Our sense of hearing plays an important role in everything we do. It helps us to communicate with others. It also plays a role in alerting us to danger and enjoying entertainment such as music and movies. When someone experiences hearing loss, it can be detrimental to their health.
Hearing is important to our social, emotional, and psychological well-being. The doctors at Athens Oconee Audiology understand this, which is why we have made it our priority to help those with hearing loss – to regain their hearing and their confidence. Millions of Americans suffer from some degree of hearing loss, which can make everyday life more difficult and can eventually become a roadblock in both professional and personal relationships. If you’re suffering from hearing loss, you aren’t alone. We can help.
Athens Oconee Audiology proudly serves patients in the Elberton, GA region. Elberton is the largest city in Elbert County, which is located in northeast Georgia approximately 33 miles east of Athens, GA. Home to the Georgia Guidestones, also known as America’s Stonehenge, people travel from all over the state to visit the landmark, which many believe marks the spot believed to be the center of the universe by the Cherokee Indians. For some indoor history, the Elberton Granite Museum offers visitors a glimpse into a variety of historical exhibits, artifacts and educational displays — bringing approximately 4,000 visitors each year.
Elberton, Georgia Hearing Aids
Deciding which type of hearing device will work best for you can be a difficult task. There are many different options based on the degree and type of hearing loss you have. Our experienced audiologists will evaluate you and discuss all your options. The proper hearing aid recommendation and fitting is highly dependent on the education and experience of the professional selecting the instrument. We will test your hearing, select, and dispense the hearing instrument best suited to your personal, professional, cosmetic, and financial needs.
An audiologist at Athens Oconee Audiology can assist you in determining the best instruments to purchase to help you better communicate and improve your quality of life. We always take budget into consideration and can help you determine what hearing device will work best for you and your lifestyle.
Hearing Instrument Options
Hearing Aids
Daily Wear Hearing Aids are inserted each morning and removed at bedtime.
Lyric Extended Wear Hearing Aids are worn 24/7. Patients sleep, shower and bathe in Lyric devices. Athens Oconee Audiology is one of few audiology practices that offer the Lyric extended wear devices.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_Guidestones
What if Hearing Aids no longer help?
Sometimes a hearing aid no longer offers someone with hearing loss the adequate benefit they need. When this is the case, a cochlear implant evaluation may be necessary. The audiologists at Athens Oconee Audiology will determine if you are an implant candidate and refer you to an implant surgeon to perform the surgery. Initial activation and follow up mapping are conducted at our offices. We always work closely with the surgeon for a good outcome.
Cochlear Implants
Athens Oconee Audiology works with all three cochlear implant companies. Each recommendation is carefully made based on the needs of the patient. Click on the links below to read about each cochlear company:
Whether you’re in a quiet or noisy atmosphere, hearing aids are designed to help you hear better because it receives sounds through a microphone and then converts those sound waves to electrical signals sent to an amplifier. The amplifier increases the power of the electrical signals and then sends them to the person’s ear through a speaker.
Hearing aids are ideal for someone who has hearing loss due to damage to the sensory cells within the inner ear, which is called sensorineural hearing loss. Many people who experience this type of hearing loss have been injured or suffered hearing loss due to disease, loud noises, aging or certain medications. The greater the damage to a person’s hair cells within their ear, the greater the hearing aid amplification needed to make up the difference. Hearing aids also help patients with conductive hearing loss and mixed hearing loss upon receipt of medical clearance.
An audiologist at Athens Oconee Audiology will fully inform you regarding the degree and type of hearing loss you’ve suffered and can help you to manage of your condition. Hearing aids are indicated in 95% of adult hearing loss and only 5% of adult hearing loss requires medical management. A hearing aid is ideal for someone with average hearing loss due to mild to moderate damage within their ear or ears.
What is the most important consideration when addressing hearing loss?
A skilled audiologist can help to evaluate and remedy your hearing loss. Our professional audiologists will work with you one-on-one to select the devices that best meet your clinical needs, communication needs, and your budget.
Audiologists at Athens Oconee Audiology are proficient and well versed in the different brands of hearing aids. We know what will work best for each patient based on their individual needs. Our three licensed clinical audiologists with combined experience of over 60 years will evaluate you and select appropriate devices and communication strategies to help you better communicate.
Athens Oconee Audiology has accounts with all the major manufacturers. Click on the links below to read more about them:
Hearing Aids
Cochlear Implants
* A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted device for people with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss.
Audiologist Servicing Residents of Elberton, GA
What does an audiologist do?
You may be wondering what the definition of an audiologist is. Basically, an audiologist is a healthcare professional who is trained to evaluate hearing loss and related disorders such as tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and balance issues (vestibular). Audiologists routinely conduct a wide range of hearing tests, balance tests and hearing aid tests to diagnose and evaluate patients who suffer from hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo.
When to contact an audiologist
It’s important to have your hearing checked by a skilled audiologist, especially if you’re 55 or older. An annual hearing exam can help an audiologist to monitor your hearing and determine whether there’s hearing loss and what type of hearing loss it is. No matter what your age is, if you experience any of the following symptoms, an audiologist can help diagnose and evaluate your condition.
- Sudden hearing loss
- Impacted wax
- Tinnitus (ringing, buzzing, or clicking in the ear)
- Balance issues such as vertigo or dizziness
- Age-related hearing loss
Do I need an audiologist?
Visiting an audiologist can be an overwhelming experience for some people, but it’s important to remember that an audiologist is specifically trained to evaluate and manage hearing issues in people of all ages. If you’ve experienced hearing loss, an audiologist can help you. They can offer you expert advice on the best hearing instrument for you based on your diagnosis. An audiologist can also help you manage tinnitus or balance issues. Our audiologists are experts at fitting patients with hearing devices that are programmed to match their specific needs.
About Us
No matter your needs, our audiologists can fit you with the best hearing device for your situation. They have 66 years of combined experience helping patients in the Elberton, GA region to hear better. They are passionate about helping others to restore their hearing so they can communicate better and have made it their mission to help people with hearing loss everyday with diagnostic testing, fitting hearing aids, and conducting cochlear implant evaluations, and mapping. We will work one-on-one with you to determine the best solution to increase your ability to hear and communicate clearly. We always take into consideration the cost and will help you discover the best remedy that fits within your budget and lifestyle. Our office is located at 1360 Caduceus Way, Building 200, Suite 101 Watkinsville, GA 30677. If you suffer from hearing loss, contact us today at (706) 310-7115 or fill out our contact form here.