Professional Hearing Consultants of Mid-MI Ear, Nose & Throat

Laughter is the best medicine! Here's Friday's funny.
Have a great weekend all!

As part of our hearing aid evaluation, we ask our patients which listening situations they have difficulty in. We use the Client Oriented Scale of Improvement (COSI) to determine difficult listening situations and then assess the benefits of hearing aid use after about 2 weeks of wearing them.
This particular patient reported difficulty in 1) group situations 2) while being in the barn and in the ring (she trains horses) and 3) while watching TV. At her 2-week follow up appointment, she reported that she was able to hear “much better” in all situations and could hear “satisfactorily” 95% of the time. The COSI helps us to understand your specific needs and then provides information which can then be used at the follow up to improve your speech understanding. At Professional Hearing Consultants, we are committed to helping you hear your best and the COSI is one of the tools we use to do it!

We strive to give the best patient experience!

During June, Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month resolve to take action on hearing loss. Research shows from mid-life, hearing loss is the biggest modifiable risk factor for the later development of dementia. Schedule a hearing check today at 517-332-0100, option 7!

Here's a Friday Funny to start your weekend!
As cute as this couple is though, this cartoon perpetuates that idea that hearing loss only happens in advanced age when the reality is quite different.
Hearing loss has many causes.
Do you know someone who had hearing loss below the age of 55?

Here are some Do's and Don'ts when Mild Cognitive Impairment is suspected
Do's --
Engage in Mental Activities: Regularly engage in mentally stimulating activities like puzzles, reading, or learning new skills.
Regular Exercise: Engage in regular physical exercise, as it can help improve cognitive function and overall health.
Healthy Diet: Maintain a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats like those from fish.
Use Memory Aids: Use tools like calendars, reminders, and notes to help with memory tasks and organization.
Ensure you get adequate and quality sleep each night, as sleep plays a vital role in cognitive function.
Follow Medical Advice: Follow your healthcare provider's recommendations, including attending regular check-ups and appointments.
ALONG with these, have your hearing tested is also on the Do's list. Later this month, you'll see why!

Don'ts--
Avoid Isolation: Don't withdraw from social activities or isolate yourself. Stay connected with friends, family, and community.
Ignore Symptoms: Don't ignore changes in memory or thinking abilities. Report any concerns to a healthcare professional promptly.
Excessive Stress: Avoid excessive stress, as it can worsen cognitive function. Practice stress-relieving techniques such as meditation or yoga.
Ignore Medication Instructions: Don't skip doses or self-adjust medications without consulting a healthcare professional.
Excessive Alcohol Consumption: Avoid excessive alcohol consumption, as it can impair cognitive abilities. Stick to moderate levels or as advised by a healthcare professional.
Isolation from Medical Support: Don't avoid medical appointments or disregard advice from healthcare professionals. Seek guidance and support when needed.

Research shows that even mild hearing loss can cause the social isolation that Helen Keller spoke of.

June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. If you have hearing loss, a solution as simple as wearing hearing aids can significantly reduce your risk of cognitive decline. With better hearing, you are more likely to stay socially engaged, one of the primary ways to stimulate your brain. Like any exercise, the mental give-and-take of social interaction helps to keep your brain fit and slow down accelerated cognitive decline. Call and schedule an appt to learn more! 517-332-0100 option 7

Are earplugs becoming the hottest accessory of summer? TikTok and Instagram is filled with people showing off their Loop Earplugs - which could be mistaken for jewellery - with some people revealing they have multiple pairs.

Have a great weekend!

If you said TRUE to this one, you are correct!
After a comprehensive hearing test, one of our audiologists will review your results, ask you questions specifically about your hearing difficulty and needs, explain technology levels and various hearing aid features. You will then be able to experience the hearing instruments by demoing them in our office!
Do you know anyone who would benefit from a Hearing aid evaluation? They can call us at 517-332-0100 option 7 and schedule!

Here are some ways to help improve communication!
1) Be in the same room- Sounds, especially high frequency sounds, don't like to travel around corners so the best way for your communication partner to hear you is if you go to the same room.
2) Reduce background noise- If at all possible, turn down the TV or any other extraneous noise so that your voice isn't competing against other sounds.
3) Get the listener's attention first- sometimes people are so involved in what they're doing, they don't always know that you're talking to them. By getting their attention first, they will be able focus on you with the first word.
4) Rephrase if needed- Rather than just repeating, try rephrasing. For example, instead of "Need anything from Meijer?", try "I'm going to the grocery store, do you need anything from Meijer?"
5) Ask questions to confirm understanding-Although this one takes a bit more effort, you and your communication can be certain that you're not misunderstanding each other.
6) Be patient- Some of these techniques take practice. Keep in mind, your communication wants to hear you as much as you want to be heard!

