five things 3
TRANSCRIPT
-
8/9/2019 Five Things 3
1/8
Publication brought to you by
1How toavoid costlymistakes
By Dr. David J. DeKriek, Au.D.
Youve had the self-realization of
hearing loss.You have also realized
the fact that you need to do something
about it. Your family and friends have
probably known for years. Now what
do you do? Talk to friends, look for
ads in the newspaper, research online?
Where do you go? Whom do you see?
What should you ask? How do you
make sure you are getting the best
DEAL? We will get to the answers of
these questions soon enough.
In my many years of patient care I
have seen and heard it all, everythingfrom people buying hearing aids
online that were actually stolen
property to the patient who bought
hearing aids through the mail and the
hearing aids never worked.
I have found that many consumers
are confused, if you start looking
online (which I do not recommend),
you have to sort through many
different websites many of which
have one goal in mind... To sell you
hearing aids, thats it.
They could care
less about the care,
education and
follow up
that is
required for a successful hearing aid
tting that can improve the quality
of life for all who wear them. There
are many different styles, models,
and manufacturers to choose from.
Artesia
Shoemaker
N
Five Things You MUST KnowBEFORE Buying Hearing Aids
CONTINUED ON 4
SeeFIVE THINGS
13079 Artesia Blvd.,
B-104
Cerritos, CA. 90703
Dr. David J.
DeKriek, 562.275.3602
In-depth background
and interview with
Dr. DeKriek Au.D.
I started my interest in audiol-
ogy when I had a friend who was in
his grad program studying audiology.
He asked me if I would be a subject
for one of his studies. I had some
free time so I agreed. His study was
on auditory brain stem response. He
did some testing on me and I found it
very interesting. He suggested that I
look into the career.
At rst I didnt really think that
was a reasonable suggestion but as
I became interested in it, I did start
studying it. Later I entered the gradprogram myself. That was at Cal
What consumers need to knowState, Los Angeles. I got my Mas-
ters degree in Audiology and started
practicing immediately. I did that in
a couple of different clinics. I latergot my clinical doctorate of audiol-
ogy thru the University of Florida.
After graduation, I was imme-
diately hired by a manufacturer for
Starkey Laboratories. They had me
on staff as a support audiologist and
as a eld rep going out into local of-
ces discussing different products
and answering questions for the au-
diologist.
In January of 2008, I made the de-
cision to open my own ofce in Cer-
ritos, California and Fidelity Hearing
Center was born.
Since then I have been focusing ongetting my name out in front of peo-
ple and trying to set my ofce apart
from the local ofces that are also in
the area. The way that I have been
doing that is by focusing on quality.I dont have any gimmicks that I
have in my ofce, I dont have off
or anything like that. I dont believe
in doing that, I think it is bad for the
industry and it is misleading for the
consumer or the patient. So my of-
ce is pretty straight forward. When
someone comes into my ofce I tell
them, after testing them, I tell them
what they can hear, what they cant
hear, how I expect that to effect them
and usually if there is a family mem-
ber present they agree and say Yah,
that is the difculty that we are hav-
ing.So then I can make a recommen-
Hearing Matters The community guide for healthy hearing
Hearing MattersBrought to you by Fidelity Hearing Center-Cerritos
Advertising supplement
-
8/9/2019 Five Things 3
2/8
Fidelity Hearing Center - 562.275.36022 HEARING MATTERS www.hearingmatters.com
2009 ECNG, Inc. Reproduction prohibited unless permitted.
I was virtually stone deaf.
So I started checking out
whether theres some kind
of hearing device that would
help me, and I believe by divine
guidance. I was directed to Dr.
DeKriek. I was impressed by
the physical setup, all his new
equipment, and his obvious ex-
pertise.
He fitted me with an aid and
has, progressively, either im-
proved or replaced the aid I had,
so that now I can hold a conver-
sation one on one with people
without them having to shout at
me. I dont believe I would have
gotten this kind of service any-
where else. He cares about his
patients, so I carry his business
cards with me.
I totally endorse the work of
Fidelity Hearing Center and Dr.
DeKriek.
What are patientsmost pressing
concerns?Misinormation
I have patients who come into my
ofce who have heard many stories
regarding hearing loss.
They are misinformed and dontunderstand necessarily what problem
they have or how to address it; how
to x it. Many of them have gone to
doctors who said, Well you have
a hearing loss that cant be treated.
Its permanent hearing loss and there
is really nothing that we can do.
Inaccurate. Almost every hearing
loss can be treated and be treated
effectively and can be treated fairly
quickly so that within a week or so,
those patients can be hearing much
better than they have for many years.
Efects o
hearing lossA third reason is people really
dont understand how their loss of
hearing affects them. Certainly the
family members are aware but a lot
of times when
someone has
hearing loss they dont know how it
is affecting them. I go over hearing
loss with the patient and use some
specic examples with their family
members to show them the things
they are missing. The patient is
able to see the reaction his family,
friends, and co-workers can have
rst-hand. The patient was likely not
aware of the hearing loss affect, it is
very frustrating for them.
