While Arizona is a beautiful state with an arid climate and diverse landscapes, it’s also known for its high pollen counts and allergens that can cause discomfort and even serious health problems. Allergy season in Arizona typically occurs in the spring and fall, but...
Everyone is acquainted with the discomfort of a stuffy nose from a sinus cold, but symptoms typically go away after a week to ten days. When stuffiness from sinus inflammation continues to be an issue for four to twelve weeks or inflammation returns four times over...
1.1 billion young people between 12 and 35 years-of-age run the risk of developing hearing loss due to exposure to noise in recreational settings, according to the WHO. This statistic shatters the myth that hearing loss only affects the elderly. My concern for the...
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From Monday, June 22nd, Scottsdale Ear, Nose & Throat will be introducing new COVID-19 protocols. What you need to know before your next appointment: All patients MUST wear a face mask when entering the building and during their appointment. You no longer have to...
With over 48 million Americans affected by hearing loss, it is vital to be vigilant in protecting our ears and preserving our hearing today so that our ears serve us well into tomorrow. As a practicing audiologist for over 33 years, I understand how hearing loss can...
We all hear that hearing loss becomes more common as we get older. Some of us choose to ignore the signs because we feel that it is a natural part of aging, and there is nothing we can do about it. However, that isn't the whole case. Late treatment of hearing loss can...
When it comes to hearing loss, there is no one-size-fits-all diagnosis or solution. Because hearing loss is unique to each individual, seeking a hearing assessment from a trained audiologist is the best way to address the issue head-on. Your hearing assessment can not...
If you've ever had Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), chances are you won't forget it. While everyone will experience it differently, BPPV causes vertigo--an unexpected but false sense of spinning--and is the most common among inner ear problems. BPPV is not...
Regina has suffered from hearing problems since she was an infant, recognized as regular chronic ear infections. And, as with unfortunate events, she has experienced a multitude of audiology catastrophes.
It was many years before Regina crossed paths with Scottsdale Ear, Nose & Throat; where her lifetime of hearing problems was addressed effectively and treated with the delicate care that she desperately required.
Regina’s journey began when she was taken to a regular paediatrician by her mother from a young age. Her ears were, what we describe as an audiologists recipe for disaster, ‘flushed out’.
This dangerous procedure caused a nasty infection, which spread to her mastoid bone and, at the age of 15, she underwent a tympanoplasty mastoidectomy to stop the infection spreading. This only forbade her future struggles with hearing loss.
As with poor diagnosis, Regina was faced with another canaloplasty which didn’t work. Soon after, she received a BAHA, which is a cochlear implant in her skull that acts as a sound processor that detects sound and transforms it into vibrations.
However, suffering from a history of poor hearing care, she was unaware of the former issues her ear presented.
By now, this would be described as any audiologists nightmare. But, we’re proud to have helped Regina on her road to optimum hearing and reconnect her to her loved ones.
When she arrived at Scottsdale Ear, Nose & Throat it was evident that she was losing hearing on her right side. At this point, she was fitted with a ReSound hearing device, which provided the catalyst to a new and improved hearing.
The first thing Regina noticed was the indefinite sound she had been making whilst emptying the dishwasher, completely unaware of the noise she was making!
“I mean, the detail that I can hear now it’s like, Whoa, I didn’t realize I was making that much noise. I need to be quieter!”
Treated with professional care, Regina received a comprehensive hearing assessment with Dr. Debra Hamila.
“I just love, love, love Dr. Hamila, she is such a professional and loving person. I was so impressed with the office and what she did with the ReSound, I just love her.”
Like many others, it takes years for people to realize they have a hearing problem. Regina described this moment as life-changing.
“You don’t realise you’re walking with a rock in your shoe until you’re able to hear again. Especially now I’m a full-time Grammy Nanny, I can hear so much more and it has enriched my life incredibly.”
What advice would you give to someone who is deliberating on taking the first step towards better hearing?
“My advice to them would be to have a hearing test. Especially as we age our hearing goes down. It’s really unfortunate that people carry their pride and are not willing to learn to walk with the rock in their shoe. You don’t realise you’re waking with a rock in your shoe until you’re able to hear again.”
Regina is one of many patients who has been impacted by our audiological services and we are proud to have been able to provide the tool towards better hearing and a lifetime of many more memories.
