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Protecting our hearing now helps us long-term. Simple steps such as moving away from the loud noise, turning down the volume, taking breaks, and wearing hearing protection can make a big difference. By taking care of our hearing now and paying attention to the sounds around us, we can help prevent permanent hearing problems in the future.

If you ever have questions related to your hearing or want a hearing screening, our team at Lemme Audiology Associates is here to help you.

Madelyn Wirfel, Au.D.

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The CDC recommends that babies who fail their hospital hearing screening are checked again within 1 month of birth. If your little one fails that screening, a complete hearing evaluation should be done by a pediatric audiologist to find out if a hearing loss is actually present, and if so, the type and degree it is. At this point, you and your bundle of joy may meet with an ENT too. The ENT will check to see if their hearing loss has anything to do with an issue in the ears, nose or throat.

We know it’s a lot for you to process if your child is found to have a true hearing loss, especially since intervention is recommended by 6 months of age if so. Interventions may involve hearing aids or other devices, plus guidance to help your family map out a plan for your child’s language growth and education. But you are not alone in this! Your little one’s success in life is not just your job – it’s also their pediatrician’s, their audiologist’s, and their intervention team’s.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s hearing or the above process, don’t hesitate to reach out to us here at Lemme Audiology.

Alexandra Jackson, Au.D.

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ENTs (ear, nose, and throat doctors) are medical doctors—either MDs or DOs—who specialize in conditions affecting the ears, nose, and throat. They first earn a bachelor’s degree, usually in a science-related field, then complete medical school to earn their MD or DO. After that, they undergo several years of specialized training through a residency, and sometimes additional fellowship training. ENTs diagnose and treat medical conditions of the ear, nose, and throat using approaches such as medications, procedures, and surgery

Audiologists also earn a bachelor’s degree, but instead of going to medical school, they complete a clinical doctorate in audiology (AuD). This advanced degree focuses specifically on diagnosing and treating hearing and balance disorders for people of all ages. Audiologists are specially trained to evaluate hearing and to fit, program, and manage hearing aids, cochlear implants, and other listening devices.

Think of it like this – When you need glasses or contacts to treat a non-medical vision problem, you’ll typically see an optometrist who will diagnose your type of vision loss and prescribe glasses/contacts for you to wear so that you can see. But, if you have a problem that requires medication or surgery, chances are, you’ll need to see the ophthalmologist to get that. The fields of audiology and otolaryngology are much the same.

Alexandra Jackson, Au. D.

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A perfect example is my son’s bedroom at the top of the stairs. Even with his door open, he can’t see who’s coming—but he can hear it. Over time, he’s learned to tell the difference between my steps, my husband’s, and my five year old daughter’s. My husband has a heavy, steady step; I have a quiet, quick step; and my daughter has a slow, light step. When he hears his sister’s steps, he closes the door so she doesn’t bother him (but that doesn’t always work)!  It’s amazing how the brain can pick up on these tiny differences, letting him recognize people just by the sounds they make.

When hearing changes, though, these subtle cues can be easy to miss. People with hearing loss may not notice the gentle sounds that signal an event or alert them to their surroundings, which can affect both safety and day-to-day life. Understanding how the brain predicts and interprets these sounds shows just how complex—and remarkable—our sense of hearing really is. Even the tiniest noises around us play a bigger role than we often realize.

Kristin Seiler

Lemme Audiology’s Practice Representative

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The answer is different for everyone. Some insurance plans do cover hearing aids, but most do not. Some even offer a discount. It depends on the individual’s insurance plan. Medicare usually doesn’t cover hearing aids, but certain Medicare Advantage plans might help.

If you are thinking about getting hearing aids, it’s a good idea to:

• Call your insurance company and ask what is covered.
• Find out how much they will pay towards hearing aids.
• Ask how often you can get new hearing aids.
• Ask if your coverage is through a third party.

Coverage through a third party could limit where you can use your hearing aid benefits and also limit what kind of hearing aids you are allowed to be fit with.