So we not only want to x your
hearing but also x the commu-
nication with your family, friends
and coworkers so that everybody is
happier.
Incorrect
productTypically they buy a product
that isnt the very best for them as a
person. There are many hearing aids
that treat different types of hearing
losses. They are exible, but you
have to be aware of other features
that maybe should or shouldnt be
present for that individual patient.
For example, if a patient has
a very tiny hearing aid, it is more
convenient they change the battery
themselves and place it back in their
ear. If I have a patient that is 35 or
45 years old, its not a problem. If
I have a patient who is in their 80s
and 90s with limited dexterity, we
must consider that in the hearing aid
tting process.
Another factor to consider would
be volume control that maybe that
patient shouldnt have. Its actu-
ally very common for me to have
patients not setting the volume
appropriately. Their family is usu-
ally perplexed because they see thehearing aids in the ears and do not
understand why they are not wor-
king correctly. The user, for wha-
tever reason, is turning the volume
down to a point where he cant hear
or maybe turning it up to a point
where it is too loud and it whistles
and it causes him discomfort. This
is another factor to consider when
prescribing hearing aid.
Frequently, I have patients who
come into my ofce and have bought
a hearing aid with features that they
are completely unaware of (and pro-bably charged more for that feature).
I thoroughly explain every feature
on any hearing aid I recommend.
Will I get ripped
of?I also have patients come into my
ofce who have been to corporate
type stores and have been told they
need these very expensive hearing
aids and that is really the only thing
that is going to afford them
hearing again. In reality those
very expensive hearing aids
are marked up articially.
So a pair of hearing aids at
that store might regularly sell
for $5000, their initial price is
$10,700 and then they apply
discounts to bring them
down to $5000.
You couldnt go and buy
a car and have it start at
$20,000 and then get a bunch
of discounts down to $10,000.
That just doesnt make sense.
Interview with Dr. David DeKriekIt either means they were ripping
you off in the rst place or that
they are giving you something for
far less than it is worth and they
wouldnt be able to maintain the
business.
There are more and more pa-
tients who are going online and
seeing hearing aids advertised
for as little as $79 a month or
think they can buy hearing aids
on Ebay. Thats because they see
hearing aids as a commodity rather
than a specialized product. Patients
believe they can buy hearing aids
much like reading glasses.
Thats unfortunate (and illegal)
that they are available in this man-
ner. Hearing aids are regu-lated and in many states,
California included; it
is actually illegal for
people to sell hearing
aids thru the mail.
But there are uns-
crupulous
people out
there who
sell mail-
order hea-
ring aids; the
purchaser is
unaware ofthe illegality.
Hearing
aids are
not a com-
modity, a
patient must be appropriately t, the
hearing aid must adjusted for their
specic hearing loss, and the patient
must return for periodic adjustment.
None of those things can take
place over the internet.
Adapting to hearing aids is not
an easy thing. It requires working
with someone who can direct youand provide the appropriate changes
at the right point in time. If someo-
ne purchases hearing aids from my
ofce, the rst setting works well for
them. But in 4-5 months, the audi-
Should I buy
online?
tory system will adapt and change
and become more effective using the
hearing aid so the hearing aid needs
to be tuned and adjusted for them.
Again, none of those things can
take place over the internet.
Also if people are exposing
themselves to different environments
and hearing different typesof noises we want to be
able to ne tune the
hearing aid to lter
those noises so
they are not as
troublesome and
the hearing aid
sounds comfor-
table.
Again, none
of those things
can take place
over the inter-
net.The hearing
aid tting is not
a product driven
type of service or transac-
tion. Its a service driven type of
Delight E. Macias
PATIENT TESTIMONIAL
Patient Bill Westra bought a pair of CE
200 hearin aids and loves them.
Arthur Mojica
Hope Kerr
transaction.
If you go to an ofce that knows
what they are doing vs going to an
ofce where they dont know what
they are doing, the exact same hea-
ring aid can have two different types
of outcomes. So it has nothing to do
with the quality of that hearing aid.It has to do with the quality of the
service that you are getting. Going to
an expert makes all the difference in
the world.
There are no experts on EBay.
-
8/9/2019 Five Things 3
3/8
Fidelity Hearing Center - 562.275.3602www.hearingmatters.com HEARING MATTERS 3
2009 ECNG, Inc. Reproduction prohibited unless permitted.
Is hearing aidsatisaction on therise?
Yes it is true. Most hearing
aid wearers have an improvedquality of life once they have
begun to wear hearing aids.
Consequences of untreated
hearing loss were analyzed and
evaluated in a major study of
older (50+) hearing
impaired adults and
their close fami-
ly members and
friends.
As hearing aid
wearers repor-
ted, relationshipimprovements
and stronger
sense of in-
dependence.
