Please join us at the Lamar Health Fair on Wednesday, October 20th. DigiCare will be joining many other healthcare professionals providing a wide selection of helpful tests and information including blood screening.

Contact us for more information about attending the fair.

Welcome to the all-new DigiCare blog - our Grand Opening is right around the corner!

• How much do hearing aids cost?
• Why are hearing aids so expensive?
• Why do I need two hearing aids?

How much do hearing aids cost?

Straight Answer:

There is a broad range of cost for hearing instruments available on the market today. As a Factory, we make and carry many different styles, types and ranges of price. Once we know more about you, we can quote a price. For instance, the cost varies based on your lifestyle — that is, what types of hearing situations you experience in daily living? Cost depends on the type of loss you may have — is it medically correctable? Is it temporary or permanent? Is it one ear or two? Have you lost the low ranges of sound as well as the highs? And, and the degree of that loss — is it mild or severe?

You see, your hearing loss is unique, like a fingerprint. The first step in our being able to give you an answer is that we would need to do a comprehensive hearing evaluation. Once we understand these things, through our discovery and testing process, we can recommend the best course of action for you, including the appropriate hearing instrument.

Why are hearing aids so expensive?

Straight Answer:

It does seem that way, doesn’t it? Let me share some interesting information with you. Did you know that each hearing instrument is a fully-functioning computer, powered by a small watch-sized battery? I know, it’s hard to believe. But, not only is each instrument performing many calculations each second that is it worn, in many cases it is working in concert with a second instrument in the other ear. Typically, people wear them 10 – 12 hours per day, and they are busy with helping you hear and understand your surroundings.

Hearing aid engineers have made dramatic advances in the last five years, so we can now attack the problem of hearing loss much more effectively. If you consider the huge leap forward in quality of life that is now possible, there is no other modern technology that can compare in value-to-cost. Compared to the alternative life of silence and frustration, they are actually inexpensive.

Why do I need two hearing aids?

Straight Answer:

Not everyone needs two hearing aids, but typically we do fit people with two. For instance, if one ear is totally deaf, there is obviously no benefit to fitting that ear with a hearing aid. However, for most there are many benefits to having two hearing aids. The reason we have two ears is, in part, to perceive the direction from which sound is coming. This is crucial to a person’s sense of well-being and spacial orientation. Therefore, correcting the hearing in both ears is extremely important. Then, there’s the issue of human speech — the most complex of all sounds we hear and interpret. The subtle nuances of speech are best understood when the two ears are working in consort.

Finally, we always want to amplify sound as minimally as possible, and come as close as possible to natural hearing. If we amplify sound for both ears, we can usually minimize the volume needed for each.

Supplements are available at any of our locations

At DigiCare we carry an extensive selection of supplements. We have chosen this particular brand because the manufacturer ranks quality pharmaceutical-grade ingredients, therapeutic potency and accuracy of label information as its highest priorities. These are not a mass market product that ranks price/cost as the highest priority.  

When we perform a hearing test and ear exam, our Auditory Rehabilitation Counsellors assess certain biomarkers which relate to general health.  We offer these supplements to help support health as it relates to these biomarkers. We always recommend input from your family physician.  Below, please find a sampling of the supplement products we offer.  

We've found Miracell very helpful in preparing irritated or sensitive ears for hearing aids

Additionally, we also carry Miracell ProEar Solution.  We use this product professionally in our offices for preparing ears for hearing instruments, as well as personally at home.  Miracell is an excellent product for irritated, itching ears, as well as for many other skin conditions. These simple eardrops are easy to use and effective.

Please call or email us with any questions you may have about our full line of supplements or Miracell or if you'd like to place an order.  Products are available for convenient pick-up at any of our 4 Southern Colorado locations.

MiraCell products:

A sampling of our available supplements:

We welcome questions!  Please call or email for more information or to order.

Please note:  As with any supplement, the products and the claims made about specific products have not been evaluated by the USDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.

DigiCare offers a broad assortment of auditory technology to aid in the communication challenges of everyday life. Our DigiCare-made hearing aids do an excellent job of helping people meet their communication needs. However, there are situations where additional technologies may be of extra help.

At DigiCare, we are happy to take the time you need to help determine the best system, or combination of systems, based on your own unique communication needs and lifestyle.  Call or email for information, to place an order or to discuss your needs with a DigiCare Auditory Rehabilitation Counsellor. 

Below, you'll find a sampling of Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) our patients have found useful.

Why Assistive Listening Devices? 

Some hearing aid users may continue to experience difficulty understanding speech in excessively noisy environments, at a distance, or while listening on the telephone. At bedtime with hearing instruments in their case, a person with even a mild to moderate hearing loss may not hear the smoke alarm located down the hall. Assistive technologies can help and are available to help people with all degrees of hearing loss. These devices can help facilitate improved face-to-face communication, reception of electronic media, telephone reception, and reception of important warning sounds and situations.  

We have all types of ALDs available -- please call or email for details.

Batteries and hearing aid maintenance supplies are available at all of our offices

At DigiCare we carry an excellent selection of in-stock batteries and cleaning supplies for your hearing instruments. Please call or email us for information or to place an order.  

Your supplies are always available for convenient pick-up at any of our 4 Southern Colorado locations.  We look forward to seeing you!  

Taking an ear impression for custom ear protection plugs

Fact: One-third of hearing loss is preventable with proper hearing protection.

Helping you protect your hearing is of the utmost importance to us.  DigiCare offers custom, made-to-order hearing protection from our Factory Direct Lab in Colorado City, Colorado.

DigiCare Custom Hearing Protection

Musicians Ear Protection:

The musician’s plugs come in a set of two. The plugs are made from medical grade, medium soft plastic material. This will require that an impression be made so that a mold can be created for custom fit. The mold includes a sound filter that reduces the volume 15dB across the whole frequency range with a minimum of distortion. Ideal for musicians.
PRICE: $200/Set

Hunter’s Ear Protection:

The hunter’s plugs come in a set of two. The plugs are made from medical grade, medium soft plastic material. This will require that an impression be made so that a mold can be created for custom fit. The mold includes a sound filter that acts much like an automobile muffler. This filter attenuates any sound that exceeds 90dB, but allows sound under 90dB. Ideal for hunters and other firearm sportsmen.
PRICE: $170/Set

Industrial Ear Protection:

Moderate, constant noise environments. These industrial hearing plugs come in a set of two. The plugs are made from medical grade, medium soft plastic material. This will require that an impression be made so that a mold can be created for custom fit. For situations where there is a moderate, but constant noise, we have a mold that includes a sound filter which will reduce the sound volume by 8dB.
PRICE: $160/Set

Protection from Intense Noise or Loud Bursts of Noise:

These industrial hearing plugs come in a set of two. The plugs are made from medical grade, medium soft plastic material, or from non hyper-allergenic Photoplast hard plastic. This will require that an impression be made so that a mold can be created for custom fit. For situations where there is intensely loud noise, or where a person is exposed to loud bursts of sound, we offer a mold that totally plugs the ear canal. 
PRICE: $150/Set in Soft Plastic
PRICE: $120/Set in Hard Plastic

Additionally, we custom make:

Swimmer’s Ear Protection:

The swimmer’s hearing plugs come in a set of two. The plugs are made from medical grade, medium soft plastic material. This will require that an impression be made so that a mold can be created for custom fit. The mold completely plugs the ear canal.
PRICE: $150/Set

Custom Molds with Stereo Headphones:

For IPOD’s, MP3 players and other personal music listening devices, we offer the Sony High Performance Earbuds (MDR-EX55LP) fitted with two custom molds for best fit. The plugs are made from medical grade, medium soft plastic material. This will require that an impression be made so that a mold can be created for custom fit. The molds are attached to the Sony earbuds.
PRICE: $180/Set

Next Step:

Be alert to hazardous noise. Noise is one of the most common causes of hearing loss, and one of the most common occupational illnesses in the United States. A single shot from a shotgun, experienced at close range, may permanently damage your hearing in an instant. Repeated exposures to loud machinery may, over an extended period of time, present serious risks to our hearing.  An ounce of prevention is certainly worth a pound of cure.  At DigiCare, we offer hearing protection products tailored to your specific work and leisure activities.

If you have any question about our custom hearing protection products or would like to talk to an expert about your own needs, please call or email us.  

Consultations for hearing protection fittings are always free and easy to schedule.

Learn More:

You may also have an interest in learning more about How the Ear Works, Hearing Loss or Tinnitus.

Your hearing instruments are delicate, precision electronic devices and as such, require the special care and handling that would be afforded to any fine piece of equipment. Proper care and maintenance can help prolong the life of your instrument.

• It is best to clean your hearing instruments daily, using a soft dry cloth to remove debris and wax. Wax build up is the number one cause of instrument failure.

Your DigiCare office stocks a large variety of hearing aid care products, including nylon hearing aid cleaners, jar-style dehumidifiers and air blowers 

• Store your hearing aids at room temperature in a dry area out of direct sunlight.  If perspiration or high humidity is an issue, you may find it beneficial to use a dry aid kit or a hearing aid dryer when the instrument is not in use.   Regular use of a dry aid kit or hearing aid dryer can help prevent corrosion.  Both of these types are available through your DigiCare office.

• When not in use, open the battery door to extend battery life.  In some hearing instruments, opening the battery door will also turn the hearing aid off.  In others, the volume control is also the on / off switch for the instrument.  Your DigiCare Counsellor will review all of the various functions of your instrument and answer any questions.

• Always remove your hearing instruments when using a hair dryer, hair care products, aftershave, lotions, cosmetics and ointments.  Your hearing instrument can become clogged and damaged.

• Be certain to remove your hearing instruments before washing your hair, taking a bath, showering, swimming or entering a steam bath or sauna.

• Remove your hearing instruments during electromagnetic or radiotherapies.

• Should your hearing instrument become wet, immediately open the battery door and allow them to dry naturally for 24 hours.  Do not attempt to dry them in a oven, microwave or with a hair dryer.

• Remove your hearing instrument before going to sleep.

• Protect your hearing instruments from excessive heat (hair dryer, vehicle glovebox or dashboard).

• Excessive cold may also effect operation of your hearing instrument.  The typical operating temperature range is from 14 degrees F up to 104 degrees F.

• Place hearing instruments carefully in their case, ensuring that the tubing is not squeezed or twisted.

• Protect your hearing instrument against rough treatment, such as being dropped, or knocked against other items.

