Affinity Health Group ENT & Audiology Services Clinic

Affinity ENT & Audiology Services Clinic

At the Affinity ENT & Audiology Services Clinic, we offer services to treat any condition affecting the area of the head and neck: including but not limited to seasonal allergies, hearing concerns, and sinus issues. From persistent sniffles to tinnitus, Affinity ENT has a solution!

Our Audiologist and ENTs are experienced and available to treat you for any issue of the head and neck, large or small! Call Affinity ENT & Audiology Services Clinic today to schedule an appointment, and breathe easy!

Affinity ENT & Audiology accepts BCBS Federal Insurance and Vantage Health Plan for hearing aids. All BCBS Federal patients have a hearing aid benefit of $2500. Please call the office today at (318) 812-1125 to schedule an appointment or visit us at 2516 Broadmoor Blvd., Monroe, LA 71201.

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Hearing Loss & Hearing Aids

Hearing loss is a health issue! Hearing loss is closely associated with heart problems, diabetes, depression, and even dementia. Taking preventive steps as early as you can will help prevent your hearing loss from creating more serious health problems for you.

You must see a licensed Audiologist. There are many options for hearing aids in the market right now, and it’s easy to just pick one up at a discount hearing aid store or even the grocery store. However, these hearing aids are more likely to break or damage your hearing even more! A trip to the audiologist will save you money and potential health complications.

If you’re asking this question, the answer is "Yes!" If you are suffering the effects of hearing loss, even minor complications, you should visit an audiologist immediately.

There is no one symptom that will tell you if you are experiencing hearing loss. The most common signs and symptoms of hearing loss affect your relationships to others:

• Constantly having to ask people to repeat themselves
• Unable to or struggle with keeping up with conversations involving more than two people
• Thinking that others are speaking quietly and mumbling
• Having trouble following individual voices in noisy places

You may have hearing loss if:

• Others comment that your television or radio is too loud…
• You’re being told that your responses to conversations don’t make sense…
• You have a family history of hearing loss, or history of exposure to loud sounds…
• You have diabetes, heart, circulation, or thyroid problems…

What to expect in your hearing evaluation:

• A conversation with your audiologist: To prepare, think of any family history of hearing loss, exposure to loud noise such as a noisy work environment or music concerts, and any illness or injury that may have affected your ability to hear. Your audiologist may also ask about any medication you may have taken that could contribute to hearing loss, such as large doses of aspirin, Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (like ibuprofen and naproxen), antibiotics, and chemotherapy drugs.
• An otoscopic examination: This is a simple examination of your ear and ear canal. Your audiologist uses this time to see if your hearing loss is caused by a blockage or damage to your ear canal or eardrum.
• A hearing test: This test involves a sound booth where you will be asked to indicate whether you can hear sounds at different decibel levels through earbuds. Your audiologist will test the range of sounds that you can hear, establishing whether you have hearing loss or not, and to what extent.

There are three types of hearing loss: (Conductive, Sensorineural, and Mixed). Your audiologist will decide which type of hearing loss you have, which will help them treat you.

• Conductive hearing loss means that sound cannot make it past your outer and middle ear to your inner ear. Medical treatment or surgery may be able to fix this type of hearing loss, and a hearing aid can be used as well to manage your hearing.
• Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by permanent damage to your inner ear. This type of hearing loss is more permanent. It cannot usually be cured by medicine or surgery. Hearing aids are helpful in managing sensorineural hearing loss.
• Mixed hearing loss means that you have both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss at the same time. This could mean that you have damage to your outer or middle ear while you have nerve or other damage in your inner ear. Mixed hearing loss can make your hearing worse than a single type of hearing loss. Your audiologist can help you with the best course of treatment to improve your hearing.

To combat all the levels of hearing loss and disorders, there are many kinds of hearing aid. Your audiologist will be able to help you decide which is the best fit for you.

• Receiver-in-the-Canal (RIC) fits the electronic parts behind the ear with a clear tube leading to the inside of the ear, where the receiver rests. It is small but can still be used for mild to severe hearing loss.
• Behind the Ear (BTE) is the most common type of hearing aid. It is used for all levels of hearing loss. A wire holds the earpiece around the back of your ear, so there’s no fear of it falling out. The BTE is slightly visible, but it’s very simple to use, and a good option for children with hearing loss.
• Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC) is the smallest type of hearing aid. It fits securely into the ear canal and is almost invisible. Because of its small size, it is not the best option for those with poor dexterity.
• In-the-Canal (ITC) is like the CIC, but it doesn’t fit as far into the ear canal. It is slightly larger, which gives it a longer battery life and makes it much easier to take in and out of the ear.
• In-the-Ear (ITE) is the largest type of hearing aid, filling the outer portion of the ear. It is more visible than other options, but this means it has more features and a longer battery life. An In-the-Ear hearing aid is good for those with severe hearing loss.

Even if you haven’t experienced hearing loss, you should take steps to protect your hearing. If you work near or with loud machinery, frequently attend live music events, or hunt regularly, you should see an audiologist about ear protection. We also encourage parents to get their children fitted with swim molds for protection against water pressure and infections.

Could you need to see an audiologist? If you answer “yes” to one or more questions below, you should see an audiologist as soon as possible.

• Do you get a feeling of motion, spinning or falling when moving your head quickly or changing your position? (For example, getting in and out of bed)
• Are you uncomfortable trying to get around in the dark?
• Is walking down the grocery store aisles or through the mall upsetting to you?
• Do you have trouble getting your feet to go where you want them to?
• Do you feel a sense of unsteadiness or that you are not surefooted?
• Do you have a fear of falling or stumbling?
• Does looking at moving objects such as escalators or looking out the side window of a car make you queasy?
• Do you have difficulty keeping your balance as you walk on different surfaces? (Ex. Tile to carpet)
• A feeling like you are drifting or being pulled to one side when walking?
• No one really understands how frustrating this is?
• Do people seem to mumble or speak in a softer voice more than they use to?
• Do you feel tired or frustrated after a long conversation?
• Do you sometimes miss key words in a sentence?
• Do you frequently need to ask people to repeat themselves?
• Do you have difficulty understanding the conversation in a crowded room?
• Do you often turn the volume up on the TV or radio?
• Does background noise bother you?
• Is it sometimes hard to hear the conversation on the telephone?
• Do you sometimes not hear the doorbell or telephone ring?
• Are your family or friends complaining about your hearing?

If you feel you may have hearing loss or are at risk, please call Affinity Audiology Services today to schedule your consultation and start living life on your terms! Our experienced and compassionate staff is here to help!

Allergies

You’re coughing, you’re sneezing, you can’t breathe out of your nose. You’re miserable every time you step out your door.

If you’re struggling with these symptoms, you probably have allergies, which usually occur in the spring and in the fall, when pollen and dust are stirred into the air by the changing seasons. However, allergies are not just seasonal, and they can make you feel miserable.

If you’re suffering from allergies, whatever the season, call Affinity ENT. After an appointment with one of our experienced ENT doctors, you’ll be feeling better in no time.

Call us today to schedule your consultation, and start living life on your terms!