Families of hearing aid wearers
were even more likely to report
improvements. Social interac-
tion for many also improved.
Among those with more severe
hearing loss, hearing aid wearers
were 25% more likely to partici-
pate regularly in social activities
then non-wearers. Non-wearersreported greater depression, and
isolation. Comparing hearing aid
wearers to non-wearers found
that the non-wearers were less
likely to participate in social
activities, and more likely to
report depression, anxiety, and
paranoia.
Older non-wearers were more
likely to agree with the state-
ment, people get angry withme usually for no reason. This
study debunks the myth that
untreated hearing loss in older
adults is a harmless condition.
How well a person hears affects
his or her sense of well-being.
Unfortunately many
have allowed themselves
to remain in denial and
buy into their vanity barriers.
This only separates them
from real life, and often
freezing them from
the wonderful
spontaneity of
life and simple
everyday connections with im-
portant loved ones. They often
become more separated and lo-
nely with time as they and their
hearing loss begin to age. Their
own made up explanations con-
clude, My hearing is not bad
enough. I can get along with-
out one It would make me feelold. Or, Im too embarrassed
to wear one. The plain truth is,
a hearing loss is more noticeable
then a hearing aid! Hearing is a
wonderful thing. There are those
who havent quite come clean or
admitted yet what price they are
paying for their hearing loss.
What type o doctorwould yourecommend topatients?
They most certainly should go to
an audiologist. The more educationsomeone has about hearing, or any-
thing for that matter, the better they
will be able to assess the problem.
An audiologists is also required
to learn other things that affect com-
munication; things related to anato-
my and physiology.
Audiologists receive education
on Pharmacological aspects and how
drugs might interact with hearing.
They are educated on psychology
and how hearing loss affects our
interaction with family and how weinteract with the world. Audiologists
are much better prepared to deal
with people and their hearing loss;
not just a hearing loss independent
of that whole person.
Some audiologists have even
greater expertise in some areas.
Board certied audiologist receive
higher education and other more
specic requirements. This type of
certication assures patients that au-
diologists have the most up-to-date
education and will be able to provide
that current knowledge and current
expertise when evaluating hearingloss.
These doctors are required to stay
current. Many ofces dont have
even an audiologist much less a
board certied doctor of audiology.
What should apatient look orwhile in a
doctors ofce?
When I perform a hearing test I
first start with an otoscopic exami-
nation of the ear. I look at the outer
ear and then examine the inner ear
canal. I have a screen that the patient
can look at during the entire exami-
nation called a video-otoscope so
they can see exactly what I see.
I explain to the patient what we
are seeing and if I see any kind of a
problem I can point it out. If every-
thing looks great and healthy then I
point that out and I say, See every-
thing looks just the way we want it
to.
After the otoscopic exam, I as-
sess the movement of the eardrum
to make sure there is no restriction
or fluid. These symptoms can be
treated and might resolve the hearing
loss.
After these exams I will use a
more traditional hearing test us-
ing tones and beeps. I have a soundproof booth and utilize insert
earphones so that patients are not
affected by any kind of external
noise. My equipment is calibrated
and I use air conduction headphones
so my patients can be tested in a
normal hearing environment. I also
use a bone vibrator which helps me
assess the nerve independent of the
ear drum.
What are personal
listening situations?When a patient does decide ok
Ive got the right professional, I have
done the tests, the explanations were
very clear; how do personal listening
situations apply to the selection of a
hearing aid with your patients?
I always ask my patients, where
do you have the greatest difficulty?
Exactly why did you come in today?
If they tell me the greatest dif-
ficulty they have is at work or on the
phone, then I want to make sure my
solution is that I provide adequate
improvement for those problems.
If their difficulty is mostly hear-
ing their spouse then I make sure I
provide a hearing aid to help with
that and I will also ask them to bring
in their spouse for conversation.
In my view, a hearing aid should
be flexible enough for the patients
lifestyle.
If a patient is exposed to a very
diverse acoustic environment; -ex-
posed to a very quiet environment at
home and then a very noisy environ-
ment at work- then we want a hear-
ing aid that will allow themto make changes and have
different programs set up for
those different environments.
If I have a patient who
wants ease of use and conve-
nience, I want to know that
so I tailor my recommenda-
tion to what is going to be
easiest for them and provide
them with the best satisfac-
tion aside from the acoustic
qualities.
I made an appointment
after my husband noti-ced I was not hearing
the heart monitor on our exer-
cise equipment beep. I thought
it didnt work but
he could hear it
just fine.
I had my hea-
ring tested. I
found that I had
nerve damage in
both ears.It was
devastating for
me. I felt I was
way too young
for this and it
just hit me hard.
I went to see Dr. DeKriek for
a second opinion. He tested me
and found the same diagnosis,
but he made things simple and
clear and was very, very patient
with me.
Dr DeKriek was such a great
listener and was so sensitive to
me, helping me feel comfortab-
le with the hearing loss I have.He showed me what my hearing
really could be like, and helped
me create a whole new hearing
transformation.
