Testing the invisible sense

By Amanda Barbur, Doctor of Audiology; Amanda’s Family Hearing

My family and I just returned from a wonderful northwestern road trip where we visited the Badlands, Mount Rushmore, Devil’s Tower, Grant Teton and eventually Yellowstone.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime trip, especially for our seven-year-old son. The more than 3,500 miles of mountainous vistas, emerald-green meadows, waterfalls, geysers, hot springs and hiking trails were amazing sights to behold. Looking back on it now, though, the sounds were every bit as magical. We experienced wolves howling, prairie dogs squealing and buffalo grunting. The hikes were a real escape, with the soothing backdrop sounds of rushing rapids, bubbling mudpots, and spewing geysers.

Whether on vacation or engaging with their everyday environment, I hope people appreciate their hearing as much as I do. This “invisible sense” is an important part of how you interpret the world around you.

At Amanda’s Family Hearing, fellow audiologist Dr. Kevin Burkitt and I perform comprehensive diagnostic testing. First, we do a consultation, going over the patient’s medical history. We then diagnose the type and severity of their loss and recommend the best course of treatment.

Oftentimes, we see patients who have self-diagnosed a hearing problem and bought over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. Not only could the quality of hearing they get with these devices be sub-standard, but they could also miss a more serious medical condition.

Additionally, if hearing loss is improperly treated, it could lead to more devastating effects later on, such as early onset dementia or depression.

Our goal is to have everyone fully enjoy every sound they hear for the best quality of living.

Amanda’s Family Hearing is located at 1701 Mentor Avenue, Suite 5, in Painesville. Call 440-357-4327or visit AmandasFamilyHearing.com for more information.