• Your hearing instrument is custom to your hearing ability, needs and comfort.  It should never be worn by others, as another person could damage his or her hearing.

• Never disassemble any part of the hearing instrument.  It is, in essence, a microcomputer.  Please do not try to repair your hearing aid yourself.

• Do You Need Additional Help? Our Technicians provide expert, all-make repair services with prompt turn-around times.  You can read more about our repair services here.
• As always, if you have questions about at-home troubleshooting or any issues you may be experiencing, we're here to help.  Please call or email us.

Bulletin Board main page

We are often asked:  Why, with your own factory direct manufacturing facility, doesn't DigiCare provide hearing aids via the internet or mail order?

A careful visual examination of a patient's ear

While the reasons are many (not least of all that improper use of hearing aids can damage your hearing), the most direct is this:  Your communicative health is much too precious to leave to chance.

Certainly, it is too vital to your cognition, happiness, and well-being to circumvent the best standards of practice, to which we fully subscribe at DigiCare.

When one succumbs to the siren song of cheap internet or mail order hearing aids, there are a host of essential elements that are missing, including:

• A thorough hearing evaluation conducted in a fully-calibrated, sound-controlled environment
• A trained professional able to ascertain the presence of serious ear conditions that may require medical attention, as directed by the US Food and Drug Administration
• Safe and appropriate ear impressions of your ear by personnel properly trained in ergonomic prosthetics of the ear
• Appropriate and effective advanced hearing technology
• Physical and programming adjustments and calibrations made to the subtleties of your hearing needs and profile
• Customized, one-on-one auditory rehabilitation via our E.A.R.S. program

The list could go on, but the heart of the matter is that legitimate, quality hearing care is, bar-none, the best bargain for your healthcare dollars today.  

At DigiCare, we will not sell our hearing aids over the internet, as it is truly not in your best interest.

Learn Even More:

• We’ve selected articles from our DigiCare Library about the topic of internet and mail order hearing aids :
  • Lemon Laws & Hearing Aids: A Letter Regarding Mail Order Hearing Aids
  • Internet Hearing Aids: Boon or Bane for the Consumer?
  • Mail Order & Internet Hearing Aids: Any Price Too High to Pay
• If you have any questions about internet or mail order hearing aids, please do not hesitate to call or email us.  You might also have an interest in learning about what happens during Your First Visit to DigiCare.

To ensure a comfortable fit, all of our earpieces are carefully shaped and refined by hand at our Factory Direct Lab.  Any needed adjustments are able to be made on-site.  

We've been asked:  Why is it so important that your DigiCare team has full involvement in the actual manufacturing and fitting of your hearing instruments at your Factory?

Our answer:  

We believe that it is crucial to your success in recapturing as much of your lost lifestyle as possible.  To accomplish that, it requires a team approach—the counselor, the lab technicians as well as all the other supporting staff. It requires years of experience in the anatomy of hearing, the pathology of hearing loss, the psychology of hearing, the physics of sound, and how all this will be impacted by the increasingly-sophisticated digital technology that we continue to call a hearing aid.  

Few professionals can claim mastery over all these fields. But DigiCare as a team, comes very close.  For these reasons, you need a team approach. And the team needs to be close by to monitor your progress.

The delicate work of custom-building a hearing instrument

Others will ship your order off to a factory in some distant state.  So, you will never have the counselor and technicians in the same room to discuss your situation—either with you or even with each other! Problem-solving is thwarted. And, yes, there may be problems. But the key is, we have a staff nearby to address them.

So, yes, factory-direct is a one of your critical tools needed for your success. We believe it is the model for the future of our industry.

DigiCare Repair Services:  Expert, All-Make, Onsite, Prompt

We repair all-makes and types of hearing aids at our Factory Direct Lab 

We've also been asked: What is an "orphan user" and what does DigiCare do to help?

Our answer:

There’s a little-known secret in our industry, and you may be part of it.  

There’s something we call 'orphan users.' That’s folks who own hearing aids, but cannot go back to their hearing professional for help — maybe they’re no longer in business, or you’ve moved from somewhere else, or you’re out of warranty.  There’s an army of orphan users in virtually every community, and we’re here to help.

When you come to us with your hearing aids for repair and/or service, you need to be prepared to sit for a refreshed hearing test.  This is a matter ethics — we cannot in good conscience repair your old hearing aid without knowing more about you.  Perhaps your hearing has changed, or more likely, perhaps your hearing aid is not appropriate for your condition.  

We want you to know all the issues, so that we can provide you with the best information possible. Who knows, maybe it’s something minor; but maybe you are living with something that cannot effectively correct your hearing.  A quick hearing test will give us the answers we both need.

In short, we love adopting orphans and because of our unique Factory Direct Lab, we're able to help with a wide range of repair and adjustment issues — come see us!  Our factory is conveniently located in Colorado City just 20 minutes south of Pueblo. 

Learn Even More:

• Once you've learned about our on-site factory, as well as our on-site, all-make hearing aid repair, you may also have an interest in learning more about our special follow-up rehabilitation system, our E.A.R.S. Program.

Summary:

You can help make a difference. Did you know that involving loved ones in the journey to better hearing health is one of the greatest tools at the disposal of a person with hearing loss? Education, understanding and acceptance are the critical elements to a successful hearing health plan. At DigiCare we strongly recommend and urge that a family member or trusted friend participate in this important process from the very first visit to DigiCare. Your input and support help shed light on the particular details of your loved one’s hearing loss. In many ways, you yourself may also be suffering as a result of your loved one’s hearing loss — missed connections, big and small misunderstandings, the lost subtleties of close interaction. At DigiCare, we’re here to help you and your loved one enhance the rich sounds of life - everyday.

Learn About:

• Hearing Loss Facts
• How to Identify Hearing Loss. Symptoms & Consequences
• Next Steps: What You Can Do to Help
• In the Meantime: Working Together & Useful Coping Strategies

Hearing Loss Facts

• Fact: Approximately 36 million American adults suffer from some form of hearing loss — that’s 17% of our entire adult population

• Fact: By age 65, one out of three people has a hearing loss

• Fact: By age 85, that number grows to one out of two people suffering from a hearing loss

• Fact: Men are more likely to experience hearing loss than women

• Fact: According to the National Institutes of Health, hearing loss is the third most common health problem in America after arthritis and heart disease.

• Fact: Hearing loss is invisible and insidious, developing so slowly in many cases that it is almost transparent to the sufferer

Hearing loss is common and can be caused by:

• Noise. This knows as Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). Prolonged exposure to high-intensity noise and sudden blasts can cause permanent damage to our delicate ears over time or abruptly. Military exposure, mega-sporting events, loud music and concerts, large and small machinery, airport noise – each can cause NIHL and tinnitus. Prevention through protection is critical at all ages.

• Aging
• Diseases of the Ear
• Heredity
• Frequently prescribed medications
• Excessive ear wax
• Bacterial or viral infections
• Exposure to ototoxic chemicals
• Common medical illnesses such as diabetes, heart conditions and stroke

How to Identify Hearing Loss. Symptoms and Consequences

Common Symptoms

Does someone you know …

• Feel that others mumble when they speak?
• Have trouble hearing someone talking from behind?
• Have difficulty understanding on the telephone?
• Find it challenging or feel self conscious communicating in group situations?
• Experience ringing, roaring or a hissing noise in the ears?
• Miss a doorbell or phone ring?
• Turn up the TV or radio volume to a level at which others complain?
• Often ask others to repeat what they are saying?
• Have trouble understanding the voices of women and small children?
• Have past or present exposure to loud noise at work, during social events or as the result of a particular hobby?

Consider these scenarios:

Does someone you know …

• Have apprehension about going to noisy parties or restaurants?
• Feel embarrassed to talk openly about not being able to hear?
• Avoid previously enjoyable activities because joining in now seems challenging?
• Have concerns about revealing a hearing loss to coworkers or work supervisors?
• Feel a strain at family holidays with so many people talking at once?

If you answered yes to a number of these questions, a hearing loss may indeed be present.

Consequences:

Hearing problems can make it difficult to understand and follow a doctor’s recommendations, to hear doorbells and alarms, to effectively communicate on the telephone and to respond to signals and warnings.

At any age, a hearing loss can make it challenging to enjoy talking with friends and family and can frequently lead to:

• Isolation
• Stress and anxiety
• Insecurity and defensiveness
• Anger, frustration & withdrawal
• Even depression

Next Steps. What You Can Do to Help

The most important thing you can do if you suspect a hearing loss in a family member or friend is to encourage him or her to schedule a comprehensive hearing test and evaluation. At DigiCare, our hearing tests are always free and simple to schedule by phone or email.

The DigiCare Hearing Test and Evaluation will determine the following:

• If there is a hearing loss and in which ear
• What type and degree of hearing loss is present
• If there is fluid in the middle ear or if wax is present in the ear canal
• What might be causing the hearing loss
• If hearing instruments might be a helpful solution

Note: Helping your loved one with his or her hearing health is our utmost priority. Our DigiCare Auditory Rehabilitation Counsellors can and will refer your friend or family member to a medical specialist should the need arise.

In the Meantime: Working Together & Useful Coping Strategies

• Face the person as directly as possible when speaking avoiding food and gum chewing and smoking while talking. At a restaurant, ask to be seated at a round table rather than a rectangular one to better see each others faces while talking.

• Avoid communicating with loud and distracting background noise present, including the TV and music.

• Speak clearly, avoiding shouting and over-emphasis.

• Re-phrase sentences when repeating ideas. High frequency hearing loss is common. Many times, a person with a hearing problem hears low-pitch vowels more easily than high-pitch consonants. The result to a person with a hearing loss is words and sentences that sound muffled and mumbled. By rephrasing sentences, you are literally giving the person with a high-frequency hearing loss more linguistic data to better understand, filling in the gaps where sounds — and meaning – have gone unheard.

• Review various types of Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) in order to make daily tasks more convenient.  Our Auditory Rehabilitation Counsellors are happy to make recommendations.

• Emphasize patience and respect. 

Learn Even More:

• We’ve selected articles from our DigiCare Library that you may find very helpful in learning more about hearing loss and its consequences for loved ones:
  • The Fear of Being Found Out: The Dilemma of Denial
  • Men & Hearing Loss: The Silent Societal Problem
  • Depression & Uncorrected Hearing Loss
  • Q & A: A Relationship Between Depression & Hearing Loss
  • Alzheimer's Made Worse By Uncorrected Hearing Loss: The Inside Story 
• You may also have an interest in learning more about what happens during your loved one's First Visit to DigiCare, as well as more about our E.A.R.S. Rehabilitation Program.

