Noises in the ears: Can it be helped? Dr. Richard S. Reikowski, Au.D Family Hearing and Balance Center Akron, Ohio

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Static, crickets, whistling, tire air sounds, chirping, and high pitched sounds are ways that people may describe the unwanted sounds in their ears. Also, disturbing, bothersome, stressful, distracting, depriving sleep, displaced from others may be ways in which the affect of tinnitus affects ones quality of life.  Can tinnitus be helped? Can the negative affects it causes be changed?

I feel the answer is a resounding “yes”. Through a detailed assessment process, we can learn enough of the tinnitus and offer solutions for reducing the above negative effects. I believe in using a clinical and well founded model of addressing tinnitus. Each patient is addressed individually and personally to their needs as well as tinnitus affects.

I have seen outstanding devices such as the Neuromonics as well as the Zen Treatment within the Widex hearing aids/devices. Each of these medical devices are suited for particular tinnitus needs. One chief aspect is whether there is a hearing loss component or communication need. The Widex devices with Zen tinnitus treatment offers the potential for successful outcomes with improving ones hearing as well as tinnitus. The Neuromonics device, I have found is helpful for primarily a person that has hearing within normal limits or has no chief hearing loss related issues.  We are proud to be a research member of the American Tinnitus Association as a well as a Premier Provider with Neuromonics.

There are very clear ways to assess as well as helping Tinnitus. We are pleased to be of service to you.

Success in finding the right solutions with Dr. W.H. Lippy, ENT by Dr. Richard Reikowski, Au.D Family Hearing and Balance Center, Akron, Ohio

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Sometimes I take for granted the importance and great responsibility we have in caring for others. Each patient encounter places our focus towards the specific and important goals of quality of life improvements. Quality of life can have a different connotation for any given person. Our office as a whole team effort, believes in serving as a professional and clinical resource for those with hearing, balance, and tinnitus related issues. We serve to resolve and help those that suffer from these issues to better their quality of life and communication areas.

I am very pleased to have began my career with medical professionals and staff of the Lippy Group for ENT, formerly The Warren Otologic Group . In working closely with Dr. William H. Lippy, and their staff, I was fortunate to have been in an environment to witness some of the most successful ear surgery’s and wonderful outcomes to the physicians skilled work. The high level of care and excellent standard of clinical and surgical success is one that the Lippy Group for ENT stands for. We share this level of commitment and in turn provide to each of our patients.

I am pleased to share with our friends, of this blog, the below testimonial of a patient that we were able to help seek the surgical improvement, of hearing, with Dr. Lippy. The right path is to always make the best decision for the patient. In this case, we began seeing a progression of hearing loss and I felt clinically that a medical referral was not only necessary but ethically important. See below…..

 

Patient Testimonial By:  H.H

 Date:  April 18, 2012

I have a whole new life!  Thanks to Dr. Reikowski and Dr. Lippy.  After not hearing for many years – probably 25 – surgery for otosclerosis has opened up the whole world for me.  I felt so isolated and alone not hearing out of my right ear – I really would just shut down in a crowd.  Now – watch out! – ‘cause I hear everything!

 

Chocolate bunny and hearing loss Dr. Richard S. Reikowski, Au.D Family Hearing and Balance Center Akron, Ohio

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I recall, years ago, seeing a chocolate bunny that was missing it’s ears. Similar to this picture…..The chocolate bunny still tastes the same without it’s ears but it appears different. When we have hearing loss, it is often unseen and not noticed. However, close family members, friends, and coworkers, surely are aware. They may need to repeat often, speak face to face, talk at a slower rate or higher volume level, or even change their daily activities to take into account the noise areas, such as a restaurant that is difficult to enjoy.

I have found that, we as Audiologists, and everyone in general, need to be cognizant of the needs that people with hearing loss may have. We are asked, at least if not by profession, but as a human, to provide care to anyone with need. I think of the message of Jesus washing feet, at last nights Mass at church, Jesus became a servant to those around him by washing their feet. We are called to serve others as requested by Jesus.

My staff are committed to being of need for those with hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance needs. To be an educator of the cause, affects, and solutions for hearing, tinnitus, and balance issues is our mission.

Dizziness and Vertigo: Solutions begin with Education by Dr. Richard Reikowski, Au.D Family Hearing and Balance Center Akron, Ohio

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Can we attend Easter services if we are having balance or dizziness problems? Balance and vertigo does negatively affect our quality of life…..

We saw a patient for a balance concerns yesterday. Her son reported having a hard time finding offices that work with vestibular or balance assessments/treatment.   He found us on the internet and then proceeded to share with us that his mother’s family physician was unaware of anyone in the area performing balance or VNG’s testing. He was so pleased to find us and felt comforted that an assessment of his mother’s balance could reveal potential reasons for falling or her dizzy spells. Also, the son reported “nobody seems to know where to send people for dizziness problems”.