The day I was
fit with my new
hearing aids, it
was amazing. The
sound was crisp.
I couldnt believe
how many sounds
I had been mis-
sing! It seems to
get better every
time I come in
and he adjusts them. I cant
imagine going back to my old
way of hearing. I feel like a
new person. I would recom-
mend them to everybody who
has a hearing problem.
Im very, very happy! He
will forever be my doctor.
PATIENT TESTIMONIAL
Anna Velez
Interview with Dr. David DeKriek
Patient Bill Westra bought a pair of CE
200 hearin aids and loves them.
Clara Rose Lipe
-
8/9/2019 Five Things 3
4/8
Fidelity Hearing Center - 562.275.36024 HEARING MATTERS www.hearingmatters.com
2009 ECNG, Inc. Reproduction prohibited unless permitted.
amount of amplication a hearing
aid can provide. In addition, if the
inner ear is too damaged, even large
vibrations will not be converted into
neural signals. In this situation, a
hearing aid would be ineffective.
Hearing aids work differently
depending on the electronics used.
The two main types of electronics
are analog and digital.
Analog aids
convert sound
waves into electrical
signals, which are
amplied. Analog/
adjustable hearing
aids are custom
built to meet the
needs of each
user. The aid is programmed by
the manufacturer according to the
specications recommended by your
audiologist. Analog/programmablehearing aids have more than one
program or setting. An audiologist
can program the aid using a
computer, and the user can change
the program for different listening
environmentsfrom a small, quiet
room to a crowded restaurant to
large, open areas, such as a theater
or stadium. Analog/programmable
circuitry can be used in all types of
hearing aids. Analog aids usually are
less expensive than digital aids.
Digital aids convert sound waves
into numerical codes, similar to the
binary code of a computer, before
amplifying them. Because the code
also includes information about a
sounds pitch or loudness, the aid
can be specially programmed to
amplify some frequencies more
than others. Digital circuitry gives
an audiologist more exibility
in adjusting the aid to a users
needs and to certain listening
environments. These aids also can
be programmed to focus on sounds
coming from a specic direction.
Digital circuitry can be used in all
types of hearing aids.
The whole research process can
become rather frustrating. I do
understand that you need to have the
right information before making a
decision, just try to make sure you
are getting it from a highly trained
professional, not a website that is
trying to sell you hearing aids.
Hearing aids are essentially all
the same, so the key is nding ahighly trained, experienced hearingaid professional that is right for you.
A hearing
aid is a small
electronic device
that you wear
in or behind
your ear. It
makes some
sounds louder
so that a person
with hearing loss can listen,
communicate, and participate more
fully in daily activities. A hearing aid
can help people hear more in bothquiet and noisy situations.
All hearing aids have three basic
parts: a microphone, amplier, and
speaker. The hearing aid receives
sound through a microphone,
which converts the sound
waves to electrical signals and
sends them to an amplier. The
amplier increases the power of
the signals and then sends them
to the ear through a speaker.
Hearing aids are primarily
useful in improving the hearing
and speech comprehension ofpeople who have hearing loss
that results from damage to the small
sensory cells in the inner ear, called
hair cells. This type of hearing loss
is called sensorineural hearing loss.
The damage can occur as a result of
disease, aging, or injury from noise
or certain medicines.
A hearing aid magnies sound
vibrations entering the ear. Surviving
hair cells detect the larger vibrations
and convert them into neural
signals that are passed along to the
brain. The greater the damage to a
persons hair cells, the more severe
the hearing loss, and the greater the
hearing aid amplication needed to
make up the difference.
There are practical limits to the
Allhearingaidsare thesame
Five thingsContinued from page 1
2
Choosinga hearingaidprofessional
When you do compare hearing
aids, the rst question is NOT
whether you want to get analog ordigital hearing aids. Or what brand
or style you are going to get or any
other question about hearing aids
themselves.
Hearing aids are essentially all
the same, so the key is nding a
highly trained, experienced hearing
aid professional that is right for you.
First, check the credentials of the
person. Are they an Audiologist?
They most certainly should be.
Audiologists have a Doctorate
or other advanced degree and
are highly trained to evaluate the
entire auditory system and performdiagnostic assessments to rule
out any medical issues that can
have serious
consequences.
A masters
level audiologist
has a ve-year
degree and
you will most
commonly see
M.S or M.A
behind their
name. A Doctor
of Audiology isa six-year degree
and they will have
Au.D. behind their
name. Two other
credentials that
you should look
for is a Board
Certication in
Audiology and a
Certication of Clinical Competency
from the American Speech and
Hearing Association (ASHA). This
certication is noted as CCC-A.
You are embarking on anadventure toward better hearing. You
need to select the professional you
are going to place your trust, your
money, your time and frankly your
hopes with carefully. This might be
something you have not given much
thought, but it may very well be the
most important decision you make.
