Our Services

Diagnostic Hearing Evaluations

Diagnostic testing involves:

• Full Case History and discussion of communication difficulties
• Otoscopic Exam to check for wax or physical abnormalities in Outer Ear
• Tympanometry to check for ear infections and to measure the integrity of the Middle Ear
• Pure-Tone Air Conduction Audiometry to determine overall hearing acuity
• Pure-Tone Bone Conduction Audiometry to determine hearing loss acuity of the Inner Ear
• Speech Testing to determine integrity of Auditory System to amplified speech
• Speech in Noise testing to determine hearing acuity in noise

Diagnostic testing takes approximately 30 minutes and is followed by a thorough, usually 30 minute or more, explanation of results and recommendations.

Dizzy Testing
We have the latest equipment to help diagnose your dizzy and balance problems and get you on a quick road to recovery. Our testing will tell us if it is your ear, your central nervous system, or something else causing your symptoms.

Educational Seminars

Hearing Aids and Hearing Enhancers

Hearing Aids come in many different sizes and technology levels. If you need a hearing aid, the recommended size and technology is based on your hearing evaluation results as well as your lifestyle and what you would be willing to wear. Hearing aids sizes include: Completely-In- The-Canal (CIC), Mini-Canal (MC), Half-Shell (HS), In-The-Ear (ITE), Behind-The-Ear (BTE), and Behind-The-Ear Open (BTEO) - see next page for pictures. Dr. Nikki wants to find a size that is appropriate for your hearing loss, but also a size that you would feel comfortable wearing. Dr. Nikki, unlike most other hearing clinics, does not charge you a higher price because you would rather wear a smaller, more cosmetically appealing hearing aid.

Also, new technology allows hearing enhancers to be successfully used for milder hearing losses. These instruments have a much higher success rate and sound much more natural than instruments from years past. People with mild hearing loss used to be told that it was not bad enough for hearing aids - this has changed with hearing enhancers. These "Open" Hearing enhancers (BTEO) allow us to amplify only the few frequencies where you need help.

Noise Reduction Plugs

Swimming Ear Plugs

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) (for ringing in ears)

Tinnitus is defined as an internal noise inside a person's head or ears. It is something that no one else can hear. For this reason, many people with tinnitus are told that there is nothing that can be done about it. There is new research to show that Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)can be performed to help retrain the brain to not focus on the sound, therefore making is seem like the sound disappears.

TRT is usually reserved for people who are more bothered by their tinnitus. TRT involves a full diagnostic evaluation and a full consultation that will usually take approximately 2 hours. Tinnitus Retraining Therapy ALWAYS involves the use of hearing aids, ear-level sound generators, or combination devices that act as hearing aids and sound generators as the first step. TRT then involves therapy and counseling to retrain the brain. This therapy and counseling usually take 18 to 24 months to complete.

For further information, please make an appointment to see Dr. Nikki to discuss your tinnitus and treatment options

Wax Removal