What is a Speech Disorder?
A speech disorder occurs when a child has trouble producing certain sounds. According to your Louisville expert, speech disorders can be broken down into different categories depending on the nature of the problem. Speech disorders include: Articulation disorders. The child has trouble with certain syllables or pronounces words incorrectly to such an extent that it…
Hearing Aids Can Help Date Night
Looking for low key date ideas this Valentine’s Day? Why not go out for dinner and a movie? The theaters in Louisville have everything you could want: larger than life entertainment, popcorn buckets the size of your head and a comfortable chair. But what if you wear hearing aids? Assistive Listening Devices Having hearing loss…
Top 5 Symptoms of Hearing Loss
The symptoms of hearing loss appear gradually, as it is a progressive condition. Because of this, many do not realize they are suffering from hearing loss for quite some time. Louisville audiologists agree that detecting hearing loss early leads to the best treatment outcomes. In order to catch your hearing loss early, there are signs…
Hearing Tests for Children
While hearing loss is certainty more prevalent in those over the age of 65, it should be taken no less seriously in the pediatric population. Nearly three out of every one thousand babies are born with some form of hearing loss. In most cases, these hearing issues are not discovered until the child is at…
Hearing Loss from Balloons?
Children’s birthday parties are filled with too much sugar and the occasional roughhousing injury. But what about balloons? A new study found that the sound of a popping balloon can put your child’s hearing at risk. How Loud is a Balloon? A new study by a pair of researchers at the University of Alberta found…
Can You Test Balance?
Have you ever had unexplained episodes of dizziness or felt like you may fall? If so, this is something you should not take lightly. In fact, one out of five falls causes a serious injury such as broken bones or a head injury. If you experience any episodes of dizziness, now is the time to…
What Can Custom Earmolds Do?
You have probably been told by your Louisville audiologist countless times how noise induced hearing loss can be easily prevented by the use of earplugs, specifically custom-made ones. Custom-made earplugs are created from a mold of your ear canal and concha (the outer bowl-shaped portion of your ear). They adhere perfectly to the contours of…
Speech Class
So, you have been told that your child needs to attend a speech class. What now? Who Needs Speech Therapy? First things first, know that many kids in Louisville, Kentucky see a speech therapist. Often, it is a medical condition that makes speaking more difficult. The most common conditions that affect speech are: Hearing loss….
What is a Newborn Hearing Screening?
While hearing loss may seem like a condition that only affects those in their golden years, it can develop at any time. Louisville experts agree that nearly three of every one thousand babies are born with some form of hearing loss. Unfortunately, many of these cases are not discovered until the child is at least…
Implantable Hearing Devices
Hearing aids come in an array of shapes and styles, each one serving a specific purpose. They can be programmed to manipulate sound in different ways to suit the specific needs of each hearing aid wearer. So what happens when your type and degree of hearing loss cannot benefit from traditional hearing aids? That’s when…
Hearing Protection Tips for Fall
Fall has finally reached Louisville! As the seasons change, we urge you to consider changing some of your hearing habits as well. There are a number of autumnal activities that can cause noise-induced hearing loss if you do not wear proper protection. While prolonged exposure to leaf blowers, power tools and sporting events can cause…
Understanding Hearing Loss in Children
We previously posted an article about hearing loss in children. Reports estimate that approximately two to three out of every 100 children are affected by a hearing loss. There are several potential causes for hearing loss in children, ranging from genetics and environmental factors to complications during birth and so on. When a child is…
When should you upgrade your hearing aid?
If you’re like me, you hate to get rid of something when it still technically works. This can be true for socks that have holes, plates that have chips and even headphones that don’t always connect. But some things, like life-saving medications or a device helps you connect with the world (cough, hearing aid, cough),…
Hearing Loss in Children
Can Children Suffer From Hearing Loss? While more common in older adults, hearing loss can affect people of all ages. One of the most vulnerable groups is the pediatric population, as a delay in treatment can lead to problems with a child’s learning and development. There are three main causes of hearing loss in children….
The Future for Children with Hearing Loss
Before the 1990s, the average of age of diagnosis for congenital hearing loss was 2 ½ to 3 years old.1 This often resulted in children missing 2-3 years of language exposure at a critical point in their development. In the late 90s, as diagnostic technology improved, state Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs expanded,…
Signs Everyone with Hearing Loss Should Recognize
In order to get your driver’s license in Louisville, KY you must pass a written test. Part of that test quizzes you on road signs. Just as knowing what road signs mean is important to driving well, Being able to recognize these important hearing loss signs to be able to successfully navigate the world. Hearing…
What Happens When Your Child Fails a Hearing Test?
