Lakewood, NJ - Approximately 31 million Americans
have some type of hearing problem, but the problem often
goes unrecognized by the person suffering from it. “Children
and teenagers seldom complain about the symptoms of hearing
loss, and adults may lose their hearing so gradually they
do not realize it is happening, says Sue Ellen Boyer, AuD.,
a clinical audiologist at Kimball Medical Center. She notes
that the first step in the determination or treatment of
a hearing problem is a hearing evaluation by an audiologist.
“Many people don’t really understand what an
audiologist is,” Boyer says. “We are hearing
health care professionals who can diagnose, treat and manage
patients with hearing or balance problems,” she explains.
At Kimball Medical Center’s Institute for Rehabilitative
and Occupational Health Services, comprehensive audiological
evaluations, industrial screenings and newborn hearing screenings
are performed. Additionally, computerized balance and
vestibular assessment and ototoxic drug monitoring, as well
as educational consultation services are available.
“Audiologists use specialized equipment to obtain
information about a person’s hearing or balance function,” says
Boyer. They can also inspect the eardrums, perform limited
ear wax removal, and check for medically-related hearing,
balance and processing problems.
“After the evaluation is done, an audiologist will
determine the appropriate treatment and present the options
to the patient,” she adds. “Hearing aids are
often part of the rehabilitative program, as many people
with hearing impairment can benefit from the use of hearing
aids.”
Boyer earned a doctoral degree in audiology from Pennsylvania
College of Optometry and Audiology and completed pediatric
training with Utah State’s National Center for Hearing
Assessment and Management. Additionally, she attends
ongoing vestibular training around the country and she specializes
in vestibular assessment — the testing of inner ear
and central balance function of the “dizzy” patient — as
well as pediatric evaluation.
“We are primary health providers, so we refer patients
to physicians when the hearing or balance problem requires
medical or surgical intervention,” says Boyer, who
notes that hearing loss is caused by medical problems about
10 percent of the time. “Audiologists are trained to
recognize these medical problems and refer patients to ear,
nose and throat doctors.”
She says that hearing loss can occur due to congenital or
hereditary factors, aging, exposure to loud noise, medications,
infections, head or ear trauma, disease processes and many
other causes.
“It is a fact of life that we lose hearing acuity
as we grow older, and that hearing problems are commonly
associated with the elderly, like eyesight problems,” she
notes. “But while hearing loss is commonly associated
with the elderly, we are finding more and more Baby Boomers
have hearing loss that is negatively impacting the quality
of their life, overall health, personal and professional
relationships and ability to effectively communicate.”
Children are also a focus of an audiologist’s attention,
says Boyer, who notes that ear infections are the most common
problem that children face today, and adds that hearing loss
is the single most common birth defect in America.
“Out of the 4 million live births in the United States
each year, it is estimated that 10 percent are at risk for
congenital hearing loss, and of these infants, 30 to 50 of
every 1,000 newborns will suffer hearing impairment,” she
says, adding that the evaluation of hearing in newborns requires
specialized training and highly advanced equipment.
Additionally, she points to untreated or undiagnosed ear
infections as a problem that could lead to hearing problems
in the future. “Good hearing is essential to the social
and intellectual development of infants and young children,” she
says. “It is also essential to their development of
speech and language, as well as their cognitive development.”
Audiologists are concerned that every person, regardless
of age, benefits from good hearing, according to Boyer, who
provides individual counseling to help patients with hearing
loss function more effectively in social, educational and
occupational environments. “We’re also
concerned with the prevention of hearing loss and quality
of life,” Boyer says. “We are often involved
in implementing programs to protect the hearing of those
people at risk for hearing
loss, including those with noisy hobbies or occupations.
Prolonged exposure to loud noise causes permanent hearing
loss, and audiologists are often involved in implementing
programs to protect the hearing of individuals who are exposed
to noisy industrial and recreational situations.”
To contact Dr. Boyer for a hearing or balance evaluation,
or to learn more about the comprehensive audiology services
at Kimball Medical Center, call the Saint Barnabas Health
Care Link at 1.888.SBHS.123 (1.888.724.7123).
Date: May 6, 2009
CONTACT: Carrie Cristello
Director, Public Relations
732-923-6552
ccristello@sbhcs.com
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