Better Hearing Is Here

Submitted by Dr. Brian Nicholas, Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery
If you seem to be turning up the volume on all your devices, have a constant ringing sound in your ears, or can’t hear your friends at a noisy restaurant, it may be time to schedule a hearing test. Doing so just got easier: White Plains Hospital recently launched in-house audiology services at White Plains Hospital Medical and Wellness in Armonk, offering a variety of hearing tests and treatments.

This past summer, under the leadership of Dr. Brian Nicholas, the Director of Hearing and Balance at White Plains Hospital, the Hospital’s Otolaryngology practice debuted a dedicated sound booth equipped to test hearing in patients from infants to seniors. The large booth is also wheelchair accessible.

Having on-site services offers a major convenience for patients. “Previously, our patients had to go to an outside audiology facility, almost always on a different day, before coming to see me,” explains Dr. Nicholas. “The on-site testing booth has made a world of difference for our patients and has been a huge paradigm shift for everyone in a very positive way.”

Dr. Nicholas notes that almost every new patient he sees requires an audiogram, a test that takes about 20-30 minutes. An audiogram is a more sophisticated hearing test than what many may recall from grade school days. It objectively measures a patient’s degree of hearing loss by quantifying and qualifying the results. Dr. Nicholas and his team not only see patients whose primary complaint is hearing loss but also patients who experience dizziness or tinnitus (ringing in the ear), a condition that affects approximately 50 million Americans.

Dr. Nicholas suggests that most patients should begin hearing testing when they turn 50. Based on those baseline findings, additional testing can occur annually or, every two to five years. In certain occupations with high noise exposure, such as musicians, soldiers, or construction workers, earlier testing may be warranted. His practice is also seeing a larger number of younger patients which may be in part due to the prevalence of headphones and earbuds.

The Hearing-Cognition Link
In the medical community, there has been a lot of discussion recently about the link between cognitive decline and hearing loss. “While we do not know if the link is causal or not, we do know definitely that rehabbing an individual’s hearing protects against cognitive decline,” says Dr. Nicholas.

Patients with hearing loss have a range of available treatment options, depending on the cause and severity of the loss. Medications such as oral steroids or nasal sprays may help. If a patient experiences sudden hearing loss, however, they should be seen as quickly as possible for the best outcomes. “We will always squeeze in a patient for a same-day appointment for an otologic emergency,” Dr. Nicholas notes.

For severe and irreversible hearing loss, patients may benefit from hearing aids or cochlear implants. The good news is that patients can now discuss all these options with Dr. Nicholas and his team, often on the same day as their audiogram, in a streamlined process that allows them to quickly begin their journey to better hearing.

To schedule an audiology test with Dr. Nicholas and team at White Plains Hospital Medical & Wellness, located at 99 Business Park Drive in Armonk, call 914-849-3755.

Do You Need a Hearing Test?

Take the NIH assessment to help you determine if you need to have your hearing tested by a health professional.

Dr. Brian D. Nicholas is the Director of Hearing and Balance at White Plains Hospital, and sees patients at 122 Maple Ave. in White Plains and at 21 Laurel Ave., Suite 290, in Cornwall. To make an appointment, call 914-849-3755.

Health Matters
The original version of this article was published in Health Matters, a White Plains Hospital publication.