Summary:

What Next? What are the first steps to taking control of your hearing health?

Step 1:  Acceptance

We live in a world of amplified sounds: jet airplanes, mp3 music players, action movies, mega concerts & sporting events, power tools, lawn mowers, work machinery, noisy hair dryers & vacuums — the list goes on and on. Many times a hearing loss develops slowly over time, nearly invisibly. Human beings are incredibly adaptable, able to compensate — consciously or unconsciously — for changes in ability.

The first step on the road to improved hearing health is to accept that there may well indeed be a loss of hearing.

Step 2:  Openness

1 in 3 American adults over the age of 65 has a hearing loss. What may surprise you more, however, is that there is an absolute epidemic of young people — members of Generation Y (born 1974 to 1980) and even younger — suffering from serious, noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus. At this very moment, many are doing further damage to their delicate ears. Noisy nightclubs, screaming-loud concerts and blaring earbuds are taking a very heavy toll on young ears.

As an entire nation, we are in desperate need of a candid and frank discussion about hearing health and hearing loss prevention. No matter your age, your willingness to be open and accepting of hearing loss — including its causes and solutions — is critical to helping yourself and others, whether loved ones or strangers.

Step 3:  Get Your Hearing Tested

Have you ever thought: If I had a problem, my family doctor would have mentioned something to me.

Statistically, very few family physicians screen for hearing loss or recommend hearing tests during routine physicals. In fact, in the quiet of your family physician’s office, a hearing loss may very well be less evident than out in the real world.

Our patients tell us they find the hearing evaluation and otoscopic examination fascinating and educational; they find our staff incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and downright reassuring.

DigiCare Hearing Tests are always free and very easy to schedule at any of our 4 southern Colorado locations, located in Colorado City, Trinidad, La Junta and Lamar.  Please call or email us to get started.

At DigiCare, we’ve had new patients make their way to our offices from Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, Arizona, California and even Alaska. If for some reason you can’t make it to one of our DigiCare locations, please feel free to call or email so we can help refer you to an excellent hearing health provider in your local area.

Step 4:  Working as a Team with Your DigiCare Auditory Rehabilitation Counsellor

Together you and your DigiCareCounsellor will review your in-depth case history and determine what steps and tools can be of benefit to you.

Recommendations specific to your needs may include:

• Hearing aid fitting
• Lifestyle adjustments and strategies
• ID of medical & pharmaceutical contributors to review with your physician
• In-depth hearing rehabilitation through our E.A.R.S. & Tinnitus programs
• Goal setting

At DigiCare we want to help enhance the rich sounds of life. We do not want you to simply cope: we want you to take control of your hearing health and thrive!

Step 5:  Learning More

Our staff, website and on-line library are open resources for you to keep up-to-date on:

• Hearing health
• Health issues that can affect hearing
• Ototoxicity
• Hearing loss research
• Hearing help technology
• Supplements
• Helpful assistive listening devices

Learn Even More:

• We’ve selected articles from our DigiCare Library that you may find very helpful in learning more these next steps for taking control of your hearing health.  Read more about the importance of the first two steps -- Acceptance and Openness -- in the following articles:
  • The Fear of Being Found Out: The Dilemma of Denial
  • A Question About the Importance of Family Support for Men with Hearing Loss
• Now that you've reviewed the first steps in taking control of your hearing health, we invite you to learn more about DigiCare in Who We Are & What We Do and Why We're Different. 

Call for an appointment for any of our locations:

Local: 719-676-3277
Toll-Free 866-864-6449

Summary:

Welcome, whether you are coming from near or far! We've created this guide to take you step-by-step through the journey of your first visit to DigiCare. This comprehensive hearing test and evaluation is a critical first step and tool, helping us to identify your particular hearing profile and needs.

Learn About:

• Step 1: Gathering Information and Scheduling Your First Appointment
• Step 2: Arriving for Your First Appointment
• Step 3: What to Expect and the Preliminary Interview
• Step 4: The Comprehensive Hearing Test and Evaluation
• Step 5: Moving Forward

We are very happy that you’ve decided to come see us at one of our four Southern Colorado DigiCare offices. Convenient appointments are available and walk-ins are always welcome.

Everyone you speak to and meet at our offices looks forward to making your visit a positive learning experience

As always, you will be treated with dignity and respect as your DigiCare Auditory Rehabilitation Counsellor focuses on your individual needs and requests. Whether you are visiting us for a hearing exam, a hearing aid fitting or have questions and needs related to tinnitus, we are happy to help and take the time you need.

At DigiCare, our hearing tests are a family affair. It is important that a loved-one accompany you on your visit.

Your first appointment will be very educational; you will be able to discuss many aspects of hearing loss and the various treatment options. Having another person you trust accompany you can ease anxiety and make it a more comfortable experience for you. Additionally, the familiar voice of your loved-one may actually be used for hearing amplification demonstration and simulation purposes.

Step 1: Gathering Information and Scheduling Your Appointment

In most cases, the first contact you will make with our DigiCare office will be over the phone. We can promise that this experience will be polite, professional and friendly!

When you place a call to our office, the person who answers the phone will offer clear answers to your questions. Because hearing loss varies significantly between individuals, you can expect that some of your questions may not be able to be answered by the receptionist or office assistant.

Given the variability in hearing loss and technology options, questions about prices and models of hearing aids are extremely difficult to answer in a thorough and accurate manner over the telephone. In most cases, we are only able to give you precise answers after a personal consultation and a comprehensive hearing exam. In all cases, DigiCare hearing exams and consultations are always free.

When you decide to make an appointment at one of our DigiCare offices, please feel free to ask for driving directions if you are unsure of how to find the office (or click here for a map and directions). In addition to being open during regular business hours, we’d be more than happy to try to accommodate a special appointment time that fits into your schedule.

Step 2: Arriving for Your First Appointment

Look forward to a warm and friendly greeting by our DigiCare office staff. Even though you may feel a bit anxious about your appointment, we are certain that our office and staff will make you feel welcome. Our reception area is clean, organized and inviting with comfortable chairs. Each office has easy, close-in parking and is handicap accessible.

Our exceptional Counsellors and Technicians pride themselves in taking the time to get to know you as a person and in their meticulous attention to detail. Before you actually have your hearing test, there are a few steps you will need to go through with the help of our staff. These steps are necessary as they help us better understand your medical history and unique needs.

At your first visit, we ask that you complete a brief questionnaire about your hearing and related medical history. These forms are also designed to protect your privacy and inform you of your rights as a patient.

Educational materials (articles, videos, brochures) about hearing loss and treatment options are readily available in our reception area — as they are here on our website. Our library information is current and extensive with a wide-range of topics covered. Many of materials have been nationally and internationally published and were written by the founder of DigiCare — who himself has had a profound hearing loss since childhood.

Step 3: What to Expect During Your First Appointment – The Preliminary Interview

Your first visit to our office will be a combination of in-depth conversation with your DigiCare Auditory Rehabilitation Counsellor about your communication needs, along with objective medical-type tests that identify the extent of a possible hearing loss.

Together, you and your Counsellor will review your detailed medical case history in one of our testing rooms. Your Counsellor will ask you questions about your ears, hearing ability, current communication situation, any medications you take and any work or recreation-related noise to which you have been exposed.

Your Counsellor will provide information focusing on the underlying emotions, challenges and ramifications of adult hearing loss. You should feel free to express your thoughts about your hearing loss and communication without pressure or presumption.

Step 4: The Comprehensive Hearing Test and Evaluation

During your first visit, you will receive a thorough and detailed auditory assessment — a hearing test. There is never a charge for this exam.

Ear Inspection via Video Otoscopy

During the otoscopic portion of the hearing exam, you will be able to see your ear canal on a video monitor 

Have you ever seen the inside of your ears? If you are interested (and most people certainly are), here’s your chance. Prior to the auditory assessment, your Counsellor will do a thoroughly visual inspection of your ears, using an otoscope with an attached light. You will have the opportunity to see what we see. Most patients find the video otoscopoy very interesting and absolutely painless. During this exam, your Counsellor will be looking to spot anything unusual that might explain your hearing trouble, including signs of any medical conditions or wax build-up in your ears.

After inspecting the way your ears look, your DigiCare Counsellor will test how your ears work.

Pure-Tone Audiometry

The audiometry portion of the hearing exam includes listening for tones of various pitch and loudness

As part of the clinical protocol, your DigiCare Auditory Rehabilitation Counsellor will test your hearing in a sound treated area in order to gather an accurate and valid assessment. For this test, your DigiCare Counsellor will use a machine called an audiometer to play a series of tones through a set of comfortable headphones.

Hearing is about more than simply loud sounds and soft sounds. It also involves pitch or frequency. For example, consider the high-pitch trill of a metal whistle versus the low-pitch boom of a tuba. These tones vary in pitch (frequency, measured in hertz) as well as in loudness (intensity, measured in decibels).

During the test, your Counsellor will control the volume of a tone and reduce its loudness until you are no longer able to hear it. Next, the tone will get louder until you can hear it again. You will be asked to signal to your Counsellor, usually by raising your hand or a finger or simply indicating “yes”, every time you hear a tone. This routine will repeat several times, using a various-pitched tone each time. Both ears will be tested, each separately.

The results of your test will be graphically represented on what is called an audiogram. Your audiogram will show your hearing sensitivity for each ear at different frequencies and at the different intensities.

Bone Conductivity Test

The bone conductivity portion of the hearing exam bypasses the outer or middle ears, reaching the auditory nerve through vibration of the skull bones

This particular test measures how well your inner ear is working and is truly fascinating. To test the inner ear, which is made of bone, your Counsellor will place a special headband on the bone behind your ear. While you listen for the sounds — this time not through your ears, but rather through the bones in your head — you will signal with your hand or finger as you did before.

Tuning Fork Testing

During this portion of the hearing exam, a vibrating tuning fork will help determine if sound is heard equally loud in both ears

At DigiCare, our Counsellors are highly skilled in the art of tuning fork testing. A tuning fork is a metal, two-pronged device that when struck will vibrate at a set frequency, producing a specific tone. There are various tuning fork tests that help assess how well sound moves through the ear. In some tests, the tuning fork will be placed on your forehead or behind your ear; these tests are completely painless as well and your Counsellor will determine if tuning fork testing would be of benefit to your overall assessment.