Your child’s hearing is a crucial component of the development process. It affects their social, emotional, and cognitive skills, and plays a major role in language milestones and speech development. A hearing loss can have a big impact on your child’s learning ability, but if the problem is caught early, it can be treated. Hearing…
ONLINE HEARING AIDS: WHAT’S THE SCOOP?
Like all other medical care, quality hearing care is expensive. While we at Heuser Hearing Institute understand the challenges related to the cost of hearing health care, we believe that building a relationship with a local provider who knows your needs will lead to the best outcomes in hearing care. We also understand that there…
Communication Strategies
After noticing your child was not progressing as fast as other children their age you took them to your local Louisville audiologist to be tested. After a series of tests, you received the news you knew was coming, your child has hearing loss. This is not as uncommon as you may think; nearly three of…
Hearing Aid Brands
Have you ever gotten overwhelmed with the sheer number of brands the store has of toothpaste, yogurt or even tortilla chips? The good thing is that if your choice does not make your teeth sparkle, has a weird good flavor or doesn’t have as much salt as you like, they are all cheap enough to…
The Difference Between Speech and Language
Is There a Difference Between Speech and Language? The terms speech and language are thrown around, almost interchangeably. But did you know there are actually a few key distinctions between these two different skills? If you have a child that has been referred to a Louisville speech pathologist, this is information is especially important. Speech…
Language Delays
Child’s Development of Speech and Language As a Louisville parent, you probably can’t help constantly comparing your child’s development to others. This is especially common in regard to language development and language milestones. If you think your child’s development of speech and language is slower than normal, your Louisville speech pathologist recommends comparing your impression…
Hearing Aid Maintenance
Hearing Aids Need Daily Maintenance What do Phonak, ReSound and Oticon hearing aids all have in common? Besides for being the leading hearing aid manufactures in the industry, all of their hearing aids need daily maintenance to keep them in tip-top shape. Would you buy a luxury car and never change the oil? What about…
When Should You See a Speech Pathologist?
If your child has trouble hearing they see an audiologist, if they have trouble seeing they go to an optometrist; where do you go if your child has trouble speaking? Why See a Speech Pathologist? A speech pathologist’s job is to help prevent, assess, diagnose and treat the following disorders in children and adults: Speech…
Signs Your Child has a Speech, Language or Hearing Problem
Everyone’s child is perfect in their eyes. While it is hard to look past this, when it comes to meeting speech, language or hearing milestones you are going to have to. If your child is in the Louisville area and under the age of three, there are some important questions to ask. Does your child…
What Are Speech-Language Milestones?
Speech-Language Milestones Speech-language milestones help pediatric audiologists identify potential audiological problems by assessing a young child’s communication development. Children all learn and develop differently, so it can be difficult to determine whether a baby’s communication abilities are progressing at a normal, healthy rate. Despite huge variations in the process of early childhood development, infants typically…
Does Your Child Need Speech Therapy?
Types of Speech Disorders A speech disorder occurs when a patient, usually a child, has trouble producing certain sounds. Since this is such a broad term, it is helpful to place a condition into one of four distinct categories; these categories are based on the nature of the speech problem. These four categories are: Articulation…
Signs Your child May Have Hearing Problems
Hearing loss isn’t confined to older adults: children of all ages can experience a loss of hearing. Roughly 3 out of 1000 babies are born with hearing loss, and its prevalence is increasing in adolescents. Noise-induced hearing loss is largely responsible for this increase. If you suspect your child is having difficulty hearing, talk to…
Hearing Aid Misconception
Do you suffer from hearing loss but are not currently seeking treatment? If so, you are part of the 80 percent of the 48 million individuals in Louisville and around the country who could find benefits from a hearing aid but choose not to do so. While your reasons may range from denial or simply…
Does Your Toddler Need Speech-Language Therapy?
As a parent, you often have to walk the line between cautious and paranoid. When your child turns two and is only speaking a handful of words, you might wonder whether he or she is just slow to talk or if your child is experiencing a language delay. A formal diagnosis from a speech pathologist…
Holistic Health Screenings and Language Disorders
Pediatric Hearing Screenings Our ability to hear may sometimes be taken for granted, but it is plays a significant role in a child’s emotional and social development. For this reason, our society has implemented pediatric hearing screenings to identify at-risk infants. However, the possibility for hearing loss may actually be more challenging to detect in…
Innovative Test for Hearing Aid Fittings
Despite our dependency on our hearing, a loss of hearing can often go unnoticed for extend periods of time. Because a hearing impairment occurs slowly over many years, the hearing impaired may become accustomed to their condition before they realize it has affected them. One of the earliest indicators of hearing loss is the inability…
The Connection Between Hearing and Speech Development
It is well-recognized that the relationship between hearing and speech development is critical in the early years of a child’s life. Children learn to use language by listening to the speaking habits of others. Infant hearing loss is therefore detrimental to a child’s early development. When an impairment prevents a child from hearing sound consistently,…
The Hidden Hearing Loss Effect
Each day we all experience sound in the environment. Many of these sounds are low intensity, satisfying, and others are the mundane sounds of life, such as television, radio, household appliances, cars running, traffic, etc. Most of these sounds are at very safe levels and do not cause any danger to hearing. Noise-Induced Hearing Loss We…
Does Your Child Have Hearing Loss?
