Savannah Pediatric ENT

Over-the-counter hearing aids just became available to the public in 2022. They can be convenient for some people experiencing mild hearing loss, but it’s not the best option for everyone.

OTC hearing aids are FDA regulated and recommended only for certain people, says Rachel Goldsmith, senior audiologist at Georgia Ear, Nose & Throat Specialists. OTC hearing aids are best for people with mild to moderate hearing loss and ages 18 and older. They also have a maximum output level to prevent further damage from using it.

OTC hearing aids can currently be ordered online and average around $1,000 a pair. That means you will have to fit them and program them yourself with an application downloaded on your phone, so you need to be somewhat tech savvy, Goldsmith advises.

But before you consider investing in OTC hearing aids, you should have a comprehensive evaluation with an audiologist.

“We can determine if there is hearing loss, what amount, what type and if there needs to be any other medical referral,” Goldsmith says. “Sometimes it’s something that a physician can repair or improve with medical treatment. You may also need imaging to make sure nothing more serious is going on. We can make the best recommendation for you based on our evaluation.”

There’s a reason we have fluid in our inner ears. It keeps hearing and balance in order. However, too much fluid can disrupt our hearing and balance systems.

One such condition that can result from too much fluid in the inner ear is Meniere’s disease. Meniere’s disease is an inner ear disorder that affects the hearing and balance systems, resulting in sudden onset, and often severe, attacks of vertigo and hearing-related symptoms, such as fullness or pressure, ringing or roaring in the ear and low-pitch hearing loss, explains Rachel Goldsmith, Au.D., CCC-A, senior audiologist at Georgia Ear, Nose & Throat Specialists.

“For it to be a Meniere’s disease diagnosis, you usually have to have vertigo and most of those hearing-related symptoms, and it has to occur two times or more,” Goldsmith says. “If someone has these symptoms, they should call their primary care doctor immediately, or if they are established with an ENT, get an appointment.”

And because these symptoms can be signs of other conditions, such as a stroke or tumor in the ear, it’s important to be medically evaluated to get a correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

More at https://www.sjchs.org/living-smart-blog/blog-details/blog/2024/07/11/what-is-meniere-s-disease

There’s one particular type of ear infection pediatricians and pediatric ENTs tend to treat frequently this time of year – swimmer’s ear.

Swimmer’s ear, also known as otitis externa, is an infection of the ear canal skin, says Dr. Stephanie Ambrose, pediatric ENT with Georgia Ear, Nose & Throat Specialists at St. Joseph’s/Candler. The ear canal is a tube that goes from the opening of the ear to the eardrum. If water gets trapped in the canal and doesn’t drain out or gets trapped by wax build-up, then it creates a moist environment allowing bacteria or fungus to grow and create an infection.

Swimmer’s ear most often happens to children, but it can occur in adults as well. The condition can cause redness or swelling, irritation, trouble hearing and/or discharge. Most kids present with pain or the parent notices swelling or that the ear is tender to the touch.

“The majority of people can swim without having any issues,” Dr. Ambrose says. “However, if your child is swimming and starts to complain about ear pain or you see swelling or drainage, you should see a provider and get treated.”

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Could you be a candidate for over-the-counter hearing aids?

Over-the-counter hearing aids only became available to the public a year ago. That can be convenient for some people experiencing mild hearing loss, but it’s not the best option for everyone.

OTC hearing aids are FDA regulated and recommended only for certain people, says Rachel Goldsmith, senior audiologist at Georgia Ear, Nose & Throat Specialists. OTC hearing aids are best for people with mild to moderate hearing loss and ages 18 and older. They also have a maximum output level to prevent further damage from using it.

OTC hearing aids can currently be ordered online and average around $1,000 a pair. That means you will have to fit them and program them yourself with an application downloaded on your phone, so you need to be somewhat tech savvy, Goldsmith advises.

But before you consider investing in OTC hearing aids, you should have a comprehensive evaluation with an audiologist.

“We can determine if there is hearing loss, what amount, what type and if there needs to be any other medical referral,” Goldsmith says. “Sometimes it’s something that a physician can repair or improve with medical treatment. You may also need imaging to make sure nothing more serious is going on. We can make the best recommendation for you based on our evaluation.”

While OTC hearing aids may be suitable for some, the gold standard in treating hearing loss is still prescription hearing aids. Your audiologist will determine the best hearing aid for you based on testing and help fit and program the hearing aid. The audiologist will teach you how to use it and help troubleshoot if any problems arise.

“None of that will be done with over-the-counter,” Goldsmith says. “Those are meant to be very simplified without any professional expertise.”

More than https://www.sjchs.org/living-smart-blog/blog-details/blog/2022/12/08/are-over-the-counter-hearing-aids-right-for-me

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Do you find yourself frequently asking people to repeat themselves? Are you having difficulty hearing background noise? Is the TV volume louder than it used to be? If any of these apply to you or a loved one, you could be suffering from hearing loss.

Our Listening Center audiologists at Ga. ENT Specialists are holding a FREE hearing screening event for adults on Wednesday, Nov. 8. The approximate 10-minute appointment will determine if your hearing is at a normal level or if you are suffering from any degree of hearing loss. They can then recommend next steps. The appointment is free with no insurance requirements or referral needed; however, you do need to make an appointment. Call 912-644-0722 to schedule your FREE hearing screening today. Screenings will take place the Ga. ENT Specialists audiology office at 5356 Reynolds Street, Suite 505, Savannah, Ga. 31405.

“A major part of our job and why we do this is because we really want to help people communicate better with their family, the people they care about and the people they work with,” says Leah Blackwell, Au.D., CCC-A, audiologist at Ga. ENT Specialists. “We want them to be able to do whatever they need to without worrying about hearing loss.”

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Our audiologists are the best!

In October 2022, over-the-counter hearing aids became available to the public. That can be convenient for some people experiencing mild hearing loss, but it’s not the best option for everyone.

Before you consider investing in OTC hearing aids, you should have a comprehensive evaluation with an audiologist.

“We can determine if there is hearing loss, what amount, what type and if there needs to be any other medical referral,” says Rachel Goldsmith, senior audiologist at Georgia Ear, Nose & Throat Specialists. “Sometimes it’s something that a physician can repair or improve with medical treatment. You may also need imaging to make sure nothing more serious is going on. We can make the best recommendation for you based on our evaluation.”

https://www.sjchs.org/living-smart-blog/blog-details/blog/2022/12/08/are-over-the-counter-hearing-aids-right-for-me

Specializing in the care of your little ones!

“Children are not just small adults. They cannot always say what is bothering them and are not always able to answer medical questions,” says Dr. Stephanie Ambrose, pediatric otolaryngologist with St. Joseph's/Candler Physician Network - Pediatric ENT.

Pediatric otolaryngologists focus on examining and treating children in a way that makes them comfortable, use special equipment designed for children and usually have an office environment designed to create a comfortable and kid-friendly space during exam.

“Ear, nose and throat diseases can present and progress very differently in children than in adults, needing different diagnostic and treatment strategies,” she says.

Dr. Ambrose explains five things parents should know about a pediatric otolaryngologist:

https://www.sjchs.org/living-smart-blog/blog-details/blog/2018/05/15/five-things-to-know-about-a-pediatric-ent-doctor

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Dr. Ambrose and Meighan want to wish you a Frightful Friday! Happy Halloween 🎃

Have a safe and Happy Halloween from all the ghouls and goblins at Georgia Ear! 🎃

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