Immediately following the comprehensive hearing exam, your Counsellor will review with you the battery of tests you’ve just completed in language that you understand. The explanation will include if you do or do not have a hearing loss, the type and degree of loss, and a summary of possible treatment options based on your testing results. Additionally, your Counsellor can provide information on the consequences of untreated hearing loss. You and your loved-one are encouraged to ask questions at any time.

Demonstration

Your DigiCare Counsellor may offer you a live demonstration of our digital hearing aids if appropriate for your hearing loss. This demonstration provides an accurate idea of what to expect from hearing aids.

DigiCare is a designated no pressure environment! You will never feel pressed to make an immediate decision or to buy. Be sure to freely ask any questions that will help you make an informed decision that you are comfortable with. If you decide not to pursue amplification at the end of the first appointment, we are happy to provide you with additional information for you to take home. You are welcome to take a copy of your testing results and your audiogram, if you wish to take them to your doctor or save them for your medical records.

Review of Hearing Aid Types, Models and Styles

Your DigiCare Counsellor will review in considerable detail the styles and features of modern hearing aids that are appropriate to your specific type and degree of hearing loss. Your Counsellor will review how hearing instruments can potentially benefit you in everyday listening situations that are important to you. Part of this review will include the advantages and disadvantages of each style and feature options in relation to your communication needs and lifestyle.

One or Two

Part of the discussion you may have with your DigiCare Counsellor will revolve around using one or two hearing aids. Generally speaking, if you have a hearing loss, research indicates that two hearing aids work better than only one. When you are fitted with two instruments it is called a binaural fitting. Your Counsellor will be able to review with you the advantages of a binaural fitting compared to a monaural (one ear only) fitting. In most instances, two ears are better than one and there is a significant amount of literature to substantiate that claim.  You can read more about this interesting topic in our Straight Answers from DigiCare section.

Financial Considerations

Our DigiCare staff will present to you clear and easy-to-understand pricing options as well as financing options, including our helpful and popular layaway option. Pricing varies by style and technology and according to your particular hearing amplification needs. Price differences will be explained to you clearly and thoroughly. If you decide to purchase hearing aids, our staff can help determine if you have insurance benefits that may reimburse you for part of the expense.

Step 5: Moving Forward

Ear Impressions

Mixing the specialty putty material to take ear impressions 

Should you decide to pursue hearing aids and depending on the type of hearing instrument that fits your needs, your DigiCare Counsellor may take a mold or cast of your ear. The mold-making procedure takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes and in few cases, may cause minimal discomfort.

The mold allows us to custom make any needed molded ear pieces and hearing aids at our Factory Direct location in Colorado City. We are absolutely unique in our ability to make these earmolds, refine and repair your hearing instruments on-site.

A small foam block is placed in the ear to act as a barrier for the impression material. After approximately 5 minutes, the putty will harden and will able to be gently extracted from the ear.  The impression will be used to make the final earmold on-site at our Factory Direct Lab. 
  

The DigiCare Counsellor who knows your particular needs and hearing profile will be communicating directly with the DigiCare Technician who will be custom building your hearing instrument.

Our special Factory Direct manufacturing process means that you receive your custom hearing aids in considerably less time and at a lower price. Our turn-around time is a matter of days rather than the weeks you’d find working with other hearing aid providers. We use the very best hearing technology available and pass our Factory Direct benefits onto you.

When you leave your appointment you should feel comfortable with DigiCare and your entire office experience. You should never feel rushed or hurried and you should always feel free to ask questions – even after you return home from your appointment.

Learn Even More:

• Once you've learned about the specifics of Your First Visit you may have an interest in learning more about Hearing Aids and our special E.A.R.S. Program.

DigiCare was started by Max S. Chartrand Ph.D., who has been profoundly deaf since the age of three. As he grew up in the isolation that deafness creates, our founder decided to devote his life to improving the lives of those with similar afflictions -- writing extensively on the topic, lecturing, training, and, of course, operating a hearing aid dispensary and factory.  In 2009 Tom and Tina Adams purchased DigiCare.

Our company's thoughtful understanding of the hard-of-hearing population, combined with our research and academic pursuits is at the heart of why DigiCare is different.

This difference is manifested in three major ways that we outline below.

First, DigiCare is acutely aware of, and trained in, the psychological and social aspects of hearing loss. These matters are often overlooked by our industry, which tends to focus on the features and functions of hearing aids.

As fantastic as the technology behind hearing aids is (and truly fantastic it is!), a victim of hearing loss will never be restored, to the degree possible, without more than this technology. The patient must also be educated, together with the family, of the psychology of hearing loss, teaching them what to expect along the way, and making them aware of the multitude of ways this condition has impacted their lives. 

Furthermore, it is critical to realize that this entire process cannot realistically occur within the 30-day trials offered traditionally in the hearing instrument field.  At DigiCare, we understand that a 30-day trial has little bearing on the journey our patients are about to travel.  It is from this perspective and understanding that we developed our exclusive E.A.R.S. program (Enhanced Auditory Rehabilitation System). While it is true that we dispense hearing aids, that is just one piece of the puzzle that must fit together with the E.A.R.S. rehabilitative process.

Subtle refinement of an earmold for a comfortable fit. On-site at our Factory Direct Lab  

Secondly, at DigiCare we know that all knowledge in the world would be wasted if it could not be delivered to the public in an affordable way. So, from the very founding of DigiCare we were determined to create a factory which would support the public directly. The factory-direct concept is well-known in the United States, as a way to purchase high-quality goods at greatly reduced prices. However, most ‘factory-direct’ outlets have become merely discount houses for old inventory that cannot be sold for retail prices. 

At DigiCare, our factory none of these things. Rather, it performs the function of building custom molds, shells, plugs, as well as in-house programming, repairing, assembly, trouble-shooting, and adjusting of our instruments. Typically, these services are performed in out-of-state facilities that never see a patient and have no ability to make the little, often subtle adjustments, that make the difference between success and failure. And, we can charge less for these services too.

Finally, we must make mention of our staff. We invest heavily in the education and training of our people, as it is only through them that the public is served. 

And their knowledge is a crucial element is our mission: Revitalizing, to the degree currently possible, those relationships, careers and general health that have been damaged by a loss of hearing and doing so affordably.

Learn Even More:

• We’ve selected an article from our DigiCare Library that you may find very helpful in learning more about hearing loss and its consequences:
  • The Search for Excellence: A Personal Narrative of Hearing Loss
• Once you've learned about the specifics of Why We're Different, you may have an interest in learning more about Who We Are and Your First Visit.

You may have seen that our motto is, “Enhancing the Rich Sounds of Life—Everyday!” Our motto was inspired by the passion our staff has for helping all those affected by a hearing loss, including patients and their family members and friends.  In their own words, our staff will tell you about their passion for what they do.  Please take a minute to get to know us. We’d like to get to know you, too.  As always, call or visit us, we’re “hear” to help!

Tom Adams, Owner

Tom speaking at a DigiCare community learning event for a local computer club

As a field of endeavor, I was particularly attracted to hearing rehabilitation because it can have such a dramatic affect on people’s lives.  I wanted to have a career that was really worthwhile and meaningful.  That’s why I couldn’t get excited about many other career choices. The opportunity to operate and guide a business that provides such demonstrable value to people’s lives was very attractive to me.  And, since I’ve been involved in this business, I’ve learned that hearing loss is even more devastating to people than I initially realized, and how liberating it is when we can restore even just a portion of what was lost.  In short, it is a very rewarding experience to me.  That’s what its all about!

Tina Adams, Owner

Tina working in the back office

Passion. That’s what it’s about. The passion of our staff to help others, the passion to continue to teach and educate others about the effects of hearing loss and to do all we can to help change lives. It is the passion of what we do that drives us forward. More importantly, it is the passion of my team that inspires me.

In my role of leadership for the company, I am an advisor, coach and cheerleader amongst other capacities. Moreover, as a part of DigiCare, we are all stewards and shepherds of our patients, as well as of our knowledge of how to help them. Our total approach? Communicative Wholeness. We achieve this by continuing to hone our knowledge-base and skills. Additionally, having our factory allows us to perform research and develop new technologies and protocols, thereby enhancing our patients’ experience. We know more today than we did yesterday, and we will know tomorrow than we do today. That’s the way a company should be — and we strive each day to make a difference in the lives of the people we touch.

Sure, I can tell you stories about the lives we change and the difference we make. But, until you experience them for yourself, they will remain just that - stories.

I extend an invitation to you to get to know us — we love to help!

Jeremy

Jeremy explaining our E.A.R.S. rehabilitation program

The ability to help someone who has lost a vital part of their enjoyment of life is what I love about what I do at DigiCare. To be able to help our friends (really, patients who become our friends) in a friendly, family-like atmosphere where trust and confidence is the basis of all relationships is very rewarding. It is important to have a strong and knowledgeable staff ready, willing and able to ensure that when a patient  leaves, they leave feeling confident and with a smile.  When they return, they come back to friends that are always willing to help with whatever questions or difficulties they may be experiencing. Every day I teach people that hearing is much, much more than putting a medical device on or in their ear. It comes down to the care and understanding that I can give to our patients that helps them regain their enjoyment of life.

Sherrie

Sherry at a hearing screening event with our portable testing booth in the background

I love the idea of helping people get their lives back to the way they used to be.  It is always nice to see these people out in public with a smile on their face and participating in a conversation with a group.  I love how they are always happy to see us.  We treat them just like they are our family.  I enjoy interacting with our patients and their families and helping them with their problems, concerns, and feelings.  It has been my experience that if you talk to them and find out about their lives, our patients will open up about things that are bothering them, so that you can better help them.  My goal is to make each patient feel like they are the most important person in the world and what they have to say matters - because it does.

Melody

Melody building a hearing instrument in the lab

I like that our staff works as a team and always aims to do what is best for the patient. Because of our teamwork, we learn from each other. When we have a challenge, we look for the solution together and find out, that together, we can just about solve whatever problem is before us.

John

John helping with earphones

I love the excitement and smiles on our patients faces when they begin to regain some of their lost hearing.  Comments from patients such as, “I can hear the crickets that my wife can’t even hear” or “The phone rang at work while I was in the back room and I was the only one that could hear it ringing” make my day.

