Hearing Aids Get The Fine-Tuned Treatment

Real-Ear Measurement verifies that device is accurately programmed.

Not all of the watercolors that Beverly Dean painted over the years made it to the new digs she recently downsized to. One that Beverly made sure to bring with her, though, was the one titled Red Poppies.

Beverly Dean showing off one of her paintings

Beverly Dean

“It’s definitely one of my favorites, and it’s in my bathroom now because I decorated that room with a lot of reds and beiges,” says Beverly, a retired interior decorator. “It looks great there and just makes that bathroom look wonderful.”

Beverly moved from Tampa to Lake Mary, largely to be closer to her daughters. Not long after the move, she learned she was experiencing a moderate degree of hearing loss.

“I didn’t know I had a hearing problem until I went to see my new doctor,” Beverly explains. “As part of the exam, they gave me a hearing test. After they showed me the test results, they made an appointment for me with Dr. Shah.”

Devang M. Shah, MD, is a board-certified otolaryngologist at Atlantic Ear Nose & Throat. Working with audiologist Michael McKenna, AuD, he discovered Beverly was suffering from low-frequency hearing loss, mostly in her right ear.

To correct the issue, Beverly was fit with ReSound One hearing aids. In addition to enhanced word recognition, these hearing aids include features that allow for improved hearing in crowded settings such as restaurants.

During the fitting, Dr. Shah and Dr. McKenna also used a technology called Real-Ear Measurement (REM) to more accurately program the hearing aids.  The results, Beverly says, are “magnificent.”

“As soon as I put those hearing aids in, I realized what I had been missing,” she enthuses. “Just like that, I could hear and understand everything the doctor was saying. It was amazing, and now I’m hearing better no matter where I go or what I do.

“One of the biggest differences is when I’m sitting with a bunch of women at a table somewhere. I hear the conversation so much more clearly now and understand so much better what’s being said. It’s really a wonderful change.

“That’s why I’m so thankful that I found Dr. Shah and Dr. McKenna. They’re wonderful doctors. When you move to a new area and get a new doctor, you want someone you can trust, and that’s what I found at Atlantic Ear Nose & Throat.”

© FHCN article by Roy Cummings. Photo courtesy of Beverly Dean. mkb

About Roy Cummings

Roy Cummings is a native of Chicago, Illinois who grew up in the suburb of Lombard. He and his family later moved to Lakeland, Florida, where Roy attended high school at Kathleen High. He graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Communications in 1983 and immediately went to work for the Tampa Tribune. After five years working in a Polk County bureau covering everything from high school sports to college football to the Orlando Magic of the NBA, Roy moved back to Tampa and became the Tribune's first beat writer for the Tampa Bay Lightning, covering the team from its inception through the first eight years on the ice. He was then moved to the Buccaneers beat, where he stayed until the paper was folded in May, 2016. A two-time Florida Sports Writer of the Year, Roy has extensive experience covering all Tampa professional sports teams, including the Tampa Bay Rays.

 
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    • Atlantic Ear, Nose and Throat, P.A.

      Atlantic Ear, Nose & Throat is a comprehensive, full-service otolaryngology practice with offices in both Seminole and Volusia counties. In the practice, Devang Shah, MD, and Daniel Rothbaum, MD, combine surgical excellence with a compassion... Read More

    • Devang Shah, MD

      Devang M. Shah, MD, is board-certified in otolaryngology. Dr. Shah attended MIT as an undergraduate. After receiving his medical degree with honors, he completed his surgical internship and residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Dr.... Read More

    • Daniel Rothbaum, MD

      Daniel L. Rothbaum, MD, is board-certified in otolaryngology. Dr. Rothbaum graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University and earned his medical degree at the Yale School of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency training at Joh... Read More

    • Michael McKenna, AuD

      Michael McKenna, AuD, specializes in diagnostic and rehabilitative audiology, aural rehabilitation and treatment of hearing loss and tinnitus. He earned his bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders from the State University of ... Read More