Hearing Services of Colorado – Additional Services

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Tinnitus Management

Tinnitus is the perception of any sound in the head or ear(s) with no associated external source. Tinnitus is a common problem, affecting about 50 million people in the United States alone, with about 10 million Americans suffering from more noticeable or severe forms of the condition. The causes of tinnitus can be wide-ranging, including hearing loss, temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, and certain medications, Eustachian tube dysfunction, otosclerosis. Tinnitus is a serious medical condition that can interrupt one’s quality of life and can lead to anxiety, stress and depression. Some people with tinnitus also have a decreased tolerance to loud sounds, a condition called hyperacusis. A large majority of individuals with tinnitus, about 40%, also note a problem with hyperacusis. People with tinnitus are encouraged to follow-up with their primary care provider, who in many cases will order an audiologic evaluation to rule out hearing loss and other possible causes.

Bone Anchored Hearing Devices

A bone-anchored hearing aid (Baha) is an osseointigrated auditory implant system. It is surgically implanted behind the ear and works through direct bone conduction, bypassing the ear canal, eardrum and middle ear. Baha aids are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of mixed and conductive hearing loss as well as sensorineural hearing loss that occurs in only one ear. Baha aids are ideal for people who cannot wear a traditional hearing aid due to such conditions as a missing ear canal, non-functioning middle ear, or draining ears.

additionalservices_clip_image001-2864543 The Baha aid consists of a titanium implant, an external abutment, and a sound processor. The surgical procedure needed to implant the device generally lasts less than an hour and is performed on an outpatient basis by neurotologist Dr. David Nosan. In order to receive one of these devices, you must first be a candidate based on your hearing as well as a candidate for surgery. This will be determined during a consultation.

Custom Hearing Protection Devices

No ear is exactly the same, at Kaiser Permanente’s Hearing Centers in Colorado, we offer custom ear protection devices for a number of purposes:

    • INDUSTRIAL PROTECTION:

    • Construction workers

    • Machine operators

    • Factory workers

RECREATIONAL PROTECTION:additionalservices_clip_image002-4885796

    • Hunting – a special filter in the earplug acts to protect your ears from a loud impact sound (gunshot) while allowing you to hear soft environmental sounds needed for awareness of game

    • Motorcycling

PERSONAL PROTECTION:

    • Sleeping: comfortable and stay in your ears all night long!

    • Swimming: patients with ear tubes love how these block out water

    • Musicians: special filters keep the overall volume at a safer level, which keeping the integrity of the music intact