Lynn

Lynn checking in attendees at a DigiCare learning event

DigiCare gave my husband back his enjoyment of hearing his music and the sounds of nature. Our conversations no longer turn in to a screaming match or accusations of ‘you never listen to me.’ Peace and harmony have returned to our marriage. It is wonderful! Once I discovered that DigiCare offers headphones for the TV, I could not wait to buy a set and bring them home. We watch TV programs and movies together again. The volume is set for my hearing comfort and he has his headphones. I can even mute the TV to study, while the headphones stay functional for him.  Alas, he no longer has an excuse to ignore me.  No more ‘I didn’t hear you’ when I ask him to take out the trash! Now that I work at DigiCare, I am able to be a part of helping people just like my husband and me every day.

Jeannie

Jeannie at a community hearing screening event

I have been blessed to work with some of the best professionals in the industry. Beyond that, I have met people, patients - each with their own unique story, character and personality, who have turned out to be the most wonderful people I have met in my life. With that said, each of our patients inspires me in one way or another.

I often think about why our patients choose us when others around us also offer hearing aids. The fact is, our patients trust us. They count on us. They come to us for our professional service. Our patients need someone to teach them how to hear again and how to make the best of what they have. Some need help with ringing in the ears. They need devices to help them hear in noisy listening situations, or to hear the television, on the telephone or even to hear the alarm clock to wake up in the morning. Some need encouragement to begin the journey back into the "hearing world." Others simply need to be cheered on when the going gets tough. We have been there every step of the way… and then some!

More often than not, our patients leave us with success stories both big and small. They need our help to understand how health problems affect their hearing health and how poor hearing affects their memory. It is interesting that people come to us to help correct hearing but leave us as better listeners.  Again, filling a thousand gaps that few others, if any, fill is the story of DigiCare and why I am here.

David

David at his microscope in the manufacturing and repair lab in Colorado City

In 1995, I started my career as a Sound Engineer. Starting at that time, I had been involved with various companies, each with the similar goal of helping people hear their very best as it relates to sound engineering. At each of those particular jobs, this goal was only appropriate for individuals who could hear within the normal ranges.  In time however, I discovered that almost 50% of the population does not hear natural sound in those normal ranges.

As I started my new adventure working at Digicare in 2003, I found an entire new reason to be involved with those that have experienced some type of hearing loss. I felt immediately driven to help the hard-of-hearing people in this world. For the first time, I knew my purpose in life. I knew what God had in store for me, blessing me with skills to help the hard-of-hearing with my keen diagnostic ear, which is both naturally acute and well-sharpened through education and training.  As I continued to learn and hone my skills, I grew even more passionate in helping those that have been affected by a hearing loss.

Many times I see in a new patient that hearing problems unfortunately compound the troubles in other problem area of their life. Sometimes, so much so, that the turmoil makes some people feel at the point of no return. These patients give us the opportunity to help them and, in turn, they help themselves. When I see this, I am so grateful to be of service to our patients. I feel it is my mission to serve them, knowing that improved hearing is a key to regaining their quality of life.

Bill

Bill starting a new, custom earmold from a patient's ear impression

While I might not meet you personally, every day I build custom ear-molds and shells and have done so for many years. My background is in art, doing illustration, design, and print.  I was amazed to find how much I love doing this work!  I enjoy the work and the process of creating the variety of ear-molds and shells.  Ear impressions are distinct to each patient.  Like a fingerprint, no two are alike, even varying markedly between the two ears. It takes practice, expertise and an artist’s eye for what I do. Because each job is so unique, my work never becomes monotonous or routine.  I enjoy the surprise of what a day might bring.  My job is to make every effort to give each patient the most comfort and best fit possible.  All of our staff is sincerely dedicated to delivering the best product, and they know how to do it with a smile.  My co-workers and the positive atmosphere at DigiCare make a great place to work.

Hearing is THE primary way we connect to our environment and maintain our relationships. The other senses help, but hearing is central to our conscious interaction with the world. It is because of this profoundly important function that our ears, including all the internal mechanisms and organs, is among the body's most sophisticated systems of all. One researcher put it this way: ʻthe human auditory system is ten times more sensitive than any other system…if the eyes were able to see at the level of sensitivity with which the ears can hear, we would be able to see bacteria!ʼ

Therefore, a loss of hearing, whether mild or profound, has far-reaching effects on relationships, careers and mental health. Its ramifications can be devastating. It is this devastation that defines our mission. That mission is:

Revitalizing, to the degree currently possible, those relationships, careers and general health that have been damaged by a loss of hearing. We must do this affordably.

We execute our mission with a multi-faceted approach.

• First, we provide thorough and personal evaluations to create a course of action. This starts with our free hearing test which is the gateway for all that follows. A course of action may include fitting of hearing instruments, recommendations for assistive devices, hearing protection, nutritional supplements, counseling sessions for family members, or referrals to other medical professionals.
• Secondly, we educate our communities through seminars, health fairs, lectures and on- site hearing screenings. We seek to educate people to the highest level their interest requires. We believe that through education, people can truly take control of their own hearing health concerns. So, we are always seeking opportunities to present hearing- related topics to people and organizations in our communities who want to learn.
• Finally, we conduct our own research to improve our profession's understanding of the causes and remedies for hearing loss. This research includes evaluation of new technologies coming on the market, and assessing our own patient's success's to see what is effective and repeatable. This research is shared with our colleagues through publications and seminars.

To make all this affordable, we created our own hearing aid factory with a staff of technicians in Colorado City, just south of Pueblo. This allows us to pass on savings to our patients. We provide these hearing instruments to a nationwide network of dispensers in addition to our own dispensers in Colorado City, La Junta, Trinidad and Lamar. This all adds up to very favorable pricing for all concerned.

Tom and Tina Adams
Owners, DigiCare Hearing Solutions, Inc.

DigiCare Hearing Solutions is locally owned by Tom and Tina Adams. They acquired the business in 2009 with the intent to continue and enhance its mission. They bring to the business a commitment to integrity and a devotion to the well-being of patients whose lives have been touched DigiCare over the years.

Learn Even More:

• We’ve selected an article from our DigiCare Hearing Health Library that you may find very helpful in learning more about hearing loss and its consequences:
  
  Aural Rehabilitation: Some Personal and Professional Reflections
• Once you've learned about the specifics of Who We Are & What We Do, you may have an interest in learning more about our resources for Family Members & Friends and information on Updating Your Hearing Test.

Summary:

Few of us think twice about the importance of regular eye and dental exams. The routine of an annual hearing test and check-up should be no different. 

Learn About:

• Why is it so important to have a routine hearing test?
• Benefits of keeping current with your check-ups
• Who should establish an annual hearing test routine?

Why is it so important to have a routine hearing test?

A DigiCare Counsellors at the controls of an audiometer during a hearing evaluation.  

A regular check-up allows your DigiCare Auditory Rehabilitation Counsellor to determine if you have any developing hearing issues. As you can well imagine, leaving a hearing loss or a hearing condition undiagnosed and untreated can make it more difficult to deal with in the future. It’s best to deal with any issues early, or, if at all possible, prevent them altogether.

It is very common for people to suffer unknowingly from hearing impairment. Many times the loss is so gradual the person experiencing it does not notice until the condition has progressed to the point of creating serious lifestyle challenges and being obvious to the people around them.

Benefits of keeping current with your check-ups:

• Comparing your up-to-date results to your previous audiogram

• Monitoring and anticipating any progression of hearing loss

• Analyzing and fine tuning your hearing aids to your current hearing profile

• Studying the continued effectiveness of your hearing instruments

• Helping with any questions you may have

• Providing a refresher on the habits of good hearing health

• Reviewing your full case history and helping identify any lifestyle or pharmaceutical contributors that might be having a negative effect on your hearing health. At DigiCare, we’re able to help identify any ototoxic medications you may be taking, in order that you may better discuss these prescription with your physician. In many cases, the benefits of certain medications may indeed outweigh the risk to your hearing health. However, let’s err on the side of caution, review your situation and involve your physician in the discussion.

Remember: Family doctors frequently overlook the hearing health component in the quiet of the exam room.

Taking time for a comprehensive hearing test and evaluation at DigiCare is the first step in successful management of any current problems.  Our hearing tests are always free and appointments are easy to schedule.  Please call or email to get started.

Who should establish an annual hearing test routine?

• Any person who currently wears hearing aids
• Any person who currently owns hearing aids but does not wear them
• Any person who suspect a hearing loss or problem
• Any person who has trouble understanding conversations at work, in restaurants or on the telephone
• Any person who is experiencing trouble understanding certain people or certain types of voices, such as the higher pitch voices of women and children
• Any person who has a family history of hearing loss
• Any person who is or has been exposed to loud noises during work or recreation

Learn Even More:

• After reading about the importance of routine hearing test check-ups, you may have an interest in learning more about what happens during our comprehensive hearing test and evaluation.
• Do you have specific questions we can help answer?  Please feel free to call or email us.

Summary:

Enhancing the Rich Sounds of Life takes an active partnership between you, your family members and DigiCare to assure your hearing technology is best optimized for your unique hearing loss. Your choice of hearing aids from DigiCare is the first step in a successful hearing improvement journey. Our DigiCare-designed Enhanced Auditory Rehabilitation System (E.A.R.S.) is a fundamental element of this journey.

Learn About:

• Our E.A.R.S. Program
• Communication
• Expectations
• Patience and Persistence
• A Positive Attitude and Finding the Best Hearing Aid for You

Hearing Aids are Fit Prescriptively. This means that the loudness and other characteristics of the hearing aid is determined by a thoroughly researched formula incorporating your individual test results that are entered into a computer on-site at your DigiCare office. This prescriptive formula has been shown to be a reasonable starting point for the vast majority of hearing aid users.

What follows is what makes DigiCare truly different — our E.A.R.S. program.

With new hearing aids, you may hear sounds you've not have heard for a very long time and you've missed -- bird songs, the high-pitched voices of children and loved ones. Other sounds to become reacquainted with may be those that enhance your safety and the general knowledge of what is happening in the world around you -- the sound of footsteps and the “knock” of a car engine, for example.

Hearing aids cannot make you a more effective listener. Research has shown that auditory training exercises are extremely beneficial at getting the most out of your new hearing aids.

Through your participation in the DigiCare E.A.R.S. program, you will be learning hearing and communication exercises, as well as strategies for optimized use of your hearing aids.

Our E.A.R.S. program is built upon:

• Hearing Aid Counseling
• Extensive Auditory Rehabilitation
• Personalized Wearing Schedule for Brain Acclimatization
• Communication Strategies
• Effective Listening Strategies
• Suggestions for Assistive Listening Devices for Your Needs
• One-on-One Care and Maintenance Review

Your loved one is always encouraged to partake in these personalize rehabilitation appointments.

