As an audiologist, we are always looking at ways to provide help to patients with hearing loss in a more affordable manner. There is now legislation that I'd like all my friends to consider supporting. Please consider clicking on this link and enter your information. It will generate a letter to your politician encouraging them to support a hearing aid tax credit. All you need to do is follow the directions and slightly edit the letter to be appropriate from a non audiologist.
http://18x18.org/congressional-connect
You will notice that when you follow this link there are 3 letters that you can generate:
1. Tax credit letter to Senate
2. Tax credit letter to House of Representatives
3. Letter supporting direct access to audiology care. This initiative gives audiologists the same standing as an optometrist in the eyes of insurance. The end result would be a signficant money savings in health care costs. Why? Because currently Medicare requries a referral for patients to see an audiologist. Requiring multiple visits in order to obtain a hearing tests dramatically increases the cost of healthcare. Medicare does not currently require a referral to obtain a vision test or a dental exam. It would be logical that patients should be allowed to also see an Audiologist without a referral.
Please consider supporting these important issues.
Dr. Scott Marquardt
Audiologist
Find out more about Dr Jamie Hawkins and Dr Scott Marquardt at www.hearingwithclarity.com or on twitter @drsmarquardt
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Love, Marriage and Hearing Loss
Healthy communication is the biggest factor for couples who plan on ‘living happily ever after.’ This simple secret to a successful marriage allows both partners to convey their thoughts and emotions openly to each other. Take away this ability to talk, hear, and respond and the relationship is bound to crumble. Unfortunately, if one or both partners have undiagnosed or untreated hearing loss, it can prove fatal to the relationship.
A U.S. study of baby boomers by Energizer Battery Inc. in 2007 demonstrated that relationships are failing and marriages are ending in divorce because of unmanaged hearing loss. The researchers revealed that:
- Nearly half (48%) of those surveyed said their marriages have suffered because of their spouses' hearing loss.
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More than half (57%) feel their spouse is reluctant to get their hearing checked, and 46% believe that denial is the main reason.
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Even more respondents (65%) indicated they feel annoyed when their significant other cannot hear them.
There is a fairly simple solution to ensure that communication with your sweetheart doesn’t suffer.
Hear and be heard
The best way to treat hearing loss is with hearing aids. With the wide availability of many technologically advanced digital hearing aids currently on the market – and new ones being developed all the time ‐ there is no excuse not to get tested and fit. New open‐fit hearing aids are sleek, tiny and allow for natural sound amplification.
If you’re worried that wearing hearing aids will make you look old and unattractive, you couldn’t be further from the truth. Hearing loss has no age group. Children as young as infants, teenagers and able‐bodied folks of all ages have hearing loss.
It’s tough to acknowledge that you have difficulty hearing. The I‐can‐hear‐just‐fine argument can only go so far when it is obvious that you have to strain to hear a conversation. Denial is a powerful deterrent, and you should never give in to it, especially when your health, well‐being, and more importantly, your relationships are concerned. Indeed, your overall quality of life is vastly improved as hearing aids allow you to interact socially and emotionally with those around you.
Being able to communicate with your spouse and be supported is certainly worth getting your hearing tested. Just remember, a happy marriage, good quality of life, and hearing aids go hand in hand!
Friday, July 19, 2013
Hearing Loss & Tinnitus Treatment
Received this note from a very nice man that I've been fortunate to help:
When we first met, about a year ago I said that I had been looking for a company that addressed Tinnitus and Hearing together and "Clarity Hearing" did.
Your hearing test proved that my hearing ability rolls of drastically above approximately 2 kHz.
I am 73 years old and my Tinnitus started about 15 years ago. I complained a lot to my wife because I missed many things, that is when I contacted Clarity Hearing.
You explained to me that a Resound hearing aid with a sound generator over time would re-program my brain to the point that I would ignore the Tinnitus and also hear better. I have not used Resound hearing aid and the noise generator for about a year and I can say that without a doubt, IT WORKS!