And don’t worry—if your insurance does not cover hearing aids, there are still options. Many clinics have payment plans, financing or discounts that can help with the cost of hearing aids.

The most important thing to remember is that good hearing helps you enjoy life every day!

Kaitlyn Smith

Practice Manager for Lemme Audiology

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Silence can feel peaceful, but it also has a surprising effect on the brain. When your ears aren’t picking up sound—whether from hearing loss, quiet moments, or even earplugs—your brain doesn’t just turn itself off. Instead, it’s working even harder, sometimes becoming more sensitive to other senses or even creating “phantom” sounds like ringing or buzzing (tinnitus) to fill the gaps. For some people, that silence feels very serene, but for others, it can be dismal or even lonesome.

Silence does more than you might think. When the brain isn’t getting sound, the areas usually in charge of hearing don’t just shut down—they often pitch in elsewhere, like helping with vision, memory, or attention. It’s the brain’s way of staying flexible. But that constant juggling can take a toll. People may feel worn out, find it harder to concentrate, or even notice changes in their balance because the brain is working overtime to make up for what’s missing.

When it comes from hearing loss, silence can create stress or a sense of disconnection. But when we choose quiet—like taking a break from noise or enjoying a moment of calm—it can have real benefits. Research shows that intentional silence may help lower blood pressure, improve sleep, and even encourage the brain to grow new cells. In other words, silence can be both challenging and restorative, depending on how it enters our lives.

Kristin Seiler

Lemme Audiology’s Practice Representative

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1. You may notice that your own voice sounds different and/or louder. If you have hearing loss, you likely have not heard your voice fully in a long time as hearing loss is often gradual. When we put hearing aids on, you will very suddenly notice a difference, especially in the voice that is closest to the hearing aids. This is normal!
2. You might notice that certain objects around the house or out in public make more noise than you remember. For instance, many patients often note that the sound of running water is much louder than they remember. Again, this is normal and is an exciting part of getting hearing aids! The environments around you can come back to life now that you can hear the soundscape surrounding you again!
3. On the flip side of all these newer, louder sounds, you may also notice that you still struggle more than you expected in places like restaurants and family gatherings. Your hearing aids are programmed to your specific hearing loss and likely have background noise reduction capabilities, but this is not the same thing as noise-cancellation. As someone with hearing aids, your aids are there to help you hear better, but they can never make your hearing perfect. Even individuals with normal hearing will often struggle to hear perfectly in tricky listening situations. Take time to practice good communication strategies with conversation partners such as slowing down when speaking, facing each other when talking to each other, and getting each other’s attention before beginning the main part of any important message.

New experiences can be scary, but hearing new things should be exciting! Your audiologist will work with you to make sure that you can hear the world around you. If you have any concerns about what may be new or different with your hearing aids, never hesitate to bring them up to your audiologist – we just want you to be able to hear the best you can.

Alexandra Jackson, Au.D.

The post What You Can Expect appeared first on Lemme Audiology.

If you have rechargeable hearing aids, you will need to find another charging time throughout the day. Sleeping in them means they won’t be able to charge overnight.

If your hearing aids are battery operated, you might need to change the batteries more often. Hearing aid batteries may wear out faster if they are worn all night.

Patients with severe to profound hearing loss often like wearing hearing aids at night to help with sound awareness. This helps them hear important sounds to keep them safe.

Sleeping with your hearing aids is okay but be sure to talk to your audiologist! They can help you decide what is best for you.

Madelyn Wirfel, Au.D.

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Getting new hearing aids is not about age — it’s about caring for yourself. They help you stay connected to the world and the people you love. You’ve spent your life taking care of others, now it’s time to take care of you. You deserve to enjoy every moment — and to hear it all, loud and clear! Call Lemme Audiology at (814) 941-7770 to schedule an appointment with your audiologist to talk about what hearing aids would be right for you.

Abby Barnes, Au.D.

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