You are going to be spending
time with this person for years
to come. It is important that it is
someone you feel very comfortable
around and someone with whom you
can communicate effectively. You
will need to trust this professional
to be able to open up and discuss
the difculties you have been
experiencing with
your hearing loss and
the communication
difculties it has
created for you.
Being open and frank
about the impact
your hearing loss
has on your spouse,
your family and
friends, as well as your
performance at work, is critical
to your success.
The person you select
should have the educational
background and the practical
experience you need, but
they also need to be a good
communicator and a great listener,
capable of translating your
experience into a technical solution
to resolve any issues that might
come up in the programming andtrouble- shooting of any problems
you encounter. They need to be
patient and committed to helping
you hear as well as you possibly
can. The last thing you want is a
professional who is delighted to sell
you hearing aids and then avoids you
if you need adjustments or coaching.
Do you trust them? Would you
feel comfortable referring your
friends to this person? If you can
answer yes to these questions you
are on the right track
Do a bit of research on the
professionals around you:
Ask for a referral from friends
you know who
have been
successful with
hearing aids. Did
they respect and
trust the person
they worked with?
Ask your
Primary Care
physician
which hearing
professional they
refer patientsto for hearing
loss and hearing
aids. Remember,
this person
reects either a
positive light or
a negative light
on the physicians
themselves;
normally they select other
professionals very carefully.
Make certain they hold a valid
audiology license, are in good
standing, and have no dubiouscomplaints against them. Every
state has a licensing board for
Audiologists. Check your states
web site for information.
If they have a business website
spend some time looking around.
Are they professional? Does what
they say about themselves and their
company t with what you are
looking for? Do they give you a
clear reason why you should select
them? What sets them apart from
the other professionals in the area?
Is their website an informationresource? (This will tell you if they
believe in patient education).
3
1. Check the credentials.
Are they an Audiologist?
2. Masters level audiologist
has a fve-year degree, M.S
or M.A behind their name.
A Doctor of Audiology is a
six-year degree, Au.D. behind
their name.
3. Two other credentials
that you should look for
is a Board Certifcation in
Audiology and a Certifcation
of Clinical Competency from
the American Speech and
Hearing Association (ASHA).
This certifcation is noted as
CCC-A.
Dr. DeKriek with patient Jim Richardson who
recently purchased Starkey hearing aids.
Patient Tom Vanderputten
purchased DE 1200 aids.
-
8/9/2019 Five Things 3
5/8
Fidelity Hearing Center - 562.275.3602www.hearingmatters.com HEARING MATTERS 5
2009 ECNG, Inc. Reproduction prohibited unless permitted.
Purchasinghearing aids
It is important that you recei-
ve a written recommendation and it
should include the information below
at a minimum:
The manufacturer of the hearing
aid
The specic model of the hearing
aid
The price of the instruments and
any additional services
How long is the manufacturer repair
and loss and damage warranties
What their satisfaction guarantee is,
including any requirements you must
comply with, to return or exchange
the hearing aids
If you exercise your legal right to
return the hearing aids will any feesbe withheld
Should you decide to purchase
hearing aids and feel comfortable
with the professional and their ofce,
you should ask some additional ques-
tions.
Have the audiologist tell you
about their follow up policy. You
should have your rst follow up visit
within one week of your initial hea-
ring aid tting and several additional
visits during the adaptation period.
Depending on your hearing loss, this
adaptation period could be up to sixmonths in duration.
These visits should include de-
tailed discussion of your experiences,
the positive things you have experi-
enced as well as any areas of difcul-
ty. You should never feel like you are
bothering your audiologist and that
your comments and questions are tri-
vial. They are there to make certain
you are hearing as well as possible
and you are receiving the maximum
benet from your hearing aids.
Success iscontingenton a goodexam
Good experiences with hearing
aids are contingent on good data.
A complete evaluation is critical in
hearing aid selection as well as the
accurate programming of the inst-
ruments. Very few insurance com-
panies pay for the evaluation and
Medicare will only cover the exam if
referred by a physician and is not for
the purpose of tting hearing aids.
You need to get a complete exam
and you should be prepared to pay
for it. Expect to pay around $100
depending on your location.
You will see Free Hearing
Screening offers in advertising.
This test is a bare bones check
to see if you have a hearing lossand are a candidate to proceed to a
discussion of amplication. They
do not provide enough information
about your auditory system for a
successful outcome with hearing
aids. Free tests are never free. You
will either pay for them as an addi-
tional component of the total price
of the hearing aid or pay the price of
a high-pressure sales approach after
the test.
A complete Audiological evalu-
ation should include the following
components:Otoscopic Evaluation
A thorough examination of your
ear canals will identify any blockage
by debris or cerumen (earwax). If
a signicant amount of earwax is
present, your ears need to be clea-
red of wax prior to completing the
hearing testing. Some audiologists
provide cerumen removal and others
may refer you to your Primary Care
physician. A visual inspection of the
eardrum will also reveal any abnor-
malities, scaring or infections.
