most common form)
- Objective: Rare form that can be heard by your audiologist during an examination
- Pulsatile: Rhythmic sounds that often correlate with your heartbeat
- Temporary or persistent: May come and go or remain constant
- Varying in intensity: From barely noticeable to severely disruptive
What Causes Tinnitus?
Tinnitus can result from numerous factors, including:
- Hearing loss (especially noise-induced or age-related)
- Excessive earwax buildup
- Certain medications (particularly some antibiotics, cancer drugs, and high doses of aspirin)
- Ear or sinus infections
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
- Cardiovascular problems affecting blood flow
- Head or neck injuries
- Acoustic neuroma (benign tumor on the auditory nerve)
- Exposure to loud noise
- Ménière’s disease
- Stress and anxiety
At El Paso Hearing Aid & Audiology Center, we perform comprehensive evaluations to identify potential causes of your tinnitus and develop appropriate management strategies.
How is Tinnitus Treated?
While there is currently no cure for most forms of tinnitus, there are several effective management approaches:
- Hearing aids: Often provide relief by amplifying external sounds that help mask tinnitus
- Sound therapy: Using white noise, nature sounds, or specialized tinnitus maskers to reduce tinnitus perception
- Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT): Combines counseling and sound therapy to help “retrain” how your brain responds to tinnitus
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps develop coping strategies and change negative thought patterns about tinnitus
- Relaxation techniques: Methods such as meditation, deep breathing, and biofeedback to reduce stress that may worsen tinnitus
- Lifestyle modifications: Including avoiding triggers like caffeine, alcohol, and loud noise
- Medical intervention: Addressing underlying causes when possible
Our audiologists work with you to develop a personalized tinnitus management plan based on your specific symptoms and needs.
Professional Qualifications
What’s the Difference Between an Audiologist and a Hearing Aid Dispenser?
Audiologists (like those at El Paso Hearing Aid & Audiology Center):
- Hold doctoral degrees (Au.D.) requiring 8+ years of university education
- Receive extensive training in hearing science, balance disorders, and comprehensive auditory system care
- Are qualified to diagnose and treat the full spectrum of hearing and balance disorders
- Complete supervised clinical practice before licensure
- Must pass national certification examinations
- Maintain ongoing continuing education requirements
- Provide comprehensive hearing healthcare beyond just fitting hearing aids
Hearing Aid Dispensers:
- Typically have much less education and training (requirements vary by state)
- Are licensed specifically to conduct basic hearing tests for the purpose of selling hearing aids
- May have limited training in diagnosing complex hearing problems
- Often focus primarily on selling hearing devices rather than comprehensive hearing care
At El Paso Hearing Aid & Audiology Center, our doctoral-level audiologists provide comprehensive hearing healthcare, ensuring accurate diagnosis, appropriate treatment recommendations, and ongoing support throughout your hearing journey.
Children’s Hearing Health
What Are Signs of Hearing Loss in Children?
Children with hearing loss may exhibit various developmental and behavioral signs:
- Delayed or unclear speech development
- Limited vocabulary compared to peers
- Not responding when called from another room
- Saying “what?” or “huh?” frequently
- Turning the television or music to excessive volumes
- Struggling to follow verbal instructions
- Appearing inattentive or daydreaming frequently
- Poor academic performance
- Difficulty with social interactions
- Speaking too loudly or too softly
- Failed school hearing screenings
- History of recurring ear infections
Early intervention is crucial for minimizing the impact of hearing loss on a child’s speech, language, and academic development. If you notice these signs, we recommend scheduling a pediatric hearing evaluation with our specialized audiologists.
How Are Children’s Hearing Evaluations Different?
Pediatric hearing evaluations at El Paso Hearing Aid & Audiology Center are tailored to each child’s developmental stage and cooperation level:
- For infants and young toddlers: We use objective tests that don’t require active participation, such as:
- Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) testing
- Auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing
- Visual reinforcement audiometry
- For older children: We incorporate age-appropriate play-based testing techniques that make the evaluation engaging and fun while gathering precise data
Our pediatric audiologists have specialized training and create a comfortable, child-friendly environment to ensure accurate results and a positive experience for both children and parents.
Additional Questions
Will Insurance Cover My Hearing Care?
Insurance coverage for hearing services varies widely. Many insurance plans cover diagnostic hearing evaluations, especially when medically necessary. Coverage for hearing aids is more variable:
- Medicare typically covers diagnostic evaluations but not hearing aids
- Texas and New Mexico Medicaid programs provide some coverage for eligible recipients
- Many private insurance plans offer partial coverage for hearing aids
- Some plans have specific allowances or discounts for hearing technology
- Veterans may qualify for hearing care through the VA system
Our office staff is experienced in working with insurance providers and can help verify your benefits before your appointment. We also offer financing options to help make quality hearing care accessible.
How Often Should I Have My Hearing Tested?
We recommend the following hearing evaluation schedule:
- Adults with normal hearing (under 50): Every 3-5 years
- Adults over 50: Every 1-3 years
- Adults with known hearing loss: Annually
- Hearing aid users: Annually, with hearing aid check-ups every 6 months
- Those with occupational noise exposure: Annually
- Children: As recommended by your pediatrician or school screening results
Regular hearing evaluations allow for early identification of changes in your hearing, ensuring timely intervention when needed.
What Should I Expect at My First Appointment?
Your first visit to El Paso Hearing Aid & Audiology Center typically includes:
- Completion of paperwork: Medical history, hearing concerns, and insurance information
- Consultation with an audiologist: Discussion of your hearing history, concerns, and goals
- Comprehensive hearing evaluation: Series of tests to assess your hearing function
- Review of results: Clear explanation of your hearing status using visual aids
- Treatment recommendations: Options based on your specific hearing needs and preferences
- Discussion of next steps: May include medical referral, hearing aid consultation, or follow-up testing
The entire appointment usually takes about 60-90 minutes, and family members are welcome to accompany you.
How Do I Choose the Right Hearing Care Provider?
When selecting a hearing care provider, consider:
- Professional qualifications: Choose doctoral-level audiologists for the highest level of expertise
- Comprehensive services: Look for providers offering full diagnostic and treatment services
- Technology options: Ensure access to a wide range of hearing aid brands and technology levels
- Ongoing support: Confirm availability of regular follow-up care and adjustments
- Patient reviews: Research reputation and patient satisfaction
- Clear pricing: Transparent cost information and financing options
- Trial periods: Availability of risk-free trial periods for hearing devices
El Paso Hearing Aid & Audiology Center meets all these criteria, with a 65+ year history of providing exceptional hearing care to our community.
