Joe Baker’s Hearing Science takes a different approach to helping people reclaim a vital sense
By Patricia Nugent
With a 30-plus year career spanning every facet of the audiology field—from preventive hearing healthcare in the military to practicing audiology to teaching others to be occupational hearing conservationists eliminating hazardous noise in the workplace—Joe Baker is uniquely qualified to restore and protect your hearing.
He recently opened a new audiology practice called Hearing Science in Westlake to introduce his premier level of high-tech audiology services to the West Side.
“Hearing loss is dangerous on many levels,” he explains. “First of all, it happens so gradually, people often don’t realize it until the loss is significant and has already created negative health repercussions. Second, people tend to put off doing anything about it. After noticing loss, the average person waits 10 years before getting their hearing tested.”
For seniors, especially, hearing loss has been linked to cognitive decline. And the longer you go without addressing it, the faster the decline.
Diagnostics Optimize Hearing Quality
For Joe, only working with the latest tech in digitally integrated diagnostics and evidence-based practices is key.
For instance, he is one of a handful of audiologists in the area to work with REM, or real ear measurement.
“The process precisely calibrates hearing aids better than other methods,” he says.
During REM, a miniaturized microphone is placed in the ear canal and measures sounds. It picks up the sounds produced by a hearing aid to compare to each patient’s prescription, based on their specific hearing needs.
“Real Ear Measurement is the best objective tool I have to ensure patients are getting the maximum benefit from their hearing aids,” he says.
Another technological advance is the video otoscope. Using a miniaturized camera, Joe is able to project a magnified image of your ear canal and eardrum onto a computer screen. This image can be saved and compared at future visits.
The Next Generation of Devices
Hearing aids have changed markedly over the decades Joe has been in audiology.
“The new models are wonderful,” he says. “They can stream sound directly from a phone or television screen into the aid for crystal clear sound.”
He says many newer devices are Bluetooth enabled and can be remotely adjusted via computer from his office, a convenience especially helpful during a health pandemic.
The manufacturers he likes to work with are Phonak, Signia and Widex. Each offers an ample breadth of cost options and features.
Speaking of cost, Joe is passionate when it comes to every person who needs hearing aids getting them. He offers a financing program with 24 months same as cash, so everyone can put hearing aids within their budget. He also offers an inviting lease program. Just like with a car, you can lease aids for three years of monthly payments, then turn them in and upgrade to a new pair at that time.
Ingenious Ways to Battle Tinnitus
As a tinnitus sufferer, Joe understands how bothersome the buzzing or ringing in the ears can be.
“We’ve always been told there is no cure since there isn’t a single reason causing tinnitus. It’s more a symptom of an underlying condition,” he explains. “However, there are many things you can do to control it, including diet, stress management and reducing certain medications that might be a trigger. Drinking alcohol and smoking are also associated with tinnitus.”
He notes that some of the newer hearing aids have built-in tinnitus therapy programs similar to biofeedback to combat the buzzing with nature sounds.
Masking Makes Hearing Harder
Joe notes that with folks wearing masks now, which produce a muffled level of conversation, more people are noticing that their hearing has slipped.
“The softer and higher frequencies, where most people have loss to start with, are not projected,” he says. “Plus, we don’t consciously register how much we pick up from watching people speak.”
Whether you are experiencing loss or not, Joe recommends you get a baseline audiogram by age 50.
“Optimizing the quality of your hearing is my goal,” he says “I’ve seen the difference hearing can make to help you live a longer, happier and healthier life. And that’s why I love being an audiologist.”
Hearing Science is located a half mile north of I-90, within the Crocker Office Park at 815 Crocker Road, Suite 8, in Westlake. Appointments can be scheduled conveniently online. Call 440-438-3401 or visit HearSci.com for more information.