Johnson Audiology provides comprehensive hearing care and amplification services to the Chattanooga community and surrounding areas. Our professional staff focuses on your individual satisfaction to improve the quality of your life through better hearing. We carry a full selection of hearing aids and assistive devices, including new, cosmetically appealing styles and digital models with advanced features, in order to meet your specific hearing needs. Along with our focus on customer service and our established medical referral program, we will ensure that you receive the highest level of hearing care. Bluetooth Hearing Aids Bluetooth functionality is one of the most exciting advances in hearing aid technology. The age of individuals wearing hearing aids is getting younger each year. Therefore, the features and functions of hearing aids are adapting to target the younger, tech savvy, users. However, regarless of age, there are many advantages to bluetooth hearing aids. The advantages of the coordination of the automatic features of a hearing aid seem clear, and the practical application of being able to adjust the volume of the family TV to accommodate the person who is hearing impaired in the room also seems obvious. The other possible applications depend on the needs of individual patients. Types of Hearing Loss The external and the middle ear conduct and transform sound; the inner ear receives it. When there is a problem in the external or middle ear, a conductive hearing impairment occurs. When the problem is in the inner ear, a sensorineural or hair cell loss is the result. Difficulty in both the middle and inner ear results in a mixed hearing impairment (i.e. conductive and a sensorineural impairment). Central hearing loss has more to do with the brain than the ear, and will be discussed only briefly. Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound is not conducted efficiently through the ear canal, eardrum, or tiny bones of the middle ear, resulting in a reduction of the loudness of sound that is heard. Conductive losses may result from earwax blocking the ear canal, fluid in the middle ear, middle ear infection, obstructions in the ear canal, perforations (hole) in the eardrum membrane, or disease of any of the three middle ear bones. A person with a conductive hearing loss may notice that their ears may seem to be full or plugged. This person may speak softly because they hear their own voice quite loudly. Crunchy foods, such as celery or carrots, sound very loud and this person may have to stop chewing to hear what is being said. All conductive hearing losses should be evaluated by a physician to explore medical and surgical options. Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common type of hearing loss. More than 90 percent of all hearing aid wearers have sensorineural hearing loss. The most common causes of sensorineural hearing loss are age related changes and noise exposure. A sensorineural hearing loss may also result from disturbance of inner ear circulation, increased inner fluid pressure or from disturbances of nerve transmission. Sensorineural hearing loss is also called "cochlear loss," an "inner ear loss" and is also commonly called "nerve loss." Years ago, many professionals said there was nothing that could be done for sensorineural hearing loss - that is totally incorrect today. There are many excellent options for the patient with sensorineural hearing loss. A person with a sensorineural hearing loss may report that they can hear people talking, but they can't understand what they are saying. An increase in the loudness of speech may only add to their confusion. This person will usually hear better in quiet places and may have difficulty understanding what is said over the telephone. Central hearing impairment occurs when auditory centers of the brain are affected by injury, disease, tumor, hereditary, or unknown causes. Loudness of sound is not necessarily affected, although understanding of speech, also thought of as the "clarity" of speech may be affected. Certainly both loudness and clarity may be affected too. A routine hearing test is an important part of good health practices, to maintain your overall well being. Contact us today at to schedule an appointment. Chattanooga, TN (423) 710-1432 Cartersville, GA (770) 334-3062 http://www.johnsonaudiology.com/

• published: 28 Oct 2013
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