Communication

It is very important that you become an active participant in the success of the hearing aid fitting process.

In partnering with DigiCare this means:  We encourage you to freely and proactively communicate on an ongoing basis with us regarding needs, wants, desires, expectations and even any disappointments.

Some people give up without really trying and place their hearing aids in the drawer. This is the last thing we want! Passive participation is the road to failure. We strive for you to derive the maximum benefit possible from your hearing instruments given your degree of hearing loss. 

Expectations

It is vital that you have realistic expectations of the benefits of your hearing aids to avoid disappointment. One should not form expectations of the ability to hear based on the experience of a friend. Remember, no two hearing losses are the same. Also, do not expect someone else’s hearing aids to work for you. Would you wear their eyeglasses and decide whether you can be helped by glasses based on this experience?

At DigiCare, we believe that you will have a more fulfilling hearing aid experience if you dig deeper to comprehend the impact your hearing loss has had on your life emotionally, behaviorally, mentally and socially. We encourage you to write these thoughts and comments down in a journal of your experiences, as your notes will become part of the roadmap for both you and your DigiCare Counsellor.

As always, if you need more information, feel free to ask. Some people want highly technical information about hearing loss and hearing aid systems.  Others feel comfortable with a brief overview of hearing aids and their function. At DigiCare, we will be happy you asked and will give you information such as consumer literature, data sheets, brochures, videotapes and other types of instructional materials. Ask for clarification if you need it. Many complex concepts can be explained in an uncomplicated way.

Patience and Persistence

Programming and fine-tuning new hearing aids at our Factory Direct Lab

Remember that it takes time to get used to hearing aids, especially if you’re a new wearer. Keep in mind that background noise is almost always part of your environment, and adjustment to it is required. In time, you will tune out many of these everyday sounds. It’s important not to become disappointed or frustrated while your brain begins to adjust - readjust, in fact -  to a whole new world of sound.

If you’re an experienced wearer trying new hearing aids, understand that they might not sound like your old ones. Before you reject them, allow your body’s neural hook-ups in the auditory system to adapt to these new sounds.

A Positive Attitude in Finding the Best Hearing Aid for You

The most important personality trait that one could possess is a positive attitude, not just toward the process of obtaining hearing aids, but toward life in general. Motivation is a key to success in finding the best hearing aid. This means a willingness to try hearing aids, adapt to new solutions, and keep frustration at a minimum when obstacles arise. If you view your circumstances as beyond your control, there’s a higher probability that you’ll be less successful in adapting to change, including hearing aid use.

Hearing aid studies have shown that people who have a positive outlook on life do better with hearing aids. They have a positive self-image and believe they’re in control of their own life. Our recommendation is take charge, use the DigiCare tools at your disposal and be determined to improve the quality of your life with today’s modern hearing instruments.

Learn Even More:

• We’ve selected an article from our DigiCare Library that you may find very helpful in learning more about hearing rehabilitation:
  • Aural Rehabilitation: Some Personal and Professional Reflections
• You may have an interest in learning more about some real-world auditory exercises that are part of our E.A.R.S. program in our E.A.R.S. in Action section.

Today’s advanced programmable hearing aid technology means that your DigiCare Team is able to adjust your hearing instruments to your specific hearing loss with more precision than ever before.  We're also at the ready to guide you through Easy At-Home Fixes, as well as routine Hearing Aid Care & Maintenance.

The Basics: How Hearing Aids Work

Programming and fine-tuning a hearing aid to a patient's hearing evaluation results, the audiogram

Consider the word “map.” Our DigiCare Technicians can program a hearing aid to give less amplification to the lower pitched part of the word, “ma,” and provide an extra boost in the higher pitched “p,” to allow a user to distinguish the word “map” from the word “math.” Speech is understood more clearly without having to increase the overall volume just to hear the faint sound of the letter “p.”

While the processing of modern hearing aids is complex, and computer programming is required to make these adjustments, the basic components that make hearing instruments work is as follows:

A close-up look at the circuitry of a DigiCare-made hearing aid

Sound waves enter through the microphone, which converts acoustic signals into electrical signals. The amplifier increases the strength of the electrical signal. From the amplifier, the signal is then transformed back to an acoustic signal by the receiver (a miniature loud speaker). From the receiver the signal is channeled into the ear canal, either through a small tube or through an earmold. A battery is required to power the hearing aid and enable the amplification process. Many hearing aids also have user controls (e.g. toggle switch, volume control wheel, push button, or remote control) that enable the wearer to adjust a variety of hearing aid parameters.

Your DigiCare Auditory Rehabilitation Counsellor will determine the most appropriate hearing instrument that fits your needs, balancing:

• Your hearing profile, as determined by your comprehensive DigiCare hearing test
• Your particular lifestyle needs
• Your comfort level with a hearing instrument’s particular features and functions

Your DigiCare Counsellor will review with you the advantages and disadvantages of the various features and styles of hearing aids in relation to your specific communication needs and lifestyle.

If you would like to schedule and appointment at one of our 4 Southern Colorado offices, please call or email. Our comprehensive hearing evaluation and test is always free and easy to schedule.

Learn Even More:

• You may have an interest in learning more about Hearing Aid Care & Maintenance, as well as Easy At-Home Fixes.

Summary:

In most cases, we’ve found that something can indeed be done for those with tinnitus -- a prevalent and many-times disturbing condition commonly described as "ringing in the ears." Our DigiCare team choreographs and systematizes lifestyle, medical and auditory efforts, helping identify potential contributors, recommending appropriate hearing instruments where applicable, counseling on helpful assistive devises and strategizing personalized biofeedback training. In-depth information follows.

Learn About:

• What is Tinnitus?
• How Many People Suffer From Tinnitus?
• What are the Causes?
• Our DigiCare Tinnitus Management Program
• Hearing Aids and Tinnitus Management
• What Next?
• A Tinnitus Case Study

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is an abnormal perception of sound that is unrelated to an external source of stimulation. It has been described as Phantom Auditory Perception and, in some ways, shares similarities with amputees who experience painful sensations from missing appendages.

Tinnitus may:

• Be intermittent, constant or fluctuant
• Be mild to severe
• Vary from a low roaring sensation to a high pitched type of sound
• Be perceived as very soft to extremely loud
• Be present in one or both ears

Tinnitus is often referred to as “ringing in the ears,” although some people hear hissing, roaring, whistling, chirping, or clicking. Suffers may have single or multiple types of tones.

Tinnitus is the body’s way of telling us that something is wrong, including acoustic trauma, disease, obstruction, allergy or hearing loss.

By far the most common of the permanent types of tinnitus is called functional or subjective tinnitus, or that which can only be heard by the sufferer. This type of tinnitus is common with some estimates indicating that 95% of cases are of this type. In such cases, the problem usually lies in the delicate inner ear region or even further up into the central auditory pathways.

The other 5% of tinnitus cases are of the type called structural or objective tinnitus.  The sounds of this type of tinnitus can literally be heard by others by means of a probe mic and amplifier.  This type of tinnitus may, in some cases, be treated medically. 

How Many People Suffer From Tinnitus?

Unfortunately, tinnitus is a significant and very common disorder. Approximately 50 million Americans experience the condition to some degree. Recent studies by the American Tinnitus Association (ATA) indicate that up to 25% of the U.S. population experiences some degree of tinnitus, either of an intermittent or constant nature.

Of these some 50 million Americans, about 12 million have tinnitus which is severe enough to seek medical attention. Of those, about two million patients are so seriously debilitated, they cannot function on a “normal,” day-to-day basis.

Patients experiencing severe chronic tinnitus have many characteristics in common with patients suffering from chronic pain. Furthermore, there is a strong correlation between tinnitus severity and a patient’s degree of sleep disturbance, insomnia, anxiety and depression. The symptoms can form a vicious cycle, exacerbating one another.

What are the Causes?

Tinnitus is a symptom of an underlying problem and not a disease in and of itself. Experience tells us that most sufferers of long-term tinnitus exhibit three major causal factors:

• Auditory Contributors:  The most common cause of tinnitus is exposure to excessively loud noise either a single intense event (acoustic trauma) or long-term noise exposure. Age-related hearing deterioration, or Presbycusis is also a common cause.

• Medical Contributors:  Many times, these contributors are unresolved or unrecognized disease or injury. They include: food and inhalant allergies, physical trauma to the head or neck, conditions such as hypertension, ear infection, impacted cerumen, reaction to ototoxic drugs & chemicals, thyroid disease, vascular disorders, TMJ disorder, nutritional deficiency, aneurysm, multiple sclerosis, and many others. Prescription and over-the-counter drugs may exacerbate tinnitus.

• Lifestyle Contributors:  These are casual factors over which only the patient has control. These include obvious dietary and lifestyle contributors, such as smoking, caffeine and high sodium intake, MSG, etc. Also critical, these contributors include lesser recognized factors including dehydration, lack of sleep and stress. In the quest for relief from tinnitus, these contributing factors cannot be ignored. The quest for tinnitus relief is also the quest for excellent overall health.

Our DigiCare Tinnitus Management Program – a Multimodal Approach

First and foremost, rest assured that tinnitus is not “just your imagination,” as some might suggest. The noises the keep you awake and add stress to your life, are just as real and annoying as the static produced on a radio tuned between two stations, a cricket caught behind your couch or a siren that wails all through the night.

Just as frustrating are the many dubious claims of a cure for tinnitus, as if it were one singular condition. In any event, patients we see for the first time nearly always report tremendous frustration and discouragement from searching for reliable answers and professionals who truly care about their particular problem.

Perhaps you’ve been told you must learn to live with the tinnitus or that there’s nothing that can be done to help.  At DigiCare, we do not agree!

Over the last decade, DigiCare has studied and compiled a vast amount of information on tinnitus. We’ve gleaned information from studies undertaken all over the world, and have worked with thousands of tinnitus sufferers nationwide conducting our own research.

As a result, we’ve been fortunate in developing proven assessment and treatment protocols in achieving realistic outcomes for the management of tinnitus. In most cases, we’ve found that something can indeed be done, through an in-depth review of:

• Factors in your control
• Factors within your physician’s control
• Factors within DigiCare’s control
• And most effectively, a well-balanced, well-strategized combination of all three

At DigiCare, we begin with a formal hearing and tinnitus assessment, including:

• A thorough case history
• Comprehensive hearing evaluation, tests and analysis
• Video otoscopy biomarker investigation
• Tinnitus pitch and loudness matching
• A complete evaluation of your auditory status

Our DigiCare Multimodal Tinnitus Management Program utilizes time-tested principles from various schools of thought and models of tinnitus therapy, customized to your particular tinnitus profile and needs. Careful review of any auditory, lifestyle and medical contributors is critical.