I walk about a half an hour most mornings and usually with nothing in my ear and I do not think about my Tinnitus. My wife says that I have stopped complaining altogether,
Regards,
Nils
If you suffer from "ringing" in your ears, contact an audiologist to see if something can be done. In many cases there is a treatment available.
When we first met, about a year ago I said that I had been looking for a company that addressed Tinnitus and Hearing together and "Clarity Hearing" did.
Your hearing test proved that my hearing ability rolls of drastically above approximately 2 kHz.
I am 73 years old and my Tinnitus started about 15 years ago. I complained a lot to my wife because I missed many things, that is when I contacted Clarity Hearing.
You explained to me that a Resound hearing aid with a sound generator over time would re-program my brain to the point that I would ignore the Tinnitus and also hear better. I have not used Resound hearing aid and the noise generator for about a year and I can say that without a doubt, IT WORKS!
I walk about a half an hour most mornings and usually with nothing in my ear and I do not think about my Tinnitus. My wife says that I have stopped complaining altogether,
Regards,
Nils
If you suffer from "ringing" in your ears, contact an audiologist to see if something can be done. In many cases there is a treatment available.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
May is Better Hearing Month
Most of you probably didn't know that there was such a thing as Better Hearing Month. Some of you might be thinking; "wow there's a month for everything" I think that's true. Most things have "months" that they use to draw awareness to a topic. I believe this month is also Veteran Appreciation Month.
Because this is Better Hearing Month, I'd like everyone to focus on their hearing health for a minute.
Do you are someone you know:
So hear's wishing each of you "Better Hearing"
Dr. Scott Marquardt
Do you are someone you know:
- Work around loud noise?
- Play in a band?
- Wear headphones to listen to music?
- Use firearms?
- Have difficulty with background noise?
- Have ringing in the ears that is causing problems?
- Turn the TV up too loud?
- Have trouble with hearing on the phone?
- Have been told that you need hearing devices, but have not done anything about it?
So hear's wishing each of you "Better Hearing"
Dr. Scott Marquardt
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Kidz Safe Ear Phones
Check out these ear phones! Hearing loss in children has doubled in the last 10 years primarily because of noise exposure. How many kids do you see that are listening to their Ipods and MP3 players for hours. These headphones keep sound from reaching dangerous levels even if the volume on the device is maxed out. These are available from Clarity Hearing (936-273-4437). They retail for $18 and come in many colors.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Glasses, Braces, Hearing Aids - Fashion Statements?
I was watching an #NBA press conference the other night and was amazed at the number of NBA players who are wearing glasses. Apparently it's the latest thing and a lot of them are wearing contacts underneath and the glasses are just for fashion. When did wearing glasses become cool! This is exciting to me. I also heard from a parent who has a child with braces and that braces are now a cool thing. His child wanted crazy colors for the braces. Next thing you know #hearingaids will be a fashion statement. We just need to get a famous person to be fit with bright red devices to start the trend! If any of you are famous or know someone that is, send them my way. Let's change the world.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Local Audiologist Celebrates the Gift of Hearing with Members of the National Basketball Retired Players Association in Houston
Dr. Scott Marquardt and former players worked to spread hearing loss
education and awareness during NBA All-Star Weekend
Shenandoah, TX (February 26, 2013)—During the events at NBA
All-Star 2013 Weekend in Houston, Dr. Scott Marquardt of Clarity Hearing in
Shenandoah, TX and members of the National
Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA)-- the only
alumni association comprised of former NBA, ABA and Harlem Globetrotters
players--worked with representatives from The
HearStrong Foundation to advocate the importance of spreading hearing
health awareness and helped present the gift of hearing to deserving children.
Robert Horry, seven-time NBA World Champion, joined Dr.
Marquardt and representatives from the NBRPA and The HearStrong Foundation on
February 15th at Peck Elementary School (Houston ISD). There, Horry
presented certificates for state-of-the-art EarQ
hearing devices to two local
children with hearing
loss, whose families could not otherwise afford hearing technology.
