Hearing Aids Highland Park, IL
Hearing Aids Specialist Highland Park, IL
Listen in as Steve shares his experience with North Shore Audio-Vestibular Lab. Steve has been a patient for almost 3 years. He was looking for hearing aids that would fit his lifestyle and with help from North Shore-Vestibular Lab he’s very happy with his choice.
1160 Park Ave W. Suite 4 S. Highland Park IL 60035 (847) 737-4270
Robert has been a patient with North Shore Audio-Vestibular Lab for about 8 years, he is very pleased with all of the hearing help he has received from them. Listen in as he shares his experience with North Shore Audio-Vestibular Lab.
1160 Park Ave W. Suite 4 S. Highland Park IL 60035 (847) 737-4270
Recent studies have shown that there is a definitive link between hearing loss and heart disease. Researchers have long been aware that healthy blood flow to the inner ear is critical to healthy hearing. Now they believe that the inner ear is so sensitive to blood flow, that low frequency hearing loss could signal the presence or possible development of heart disease.
In fact, according to a study of older adults , those who have a history of heart disease are 54% more likely to suffer from various degrees of hearing loss. This same study also showed that those who exercised at least once per week reduced their chances of suffering from hearing loss by 32% when compared to those who did not exercise.
According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is our nation’s #1 killer. To protect your heart (and ultimately your ability to hear and understand the world around you), maintain a healthy weight through diet and exercise. If you are a smoker, stop.
Be sure to confide in your doctor if you have a family history of early heart disease. Have regular physical exams and hearing loss evaluations. Then follow the recommendations prescribed to avoid the devastating effects that hearing loss and heart disease can have on your life.
Source: “The Association Between Cardiovascular Disease and Cochlear Function in Older Adults.” Population Health Program Faculty, Wisconsin University, First Annual Population Health Poster Session selected abstracts 2001-2002.)
1160 Park Ave W. Suite 4 S. Highland Park IL 60035 (847) 737-4270
Use a soft dry cloth to wipe the outside of your aid. Never use water or soap to clean the aid. Use the wax pick or loop provided with your aids to remove any buildup of wax. This is the long loop-like plastic or wire tool.
To remove wax, run the pick into the vent (the small opening running fully through the aid) to remove any wax or debris. Also gently pick wax from the sound opening. Be careful not to push too deeply, so that no damage occurs to the speaker.
Use a small brush to remove debris. These are often provided with the aid and may be combined into one tool with the wax pick or loop. To use the brush, turn the aid upside down and brush the case of the aid in a downward fashion.
Change the wax guard. If your aid has a wax guard, a small white cup located at the receiver, you need to change it at regular intervals depending on the amount of wax your ear produces.
First remove the used guard by inserting the empty end of the changing stick (usually black, blue, red, or gray in color) and gently pulling outward. Turn the new stick over and insert the new white cup into the receiver hole and gently pull the stick away. The white cup should remain in the receiver opening.
Weekly maintenance will help keep your hearing aids clean and in good working order. A good cleaning can help prevent the need for frequent hearing aid repairs!
1160 Park Ave W. Suite 4 S. Highland Park IL 60035 (847) 737-4270
Weekly maintenance will help keep your hearing aids clean and in good working order. A good cleaning can help prevent the need for frequent hearing aid repairs!
1160 Park Ave W. Suite 4 S. Highland Park IL 60035 (847) 737-4270
1. I recently purchased hearing aids and was told that they were covered by a hearing aid repair warranty. What does this include?
Typically, the manufacturer guarantees the device components for normal wear and tear. Your audiologist will complete the paperwork for repair and send the devices to the manufacturer as a courtesy to you.
The length of time a hearing aid repair is covered under warranty is determined by the level of technology and manufacturer of the device. Your audiologist will keep you informed of your warranty status.
2. I was also told that I had loss and damage insurance. Why do I need this?
There may be instances in which your hearing aid is damaged beyond repair. I cannot count the number of patients whose dogs have chewed through the case of their device(s).
Or, loss of the devices occurs after a patient removes the aids misplaces them. In these cases, the loss and damage insurance is used to replace the damaged or lost device(s).
3. What additional charges, if any, are there for processing claims?
In most cases, there is no additional charge to process a claim due to normal wear and tear. There is an additional charge, or deductible, in order to replace damaged or lost devices. This charge varies by manufacturer and is typically around $300.