Our ability to hear may sometimes be taken for granted, but it is plays a significant role a child’s emotional and social development. For this reason, our society has implemented pediatric hearing screenings to identify at-risk infants. However, the possibility for hearing loss may actually be more challenging to detect in older children, who have…
Understanding the Science of Sound in Hearing Aids
The introduction of digital technology to the hearing aid industry has drastically changed the way hearing devices process and deliver sound. Previously, analog devices served as the industry standard for treating hearing loss. These devices were simplistic in their mechanics and offered very little in the way of customization. The development of digital hearing aids…
The Musician Hearing Loss Evolution
As we work through the clinic day, we may find ourselves jealous of our patients with those high frequency hearing losses due to concert their attendance. Often these were the lucky ones with the premier tickets, close to the stage, the musicians, and the speakers as well. As audiologists we now know that those that had…
What Hearing Aid Technology is Best for You?
Purchasing a hearing aid is more complicated than you might expect. Unlike other forms of tech like cell phones, there is no one-size-fits all hearing aid or hearing aid technology. In fact, purchasing a hearing aid is more similar to buying a car. In addition to aesthetics—size, style, color—you also need to consider which model will…
Mapping Hearing Loss Solutions
Google.org, the charitable arm of the world’s largest search engine, is supporting World Wide Hearing (WWH) to find a solution to what the World Health Organization (WHO) has described as one of the largest disabilities on the planet. Hearing loss. It affects one-third of people over the age of 65 and more than 1 billion young people are at risk for impaired…
What Does Typical Early Language Development Look Like?
Communication delays in children are more effectively treated when there is an early diagnosis. For many parents, especially first-time parents, it can be difficult to detect a delay during the early stages of a child’s development. However, by understanding the key stages of communication and language development, families can better know when to seek help…
Common Questions About Hearing Technology Answered
Hearing loss can be a bit daunting, especially when it’s a brand new experience, and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed. As hearing health professionals, we encounter this on a regular basis. In the hope of educating and empowering our community we’ve compiled a list of frequently asked hearing technology questions. Is there really a big…
Patient Profile – Stephen Miles
Stephen Miles is a Louisville native and has been a Heuser Hearing Institute patient for nearly six years. He’s a former Pro Stock national motorcycle drag racing champion who turned pro at the age of 16. He won his first national championship, The American Motorcycle Drag Bike Championship, in 1982 and has competed all across…
The Connection Between Speech and Hearing
Hearing loss is typically associated with old age; however, individuals of all ages are affected by this disorder. As many as 3 out of every 1,000 children are born with some degree of hearing loss. This can have a direct impact on the development of that child, as hearing plays a critical role in communication…
Meet Speech Therapist Lindsey Nolan
Lindsey Nolan has been a speech-language pathologist at Heuser Hearing and Language Academy for a little more than two years. She works with children in early intervention, school and clinic settings. A native of Elizabethtown, she loves living in Louisville because there’s always something fun to do or a new restaurant to try. Lindsey has…
Understanding Hearing Loss in Children
Reports estimate that approximately 2 out of every 100 children are affected by a hearing loss. There are several potential causes for hearing loss in children, ranging from genetics and environmental factors to complications during birth and so on. When a child is diagnosed with hearing loss, it can be an overwhelming experience for the…
Cochlear Implant Study Gets Underway at Heuser
The Brain and Behavior Laboratory at Heuser Hearing & Language Academy is now open! Currently, Dr. Sharon Miller is collecting data from adult cochlear implant recipients for her “Neural Mechanisms for Listening Through a Cochlear Implant” study. For this study, she is using a noninvasive brain imaging method called electroencephalography (EEG) and measuring the brain’s…
The Science Behind Hearing Loss
You’ve likely heard people in the hearing health industry boast about the amazing advances made to hearing technology in recent years. Hearing professionals claim revolutionary improvements have been made as recently as the past few years, and leading manufacturers of hearing aids Phonak, ReSound and Oticon have recently been applauded for releasing the most technologically…
The Effect of Communication Delays on Academic Performance
One of the most rewarding things a parent can experience is witnessing their child shine in an academic setting. When children excel in school, they often have a greater number of opportunities during their transition into early adulthood. That’s why we do our best to give our children every possible advantage. At Heuser Hearing Institute,…