Middle Ear Evaluation
Most commonly referred to as
a Tympanogram. This evaluation
looks at the mobility of the eardrum
and the middle ear bones as well as
air pressure inside the middle ear.
This gives the audiologist informa-
tion on the integrity of the eardrum
and if any perforations in the ear
drum are present. Acoustic
reexes are also measured
with this test and give impor-
tant neurological information
about the hearing system.
Otoacoustic Emission
Otoacoustic emission
testing measures an echo reected
back as a sound is introduced into
the ear canal. This gives the audiolo-
gist valuable information about the
anatomy of the ear that is essentialfor suppression of background noise.
Audiological Evaluation
This portion of the evaluation
is what most people think of as a
hearing test. It is administered
in a sound treated room through
either insert or traditional earphones.
Eight or nine separate frequencies
are evaluated to identify the amount
of volume required for the tone to
be barely heard. This is referred
to as your hearing threshold. This
method of sound presentation is air
conduction testing. It evaluates theentire hearing pathway from the ear
canal to the auditory cortex in the
brain. The frequency testing should
be repeated with a second method of
sound presentation. This time an os-
cillator is placed on the skull behind
the ear, bypassing the middle ear and
stimulating the cochlea directly.Speech Testing
There is a big difference in
hearing speech and being able to
understand speech. A critical part of
any evaluation is a measure of the
accuracy in understanding a spoken
word list. This test is administered in
A beroptic camera inspects the general health of the external auditory canal
for cerumen (ear wax) and any conditions that require attention. Tympano-
metry and Bone Conduction determine Middle Ear function.
A hearing test will determine how the auditory system is working.Speech
discrimination tests are run to determine the potential benet and under-
standing you should expect.
Video Otoscope
a "quiet" situation with each ear eva-
luated separately and then again with
both ears working together. Because
we live every day in background
noise, and it causes such a disruption
of our ability to understand speech,
it is very important that a speech test
in the presence of background noise
be included in the evaluation. One
test in particular that is commonly
used is the QuickSin. It is invaluable
in guiding the hearing aid selectionprocess and the advisability of direc-
tional mics and sophisticated noise
processing.
Before, during and after the
testing expect the audiologist to ask
questions- lots of ques-
tions. Each person has a
unique hearing history,
medical conditions, expe-
rience with past amplica-
tion, expectations, social
and work environment
needs as well as budget. Any pro-
fessional who does not ask enough
questions to understand completelyyour unique situation and need is
treating you like a hearing loss and
will then recommend a hearing aid
for the hearing loss not for YOU.
Once they have a complete un-
derstanding they are then able to linkup your history, experiences, sym-
ptoms and needs and convert that
into selecting the most appropriate
instrument for you.
Watch out for high-pressure
tactics and sales gimmicks. A true
professional will allow you to make
this decision on your own time
frame. Feel free to continue to ask
questions about the process or the
hearing aids until you are comfortab-
le and ready to move forward with
the purchase. If you need to take
time to discuss it with family, you
should do that.One of the best things that can
happen during your appointment is
to experience what amplication is
like and what you might expect to
hear with hearing aids. Some au-
diologists will do this automatically
before explaining the test results;
others may schedule a follow up vi-
sit for the hearing aid demonstration
or even allow you to test drive the
hearing aid.
A complete explanation of your
hearing and test results is an impor-
4
5
tant part of the test and your evalu-ation. It is not complete until you
understand the results, recommenda-
tions, and all of your questions have
been answered.
Patient Thomas Mauss was in a
rush and got his hearing aid that
same day.
Rex Wise purchased a set of
Starkey and loves them!
-
8/9/2019 Five Things 3
6/8
Fidelity Hearing Center - 562.275.36026 HEARING MATTERS www.hearingmatters.com
2009 ECNG, Inc. Reproduction prohibited unless permitted.
In general terms, there are
two types of hearing loss,
conductive and sensorineural.
A combination of both is also
seen as a mixed hearing loss.
Conductive
hearing lossConductive hearing loss
is caused by any condition
or disease that blocks or
impedes the conveyance of
sound through the outer or
middle ear. The result is a
reduction in the sound intensity
(loudness) that reaches the
cochlea. Generally, the cause
of conductive hearing loss can
be treated with a complete
or partial improvement in
hearing. Sensorineural hearing
loss Sensorineural hearing
loss results from inner ear or
auditory nerve dysfunction.Often, the cause cannot be
determined. It is typically
irreversible and permanent. It,
too, reduces the intensity of
sound, but it might also result
in a lack of clarity even when
sounds, particularly speech, are
loud enough. The treatment for
sensorineural hearing loss is
amplification through hearing
aids.
Mixed hearinglossA mixed hearing loss is a
combination of a conductive
and a sensorineural hearing
loss. Hearing aids can be
beneficial for persons with a
mixed hearing loss, but caution
should be exercised.