Additional tinnitus management tools may include:

• Hearing aid fitting
• Noise masking and combination devices
• Nutritional changes and supplements
• Various types of therapy and retraining, as appropriate

Each Management Program is tailored specifically to your needs. For more information or answers to specific questions, please do not hesitate to call or email us. 

Hearing Aids and Tinnitus Care

Hearing loss is a co-existing condition for 90% of individuals who have tinnitus. For hearing-impaired patients who meet criteria for amplification, part of our tinnitus management program involves wearing hearing aids or a tinnitus masker.  

Through the use of hearing aid amplification, a combination of low-level, broadband noise is used to achieve the habituation of tinnitus to the point that the patient is no longer aware of their tinnitus, except when they focus their attention on it.  Through this important tinnitus management model, hearing aids become, in essence, a sound therapy tool. 

What Next?

• Call or email to make an appointment with one of our excellent DigiCare Auditory Rehabilitation Counsellors.

• Complete the DigiCare Tinnitus Questionnaire provided by our office.

• Bring a list of any medications, vitamins and minerals you are taking. Include dosage levels and your primary care physician’s name, address and phone number.

• Bring a brief statement regarding your tinnitus complaint and how it is affecting your life. It can be helpful to jot down notes during the days leading up to your appointment, outlining and recording observations of your day-to-day tinnitus experience.

• Invite observational input from your spouse or loved-ones. We would like as detailed a description as possible about your tinnitus. We also request that your spouse or loved-one accompanies you on your appointment.

• Bring copies of any previous audiograms (hearing test results).

• Bring hearing aid(s) or other assistive devices you may be using or have used in the past.

A Tinnitus Case Study

Q. Dear Dr. Chartrand:

I am 69 years old and have a loud ringing in my ears. I’ve had so many medical tests, including CAT scans and the doctors can find nothing wrong. Why is it that something so disturbing and disruptive to one’s life remains a mystery to the medical profession?

Mr. R. A.

A. Dear Mr. R.A.:

The short answer to your question is that tinnitus (noises in the ear) is not a singular condition, but varies significantly from individual to individual. However, your doctor should have referred you for a complete hearing test to determine if there could be a correlation between the tinnitus and an uncorrected hearing loss. In most cases, the proper fitting and programming of a hearing aid is the most effective remedy of all.

Beginning in 2002, our DigiCare practice began a Tinnitus & Amplification Study, from which we are continually developing “best practice models” for both the medical and audiology professions.

Since our study design may be of benefit in “mystery cases” such as yours, I will outline the program here:

1. General medical and health history, including available clinical tests, are profiled. In cases where ototoxic medications or pharmacological contraindications appear, we will refer you to your primary care physician for a follow-up review.
2. Video otoscopy and hearing health history are administered. In this, certain physiological landmarks are observed in light of FDA Red Flag conditions. Again, referral may be warranted.
3. Nutrition, stress and hydration issues are reviewed as well. Certain foods and substances have been identified in past research as contributive to tinnitus, balance, and deafness.
4. A complete analysis of your tinnitus (frequency band, intensity, and correlative factors) is made, along with a battery of tests to determine effects of masking, residual inhibition, and auditory reattention.
5. A complete battery of audiometric tests are then given to determine degree and nature of any existing hearing loss, along with an assessment for amplification.
6. Follow-up of each of the above is conducted over a 6-8 month period, including hearing aid programming, auditory rehabilitation counseling, and reassessment of tinnitus.

There is a great deal of detail in the study not covered here. But early reports of the effort look very promising with some dramatic results being reported from most participants. But the overriding benefit that has appeared so far is the increasing awareness among health professionals and patients alike that tinnitus does not have to remain a mystery, that there are indeed viable solutions, if applied individually and thoughtfully that can make a difference.

Max S. Chartrand Ph.D.

Learn Even More:

• We’ve selected articles from our DigiCare Library that you may find very helpful in learning more about tinnitus:
  • DigiCare Tinnitus and Amplification Study (2002)
  • Nutritional Effects Upon Tinnitus: A Friendly Discussion
  • Tinnitus: It Has a Certain Ring to It
• Once you've learned about the specifics of our DigiCare Tinnitus Program, you may have an interest in learning more about Straight Answers from DigiCare.

By Max S. Chartrand, M.A.,

DigiCare Hearing Research & Rehabiliation

INTRODUCTION

In the typical hearing health case history, we ask patients about prior medical history, medications, supplements and dosages, even such items as tobacco and alcohol consumption, all of which can have a profound effect on hearing health states. We ascertain current medical care, and attempt to determine psychosocial and special factors that may contribute to stress levels of an individual patient. Communicative performance and communication breakdown information are routine, as are prior amplification history (if any), and other oto-related data are gathered.

Sleep deprivation, unless brought up accidentally, however, is generally passed over, though recent research findings indicate that such information could provide an important piece of the larger auditory remediation puzzle. The purpose of this monograph is to cover some of the highlights on the possible effects of sleep deprivation on auditory rehabilitation found in the literature and in research.

A key word here is "chronic", or the repeated loss of needed sleep in humans to maintain normal cognitive and physical function. Another keyword is "cognitive function", for communication and cognition share similar, if not significantly overlapping, functions in the brain, and in behavior.

HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?

Most adults require a minimum of eight hours of sleep for normal cognitive function. Others can function well on 7 hours, while yet others may require 9 hours. Of courser, this estimate is assuming a state of restful sleep, complete with a requisite period of rapid eye movement (REM). This would not include most artificially induced sleep, depending on the waking side effects of the medication.

Some adults, depending on metabolic factors, may perform well on slightly less. However, veritable rules of neurophysiology actually vary little from person to person. In other words, the minimum amount of sleep one individual's body requires to rest neuronal activity compared to another individual is not as large as we might see in practice. And, since auditory rehabilitation involves a process of neural "rewiring", lack of sleep only slows or prevents such activity.

Today, there appears to be a societal underestimation of the need for a specified amount of quality sleep in the maintenance of good health and longevity, personal preferences or perceptions notwithstanding. This brings our discussion to a review of possible deleterious effects of sleep deprivation upon one's communication and cognitive ability. In doing so, we will frame the discussion primarily within the auditory rehabilitative framework, for suffice to say here that sleep deprivation is the enemy of effective auditory rehabilitation.

Brain Neuroplasticity Requires Sleep For Maintenance & Repair

Today, we know from conclusive research on brain neuroplasticity that there is actually a physiological "rewiring" process required for one to adapt to a new acoustic format (i.e., new hearing aids). The time required for the rewiring process varies from individual to individual, but is generally a period of about 90-120 days for post-linguistic hearing aid users and up to 2 years for pre- and peri-linguistic cochlear implant users. Much depends upon when the hearing loss occurred, and possible distortions from subsequent yet misapplied amplification. So, that even an experienced hearing aid user changing to a new amplification strategy may require that same 90-120 days to adapt to a new hearing program.

An important point relevant to our discussion here is that while "learning" occurs during mostly during waking hours of use, the actual permanent "rewiring" takes place while the neurons of the brain are at rest. When neurons do not receive the requisite amount of rest, they simply fatigue and fail to make the expected changes.

Another related point is that as hearing ability declines, whole sections of neurons in the auditory cortex become "reassigned" to other tasks (some may simply lay dormant, however). Those other tasks may be in producing the bothersome tinnitus (ringing in the ears, occurring most predominantly at the frequencies being lost over time, in cases of cochlear-based tinnitus). Hence, the author and colleagues have long noted that as hearing declines, and subsequent amplification fails to "cover" its range, that the tinnitus continues to get louder and louder to the sufferer. On the other hand, the greatest relief seems to be found when wide range amplification (with an F2 of 8KHz or above) reactivates cortical areas of the brain with restoration of high frequency stimulation over time. One popular therapy used for this today is called "Tinnitus Retraining Therapy" (TRT) by Drs. Jastreboff and Hazell. At DigiCare Hearing Research & Rehabilitation we utilize three basic circuit strategies to achieve optimum benefit:

1. 100Hz-8,000Hz,
2. 50-10,000 Hz,
3. 50-16,000Hz.

It just so happens that patients also enjoy superior spatial separation, improved speech in noise, less required gain-to-comfort level and better speech discrimination ability in these formats. But if the needed sleep is not realized, "habituation" of the "reassigned" cortical territory and, ultimately, auditory rehabilitation may simply fail to occur. Hence, adequate and quality sleep contribute to the rehabilitative process.

Optimum Language Processing Requires a Rested Neurological System

Sleep deprivation, in the context of language comprehension, would show up in two ways:

1) Reduced RECEPTIVE (heard, understood) communication, and

2) Reduced EXPESSIVE (spoken) communication

Without adequate sleep, the brain tends to go into a state similar to that of dyslexia, where rapid speech sounds faster than, let's say 200 milliseconds, are not perceived (understood) by the listener. This level of performance would significantly lower both sentence recognition scores and monosyllabic speech discrimination. How many times have both patients and professionals become frustrated in trying to adjust hearing aid circuits to overcome this kind of problem? A rested mind is simply requisite for optimum speech understanding. (The reader should also keep in mind that certain psychotropic drugs could also induce a similar "dyslexic" state at the receptive level of hearing.

Expressive communication, similarly, is markedly affected by sleep deprivation, but from a motor command point of view. In this case, slurred, stuttered, and/or repetitive speech is produced, with the as well as higher brain functions, such as judgment, logic, and impulse control (in the limbic system). Add deterioration of visual/auditory association, and finally depression occurs.

Speaking of the addition of the side effects of some psychotropic medication to a sleep deprivation problem, it is important to note that without auditory remediation in cases where hearing impairment exists, it is almost certain that diagnoses of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Bipolar will be over-diagnoses. Without auditory rehabilitation intervention in cases where hearing loss exists, the prognostic outlook is indeed bleak.

Discussion

Some people think they can train their bodies to go without the required amount of sleep, but something they cannot do is regenerate the body and brain in less time than is required. In fact, attempting to do so only adds to stress levels, increasing the need for even more sleep time. Behavior, especially lack of impulse control and depression, changes with chronic sleep deprivation. The "quiet readiness" of the cerebral cortex, our 24-hour radar system tied to audition particularly is disrupted, and plunges the readiness state to the lower brain level of the Amygdala where fear, anger, and anxiety are subconsciously incited.

