Advanced Hearing Specialists provides mobile services (in home or office) to educate you and your loved ones about hearing loss.
Signs of Hearing Loss
What is an Audiologist
Testing and Counseling
Assistive Listening Devices
Web Links
Signs of Hearing Loss
How do you know you or someone in your care has a hearing problem? There are many signs of hearing loss. If you, or the person you are concerned about, answers yes to any of these questions, it is time for a hearing test.
- When you are in conversation with another person, do you have difficulty hearing every word?
- Are you beginning to think everyone mumbles?
- Are you saying "sorry, I didn't hear that" more and more frequently?
- Do you think that sometimes you respond inappropriately because you really didn't hear what was said?
- Is it getting more and more difficult to carry on a conversation when there are other conversations going on around you?
- Can you hear well over the telephone or do you miss some of what the caller is saying?
- Do visitors comment that your television volume is loud?
- Can you hear your telephone, the doorbell, neighborhood sounds, news on the car radio, the sermon at church?
- Do you find yourself avoiding social events because you are afraid you will not hear everything people say to you?
- Did you ever work where loud noise was constant, such as an airport, manufacturing plant, construction site?
- Do your friends and family tell you they think you may have hearing loss?
What is an Audiologist
An audiologist is a hearing specialist, trained in a master's or doctoral level university degree program. Not a medical doctor, the audiologist does not diagnose or treat medical conditions of the ear. Medical conditions are referred to a physician who specializes in the ear, nose and throat (ENT), an otolaryngologist or otologist, for evaluation, diagnosis and treatment.
Thom Casey, MS, CCC-A, F-AAA, is licensed by the State of Virginia for audiology and for hearing aid dispensing. He has a bachelor's degree in Biology from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, PA and a master of science in Audiology from Bloomsburg University in Bloomsburg, PA.
He is certified nationally in audiology, holding a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology granted by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). He is also a fellow of the American Academy of Audiology (AAA).
Thom has practiced audiology in central Virginia since 1984 and started Advanced Hearing Specialists, Inc. in 2000.
Testing and Counseling
Testing
Services provided by AHS include a comprehensive evaluation by an audiologist. Test results are reviewed and then, if medical services are not necessary, we will discuss amplification options with you. If a medical condition exists, you will be referred to a physician who specializes in the ear, nose and throat (ENT), an otolaryngologist.
The audiologist will visualize the external ear canal and eardrum to ensure there is no obstruction or problem prior to starting a hearing test. A thorough history is obtained to help determine the potential cause of the hearing loss. Special equipment is used to evaluate several aspects of hearing, including your ability to hear and discriminate speech and to identify hearing levels for tones. Special testing determines if follow up medical services are necessary.
Advanced Hearing Specialists's portable, state-of-the-art audio equipment means your exam can be done in the privacy of your home or office. Most exams are completed within 30 minutes.
Counseling
If medical treatment is not indicated, the audiologist will discuss amplification options with you. An audiologist will always recommend that you obtain clearance from a medical doctor before proceeding with amplification.
Hearing aids are the most frequently prescribed solution to a nerve-type hearing problem, but there are other options. The device(s) selected depend on your lifestyle. We at Advanced Hearing Specialists will ask you specific questions to help determine the best possible solution for you.
Advanced Hearing Specialists's goal is to help you improve your ability to communicate with friends, family and in general, to help improve your quality of life. As the audiologist gets to know you, and as you learn about the options available, you are working towards a personalized plan suited to you, your needs and your lifestyle.
Assistive Listening Devices
Advanced Hearing Specialists offers a full range of assistive devices to enhance your listening experiences. We provide a wide variety of products from personal amplifiers to large area loop systems.
To learn more about assistive listening devices, click on the links below:
- FM Loop Systems
- Personal FM Systems
- Infrared Listening Systems
- Amplified Telephones
- Alerting Devices
- Batteries
- Supplies
Many assistive devices can be purchased directly from catalogs or online. For more information, please give us a call. We're happy to provide you with information that can improve your ability to hear the sounds of life all around you.
Web Links
Follow these links to Websites with additional information:
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