I feel this information is worthy of sharing. First off, the beginning of a potential solution for any problem is to first have an understanding of the problem. A comprehensive assessment of the balance system is available and we are pleased to provide these services. Also, our front office and clinical staff coordinate all reporting and recommendations with the family or referring physician. Communication with professionals within the medical community is a part of the solution.

Balance issues can and do negatively affect ones quality of life. Please, allow us to be of service to you.

 

 

 

Musicians Ear Plugs at the Moondog Coronation Ball By Dr. Richard Reikowski, Au.D Family Hearing and Balance Center Akron, Ohio

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I attended the Moondog Coronation Ball at the Q Arena this past Saturday. Particularly, to seeing Micky Dolenz, formerly of the Monkeys and also an amazing band, Creedence Clearwater Revisited. I loved the show and their music and couldn’t have imagined a better way to have enjoyed it, if it weren’t for my custom musicians earplugs with ER-25 filters. They fit beautifully and was truly amazed by the way they reduced the excessive loud levels, to a level that was not only comfortable but with a clear sound quality.

I was able to enjoy the music to such a comfortable, yet still at a “rock and roll” level. The clarity of the words and music was very smooth and not sounding muted, similar to a traditional soft earplug may deliver. I want to thank Westone Labs for making these custom noise plugs for me. One of our staff audiologists took my ear impressions and I had them within a week! I look forward to making a pair for my wife, who is also a clinical audiologist. By the way, the royal blue color of the custom plugs is pretty cool too!

 

A Beautiful Flower Should Be Left to Grow

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I was in a meeting the other day. It was the owner, the two Audiologist, and I. As the meeting progressed and we followed our agenda, I began to hear soft laughter from the area where our two Audiologist were sitting…which then turned into loud laughter. The owner and I looked at each other and smiled. There wasn’t a reason for us to smile except in response to them enjoying themselves. They were lightly pushing each other in good fun, and acting as if the owner and I weren’t even there. Then I heard laughter coming from where the owner was sitting, and I knew that it was in reaction to their laughing because neither one of us caught the joke. I had lost control of the meeting.

As facilitator, my tendency was to gruffly refocus the group, but I caught myself. We have been working on improvements and changes in the Practice for the past couple of years. When changes are made, one can remember processes that were painful and challenging. This was far from painful, and very far from challenging. We had turned a corner.

If they are approaching my dry meeting with this kind of joy, they are approaching patient care with a greater joy. This kind of pleasant, and informal leadership showed me a symptom of the underlying attitude of the Practice. If laughter was happening when treating me as if I wasn’t there, I could rest assured that it was really happening when I really wasn’t there. That translates into great patient care, and relationships that are constantly being built. It makes this Practice a warm, and reliable place to come to. What more can one ask for?

I never did catch the joke, but don’t worry, I sat there and smiled until everyone came back to the meeting on their own. I never want to be the kind of leader that steps on a beautiful flower because it is in your path. One should maneuver around it because that kind of beauty should be left to grow.

iPad2 Contest Winner – Cardinal Hearing Centers – Kristie Dannemiller-Smith, Clinical Audiologist

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Right: Kristie Dannemiller-Smith M.A., Bernardine Putka, William Rolf, Dr. Richard Reikowski

Our patient, Mr. Rolf, came to us after struggling with his hearing aids and losing the one on the left side. He was unable to communicate with his partner and his children and he was feeling withdrawn. After testing his hearing and discussing options, we opted for the GNR Alera 7 BTE (patient had previously been wearing another hearing device BTE with complaints regarding compression issues). Mr. Rolf presented the coupon that his son had given him from out newsletter regarding the 200.00 off per aid and a chance to win an iPad. While taking the ear mold impressions for the hearing aids, I noted an unusual scab on the lower part of his helix near the bowl of the ear and advised the patient to see his doctor regarding the sore. He stated that he was aware of the sore and would now speak to his doctor regarding it since I had mentioned something about it.

The patient was fit with the Alera 7 BTE (behind the ear) and has reported fantastic success! His son even stated that they can talk on the telephone now and his father hears him much better. He is able to understand the TV better and keep the volume down so that it is more comfortable for his partner. He feels like he is part of the conversation again and could not be happier. 