In remembrance of our heroes this memorial day.

We really appreciate your reviews!
Thank you for trusting us with your hearing health!

Although your hearing loss may be similar to your father's, your experience with hearing instruments will be much different so this one is FALSE. The reason is that hearing instruments have advanced along with all other forms of technology. Think of what a phone could do 5 years ago and what a phone can do now! Hearing aid manufacturers have worked on ways to improve SPEECH IN NOISE, one of the main problems facing individuals with hearing loss. Many of them can also be controlled using an app on your phone.
Now is the time to try them.
Call our office to schedule a Hearing Aid Evaluation! 517-332-0100 Option 7

Here are 5 tips to help prolong the life of your hearing instruments!
1 Oils from skin can build up on the body of hearing instrument so wiping it regularly helps to keep the aid free from debris.
2 The microphone ports often get plugged with debris eg dust, dirt. hairspray. Brushing them clean allows sound to get into the hearing instrument so that it can be processed and amplified.
3 A plugged wax filter will not allow sound out of the hearing instrument to be heard so it's important to change them. How often? This really depends on how much wax you produce and what was recommended by your audiologist.
4 Just like anything electronic, hearing instruments should not be exposed to extreme temperatures. As we approach the summer, be sure not to leave your hearing instruments in the car, on the dashboard as temperatures can rise quickly. They should also not be stored in moist environments like the bathroom. This can lead to corrosion and shortens the life of the hearing aid.
5 Your audiologist wants to ensure that you are doing your best with your hearing aids, so schedule regular visits. Of course, if any issues arise before those visits, we have walk in hours to address those needs.

This post is for one of our own favorite audiologists who loves boating! We are all about safety, boating safety included!
Help ensure that you have a great National Safe Boating Week by wearing a life jacket! You never know when an unexpected fall overboard could change your life and the lives of those who love you.

Help ensure that you have a great National Safe Boating Week by wearing a life jacket! You never know when an unexpected fall overboard could change your life and the lives of those who love you.

Here's another way to take care of your hearing! Even if you don't suspect hearing loss, it is recommended to have an initial hearing test followed by annual hearing exams. This is to ensure that you do, in fact, have normal hearing and any amount of hearing loss is properly recorded and ultimately treated, if necessary. Individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss often think that others are mumbling or just not speaking loudly enough. Take the time to find out whether you have hearing loss and call us at
517-332-0100, option 7.

Voting closes today so make sure to get your votes in!
https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Flansingstatejournal.gannettcontests.com%2F2024-lansing-communitys-choice-awards%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR13z5bXbyKUxxzG66BuSH6wyvtTwjY5pFvasNmlgoUgpIZEhBQOzAoy41s_aem_AengpcCwurtlsPKIYb66_2IaeQ_Wf_T6y-Oav0wNw6tkav09HxqGF6wD-Y8K2kj4U9O0PX6Ndr8XkKFm6jooWLG-&h=AT1TShGZ12QvYFBQTLJmHucL9Aa3j2BVRTh28oStXcHXZc25B59mW-m6d9NLpoS-VpKw2MkzFaXgoqUabjDbdIuhnlJ7FkR4azAGaUamksxn13jptzK4KO8XpN7nQM4bFg&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT3vzPUYa414Iu1QocfAMf8X4SbRTHHsED90osiarR1FGguWDDK7Jb5hyUU4sLCI6v8opM7g-1DC55aCaa9WaU3id5tP-bmFEcc2cjh-jAntogIUtneoD6pkrP267w6QV3Qw5yvcZbv9Kh9XjqDygueb160xGg73Hb2i1mFHr8-uCLtdNFWIUzHYrv0oeDEvMf64qhXA_TqqF4i-dgYisKGk79JPfHXSuQOy

By clicking on the link below, you can vote for our practice under Hearing aid/Hearing Specialist Center and make us the winner of the Lansing Community’s Choice Award!
We appreciate your vote but most of all, we appreciate you trusting us to be your hearing care provider!
https://lansingstatejournal.gannettcontests.com/2024-lansing-communitys-choice-awards/

By clicking on the link below, you can vote for our practice under Hearing aid/Hearing Specialist Center and make us the winner of the Lansing Community’s Choice Award!
We appreciate your vote but most of all, we appreciate you trusting us to be your hearing care provider!
https://lansingstatejournal.gannettcontests.com/2024-lansing-communitys-choice-awards/

FALSE- Hearing loss has many causes and can occur at any point in life. For example, some causes include congenital hearing loss occurring at birth. noise induced hearing loss which can happen at any point in a person’s life and medications to treat disease. These can all impact the auditory system and affect your hearing.
Schedule a hearing test today!

Here are a few ways to reduce the risk of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss, the ONE type of hearing loss that is preventable.
Share with your family and friends!