doctorofaudiology
16 Years Experience
Marlboro, NJ
Male, 40
I've been an audiologist for 16 years. I work with all types of patients, focusing on balance disorders, tinnitus, and hearing aids. As I have worked in an Ear, Nose, Throat setting much of my career, I am also exposed to much of the medical side of audiology. ASK ME ANYTHING about being an audiologist.
DISCLAIMER: If you feel that you have a hearing or balance issue, please be sure to see your local ENT or audiologist. This Q&A is not designed to treat or diagnose your problems.
It depends on the level of functioning. Audiologists will work their way down the aging scale to see what kind of interaction a patient can give. We start with adult performance, then work our way down to pediatric test such as play audiometry and visual reinforcement audiology. If none work, consider an ABR, a brainstem test that does not involve response from the patient.
No dangers. Just be careful of disease. Like any other healthcare profession, look for blood or open wounds.
Any sound that a person hears "in their heads" is tinnitus. It is not normal. Please go to a hearing specialist for a hearing evaluation. This will give us more data on what is going on with the sound.
As long as you have some sort of protection, that is very important. The yellow 3M E-A-R plugs help, but I personally prefer the Mac's earplugs. Why? Because they splat over the entrance of the ear, so no matter what ear canal you have, it will work. I find that the 3M product doesn't always stay in well and sound can leak in. If you are a huge concert goer, consider going to an audiologist and getting custom noise reduction plugs. That could run you $150-$250 a pair, but you will be very happy you did it.
3D Games Developer/Programmer
Is the new Oculus Rift thing as cool as everyone says?Bartender
What's the best way to get a bartender's attention?Air Traffic Controller
What was it like in the tower on 9/11?I liked this article, which sums it up. http://www.healthyhearing.com/report/51575-The-history-of-audiology
I only have knowledge of mercury fillings and their relationship to tinnitus. However, in general, jaw discomfort, stress, tension, etc., can contribute to the presence of tinnitus.
No, you cannot. One of my pet peeves in the industry is when a doctor tells the patient that s/he has "better than normal hearing" or "perfect hearing". We are not born with "100% of our hearing", then declines. We are generally all born within a normal limit, which declines over time. On the audiogram (hearing test), one can have test scores below 0 dB, which is great, but not "perfect" or "above average".One of the best ways to assist in hearing a teacher in the classroom is by utilizing ALDs (assistive listening devices). Many of these devices, which include FM systems or remote microphones, allow the speaker's signal to transmit more prominently to the person with a hearing impairment.
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