Mathematics problem solving and abstract logic are impaired at the parietal lobes of the left hemisphere in sleep-deprived individuals. Likewise, a tiny portion of the spatial locating memory in the right hemisphere can cause disorientation in finding one's way around otherwise familiar territory. Sleep deprived individuals especially have difficulty coping with emergency situations where fast reaction times are crucial. Complexities in life in general become a quagmire of confusion, while short periods of "micro-sleep" force its way onto sufferers, causing more accidents and costly mistakes.

The immune system weakened in sleep deprivation, and white blood cell activity decreases. Growth and other needed hormones begin shutting down, the ability to metabolize sugar declines, causing sugar to turn to fat. The ultimate affect of chronic sleep deprivation is early death in all cases.

Sleep deprivation is a serious issue that should be considered in cases of auditory rehabilitation. Its presence should be notated in case histories, and appropriate counseling and/or referral be made.

For more information on sleep deprivation and its possible effects upon your communicative rehabilitative progress, "contact us" at www.digicare.org.

Summary:

Hearing loss is considered to be the most pervasive yet least treated health condition of all physical handicaps in the United States. What is hearing loss and what are the causes?

Learn About:

• The Challenges of Hearing Loss
• Sensorineural Hearing Loss
• Noise Induced Hearing Loss
• Tinnitus & Hearing Loss
• Conductive Hearing Loss
• Central Auditory Deficit

Fact: Unmitigated hearing loss is one of the most common causes of depression and isolation in older Americans.

Fact: Symptoms of uncorrected hearing loss may mimic outward behavior characteristics of early-onset Alzheimer’s. Only a team that includes both hearing and medical professionals can ascertain the symptom components that overlay one another.

Fact: Artificial control of hypertension can lead to constriction of the microcirculatory system that feeds the inner ear, contributing to hearing loss.

The Challenges of Hearing Loss:

• The breaking of bonds in personal relationships
• Poor or difficult-to-attain academic achievement
• Diminishing ambitions
• Failing income
• A host of language and cognitive disorders

Yet, when presented with these medical and behavioral symptoms, the last place some astute health professionals will explore is the hearing health state of the individual.

What is Hearing Loss and What are the Causes?

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

This type of loss involves the inner ear and constitutes at least 90% of all losses. It is characterized by damage or deterioration of the ears’ delicate hair cells, ganglia or neural fibers and/or the supportive structure of the inner ear. Sensorineural hearing loss is predominant among older adults, especially in the form of presbycusis or hearing loss associated with aging. It is rare in children. This type of loss is commonly caused by noise exposure (and commonly referred to as NIHL or Noise Induced Hearing Loss), ototoxicity or damaging exposure to certain medications and/or chemicals or by disease.

More on Noise Induced Hearing Loss

Fact: Noise-induced damage to the delicate, inner hair cells is the cause of most hearing loss. 

Loud, high-decibel sound above 140 db. and some serious infections will harm the ear’s hair cells. Once damaged, the hair cells lose the ability to transmit sound to the brain and cannot be replaced or regenerate. At birth, a healthy ear has approximately 3500 of these hairs; loss of a few can make a substantial difference in our hearing capacity.

Noise-induced hearing loss can result from a single exposure to an extremely loud sound such as a gunshot. It can also occur as a result of repeated exposure to loud sounds over time.

Prevention of NIHL is absolutely critical

• Carry ear plugs & don’t be shy about using them.
• Noisy machinery, loud music, impromptu motorcycle rides — these all can have a devastating effect on one’s hearing. Avoid unprotected exposure.
• If you have a regular need for ear protection, DigiCare can custom make molded ear protection.
• Tell the people you care for about the importance of ear protection.

Tinnitus & Hearing Loss

One of the genuine mysteries in healthcare today is the condition called tinnitus or ringing of the ears. More than 30 million Americans complain of chronic tinnitus, about 12 million of whom experience it so severely that it interferes with  quality of life. Will there ever be a cure for tinnitus?

As a result of more than 30 years research, we at DigiCare have concluded, that because there are myriad underlying causes for tinnitus, unless these causes are addressed, nothing substantive happens.

It is more accurate to understand tinnitus, not as a stand-alone condition, but as a symptom of other things wrong in the body. The single most common malfunction in at least 90% of cases of long-term tinnitus, is that of uncorrected hearing loss.

But the mystery deepens. Other underlying causes of tinnitus, which also cause hearing loss, are: noise trauma (NIHL), past and present ear infections, chronic inhalant allergy, diabetes mellitus II, cardiovascular disease, depression, hyperlipidemia, arthritis, and chronic dehydration, to name but a few. Finally, the terrible side- and interaction-effects of many prescription medications coupled with any of the above are also causes of hearing loss and tinnitus.

Please visit our website's comprehensive tinnitus section to learn more about this condition and what we do at DigiCare to help.

Conductive Hearing Loss

Involves the external ear and/or middle ear structure. This type of hearing loss makes up only about 8% of all hearing loss. It is most prevalent among young children and rare in adults. It is many times medically treatable.  It is commonly caused by physical obstruction, infection, allergies and / or a deformity of the ear.

Central Auditory Deficit

This type of loss is characterized by a deficiency in the neurons or intermediary processes of the central auditory system at the brain stem and /or auditory cortex. It frequently corresponds with other forms of hearing loss. It is characterized by lack of language comprehension rather than threshold acuity.  Central Auditory Deficit is commonly caused by sensory deprivation from uncorrected hearing loss, stroke or trauma.

Note: Many hearing losses exhibit one or more of the above conditions to varying degrees in each ear independently. Each loss is unique.

A comprehensive DigiCare Hearing Test and Evaluation helps identify and quantify your particular hearing loss profile and needs. We are available to answer any questions you may have about hearing loss or hearing health. Call or email us to get started.

Learn Even More:

• We’ve selected a number of articles from our DigiCare Hearing Health Library that you may find very helpful in learning more about hearing loss and its consequences:
  • What Helen Keller Knew
  • Revisiting Helen Keller: The Most Vital Stimulus
  • Ototoxicity: Are We Poisoning Our Ears?
• Once you've learned about the specifics of Hearing Loss, you may have an interest in How the Ear Works and details about Who We Are.

The ear is extremely sensitive and able to detect the softest sounds.
Gently rustling leaves, the buzz of a mosquito, a first raindrop hitting the pavement, music wafting from another room. 
 
How does the ear work? And what's happening when it malfunctions?

Learn About:

• The Anatomy of Hearing
• Hearing and the Brain
• The Importance of Earwax
  
  

The Anatomy of Hearing

In a nutshell:  We are able to hear when our ears convert the vibrations of a sound wave in the air into signals that our brains interpret as sound.  Our ears are divided into three parts, the external ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. Sound waves, traveling at a speed of approximately 740 miles per hour, enter the ears and are funneled through the ear opening, down the ear canal to the eardrum (or tympanic membrane). The sound waves strike the eardrum, causing it to vibrate. These movements of the tympanic membrane are transmitted across the three middle ear bones (hammer or malleus, anvil or incus and the stirrup or stapes), which act as a transformer, changing sound vibrations in the air into fluid waves in the inner ear. The fluid waves bend delicate nerve endings (hair cells) in the cochlea, creating electrical impulses. These electrical impulses are then transmitted by the hearing nerve (cochlear nerve) to the brain, where they are interpreted as understandable sounds.

Hearing & the Brain

• Hearing and language perception share an intricately intertwined relationship within the brain. In essence, we hear with our brains -- not simply our ears.
• The left hemisphere (via the right ear primarily) involves mainly abstract logical and technical interpretation of language.
• The right hemisphere (via the left ear primarily) interprets the non-verbal meaning of communication; more attuned to the emotional and conceptional, the right hemisphere reads into language communication and how a message was meant to be received rather than getting lost in the logic of it all.
• Furthermore, the brain uses the sounds from both the left and the right ears to determine distance and direction of sounds.
• Our brain hemispheres, although functionally biased, work together through innumerable cerebral roads and connections. Each hemisphere plays a special part in the reception, selection and perception of the uncountable stimuli that bombards us each millisecond of our lives.
• This interconnectedness between our cerebral hemispheres - and therefore our left and rights ears - is precisely the reasoning behind fitting both ears with hearing aids. By combining both hemispheric interpretations of a single communication, we are capable of extracting significantly greater meaning out of everyday communication.
• This right/left concept is not a cut and dried process and there are exceptions, of course, to recommending binaural hearing instruments.  To learn more about fitting binaural hearing aids, please visit the Straight Answers section of our website.

The Importance of Earwax & Keratin

Earwax or cerumen is made up of keratin (similar in chemistry to human hair), oils and cholesterol and is produced by glands in the outer ear canal. Earwax serves a number of very important protective functions including:

1. Shielding the ear canal from bacteria, fungus, yeast, water and debris.
2. Helping maintain proper pH and overall external ear health.
3. Serving as a protective layer over the skin of the ear canal, without which the ear canal would be completely susceptible to invasion, injury and / or disease. 

What Does This Mean?

• The sad truth is that through modern day personal care habits -- including the use of cotton swabs, boric acid ear drops and scratching with various objects -- keratin and earwax get short shrift.
• Properly functioning ears are self cleaning. The tissue near the outside of our ear canals grows outward from the eardrum, much like a conveyor belt, "dragging" the keratin out in a process called "tissue desquamation." At the end of a 3 months period, a piece of sand on the eardrum will move its way out and end up in the bowl (or concha) of your outer ear for easy removal by fingertip.
• When the keratin is scraped out with a cotton swab or any other object, it exposes the sensitive tissue and several nerve reflexes causing chronic irritation.
• Furthermore, this scraping motion disturbs the delicate balance between the substances making up earwax, inhibiting its function in maintaining proper pH and antiseptic properties that keep the ears healthy.
• A healthy keratin layer is critical for ear health and the proper fitting and wearing of hearing aids. At DigiCare, we recommend and personally use the non-prescription solution Miracell Botanicals to nourish the ears' keratin layer. 
• Drop the cotton swab! Our very best advice is to let your ears be, leaving objects of all kinds out of your sensitive ears.  
• If you think you are experiencing problems due to excess earwax, please call or email to schedule a free ear exam and hearing test at one of our 4 DigiCare locations.

Learn Even More:

• Now that you understand the basics of how our ears work, let's tackle the next question.  Learn more about what happens when our sense of hearing malfunctions in our Hearing Loss section.