Causes of
hearing lossThe main causes of hearing
loss are as follows: n Aging
(presbycusis) n Excessive noise
(i.e. construction, rock music,
gun shot, etc.) n Sudden onsetn Infections (otitis media)
n Injury to the head or ear
n Birth defects or genetics
(i.e. otosclerosis) n Ototoxic
reaction to drugs or cancer
treatment (i.e. antibiotics,
chemotherapy, radiation)
Tinnitus, or
Head NoisesTinnitus often simply
referred to as ringing-in-the-
ears or head noises is a sound
heard by one or both ears that
is described by different peo-
ple in various ways. To some
it is a high-pitched ringing,
whining, or hissing sound, like
listening to a conch shell. To
others it may be a low roaring
noise. Tinnitus can be very
mild, noticeable only in a quiet
room, or it can become so loud
and annoying the victim hearsnothing else. It can be persis-
tent, intermittent, or throb-
bing, depending on the cause.
Some 50 million adults suffer
from Tinnitus. For 12 million,
the problem is so severe they
are incapacitated. While Tin-
nitus does not cause hearing
disorders, it may accompany
decreased hearing and other ear
symptoms such as pressure, un-
steadiness, or dizziness. Often,
it occurs alone.Some of the main causes are:
wax buildup or obstruc-
tions in the outer ear canal per-
foration in the eardrum or fluid
accumulation behind
Otosclerosis - the stirrup
bone (stapes) becomes fixed
Otitis media (ear infec-
tions)
exposure to a sudden
loud noise or repeated
exposure to noise without
adequate protection
trauma to the head or
neck as in a concussion or
whiplash injury
some medications indu-ce head noises
high or low blood pres-
sure or anemia
Treatment of Tinnitus
Correcting treatable causes
of Tinnitus (i.e. ear wax
build-up, allergy, infection,
syphilis) often will improve the
condition.
However, when the cause is
unknown, or when head noises
arise from within the cochlea,
auditory nerve, or brain, treat-ment becomes more difficult.
Most medications and surgical
procedures have not been suc-
cessful in relieving Tinnitus.
Because of the direct asso-
ciation between the hearing
mechanism and the nervous
system, Tinnitus sufferers have
been advised to avoid nervous
tension, fatigue, and stimulants.
Sedatives, biofeed back, and
other relaxation techniques
may offer some people tem-
porary relief. The only other
approach that so far has
achieved any success has
been Tinnitus Maskers to
mask the ringing sound
with other sounds as a
means of distracting
the individuals
concentration on
Tinnitus. Other
worthwhile
As a musician in an orches-
tra, hearing the directions
from the conductor was a
problem. Now, its a lot better since
Ive had my hearing aids.
The biggest problem I disco-
vered was in a crowded restaurant
where everyone is talking. I used
to just sit and eat. The first time I
came home with my new hearing
aids, the sound didnt seem quite
right, so I went back to Dr. De-
Kriek.
He fine-tuned and adjusted them,
and now and its much better. When
I play my instrument by myself,
no problem. Even the quality is so
much better. Im able to control
the dynamics and play with more
sensitivity, power, and passion
in my music. Now its easier to
follow, hear, and be in sync with
the conductor, and to get through
the entire piece easily. Through
this experience my association
with Dr. DeKriek has been veryhelpful. Both my mother and father
had hearing problems when they
were in their eighties. It hit me a
few years ago. and I had problems
in situations struggling hearing
people, even when I was talking
one on one. Now the hearing aids
are fitting well and are tuned so
clearly.
Now I can function again normally
and hear with confidence. Im so
glad I came in!
PATIENT TESTIMONIAL
John Feeney
Types of Hearing Loss
treatments to explore are cogni-
tive therapy and Tinnitus Retrai-
ning Therapy (TRT). Conclusion
Because Tinnitus may be symp-
tomatic of a more serious dis-
order, it is important to try and
find the cause before treating
the head noises by any of these
means. If you or someone you
know suffers from Tinnitus, I
urge you to contact an ear doctor
(otologist or otolaryn-gologist)
or audiologist as soon as possi-
ble.
Patient Ray Munoz says I can
hear in noisy places again!
Packard Polin
-
8/9/2019 Five Things 3
7/8
Fidelity Hearing Center - 562.275.3602www.hearingmatters.com HEARING MATTERS 7
2009 ECNG, Inc. Reproduction prohibited unless permitted.
day-by-day, it grows worse.
Before long, only half the words
are clear and many he can barley
make out at all.
Most people think hearingloss is simply words and sounds
becoming fainter, turn up the
sound or talk louder will enable
the person to hear better. Not so.
Distortion- how clear the words
are-is also major part of hearing
loss.
Even if the words are loud
enough, the inner ear interprets
them as distorted. This gradually
grows worse and worse with
time. It can become permanent,
ruining the ability to understandwords and even limiting how
much help can be obtained after
correction.
