June 16, Advanced Audiology Concepts is hosting a hearing aid upgrade event
By Patricia Nugent
Advanced Audiology Concepts The Hearing Center in Mentor is planning several events to celebrate the month of May, which is National Hearing Awareness Month.
According to founder Dr. Jane Kukula, on Friday, May 28, they are hosting an online webinar introducing new hearing aid technology. Dr. Jane and audiologist Dr. Rachael Olinger, along with a representative from Phonak, will discuss all the latest instruments and take questions from the audience.
On Wednesday, June 16, the practice is holding a hearing aid upgrade event.
“We will fit any of our patients with trial aids on a loaner basis at no charge,” she says. “The new Bluetooth technology is really a game-changer. Patients can have their aids adjusted from any smartphone, in real time from an app on their phone.”
Register for either event by calling the office at 440-205-8848.
Preventing Hearing Loss
Dr. Jane wants people to understand that many instances of age-related hearing loss can be prevented. She has lots of tips for taking care of your hearing, but one of them is a little surprising.
“Eating a heart-healthy diet and getting regular exercise is absolutely critical to maintaining your hearing as you age,” she says. “It’s because of circulation. The delicate mechanisms of the inner ear are directly impacted by blood flow, so lack of healthy blood coming into the organ can damage it over time. That’s why hearing loss often goes hand-in-hand with diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure.”
She says people who don’t address suspected hearing loss aren’t doing themselves any favors, as even a low level of loss is connected to other issues such as dementia and depression.
“Also, on a social level, avoiding situations where you can’t be a part of conversation is missing out on life,” she adds.
Knowledge is power and she recommends patients get a baseline hearing assessment when they turn 40.
She reports that for people already suffering from hearing loss, having to wear masks the past year has been terrible, as they preclude lip-reading or picking up facial cues.
Meet Dr. Rachael Olinger
To meet the needs of her ever-growing practice, Dr. Jane hired audiologist Dr. Rachael Olinger.
“We are pleased to have her wonderful people skills in our practice,” she says.
Dr. Olinger fondly remembers sitting in a large lecture class at Ohio State University and when the professor asked for a show of hands of how many students planned to go on to become a doctor, only a few went up. Her hand was not one of them.
“I remember wondering, could I really make it through eight more years of schooling,” she recalls, laughing. “But once I set my mind to it, I decided this was my path and that’s testimony that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.”
She finished her undergrad degree at OSU, then went on for her doctorate from the Northeast Ohio AuD Consortium.
“Being in this independent practice with Dr. Jane is a blessing,” she says. “It’s refreshing to be able to treat patients in this atmosphere, and I enjoy getting to know them, from young to old.”
Hailing from a tiny town in Northwest Ohio, Dr. Olinger now lives in Canton with her husband.
Advanced Audiology Concepts is located at 8897 Mentor Avenue in Mentor. Call the office to set up an audiogram to see how healthy your hearing is, 440-205-8848, or visit AAChear.org for more information. The practice is still following Covid guidelines from the CDC, utilizing plexiglass barrier screens, staggering appointments, thoroughly sanitizing between appointments and offering curbside visits if requested.