Look Who's Here!!

Beginning in May, we have welcomed two new Audiologists to Concha Audiology!! In Keokuk, we have been fortunate to add Lindsey Tubaugh M.S., CF-A to our team. Lindsey comes to us from Providence, Utah. She received her B.S. degree in communication disorders and Deaf education from Utah State University in Logan, Utah, and completed her graduate coursework in Audiology at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Lindsey has played an active role in research and was awarded the excellence in research award by the Utah Speech and Hearing Association. She enjoys working with patients of all ages to help increase their quality of life through communication. Her professional experience includes newborn hearing screening, balance function testing, fitting and programming hearing aids, and counseling patients on communication strategies. Lindsey and her husband Seth reside in Keokuk, Iowa and enjoy spending time together, especially camping and fishing. Lindsey looks forward to meeting the people of Iowa and hopes to form lasting relationships with each one of her patients. In our Mt. Pleasant and Coralville offices, we have welcomed new Clinical Audiologist Valerie Ray M.A., CCC-A! She will be there to see to all of your Audiology needs! Valerie received her B.A. degree in Speech and Hearing Science and her Master's in Audiology from the University of Iowa located in Iowa City, Iowa. Valerie's previous professional experience includes performing diagnostic evaluations at an ENT clinic and helping patients hear better through rehabilitation with hearing aids and counseling. Valerie enjoys getting to know her patients and their needs in order to serve them better. Valerie and her husband Jeremiah reside in Iowa City and are avid Hawkeye fans. Our Keokuk office is located near the Keokuk Area Hospital in the Surgical Specialists Group. The Mt. Pleasant office is located at 207 S. Harrison in Mt. Pleasant behind Dave's SuperValu. Our Coralville location is located at 2431 Coral Court. Please join us in welcoming Lindsey and Valerie!

Are Hearing Aids Compatible with the Telephone?

Have you ever put a phone up to your ear while wearing a hearing aid? For many hearing aid wearers, using the telephone is very important. A hearing aid should help you use the phone more effectively, not hinder your conversation. Many people find that their hearing aids work well with the telephone, although they may need to tilt the receiver out a bit, so it is not directly on top of the hearing aid. Attaching a foam ear cushion to the receiver can put a little space between the hearing aid and the phone- discouraging any feedback. Remember- anytime you clap a solid object directly over a hearing aid, you will induce some feedback, or squealing. A telecoil switch is an option that can be added to in-the-ear hearing aids and frequently comes standard on behind-the-ear hearing aids. When the user is ready to speak on the telephone, they flip a small switch or button, which changes the operation of the hearing aid to pick up only the signal from the telephone. The hearing aid will not pick up environmental sounds when it is in telecoil mode; it is conducting electromagnetic energy from the telephone. Once the user is done speaking on the telephone, they press the button on their hearing aid to bring them back to their normal listening program. When the aid is in telecoil mode, it is best to have the phone touching close to the hearing aid, so it gets the best transmission, and it will not squeal or feedback.

Traveling

With the holidays rapidly approaching, many of you may be making plans to travel. Unfortunately, traveling with a hearing loss may be tricky. Troubles that may occur for the hearing impaired individual may include difficulty hearing or understanding airline boarding and announcements, trouble using public telephones, difficulty hearing or understanding scheduled events such as tours, lectures, and/or presentations, difficulty hearing warning signals, someone knocking on the door, or ringing telephones, etc. Fortunately, there are some tips available to those with hearing loss that may make traveling a much better experience. It is extremely important to make travel arrangements in advance when possible. It is best to inform those helping you with arrangements that you have a hearing impairment. When making travel arrangements, be sure to get a written copy of all the arrangements made such as airline reservation, room numbers, etc. This will decrease the chance of an error in travel planning. Always be sure to allow yourself plenty of time at the airport, bus terminal, or train station. It is helpful to alert the individual making the boarding calls that you are hearing impaired and may have difficulty hearing the boarding call. By doing this, the individual may be willing to contact you personally when it is time to board. Be sure to always confirm the flight number or destination before boarding anything! There are many things that can be done to make traveling a wonderful experience. Be sure to plan ahead and let those working with you know that you have a hearing impairment. This will make traveling much more safe, comfortable, enjoyable, and less worrisome. If you would like additional tips on traveling with a hearing impairment contact an Audiologist at one of our clinics today or write to: Society for the Advancement of Travel for the Handicapped (SATH), 5014 42nd Street, NW, Washington, DC 20016.

How do I reach you and what hours are you available?

You can find us in the phone book and you can see our advertisements in your local paper. We are located centrally and near you for your convenience! We are available Monday thru Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM. We do require an appointment. Call Renee, Wende, Stephanie or Elsie today to schedule your appointment. You'll find out what satisfaction is. Don't forget about our referral program! Ask for details today!
We are proud to say we have 4 permanent locations to serve you:

Tell Your Friends...

Concha Audiology and Rehabilitation, PLC will evaluate their hearing at no charge to determine if they qualify for a no obligation, 30 day 100% money back guarantee trial period. All those who qualify and can benefit, will be fit with one of the world's most advanced 100% digital hearing aids. Satisfaction is our goal. As always, they can bring a friend or family member with them!!

We also have a website that may answer some of your questions or you may e-mail our Audiologists. Our website is www.conchahearing.com and our e-mail is delconch@interl.net.