“Seeing the looks of
joy and gratitude on the children’s faces was a truly moving and humbling
experience for all involved,” said Dr. Marquardt. “I was so proud to be
involved in the weekend’s activities and to help educate the former players, as
well as the public, about their hearing health.”
Dr. Marquardt also helped the foundation honor one of its
first HearStrong Champions, Rev. Johnnie Mathis, in an official naming ceremony
at The Hotel Derek in Houston. On February 14th, former NBA All-Star
Cedric Ceballos helped present Mathis with his official HearStrong medal.
Mathis, a hospital chaplain from Hempstead, TX, dealt with life-long hearing
loss that worsened when he received radiation treatments for vocal cord cancer
in 2006. But thanks to hearing devices and hard work, Mathis is now able to
fully experience his life.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
How loud is your world?
Did you know;
- A typical motorcycle produces 95dB of noise which means you can ride for just 4 hrs before risking damage to your ears.
- Most people listen to their headphones at 100dB which can effect hearing after just 2 hrs of use.
- A jet ski can be 115dB which can damage hearing in 15 minutes
- The volume of many concerts can reach 120dB which can damage hearing after just 7 minutes.
- A firecracker puts out 125dB of noise causing damage to the ears in 3 minutes.
- A single gunshot is approximately 140dB and can do immediate damage to your hearing.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Why not always hear your best!
The following are questions regarding hearing that you may or may not have thought of.
When should I get my hearing checked? Routinely. It's important to have periodic checks of our hearing throughout life. Having a baseline allows us to know where we are and then when changes begin to occur so we can act quickly to maintain our level of hearing.
How can I notice a change in my hearing range? In most cases you can't. Without regular check ups, it is very difficult to catch changes in hearing. Periodic checks allow you to catch changes in hearing before others do. Waiting to have a check til your hearing is "bad" causes signficant stress on relationships. Why not always maintain your hearing health as we do with vision and dental exams.
Who uses hearing technology and does that apply to me? People who want to hearing their best take advantage of today's hearing technology. With today's technology, we've reached a time where the technology and cosmetics of hearing devices make is so the people around will not know you are wearing a hearing system. This is similar to contacts. Just because you don't see glasses, doesn't mean the person has perfect vision. New technology in hearing can give that same result. People around you may never know you have hearing difficulties.
When should you use hearing technology? Whenever the situation demands it so you can be yourself?
I encourage each of you to treat your hearing as we do our eyes and teeth. Find a hearing professional (preferrable a doctor of audiology) that you can build a relationship with. They can help you determine ways to protect your hearing health, monitor your hearing health and provide hearing systems that will keep you functioning at the level you deserve.
The following questions were taken from a recent class I attended. The speaker was Curtis Alcock.
When should I get my hearing checked? Routinely. It's important to have periodic checks of our hearing throughout life. Having a baseline allows us to know where we are and then when changes begin to occur so we can act quickly to maintain our level of hearing.
How can I notice a change in my hearing range? In most cases you can't. Without regular check ups, it is very difficult to catch changes in hearing. Periodic checks allow you to catch changes in hearing before others do. Waiting to have a check til your hearing is "bad" causes signficant stress on relationships. Why not always maintain your hearing health as we do with vision and dental exams.
Who uses hearing technology and does that apply to me? People who want to hearing their best take advantage of today's hearing technology. With today's technology, we've reached a time where the technology and cosmetics of hearing devices make is so the people around will not know you are wearing a hearing system. This is similar to contacts. Just because you don't see glasses, doesn't mean the person has perfect vision. New technology in hearing can give that same result. People around you may never know you have hearing difficulties.
When should you use hearing technology? Whenever the situation demands it so you can be yourself?
I encourage each of you to treat your hearing as we do our eyes and teeth. Find a hearing professional (preferrable a doctor of audiology) that you can build a relationship with. They can help you determine ways to protect your hearing health, monitor your hearing health and provide hearing systems that will keep you functioning at the level you deserve.
The following questions were taken from a recent class I attended. The speaker was Curtis Alcock.
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