Evaluation of Infants
Hearing testing for babies is generally completed if the pediatrician indicates that the baby is at high risk for hearing loss or if the baby is referred by the Virginia Infant Hearing Loss Identification Program as a result of the screening completed at birth. When you call to schedule this appointment, our staff will help you prepare for this visit. While sedation is not given, we do need to have a quiet baby for the testing to be successful. Schedule your appointment at a time when you can feed your baby just after arriving at the office. In some instances, testing can be completed while your baby is eating. We usually prefer that you bring your infant in a sleepy state. Testing may take anywhere from a matter of minutes to as much as two hours. The amount of time depends not only on what tests need to be completed but also the baby’s level of activity. Be assured, none of the testing is painful or uncomfortable for your baby in any way.

Evaluation of Young Children
Hearing testing for young children is accomplished through a variety of methods, all aimed at obtaining results while being enjoyable and nonintimidating for your child. The testing may first include tympanometry, whereby we measure the health of the ear by placing a small probe tip in the child’s ear canal for just a moment. Otoacoustic emission testing may be completed, this is also a measurement obtained by putting a small tip into the entrance of the ear canal. Young children usually enjoy the test environment of the soundbooth, where we have flashing, moving animals to encourage responses to sound or speech. For the children within the 2 ˝ to 4 year old age group, play audiometry is often completed by teaching your child to throw a block in a bucket upon hearing the sound. We can identify the softest speech that your child can hear either by teaching them to look to the flashing animals as promted or by pointing to body parts or identifying pictures of simple words. Essentially, we have a test method that will work to identify hearing levels in just about any child. Be assured that none of the test methods are painful or uncomfortable in any way.

Hearing Aids in the Presence of Background Noise
Virtually all patients wearing hearing aids complain about background noise at one time or another. There is no way to completely eliminate background noise. ... [more]

Do I Need Two Hearing Aids?
Basically, if you have two ears with hearing loss that could benefit from hearing aids, you need two hearing aids. It is important to realize there are no "normal" animals born with only one ear. Simply stated, you have two ears because you need two ears.... [more]

Digital Hearing Aid Technology
The term DIGITAL is used so often today, it can be confusing. When the term "digital" is used while referring to hearing aids, it generally means the hearing aid is 100% digital. In other words, the hearing aid is indeed a "complete computer". ... [more]

Taking an Impression of the Ear
All custom made hearing aids and earmolds are made from a "cast" of the ear. The cast is referred to as an ear impression. The audiologist or hearing aid dispenser makes the ear impression in the office. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes. ... [more]

Hearing Aid Battery Information
All batteries are toxic and dangerous if swallowed. Keep all batteries (and hearing aids) away from children and pets. If anyone swallows a battery it is a medical emergency and the individual needs to see a physician immediately. ... [more]

How do I know if I have Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss occurs to most people as they age. Hearing loss can be due to the aging process, exposure to loud noise, certain medications, infections, head or ear trauma, congenital (birth or prenatal) or hereditary factors, diseases, as well as a number of other causes. ... [more]

Realistic Expectations for the Hearing Aid User
Hearing aids work very well when fit and adjusted appropriately. They amplify sound! You might find that you like one hearing aid better than the other. The left and right hearing aids will probably not fit exactly the same and they probably won't sound exactly the same.... [more]

Three Levels of Hearing Aid Technology
There are essentially three levels of hearing aid technology. We refer to these as analog, digitally programmable, and digital.... [more]

What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is an abnormal perception of a sound which is reported by patients that is unrelated to an external source of stimulation. Tinnitus is a very common disorder.... [more]

Type and Degree of Hearing Loss
Results of the audiometric evaluation are plotted on a chart called an audiogram. Loudness is plotted from top to bottom. Frequency, from low to high, is plotted from left to right. ... [more]

Middle Ear Implants
Middle ear implants are surgically implanted devices. The FDA has approved specific middle ear implants and the FDA is still reviewing others. The middle ear implant is a useful hearing instrument and is quite different from traditional hearing aids.... [more]

Types of Hearing Aids
There are many styles of hearing aids. The degree of the hearing loss, power and options requirements, manual dexterity abilities, cost factors, and cosmetic concerns are some of the factors that will determine the style the patient will use.... [more]

Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs)
You may have certain communication needs that cannot be solved by the use of hearing aids alone. These situations may involve the use of the telephone, radio, television, and the inability to hear the door chime, telephone bell, and alarm clock.... [more]

Candidates for ALDs
No. People with all degrees and types of hearing loss -- even people with normal hearing can benefit from assistive listening devices.... [more]

Types of ALDs
There are many assistive listening devices available today, from sophisticated systems used in theaters and auditoriums to small personal systems.... [more]

The Prevalence of Tinnitus
Tinnitus is the term for the perception of sound when no external sound is present. It is often referred to as "ringing in the ears," although some people hear hissing, roaring, whistling, chirping, or clicking. ... [more]

What Causes Tinnitus?
Tinnitus may originate from various lesions and from different sites. The auditory system involves highly complicated inner ear structures, many afferent and efferent nerve pathways and a great amount of nuclei that form a complex meshwork.... [more]

Tinnitus Treatment and Management
Generally, most patients will not need any medical treatment for their tinnitus. For patients who are greatly bothered by tinnitus, they may use some masking techniques such as listening to a fan or radio which would mask some of their tinnitus.... [more]