Audiology

Hearing loss is complex and can affect people of any age. Board Certified Audiologist Kaitlyn Ostrowski and her team of caregivers will take the time to ensure you achieve the best hearing results possible. This includes conducting a comprehensive hearing evaluation. She’ll determine whether a hearing aid is the right solution for you and, if so, fit you with the best hearing aids and accessories for your type of hearing loss.

Audiology & Hearing Care

Complete diagnostic hearing evaluations
Hearing loss rehabilitation
Hearing-related education and counseling
Hearing aids and accessories
Hearing aid fitting

Hearing aid repair
Tinnitus evaluation
Custom hearing protection
Live speech mapping

Audiologists also can help with vertigo and balance-related issues. We offer high-quality products from all leading manufacturers.

Over the Counter (OTC) Hearing Aids

OTC hearing aids may be sold over the counter starting in October 2022, such as in retail stores and online. The purchase of the OTC devices does not require a hearing evaluation or a consultation with a hearing care professional. One goal of OTC hearing aids is to provide more timely access to lower cost devices. A hearing evaluation with an audiologist is still considered a good first step in order to find out if you would be a candidate for an OTC device or if you require a prescription hearing aid. Hearing evaluations are often covered by your medical insurance, but it is always a good idea to double check your specific coverage.

OTC hearing aids are improving the access and affordability of amplification devices, but the first step would be to see a licensed audiologist to determine if you would be a candidate for an OTC device and to rule out any underlying medical conditions.

FAQs About OTC Hearing Aids

Have you heard?

It is very important to protect your hearing, and everyday sounds are louder than you may think.

Lengthy or repeated exposure to noise above 85 decibels can damage hearing. How loud is that? To put that into perspective, noise from fireworks can reach up to 155 decibels. Music at a concert can be as loud as 120 decibels. Action scenes in the movie theater have been known to reach 100 decibels. Lawn mowers are around 85 decibels and chain saws can be 115-120 decibels. Many hearing losses are caused by damage to the tiny sensory receptors, or hair cells, in the inner ear. The damage can be caused by too much noise, and it is permanent; however, you can take steps to prevent this damage. If you can’t avoid loud sounds, the simplest way to protect your hearing is to wear hearing protection.

Hearing loss isn’t just about missing the conversation. Untreated hearing loss is linked with dementia and an increased risk of falls.

Untreated hearing loss can affect our brain and cognitive health. It’s a risk factor for dementia and cognitive decline. Hearing loss may also contribute to social isolation and put you at greater risk for depression. One study shows that an increase in hearing loss can be associated with a three-fold increase in the risk for falls – ouch!

Hearing loss in children can affect their speech and language development and academic success.

Education is primarily delivered through auditory input (teachers talk!), and even a mild hearing loss can affect a child’s success in school. Children with untreated hearing loss use more cognitive energy to understand what is being said (or they may appear to not be paying attention because they are missing what was said). The American Academy of Audiology recommends that parents concerned with an otherwise unexplained decline in their child’s school performance, or any sign of hearing loss, should take them to an audiologist to have their hearing tested. It can make a big difference–especially over time.

Hearing loss is not associated with age.

You don’t need to be a particular age or certainly not be considered ‘old’ to get hearing aids. Hearing aids are becoming smaller and less visible. Some even look like Bluetooth headphones! Hearing loss can affect anyone at any age. The sooner hearing loss is detected and treated, the less likely it is to affect your overall health and well-being.

Custom Hearing Protection

Since everyone’s ears are unique, the best protection will come from custom-made earmolds. We offer a variety of custom earplugs designed specifically for different activities.

Swimmer’s Plugs prevent water from entering your ear canal, which can contain bacteria and cause an infection. These plugs are made of waterproof silicone.
Hunter’s Plugs are specifically designed to eliminate dangerously loud sounds while still letting important, subtle sounds enter your ears. This helps hunters remain safely aware of their surroundings.
Musician’s Plugs reduce all sounds evenly while maintaining quality, so that music and speech is as close to the original as possible.