Be Heard Audiology - Bronwyn Hein

Helping our patients hear the world clearly is our passion! 🌟
Here, we are conducting an otoscopic examination to see what the inside of the ear canal looks like and if there is any debris or wax suitable for removal. 👂
We can tell a lot about what is going on in the middle ear by looking at images of the ear drum.

We have a digital video otiscope that allows patients to see what we are reffering too and allows us to have before and after imagery as the body heal and treatment is carried out😊

It’s really a no brainer 🧠 Why would we not want to preserve our brains and neural function as we age. Sign me up!

Here’s a picture of Zano and Bronwyn going through his Central Auditory Processing assessment.

These assessments intervention plans allow children to improve on listening and processing skills by creating new pathways and strengthening the war the brain connection. In turn it improves communication , confidence and academic performance 👍🏻

Speech testing is a vital part of a basic diagnostic evaluation. Speech discrimination and speech in noise testing allows a skilled audiologist to assess if hearing devices will be sufficient to get you the results and improvements you need.

If you are a patient would has poor speech discrimination scores or poor processing of sound you will most likely need a microphone, in addition to your hearing aids.

You can add this on in time as you become comfortable with your devices but its NB TO KNOW IF YOU NEED ONE TO HEAR WELL.

We like to start with sharing this fact from early on in meeting our patients to ensure best results and correct expectations of how much better you will hear.
According to Merle.. she’s doing pretty well with hearing in noise and over a distance now that she has a roger🙏

Yesterday we had a fun morning testing ears at Suga Babes Playschool!

🤍 White noise? 🤎 Brown Noise? 💗 Pink Noise?

Who knew there were so many different forms of “noise”!? In the audiology world, we often use noises to ‘mask’ during testing, which is a fancy way of describing how we are able to cover one sound with another.

🤍White noise, probably the most familiar of these, is a broadband noise that has equal sound pressure level (loudness) across all frequencies (pitches). Similar to the way white light contains all the wavelengths of the visible spectrum at equal intensity, white noise has equal power across all frequencies audible to the human ear.

💗Pink noise is also a broadband noise, but with reduced higher frequencies. It resembles the sounds of steady rainfall ☔️ or wind 💨 and is often considered to be more soothing than white noise, which some people find harsh.

🤎Brown noise additionally lowers the higher frequencies even more than pink noise. It’s a bit “rougher” than pink noise and resembles the roar of a river 🌊 current or strong wind 💨 .

Have you ever tried any of these noises? Which one is your preference? 💗🤍🤎

We had our first day of hearing screenings at ,testing lots of little ears👂

Is there a ‘magic pill’ to cure tinnitus?💊
If only there was a simple fix to solve tinnitus!

In addition to hearing loss, we frequently hear patients share that tinnitus is on the top of their problem list. Most people wonder if there is anything they can take to resolve it.

Hearing health

In large, it appears the research shows that dietary supplements are not a ‘cure’ for tinnitus. Like all medications or supplements, it is best to consult with your doctor if you intend to try any substance!

If you are curious about the treatment options, we offer to help reduce the perception of your tinnitus, please contact us! We’d love to share our approach to helping tinnitus patients.

It’s never too early to have your hearing tested. We have over 40 patients at our practice who have chosen to be proactive in treating there hearing loss. They age from 30-50 years old.
Hearing loss doesn’t just happen to us when we are elderly.

Check out our genuine leather bags! They come in different colors and can be used for travelling or storing your hearing aids.

Maintain neural health by treating Hearing loss. We have a choice in who we become as we get older😊 Wouldn’t we all like to remain the best versions of ourselves.

A blessing of Easter flowers shared with us today

Jesus rose from the grave and assended into heaven in the month of spring in the east, which represents new life and a fresh beginning for us all who believe.

Have a blessed Easter with your loved ones as we celebrate the greatest miracle .

It was only through His death and resurrection that we can have life forevermore.

He paid it all, IT IS FINISHED!

Let us rejoice in the new creation Jesus has allowed each one of us to be.

Sin and death, you have no hold over us!

The Osia® System is a first-of-its-kind bone anchored hearing solution for people diagnosed with single-sided deafness (SSD), conductive or mixed hearing loss.

