Hearing Aids
Though the risk of hearing loss increases as you get older, difficulty hearing affects people of all ages. To improve hearing and quality of life, Inell Rosario, MD, and the audiology experts at Andros ENT & Sleep Center offer a wide variety of hearing aids. To schedule an evaluation and discuss your hearing aid options, call the office in Inver Grove Heights or Roseville, Minnesota, or book an appointment online today.
Hearing Aids Q & A
What are hearing aids?
Hearing aids are small electronic devices that amplify sound to improve hearing in people experiencing hearing loss.
Andros ENT & Sleep Center is a state-of-the-art otolaryngology practice that includes an experienced audiologist who performs hearing tests and helps patients find the right hearing aid to fit their needs.
The practice offers a variety of hearing aid brands, such as Starkey, ReSound, and Widex®, and styles to meet any need, including:
- Invisible-in-canal (IIC) hearing aids
- Completely-in-ear (CIE) hearing aids
- Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids
- In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids
- In-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids
Dedicated to improving patient quality of life, Andros ENT & Sleep Center allows patients to return their hearing aids during the trial period for any reason.
How do hearing aids work?
Patients typically have hearing loss as a result of damage to the small sensory cells in the inner ear, known as sensorineural hearing loss.
Hearing aids amplify vibrations in the inner ear to improve the activation of these sensory nerves. These nerves send the information to your brain, which translates the vibrations into sound.
The greater the damage to the sensory cells, the greater the hearing loss. In these cases, Andros ENT & Sleep Center uses special hearing aids that provide greater amplification of sound and vibration to improve hearing.
Though hearing aids help many people struggling with hearing loss, they may not work for all. Andros ENT & Sleep Center conducts hearing evaluations to determine what hearing aid, if any, can help you.
What happens during an evaluation for hearing aids?
Andros ENT & Sleep Center performs comprehensive hearing evaluations to assess the severity of your hearing loss and determine what type of hearing aid is best for you. The team also performs hearing evaluations for pediatric patients.
The hearing evaluation includes a number of tests, such as:
Otoscopy
During an otoscopy, your provider uses an otoscope to evaluate and assess your ear canal and eardrum.
Pure tone measures
The pure tone measure test assesses your hearing levels, giving details about the type and extent of your hearing loss.
Speech measures
During speech measures, your provider has you listen to a set of words and asks you to repeat them.
Tympanometry
The tympanometry test evaluates your middle ear, eardrum, and conduction bones by generating different levels of ear pressure in the ear canal.
Your hearing aid expert at Andros ENT & Sleep Center uses the information gathered during your hearing evaluation to determine the hearing aid best suited for you.
To schedule your hearing aid consultation at Andros ENT & Sleep Center, call the office or book online today.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes you to stop breathing for a short time while sleeping. In addition to affecting your ability to get a good night’s rest, sleep apnea may increase your risk of developing serious health conditions. Inell Rosario, MD, at Andros ENT & Sleep Center in Inver Grove Heights and Roseville, Minnesota, specializes in diagnosing and treating sleep disorders like sleep apnea at the state-of-the-art sleep center. To schedule an appointment, call the office nearest you or book online today.
Sleep Apnea Q & A
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that disrupts your breathing while you sleep. There are three primary types of sleep apnea:
Obstructive sleep apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type. With this type of sleep apnea, your throat muscles relax while you sleep, obstructing the airway.
Central sleep apnea
With central sleep apnea, your brain fails to send the proper signals to the muscles that control your breathing while you sleep.
Complex sleep apnea syndrome
If you have complex sleep apnea syndrome, you have both obstructive and central sleep apnea.
What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?
Loud snoring during sleep is one of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea. Other symptoms include:
- Not feeling well-rested
- Morning headaches
- Waking up gasping for breath
- Having a dry mouth in the morning
- Day time sleepiness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Insomnia
Your sleep partner may also report that you stop breathing for periods while you sleep.
Sleep apnea not only affects your sleep habits but may also increase your risk of developing other health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart problems.
How is sleep apnea diagnosed?
Dr. Rosario conducts a comprehensive evaluation when you visit Andros ENT & Sleep Center with concerns about sleep apnea. If she suspects you have sleep apnea or any other sleep disorder, she has you undergo a sleep study.
Dr. Rosario offers at-home and sleep center sleep studies. Andros ENT & Sleep Center has a sleep lab located next to the office. During a sleep study, the team monitors your heart, lung, and breathing patterns while you sleep.
For patients who opt to undergo the at-home study, Dr. Rosario may refer you to physical therapy to assess your general fitness if your results indicate a sleep disorder.
How is sleep apnea treated?
Dr. Rosario customizes your sleep apnea treatment plan based on the type and severity of symptoms. If you have mild sleep apnea symptoms, she may recommend lifestyle changes to improve your breathing while you sleep, such as:
- Weight loss
- Smoking cessation
- Exercise program
- Treatment for allergies
Dr. Rosario may recommend continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy for moderate to severe sleep apnea. This device maintains positive airway pressure to improve breathing while you sleep.
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder. To get the help you need, call Andros ENT & Sleep Center or schedule a consultation online today.