Audiology

Blue = Left

Red = Right

Hearing aid dehumidifier

• Every night, open battery door to turn hearing aid off and place in hearing aid dehumidifier.
• Once weekly, microwave dehumidifier disc screen side up 20-30 seconds. DO NOT put hearing aids in the microwave.

Store hearing aids on dresser, night stand, desk – away from the bathroom.

Wear your hearing aids most waking hours.

Remove hearing aids

• When you go to bed at night,
• When you bathe or shower or
• To protect your ears around loud sounds and use appropriate ear protection

Hearing aid not working?

• Check/change battery
• Check/change wax filter
• Schedule an appointment: 563-382-2911

• Wear your hearing protection properly.
• Wear them every time you’re in a noisy area.
• Change your earplugs daily or on the recommended schedule.
• Do not listen to a personal music player when you’re in a noise zone.
• For musicians and concert attendees, consider filtered or musician ear plugs for better sound quality while protecting your hearing.
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle eating right and exercising.
• Avoid social isolation, stay involved with social activities.

If you have questions regarding hearing protection, make an appointment with Dr. See at WinnMed Decorah Clinic: 563-382-2911.

What are the signs of hearing loss?

Children

• Lack of attention to sounds (birth-1 year)
• Does not respond when you call his/her name (7 months-1 year)
• Does not follow simple directions (1-2 years)
• Shows delays in speech and language development (birth-3 years)
• Pulls or scratches at his/her ears
• Difficulty achieving academically, especially in reading and math
• Socially isolated and unhappy in school
• Persistent ear discomfort after exposure to loud noise (regular and constant listening to electronics at high volumes)

Adults

• Inattentiveness
• Buzzing or ringing in their ears
• Failure to respond to spoken words
• Persistent ear discomfort after exposure to loud noise (regular and constant
• listening to electronics at high volumes)
• Muffled hearing
• Constant frustration hearing speech and other sounds
• Avoids conversation
• Social isolation
• Depression

Cynthia See, Au.D., is an ASHA-certified Mayo Clinic Health System audiologist at WinnMed Decorah Clinic.  Dr. See provides high-quality patient and family-centered hearing and balance related services to patients of all ages – from birth to elderly.

Audiology specialty appointments can be made by calling WinnMed at 563-382-2911.  You can also request an appointment through MyChart.