Here are 7 things you need to know about this revolutionary solution:
https://pronews.cochlear.com/cochlear-osia-system/

👂 First Time Hearing Aid User? Check Out These Tips for a Great Experience! 🦻

1️⃣ Wear your devices for at least 8 hours a day- getting into the routine of putting your devices in when you get up and taking them off before an evening shower or bed to clean. This is the healthiest time frame for your brain to get used to the sounds it hasn’t heard in a long time.

2️⃣ Turn devices down don’t take them out: Feeling overwhelmed by all the new sounds? It's okay to turn your devices down in the beginning. As you get used to the sound you won't need to turn them down as much. Rather turn them down then take them out.

3️⃣ Follow-Up is Key: Attending your follow-up appointments is crucial! Hearing aids aren't one-size-fits-all. Adjustments may be needed as you acclimate to the new sounds.

4 R.E.M – Real ear measurements.
Be Heard have amazing machinery to measure and fine tune your devices to the personal shape and dimensions of your ear to get even more of an ACCURATE fitting. Please book this with us 6 months after your initial fit.

Discover expert help at Be Heard Audiology🌟 Embrace the world of sound with confidence! 🌍🔊

Earlier this week, we were at Eden Village School conducting hearing screenings for the little ones.

Bronwyn shared lots of interesting facts about how listening directly impacts so many facets in our daily lives.

Has your child been for a hearing test? If not, contact us on WhatsApp on 0663178820!

🧠 Our brains are incredible multitaskers, but when we experience untreated hearing loss, they have to work extra hard to decipher speech. This leaves less brainpower for retaining and storing information. So, if you’re missing out on the conversation, you’re also missing out on memories! 😔

But fret not! There’s a silver lining. 🌈 A simple hearing test and speech testing can be your key to unlocking better memory and cognitive function. 💡 Don’t let those missed moments slip through the cracks!

👉 Many studies have shown that untreated hearing loss might have deeper consequences than we thought. It’s not just about missing out on conversations; it could potentially impact brain health too. 🧐🔊

💡 The brain is a complex network, and when hearing abilities decline, it can strain cognitive resources, leading to cognitive decline over time. 😔 But here’s the good news – addressing hearing loss through proper care and audiological interventions could contribute to maintaining brain health and possibly reducing the risk of dementia.

Ready to regain control over your memory and stay sharp? 🌟 Schedule your hearing test today and pave the way to a brighter, more connected future. Let’s keep our minds sharp and our conversations clearer! 🗣️💬

Looking forward to seeing all of our so high kiddies at the end of the month for their annual school screening 🥳🥳

💥Have you just spent the night at a concert, a party, or around fireworks…how can you tell if you may have damaged your hearing?

👂If you notice your hearing is muffled, you have pain in your ears, or you have ringing in your ears, you may have overdone it and caused some damage to your ears!

📞If these symptoms don’t go away in a few days, contact one of our independent audiologists (https://independentaudiologists.co.za/find-an-audiologist/) to schedule a hearing test. Better to be safe than sorry!

Balance week ends with our balance off! Challenge accepted

Great advice for workspaces comprising of members with hearing difficulties

Conducting training, implementing technological solutions, and adjusting workspaces are a few ways that employers can accommodate employees with a hearing loss. In this way employers can ensure that all employees are able to perform at their best.

Here are a few additional strategies that can be adopted in the workplace to better cater for employees with a hearing loss in the workplace.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0276/4452/6644/files/working_environment_strategies.pdf?v=1689073034

Time flies when you’re having fun! 👏🏼💙

We are thrilled to be turning 6! 🥳🎉

We wouldn’t be here without every one of you. Thank you for trusting us to be your audiologists and for continually supporting us. We are so grateful for the work we get to do. 🙏🏻

For our trendy adventurous patients who want to add a little something beautiful

✨Ce·ru·men/səˈro͞omən/✨

Who knew ear wax had a fancy name!? Cerumen is the medical term used for ear wax.

Did you know that earwax is a natural barrier that prevents bacteria from entering the innermost parts of your ears?👂 Due to its sticky consistency, it collects tiny dust, skin cells, and debris that find their way into your ear canal. Without this barrier, your middle and inner ear would be at risk!