The longer hearing loss is
ignored, the more deterioration
there will be. A person thinks
they may be able to get away
with turning the TV louder or
ask to repeat and talk louder, but
they are usually disappointed
when they still cannot under-
stand.
If help is sought early
enough, studies show that the
right hearing devices, if worn
regularly, can actually slow
down the deterioration of the
Spontaneous inter-
change is important
to our everyday
lives. For some with fading
hearing abilities, it seems impor-
tant to continue to maintain anillusion of proper hearing in any
given situation. When social en-
vironments present themselves,
the hearing impaired individual
will often laugh whole-heartedly
at the unheard punch line, or
vigorously applaud for no other
reason than everyone else is do-
ing so.
Over 90% of those with hear-
ing loss are in denial. The invis-
ibility of hearing loss makes it
almost transparent to the suf-ferer. As the problem worsens,
it remains easy to deny that they
have a hearing problem. Some
are actually convincing them-
selves that its still too early for
help.
As the hearing loss progress-
es, the hearing impaired become
more psycho-socially inhibited,
keeping them from seeking
hearing assistance that is avail-
able to them.
The continual denial andrefusal for help or to accept their
problem causes them to live in
a distorted perspective and in a
constant defensive strategy to
hide their loss for fear of being
discovered. In many instances,
they have to bluff their way
through even the most trivial
and mundane social situations.
This is the social equivalent
to ght or ight which is
a subconscious avoidance
of any potential commu-
nicative situation such as
church, family gatherings,
noisy restaurants and clubs.
Perhaps the situation
calls for a visit with a hand-
ful of friends and family
in a living room where the
lights are low, the televi-
sion is blaring, and some are
sitting at a distance. That
situation can be tough with
normal hearing, but with hearing
loss its al-
most
impossible.
Instead of relaxing and enjoy-
ing the moment, a person is in
the throes of almost insurmount-
able communication obstacles.
More pressure, more tension,
anxiety, and energy is spent try-
ing to catch the conversation.
No wonder people get frustrated
and exhausted. No wonder
they fall asleep in church. If
you cant hear it why bother to
listen? Drawn inward from the
loss, people can become nega-
tively self-centered. Interactions
become forced, belabored, rep-
etitious, and worse - responses
become inappropriate and em-
barrassing.
With those kinds of humiliat-
ing mistakes the person feels
embarassed, and the fear of re-
peating such an incident reducesinteraction.
This can be a strain on the
spouse. There is a loss of close-
ness and intimacy for both of
them. What is happening? The
spouse is smothered by depen-
dency, and then blamed for not
speaking clearly, or not under-
standing, or expecting too much.
The spouse is supposed to be
the ears now. That certainly is a
lot of pressure to put on anyone,
and usually does not work out
too well.
Even tripsPerhaps they get
away to take a trip, just them
alone. He nds that he cannot
hear in the car because of the
road noise or the distance be-
tween them. Then theres her
quiet, high-pitched voice, not to
mention she may be sitting on
his bad side.
This results in wanting his
wife to repeat herself and speak
up over and over again, it even-
tually becomes a tug of war
battle of whos right and whos
wrong. They are
each drawn
inward and resign themselves
to going it alone into their quiet
world, feeling sorry for them-
selves, unloved, depressed, and
eventually forgotten.
If a man has a chance to help
his hearing and delays it, he
tends to do so for an average of
seven years. He will not be back
until he is nally convinced
that he is not just a cantanker-
ous, opinionated or socially
diminished individual but has a
legitimate hearing problem that
really needs help. Little by little,
The psychological and social strains of hearing loss
I was very hesitant to go
to a hearing doctor, my
kids finally convinced
me to go. They would get frus-
trated with me at family parties
because I could not hear very
well and I would have to have
my wife next to me to help. So
I started looking around and
through another friend, found
Dr. DeKriek. I was very im-
pressed with his office and ex-pertise.
He fitted me with an aid that
day and it has progressively
got better so now I can hold a
conversation with people. Dr.
DeKriek was great, he asked all
the right questions, did an ex-
tensive examination that led to
my new aid.
I would recommend Fidelity
Hearing Center and Dr. DeKriek
to anyone.
Luis Salazar
PATIENT TESTIMONIAL
Your hearing aids are blessing to our
marriage- Everett and Mary Jo Baker Duffy Baker loves his new hear-
ing aids.
Kay Kimura could not believe
how much she was missing.
-
8/9/2019 Five Things 3
8/8
Fidelity Hearing Center - 562.275.36028 HEARING MATTERS www.hearingmatters.com
2009 ECNG, Inc. Reproduction prohibited unless permitted.
Reclaim your hearing
Mention this paper and get
Free Hearing Screening 2 Years Free Batteries
2 Years of Complete Warranty CoverageFree Tune-Ups and Reprogramming for life
13079 Artesia Blvd., B-104 Cerritos, CA 90703
www.HearingMatters.com
562.275.3602
Artesia
Sh
oemaker
N
Easy Financing
Dr. David J. DeKriek, Au.D.