Recently, Mr. Rolf won the drawing for the iPad and came into the office on Tuesday to claim his prize. Both he and his partner, Bernadine, were very excited! Mr. Rolf then informed me that his dermotologist had completed a biopsy on his ear and he is now scheduled for a Moh’s procedure to remove the rest of the cancer from his ear. His partner stated that if I had not mentioned anything about the sore, that she may still be trying to get him in to see the doctor about it.
They not only appreciated the hearing instruments, they appreciated the advise regarding the sore on his ear that did turn out to be cancer, and they most definitely appreciate the new iPad. They will be using the iPad and Skype in order to communicate with their grandson who lives in California. We not only helped him improve his hearing and communication skills, but we also decreased the distance between grandfather and grandson so that they can communicate face to face!!
I truly enjoy what I do!

Krisite Dannemiller-Smith, Clinical Audiologist

 

Widex Clear Zen and Success for this patient with hearing sensitivity: Kristie Dannemiller-Smith, M.A., CCC/A Cardinal Hearing Centers Northfield Parma, Ohio

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A young lady came in seeking help with her hearing sensitivity.  Loud sounds and bright lights give her migraine headaches following head trauma from an accident with a car. She has been seeking help for the past year for her hearing sensitivity that keeps he confined to her home.  She is unable to work due to this abnormal sensitivity to noise. She came in for a hearing evaluation and a slight to mild hearing loss was recognized. Her Neuropsychologist had told her about a hearing instrument that had music therapy that may work for her.

We are very familiar with this hearing device. It is called the Widex Fusion 440 with Zen. We ordered these devices for this particular patient and provided the fitting approximately two weeks ago. She came in for follow up within one week and is very satisfied!!!

She stated that she was able to go to the movies for the first time since her accident and enjoy it! She went out with her girlfriends before the appointment and was able to carry on a conversation in a noisy coffee house and not feels that she had to leave because of the noise. She is very satisfied with her hearing aids and is looking forward to getting out and doing more things.  YAY Widex and Zen!!!

It’s wonderful to be a part of success in helping those achieve a  better quality of life. Reducing tinnitus and loudness intolerance, as well as helping people to actively have a social lifestyle again is great!!

Kristie

Thank you for sharing this story Kristie. It truly is great to be a part of helping people to have a better quality of life!

Rich

Rich Reikowski, Au.D

Director of Audiology, balance, and Tinnitus

Neuromonics and solutions for Tinnitus: Dr. Richard Reikowski, Au.D and Dr. Amy Welman, Au.D Family Hearing and Balance Center Akron, Ohio

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What does the newness of Spring have to do with Tinnitus. The newness and refreshing part of this year indicating Spring, we see a newness of life, colors, smells, fresh air, as well as a new part of our lives each year. I compare the brightness of this flower picture to how we can offer renewed hope to those people that suffer from Tinnitus. We offer a newness and better quality of life from various treatments. A sense of clarity of attention, away from the tinnitus, is a goal.  Namely, of the Neuromonics Oasis device, in this blog post. I am pleased to share, Dr. Welman’s comments below, how this patient experiences a revitalized and refreshed change in his life. We are continuign to find consistent success in helping tinnitus sufferers have a better quality of life.

“I followed up with a patient who has been using his Neuromonics Oasis Tinnitus Treatment device for a couple months.  In the beginning he had trouble finding time to wear it and wasn’t able to reach the minimum recommended time of 2 hours each day.  After realizing out how much relief from his tinnitus the treatment was providing, he was more dedicated to finding time.   He found that when he wakes up in the morning, he puts on the treatment as he goes about his morning routine and it really helps him to relax and get ready for the day that lies ahead.  He feels less rushed, more focused and also is able to clock more usage time to meet his goals.

 

 

 

 

 

Neuromonics: Success stories and The Doctor’s Show: Dr. Richard S. Reikowski, Au.D Family Hearing and Balance Center Akron, Ohio

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The Doctors Show is an excellent resource for sharing overall heath, fitness, and general quality of life topics. The Doctors Show conveys a message of hope, promise, and success in treating and offering solutions for tinnitus.  See the YouTube link below. Neuromonics has been a proven successful in our practice in reducing the negative affects of tinnitus, offering a better quality of sleep with reduced perception and irritation that tinnitus caused. We are a Research member of the American Academy of Audiology. Our office and staff, Family Hearing and Balance Center in the Akron area, as well as serving the entire Summit County and NE Ohio areas, take focus of the burden hat tinnitus causes on a person’s quality of life. We place each person’s needs first and listen intently to what is most important to each patient. Neuromonics sound therapy, Oasis,  has been able to offer patients a much improved quality of life. By, reducing how much time a person attends to their sounds in the ears/head, reducing the attention one places on their tinnitus, and offers relief from constant crickets and sounds in the ears.

We are committed to being a resource for those with tinnitus concerns. Please, see the video link below. Well worth watching!