Audiology

A YHSC staff audiologist will be attending a three day seminar in Chicago, November 8-10th called
"A Sound Foundation Through Early Amplification." The seminar will provide new and current trends/techniques for working with the pediatric, hearing-impaired population.  Be watching for more details.

Audiology and Hearing Aid Services

Audiology and Hearing Aid Services

The Youngstown Hearing & Speech Center provides the finest audiology and hearing aid care. YHSC combines state of the art hearing testing and evaluation of hearing problems. We offer the latest and most current hearing aid technology and circuitry, including conventional and digital hearing instruments.

Pediatric and Adult Services

Pediatric and Adult Services

YHSC provides professional audiology services for adults and children of all ages, including newborns. Services available at YHSC include clinical audiometry, tympanometry, sound field testing, otoacoustic emission (OAE) testing, and hearing aid selection and fitting.

YHSC is contracted with Forum Health’s Northside Medical Center, (NMC). Audiology services available at the hospital site include basic audiometry, tympanometry, otoacoustic emission (OAE) testing, auditory and visual evoked potentials, electronystagmography (ENG) and auditory steady-state response (ASSR) audiometry. YHSC’s audiologists conduct the newborn universal hearing screening program at NMC.

The audiology department also has an out-patient site in Warren, located on Tod Avenue in the Warren West Community Health Center.

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Staff

YHSC’s audiology staff specializes in the diagnosis and rehabilitation of hearing loss. All audiologists have a masters degree and/or clinical doctorate in audiology and are licensed by the state of Ohio’s Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology. YHSC’s audiologists all have a Certificate of Clinical Competence granted by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

YHSC also employs audiology aides to assist with client needs. The aides are licensed by the state of Ohio’s Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology.

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Types of Hearing Loss

Audiology and Hearing Aid Services

There are three types of hearing loss: conductive, sensorineural, and mixed hearing loss, based on the location of the problem in the auditory system.

  • Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound is not conducted efficiently through the outer and middle ear. Conductive losses primarily reduce the loudness of sound that is heard. Frequent colds, allergies or certain childhood illnesses may cause a blockage of sound due to fluid in the middle ear behind the eardrum leading o temporary hearing loss or even permanent damage. A build up of wax, infection in the middle ear, heredity and birth defects also may cause conductive hearing loss.
     
  • Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when there is damage to the inner ear and/or nerve pathways from the inner ear to the brain. Sensorineural losses usually result in reduction of sound level and inability to understand speech. The aging process, heredity, syndromes, birth defects, certain medication, head injury, tumors, and repeating exposure to noise can lead to this type of hearing loss.
     
  • Mixed hearing loss is a conductive, and a sensorineural hearing loss, in the same ear at the same time.

Although recommendations can vary, virtually all types and degrees of hearing loss can be treated. Once an audiologist performs a comprehensive evaluation and identifies a hearing loss, a recommendation will be made. Some available options include referral for medical treatment, fitting of hearing aids, and the use of communication strategies and assistive listening devices.

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Hearing Instruments

YHSC offers an impressive selection of conventional and the latest in digital hearing aids. We also offer hearing aid repairs, hearing aid accessories, batteries, custom ear molds, custom swim plugs, and assistive listening devices. Primary hearing aid companies utilized are www.phonak.com, www.oticon.com, and www.starkey.com.

Hearing instruments improve speech understanding in various situations and support the many functions of the human hearing (localization of sounds, enjoyment of music, …etc.)

As the kind and degree of hearing loss varies from person to person and even sometimes from ear to ear, there are different hearing instrument models which are tailored to specific hearing losses and which take into account personal needs. There are several levels of technology to fit an individuals lifestyle and activity level. YHSC’s audiologists are specialists at working with the client to find the right technology that fits an individuals lifestyle and that they are comfortable with.

Hearing instruments are all distinguished by design and technology.

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Design

In-The Ear model (ITE): The unobstrusive hearing instruments that are worn in the ear. Aesthetically pleasing, they cover mild to moderate hearing loss. The smallest ITE models are called CIC (Completely-in-Canal), they can be worn completely in the canal and are therefore hardly visible.

Completely In The Canal (CIC)
Completely In The Canal (CIC)		   In The Canal (ITC)/ Half Shell (HS)
In The Canal (ITC)/ Half Shell (HS)		   Full Shell In The Ear (ITE)
Full Shell In The Ear (ITE)
Behind-the-Ear model (BTE)

Behind-the-Ear model (BTE): The versatile and powerful hearing instruments that are worn behind the ear. They can be employed for all degrees of hearing losses and are particularly beneficial for severe hearing losses and special requirements regarding hearing in difficult listening situations. (FM system etc.)

Micro Behind The Ear (microBTE)
Micro Behind The Ear (microBTE)		   Behind The Ear (BTE)
Behind The Ear (BTE)		   Power Behind The Ear (Power BTE)
Power Behind The Ear (Power BTE)

Open Style BTE: The BTE hearing aid is attached to a slim tube and dome. This fitting is nearly invisible thus it is cosmetically appealing. The open style fitting reduces the client’s “plugged up” feeling.

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Technology

Digital: Microprocessors (digital signal processing) guarantee the highest signal processing and fitting flexibility, in addition to providing maximum speech understanding. Individual preferences and needs can be taken into account.

Analog: Conventional technology for all degrees of hearing loss. The fitting is performed with control elements located directly on the hearing instrument.  Well priced and proven technology.

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Purchasing Hearing Aids

When purchasing a hearing aid, it is important to look for the following:

  • An audiologist who is licensed by the state of Ohio and certified by ASHA or AAA.
  • A thorough hearing evaluation, which includes an otoscopic examination of the ears and a review of your medical history.
  • An explanation of the different types of available technology and how they might meet the needs of your lifestyle.
  • A fitting period that allows you to determine if the hearing aid(s) recommended for you are appropriate for your hearing loss. During the trial period YHSC’s audiologists routinely perform real ear measurements and speech mapping to objectively verify appropriate/accurate hearing aid benefit on children and adults.  Several follow up appointments will be scheduled during the trial period to ensure the proper fit and patient satisfaction.
  • A fitting policy in which the price of the hearing aid(s) includes a one or two year warranty as well as office visits for cleaning and care of your hearing aid(s).

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Battery Club

YHSC offers all of their hearing aid clients the opportunity to join their battery club at no charge. Clients enrolled in this program receive special discounts on battery purchases.

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United Way and Foundation Supported Hearing Aid Fittings

As a non-profit organization, YHSC operates a hearing aid dispensing program for children and adults unable to afford them. We receive financial support from the United Way and from various foundations, service organizations and individual donors that enable us to provide this much needed service.

Low income children or adults in Mahoning and Trumbull counties can benefit. YHSC uses the federal poverty guidelines to determine the amount of money available for each patient. Monetary assistance for hearing aids and assistive listening devices is capped at a certain dollar amount. Adults and children are eligible for one new hearing aid every four years.

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Contact Us

If you have any questions or would like to talk with our audiologists contact The Youngstown Hearing & Speech Center or email: lfrederick@yohsc.com.

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