Blog

A thorough audiological examination should begin with a careful medical history. Along with the actual presenting complaint or symptoms, listening to past history is an important early step in helping determine the source of the patient’s problem. Hearing health risk factors are any and all pieces o...

Many patients enter the test booth of an audiology center convinced of a decrease in their ability to hear. The most common reason given is difficulty following conversation, perhaps most markedly in subpar acoustic environments. Often spouses or family members make note of changes over time. They m...

Often patients, especially new patients, will remark on the extensive testing we perform and the equipment we use. Often they have never seen or experienced such an array of diagnostics examining various parts of the ear and hearing system. “For my commercial driver’s license test they just stood be...

A patient came to our office with complaints of uneven hearing, balance difficulty and tinnitus in the poorer hearing ear. This condition did not happen overnight, but had worsened over time. The woman was fearful she would lose hearing in the other ear and not regain her balance functions. Audio...

Beyond the middle ear; “current” thoughts about hearing system. This includes the inner ear, the nervous system and the brain. Part two in a series of blogs about the physiology of hearing. In our previous blog entry we discussed the transmission of sound energy from vibrations of air molecules t...

It is commonly accepted that we hear the world with our ears. Early man must have noticed that when the ear canals are blocked, hearing decreases. Everyone can observe the outer ear and a canal that travels into the head, but what is really happening when we hear a sound, say, a person talking, musi...

The importance of word testing. There is a conventional battery of tests, with a few variations, that give an audiologist diagnostic information about a patient’s ear health and hearing capabilities. Otoscopy allows the examiner to visualize the outer ear, including the external ear canal all the...

Tinnitus is defined as “phantom noise perception” – a real perception of sound that did not originate outside your body. Tinnitus was regarded by the ancient Egyptians as private messages directly from the gods! The ancient Greeks recognized tinnitus, but did not have such a positive attitude t...

Advertisements for hearing aids are found in many places, from print ads in the popular press to internet marketing to television ads. Many of the marketing pieces on hearing aids are completely legitimate and truthful. They guide patients ethically towards a particular practice. Always regard heari...

A new patient recently informed us that another hearing center told her that an audiologist was not necessary for examining her ears and fitting hearing aids. The person she spoke to on the phone also said their hearing testing was always free. This patient eventually came to our office, where we to...

How do we assess dizziness? How is it that audiology/hearing based practices would find themselves assessing and often treating disorders of dizziness and imbalance? Few people are aware that the ear is primarily an organ of balance. Its main function, even before hearing our world, is to keep...

When an audiologist tests a patient’s hearing, there is an important reality that must be addressed. Conventional audiometry is based on threshold estimation: the tester is seeking the subject’s limits of detection of weak signals, typically tones, in order to determine the intensity at which the su...

Several patients who are tech-savvy and/or very current on audio have noticed the recent popularity of noise-cancelling headphones. These are very popular, not only for travellers, but anyone who seeks to hear music or recorded books or movies with less intrusive background noise. A patient recently...

Most people are aware that middle ear infections are very common in young children. Many pediatrician visits result in treatment for otitis media, which often presents as “glue ear”. This may be accompanied by pain, fever and reduced hearing. Children are known to be more prone to this condition due...

Those of us who work in the hearing care field have taken on the responsibility of providing the best possible care of our patient’s ears, hearing and/or balance, through training, education, listening and applying the best available information and technology to the specific problems our patients p...

There has been some confusion lately about terminology regarding the testing of hearing. There are often retail-model hearing aid centers. Many are corporate chains with headquarters outside the state, offering “free testing” to hearing aid candidates. Be advised that these tests are strictly screen...

Many people complain from time to time about having “plugged ears”. This sensation typically refers to the ear canal or ear drum area. This sensation may be chronic, may come and go, or may be a new sensation. To an audiologist or otolaryngolotist, plugged ears can mean potentially several condition...

There is a practice whose popularity waxes and wanes, yet, the ineffectiveness and potential danger persists. Said to be a Hopi Indian tradition, ear candling has adherents in the holistic medical field and is said to remove wax, debris and other “impurities” from the ear canals. Hopi representat...

Most people who complain of tinnitus have steady noises, often sounding like ringing, hissing, buzzing or humming that may wax and wane but drone on when heard. This is typical neurologic tinnitus often caused by inner ear damage or nerve dysfunction or hyperactivity. Have you ever heard a pulsing i...

The hearing healthcare spectrum has a wide variety of options, regarding providers. There are practices employing doctors of audiology and licensed hearing instrument specialists with experience, compassion, training and autonomy. This allows them to deliver the most appropriate services and/or prod...

Prospective patients will often contact an audiology/hearing practice and ask about a particular hearing aid, hearing protection device or other product.  “My friend wears a pair of_____, and I’d like to try that kind”, they may say.  While it is certainly true that some products have more advanced...

Recently we hinted at a new innovation that would revolutionize our approach to treating debilitatating cases of tinnitus. Tinnitus is the uninvited ringing, buzzing or humming noises millions of people hear, even in quiet.  Now the innovation is here.  We are the exclusive source in the area for th...

For more than two million Americans, the constant ring or buzz of tinnitus is a significant, debilitating problem.  Many approaches, procedures, drugs, surgeries and therapies have been attempted. Success rates have varied.  Our approach at Clear Choice Hearing and Balance has long been based in the...

Clear Choice Hearing and Balance is proud to announce the opening of our new second location in the popular Clinton Crossings office park in Brighton near the corner of Westfall Rd. and South Clinton Ave.  This beautiful office suite is truly state-of-the-art; it will provide access to many first-ra...

We recently participated in a workshop in which the NYS Department of Health brought together hearing health professionals from across the state to help implement the new requirements for reporting hearing loss diagnoses and early intervention for infants and children in New York State.  This will i...

We hope all our patients, clients and website visitors had a wonderful holiday season!  We look forward to another great year here and Clear Choice Hearing and Balance!  There are many exciting developments we are looking forward to. We are pleased to be continuing to offer our services periodica...

This week we are presenting/lecturing at both the Eastman School of Music and Nazareth College on the topic of hearing conservation for musicians and/or music teachers.  There are excellent strategies available to preserve your hearing and still enjoy or participate in musical performance. Students...