50+ Lifestyles

Fall into Better Hearing!

By
Dr. Molly Parker
Audiologist and Owner
Parker Audiology, P.C.
&
Dr. Elizabeth Meinecke
Audiologist
Parker Audiology, P.C.

In the fall, there are a lot of outdoor activities that take place. There are some things that are good to be mindful with hearing aids.

1) Dust and moisture: Outdoor activities are fun, but dust and sweat can be hard on the hearing aids. It is a good idea to make sure yours are vacuumed and cleaned regularly. These cleanings should be done every three to six months, depending on your lifestyle. An electronic dry and store box is a great thing to purchase, or ask for one this Christmas, if you wear hearing aids. It will cost $100 to $150, but it will save you hundreds in repairs.

2) Earwax: If you use ear plugs, or work in a dusty or dirty job or hobby, wax can easily get impacted in the ear canal. Ask your physician or audiologist to have your ears looked at to make sure you don’t have easy-to-treat hearing loss.

3) Snowbirds: If you travel, and you are thinking about purchasing or repairing your hearing aids, consider getting this done now, so there are no last minute emergencies. New hearing aids normally have a three to six week orientation from test to follow up. This is a time where you will re-learn how to hear sounds, and sometimes adjustments are needed. Even long-time users need a bit of time to make sure that everything sounds good.

4) Holiday Gatherings: Fall fun means football games, family cookouts, harvest, and Halloween. Background noise is a problem. If you are an individual who simply cannot process out that background noise, there may be technology to help you, and it may not cost as much as you think. Call your
audiologist for a consultation or a demonstration.

5) Have FUN!!!! There are times when people simply cannot hear well. This happens to everyone. Those who are finally aware of their hearing loss notice it more than others, and it is easy to blame their technology. In our office, we do a speech in noise test to show you that this may not be the case for you. You may be hearing in background noise, as well as your normal hearing counterparts. Be kind to yourself. Faithfully wear your hearing instruments as instructed. If you have any questions, need an ear to talk to about your hearing aids, or simply wish for a second opinion, these are services we are happy to provide to you or your family members and friends.

Dr. Elizabeth Meinecke and Dr. Molly Parker are currently accepting new patients at Parker Audiology, P.C. Call for an appointment at (563) 326-5441.