Services

Our Doctors of Audiology are trained to offer comprehensive hearing evaluations, hearing aid consultations, and hearing rehabilitation (see list of services below).  We also offer a hearing aid lab that is always available for walk-in appointments.  All of our patient’s have the convenience of stopping by the lab at their convenience to see our wonderful staff of audiology assistants for hearing aid cleanings, minor repairs and adjustments, and earwax removal. At Professional Hearing Services, our Comprehensive Hearing Healthcare (CHHC) plan provides all services (including hearing aid batteries) at no additional cost to the patient. With CHHC you can stop by as often as you need to without having to worry about any additional charges.

DIAGNOSTIC HEARING EVALUATIONS AND CONSULTATIONS

A diagnostic hearing evaluation is the first step in determining the type, degree, configuration and symmetry of your hearing loss. The evaluation includes a variety of measurements to rule out any medically treatable causes of hearing loss.  Speech testing in quiet and noisy situations will also be completed to determine your ability to process speech sounds.  The audiologist will then explain your test results and speak with you to determine the best hearing aid style for your hearing loss and personal listening needs.

HEARING AID ADJUSTMENTS

At Professional Hearing Services, we use state of the art equipment in our Virtual Sound Rooms to program your hearing aids.  The majorities of today’s hearing aids use digital processing and are programmed by connecting the hearing aid to a computer. 

HEARING AID REPAIRS

A full service lab, staffed with our experienced staff of audiology assistants, is always available for hearing aid repairs.  In most cases, we are able to repair your hearing aid in-house while you wait.  If your hearing aid requires more extensive repair we will send the hearing aid to the appropriate manufacturer for you.  While your hearing aid is out for repair, we will be happy to loan you a hearing aid so you never have to live without your “ears”. 

REAL EAR MEASUREMENTS

Real ear measurements are completed during the hearing aid fitting process to measure the response of the hearing IN your ear.  The testing can be completed using a variety of sounds and more importantly speech signals to ensure the most appropriate fitting and programming settings for each patient’s individual ear.

CERUMEN (EARWAX) MANAGEMENT AND REMOVAL

We have a variety of tools available for ear canal cleanings and earwax removal.  Earwax can be removed by simply pulling the wax out with a small tool or by using suction or flushing devices.

LOOP SYSTEM INSTALLATION

A Loop System can make hearing aids twice as valuable!  Due to the positive feedback we have received, we are now including Loop Systems at no additional charge with the purchase of new hearing aids!  We are also in the process of installing Loop Systems thoughout the community.  Hearing Loop Systems use an induction wire that is placed around a room and connected to a sound source (Television, microphone, etc).  Hearing aid users can then switch their hearing aid to the ‘T’ (T-Coil/Telephone/Telecoil) setting by a simple press of a button to experience dramatically enchanced sound quality. If your hearing aid does not have a ‘T’ program, you can still use a loop, but you will also need a ‘loop listener’. Some loop listeners are small boxes with headphones – others are worn as an earpiece. 

Locations that already have Loop Systems installed include:

• Trinity Lutheran Church (St. Joseph, MI)
• Horizon Bank (Ship St., St. Joseph, MI
• Van’s Pharmacy (St. Joseph, MI)
• St Paul’s Lutheran in Stevensville
• Christian Reformed Church (St. Joseph, MI)
• John Howard Band Shell (Spring 2008) 
• Many More to come!!!

To read more about Loop Systems, visit http://www.hearingloop.org/

LACE

LACE is an acronym for Listening And Communication Enhancement. LACE is an interactive computerized aural rehabilitation program that has already helped thousands of people who live with some degree of hearing loss increase their listening skills by 40%. Just as physical therapy can help rebuild muscles and adjust movements to compensate for physical weakness or injury, LACE can develop skills and strategies that can help compensate for those situations when hearing is inadequate. We don’t really hear in our ears; we hear in our brain.  Hearing aids can help a person detect softer sounds, but they don’t necessarily provide good listening.  Even people with normal hearing can be poor listeners.  Good listening skills are one of the essential components in effective communication. These abilities can be damaged by hearing loss and by the natural aging process.  LACE is designed to enhance the ability to communicate by training the brain to best utilize these skills.

To read more about LACE. Visit  http://www.neurotone.com/

VIDEO OTOSCOPY

Visual inspection of the ear canal is completed to check for obstructions, wax blockages, or signs of outer or middle ear infections in the ear.  Video Otoscopy is different from standard otoscopy because it projects an image of the ear canal onto a large screen and allows you to look into your own ear with the audiologist.

OTOACOUSTIC EMISSIONS

Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs) testing is a method of measuring sounds produced by the components of the inner ear (cochlear outer hair cells).  OAE testing helps the audiologist determine if the inner ear is functioning properly and can show signs of hearing loss earlier than standard testing.

MIDDLE EAR EVALUATIONS

Tympanometry testing is completed to determine if a middle ear problem may be contributing to or causing your hearing loss.