Audiologist

Audiologist

doctorofaudiology

16 Years Experience

Marlboro, NJ

Male, 40

I've been an audiologist for 16 years. I work with all types of patients, focusing on balance disorders, tinnitus, and hearing aids. As I have worked in an Ear, Nose, Throat setting much of my career, I am also exposed to much of the medical side of audiology. ASK ME ANYTHING about being an audiologist.

DISCLAIMER: If you feel that you have a hearing or balance issue, please be sure to see your local ENT or audiologist. This Q&A is not designed to treat or diagnose your problems.

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Last Answer on March 21, 2020

Best Rated

Could you tell me about auditory processing disorder please? How is it diagnosed? How common is it - undiagnosed / diagnosed and disruptive? Can it worsen over the years after a mild traumatic brain injury? Any compensativr strategy? Thanks!

Asked by Pam over 11 years ago

Loaded question, my friend!  Auditory Processing Disorders, in short, are related to how the brain processes auditory information and cues.  Some will have difficulty understanding certain sounds, while others have difficulty hearing under specific listening conditions.  Central Auditory Processing Disorders (CAPD) can be diagnosed through a battery of tests, generally lasting around 2 hours in duration.  These tests focus on different listening conditions and different stimuli and how the ears and brain work to process it.  An audiologist performs and interprets the results.  Personally, it is hard to say "how common" it is, as many who suffer with CAPD do not have tests and "live with it" through adulthood.  Testing is more common today, as parents test their kids for everything.  As a result, more children are being discovered as opposed to being called dyslexic or Attention Defecit Disorders.  Processing, as a rule, declines over the years...and TBI contributes.  TBI can affect certain areas of the brain dealing with auditory stimuli and processing of that data.

What software do you currently use to run your business and what do you like/dislike about it?

Asked by cindy almost 11 years ago

I am not sure of your question, but I will answer in a few different ways.  I am currently part of an ENT practice and utilize its software for my patient database.  I personally do not like it, thus will not recommend it on here.  As for other software, audiologists utiliize a program called NOAH for hearing aid programming.  This is a database gateway that is pretty universal...we don't really know of any other.  Each manufacturer has its own programming software as well.  Some are more user friendly than others.  I own a computer based audiology system by a brand called Interacoustics.  It's not that user friendly, but once you get the hang of it, it's great to run.  For my balance testing, I utilize Micromedical software.  It's simple and easy to run.

My friend says she has tiny audio wire implants to help her hear better and communicate back and forth...How do they work and how do they do that with-out batteries? How does a person get one for them selves so they can hear better?

Asked by inner wire auddio implants almost 11 years ago

I am not sure what you are referring to.  Please clarify, especially if you have a website.

If you have a client who is is non-verbal due to cerebrovascular accident how might she respond to air-conduction testing pure tone stimuli? What about her speech stimuli ? How would you perform an SRT ?

Asked by samaneh.sn@gmail.com about 10 years ago

You may utilize alternate forms of response. Generally, if the person is verbal but has good receptive language, you can utilize button pressing for pure tones. If they are cognitively incapable, you may utilize child methods, such as play audiometry or visual reinforcement. Instead of an SRT, you may utilize an SDT, Speech detection threshold. This would be a cross check to pure tones. As for speech stimuli, there are also picture boards that the patient may be able to point to. More than one way to skin a cat!

Is it possible for tinnitus/hyperacusis to arise a few months after noise exposure? Went to two concerts last May, Gun range w/ protection in July. Very mild hyperacusis emerged around November. Very mild tinnitus emerged shortly after around Dec/Jan

Asked by Antonio over 8 years ago

Perhaps. It can vary case by case. Sometimes we can have delayed reponses...or rather, it may simply be something else that trips the problem into existence.

How many hearing aids on average does an clinic sell per year?
What is the average cost of one hearing aid?

Asked by bruce wayne over 10 years ago

Sorry I did not get to you earlier as I didn't see this. The long and the short of it is that it depends on the type of clinic and what region of the country they are. I currently work in a large ENT practice with multiple doctors and audiologists. As a result, our hearing aid sales are in the hundreds. A small ENT practice may sell 150-250, depending on how hearing aids are promoted. Private practices will sell more as that is how the clinic stays in business. As for prices, the cost will vary. It varies by technology, as each manufacturer of hearing aids will put out 3-6 levels of sophistication. Additionally, each practice will set their prices, which may or may not include service, batteries, and specific warranties. At the end of the day, I've seen hearing aids sold for as little as $500 to as high as $4000 per unit.

Had sudden hearing loss. Went to ENT. Prescribed Prednisone 15 days. Made it 3. Never took again. Kick started Dianetes type II. Worsened hearing. 7 audigy tests in <1 yr. Tested for CAPD. Not CAPD. Changed headsets multiple times at work. Now what??

Asked by Robert Shields about 8 years ago

While this page is not used to diagnose, I am a little confused about the story as written. If you have sudden loss, there is a specific time frame to improve your hearing via steroids. If steroids were not successful, your hearing may be your hearing. However, you claim that your hearing has worsened. Most certainly go to another ENT, have a CT scan, blood work, etc.. As I always say, there has to be a reason why something is happening. I don't understand the relevance of the headsets to your story.