HEARING HEALTH CENTER OFFERING FREE SCREENINGS

If you are between the ages of 45 and 64, chances are good that you have some form of hearing loss, observes Ronna Fisher, president, Hearing Health Center of Naperville. Apparently, the baby boom generation is just beginning to hear the result of living in a time of unprecedented noise.

The culprits? Lawnmowers, headphones, snowmobiles, rock concerts; these products of a younger generation have had a negative impact on hearing ability. 

"It's now wonder ... the decibel level at a rock concert is 120, the same as that of a prop plane," Fisher said.

One extremely loud noise can damage the inner ear, but continuous noise over 80 to 85 decibels is an even greater problem. This noise damages tiny hairs in the ear that translate sound vibrations into electrical impulses for the brain. Damage is cumulative and irreversible, and the potential for permanent harm increases with longer and louder exposure to these sounds.

In an effort to provide the most comprehensive and technologically sophisticated hearing health care, Fisher has become a leader in the revolutionary field of digital technology. Boomers, who have a penchant for items that are state-of-the-art, will appreciate this medical advance. Digital technology adjusts itself more than 40 million times per second to changing listening environments and is fine-tuned with the assistance of a computer. These sensitive instruments enhance the sounds patients want to hear -- other people's speech, for example, and stain out background distractions.

"It's very rewarding to watch people's faces as they try out a hearing device for the first time," Fisher said. "That's when they have that 'Aha!' moment as the sounds they've been missing are revealed.

For those not yet sure they can benefit from hearing assistance, Hearing Health Center has a solution: disposable hearing aids. Without making a large commitment of time and money, patients can try out a device that provides high quality acoustics and yet costs just $39 plus the fitting, which can often be done with just one office visit. Hearing Health Center is among the first in the nation to offer the new disposable hearing aids.

Fisher founded Hearing Health Center Inc. in 1984. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology and earned a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech and Hearing Association. She is both a licensed audiologist and hearing aid dispenser for the state of Illinois. In additions to the Naperville office, the firm has offices in downtown Chicago and Oakbrook Terrace. Fisher and her staff now care for more than 5,000 patients. Fisher encourages everyone to be proactive about their hearing health. Hearing loss caught and treated early can help prevent further damage. To help achieve this end, during the month of April, Naperville area boomers, ages 45 to 60, can come in to Hearing Health Center for a free hearing screening. To schedule an appointment, please call the Naperville office at (630) 369-8878.

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