4. If my hearing aid is replaced using the loss and damage insurance, do I get a new warranty?
No. The replacement device would be covered under the original plan of the replaced device. For example, if you purchased a hearing aid with a two year warranty on December 9, 2010 the original repair would be good through December 9, 2012.
If you made a loss and damage claim in September 2011 for the original device, after paying a deductible for the replacement device, you would have hearing aid repair coverage through December 9, 2012, the original invoice date.
5. Is it possible to extend my coverage to avoid expensive repair costs?
Yes. Most manufacturers offer extended warranties for a per year fee. Manufacturers also offer additional loss and damage insurance on an annual basis, provided that a claim has not been made. Private companies such as ESCO also provide extended hearing aid warranty and loss and damage protection.
1160 Park Ave W. Suite 4 S. Highland Park IL 60035 (847) 737-4270
Before Altering or discontinuing the use of any prescribed medication, consult your physician.
Heartburn, nausea, confusion, diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness, hearing loss, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, loss of coordination; mood or mental changes: these are some of the possible side effects of…Aspirin.
That’s right; not a toxic cancer drug or a drug used for some obscure disease, but one of the most commonly prescribed and over-the-counter medications used to treat pain. It shouldn’t be surprising that many commonly prescribed medications are potentially hazardous to the ears.
As we learn how to improve and prolong life with amazing scientific breakthroughs in pharmaceuticals, we must also be aware that the medications being offered may cause other health issues. As an audiologist, my concern is with the possible increase in hearing and/or balance disturbances that these medications can cause and making my patients aware of these potential side effects.
Every physician uses the Physician’s Desk Reference (PDR) as part of their arsenal in deciding which medication to best prescribe for their patients. The PDR contains a description of many of the medications available today including their uses, dosages and of course, side effects.
Here’s the interesting thing: more than 300 (of nearly700) of the side effects listed in the PDR can influence hearing and/or balance function. Some of those side effects include:
Some of these side effects relate directly to hearing and balance. Others might be less obvious to the casual observer. For example, “capillary fragility” can prevent the tiny structures in the inner ear that are vital to hearing from receiving the nutrients and blood supply they need.
A lack of oxygen and nutrition leads to lack of function and possibly to cell death. This in turn, can cause hearing loss and/or dizziness that can sometimes be permanent. Medications that affect the amount of fluid in your body can also wreak havoc on the auditory system.The fluid-filled hearing and balance structures of the inner ear normally function independently of the body’s overall fluid/blood system.
The fluid (called endolymph) that bathes the sensory cells of the inner ear, however, must maintain a constant volume to function correctly. If a medication changes the volume or composition of the body’s fluid or blood supply, the amount of endolymph in the inner ear system may fluctuate as well.
This fluctuation is thought to cause the symptoms of endolymphatic hydrops or Meniere’s disease, which causes pressure or fullness in the ears, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), hearing loss, dizziness and imbalance.
The point of this story is not to worry you about the possibility of side effects your medications might cause. It’s likely that your doctor understands what you might experience when taking your prescription and believes the benefit to your health is greater than the side effects the medication may cause.
You should never stop a medication without talking to your doctor first. If you have concerns about your hearing or balance, or are noticing something different with your hearing or balance system when taking a medication, talk to your doctor about it. Being informed is truly the best way to sustain optimal health.
1160 Park Ave W. Suite 4 S. Highland Park IL 60035 (847) 737-4270
Designed to be used with or without hearing aids, an Assistive Listening Device (ALD) is any apparatus that can help you function better in your day-to-day communications.
1160 Park Ave W. Suite 4 S. Highland Park IL 60035 (847) 737-4270
More than 300 of 700 side effects listed in the Physician's Desk Reference effect the hearing and/or balance system.
1160 Park Ave W. Suite 4 S. Highland Park IL 60035 (847) 737-4270
Designed to be used with or without hearing aids, an Assistive Listening Device (ALD) is any apparatus that can help you function better in your day-to-day communications.
They can be especially helpful in overcoming the negative effects of background noise or poor room acoustics and, when used with hearing aids, an ALD can offer greater ease of hearing by reducing the stress and fatigue caused by straining to hear.
Common ALDs Include:
In today’s fast-paced world of ever-changing technology, there are a variety of ways to remove communication barriers. Whether you currently wear hearing instruments or not, your audiologist can recommend which Assistive Listening Device will work for you.
1160 Park Ave W. Suite 4 S. Highland Park IL 60035 (847) 737-4270