✔️ Cerumen also acts as a moisturizer and protective coating for the ear canal. Without earwax, the outer ear might be itchy and flaky, which puts it at greater risk of becoming irritated or infected.

So although you might think it’s bad to have some earwax, it’s actually a GOOD thing!👍

🕑 However, the longer ear wax sits inside the ear canal the harder it can get. Eventually, if ear wax is pushed up against the eardrum it can cause some of the symptoms mentioned above. One of the most common complaints I hear is that the impaction causes tinnitus or ear fullness.

Is there a way for me to clean my ears safely at home? 🏡
Two words: 🙉 NO Q-TIPS! 🙉
Putting something into your ear canal is counterproductive. It only pushes wax deeper into your ear canal!

✔️ So what can you try at home? A damp cloth on the outer ear to clear away debris is your best option. There are a lot of wax softeners that you can purchase over the counter but your best option is to let a professional take a peek!
Thankfully we have tools and resources to help our patients with earwax impaction! Part of our routine practice is performing an otoscopy (examining your ears), which will let us know if you have wax. If you have concerns about earwax impaction, call today! 📞 087 354 9039

Where is one of the hardest places to hear for our patients with hearing loss?
RESTAURANTS. 🍽️

Routinely, patients share that they want to hear better in restaurants. Background noise, lots of chatter, and dishes clanking make it challenging for anyone to hear. THEN, adding a hearing loss makes it even trickier to hear the server and order your meal!😳

We recently had a patient tell me he was so excited about retirement and joining his buddies for weekly coffee at the diner☕️. However, after going a few times, he realized he was missing out on the conversation and unable to keep up with the banter. This, among other things, led him to address his hearing loss with hearing aids.

🦻🦻 Now he is confidently attending weekly coffee with the guys and doesn’t miss any jokes. There’s nothing we love more than helping our patients meet their hearing goals, one step at a time. You deserve to hear all life has to offer.

📞 Scheduling a consultation with your audiologist will be the first step in hearing the beauty of life!

As independent audiologists, we’ve come to realize it’s not about giving the answers, it’s about asking the right questions!💭

🩺 What brings you in today?
👂 Where do you struggle to hear the most?
❤️ How is your overall health?
😓 What types of environments do you frequently struggle in?
💥 How many times do you find yourself in background noise?
🦻 How do the hearing aids feel?
🖐️ How is your dexterity?
🎼 How does the sound quality sound to you?

We strive to assess and treat our patients comprehensively , so the initial case history discussion is the most important part of your hearing health plan! The truth is, treating hearing loss is not a one-and-done 'transaction' like you may find at a large retailer or online.
We are dedicated to working with you and counseling you AND your loved ones through this change.🤝

We are here to listen to your concerns because I know that change can be scary for some, however, as independent audiologists we believe it’s our job to show you how truly beautiful hearing again can be!
✨
Please call today to schedule an appointment. We’re here to help walk you through the entire process! 087 354 9039 / [email protected]

💡You may be wondering why hearing loss would increase your risk for dementia 🧠 …

There are multiple possibilities to answer that question!

🔸Hearing loss increases how hard your brain has to work to understand the incoming signal.
🔸Animal research has shown that hearing loss can lead to brain atrophy… use those brain cells or lose them!
🔸Hearing loss may also lead to abnormal activities in the temporal lobe of the brain… where key auditory and memory functions occur. This can make that part of your brain more susceptible to damage associated with dementia. 🧠

🧠Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and accounts for 60-80% of all cases of dementia!
It is a progressive disease that involves the parts of the brain that control memory, thought, and language. While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, there are treatments that can help slow overall cognitive decline.

☝️ According to a recent article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), hearing loss accounts for 8% of the cases of dementia 🧠 worldwide, which makes hearing loss the #1 modifiable risk factor for dementia.🤯

We all know that hearing loss can lead to social isolation, so the ability to hear is an important aspect of staying engaged.🤗
We're here to help you take action steps to keep your hearing (and brain) health in tip-top shape!💪

If you or a loved one has concerns about hearing loss, please contact our office today to schedule a hearing test 📞