Bronson Constance Brown lead audiologist Kim Kragt is pictured at the May 14 Climax Rotary Club program.
(Photo by Bruce Rolfe)
By Bruce Rolfe
A Bronson Constance Brown Audiologist offered the Climax Rotary Club and visitors May 14 insight on some impressive options available to help with hearing loss.
Bronson Constance Brown lead audiologist Kim Kragt talked about the hearing evaluation process, various types of hearing aids available, accessories and other options for hearing loss.
She said Constance Brown Hearing Center was started in 1942 but merged with Bronson Hospital in 2023 when it became Bronson Constance Brown Hearing Center.
Kragt said it was becoming difficult for Constance Brown to stand on its own and remain a non-profit that offers financial assistance.
She said Bronson approached Constance Brown because the hospital has never had a separate audiology department as part of the hospital.
She said the partnership has been positive, opening up more opportunities for people with hearing loss.
Kragt, who has been with Constance Brown for 20 years, was executive director when the merge took place but is now the lead audiologist.
Kragt said if a person is concerned about their hearing loss, a hearing evaluation is a good first step to take. Besides having a comprehensive hearing evaluation administered, she said the Bronson Constance Brown staff is looking for any medical issues that may be present on a hearing test. She said Bronson Constance Brown audiologists can also determine if a person is a candidate for other medical devices to improve hearing besides hearing aids.
She adds most insurance providers will cover a hearing evaluation with a referral from a doctor including Medicare.
The lead audiologist said people at a higher risk of hearing loss would include people exposed to loud noise, a family history, certain medications, head injuries or infections, “and they’re finding that there’s a significant link between diabetes and hearing loss and any kind of heart disease or high blood pressure.”
Kragt said it is important not to wait too long when hearing loss becomes a problem. She said the biggest complaint she hears is people indicate they hear fine but speech clarity is difficult.
“People start to lose their hearing typically in the higher pitches so then, you do lose clarity. You don’t lose hearing or volume, you’re losing the clarity. So don’t wait until you’re noticing that it’s a hearing problem because then you’ve already experienced it for a little too long,” explained Kragt.
She said there are three different types of hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss, which is medically related. It could involve having trouble with the ear drum, fluid in the middle ear, or an issue with sounds getting through the outer ear, ear drum or the middle ear. She said these types of issues can often be resolved surgically, however there are some devices that can be worn to help with conductive hearing loss.
She said the most common type of hearing loss is Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). This type of hearing loss occurs from damage in the inner ear (cochlea) or the auditory nerve, leading to a disruption in the transmission of sound signals to the brain. She said there is nothing known yet to repair SNHL, however hearing aids and other devices can improve hearing for people that have SNHL.
Kragt adds there are some people who have both SNHL and conductive hearing loss.
She said there are many options to help with hearing loss.
Over the counter hearing aids are very common, less expensive and do not require a hearing test or a professional. They are appropriate more for perceived mild to moderate hearing loss.
There are also prescription hearing aids offered at Bronson Constance Brown that match up with a person’s hearing evaluation test.
She said prescription devices can be fine tuned for people that miss certain sounds using improved technology and there are more options with prescription hearing aids then over the counter hearing aids.
Kragt said there are also implant options like cochlear implants and bone conduction implants.
The lead audiologist adds most hearing aids are blue tooth compatible, allowing the user to connect into other devices like a television, computer, phone, or tablet.
She said most hearing companies are transitioning to rechargeable hearing aids opposed to battery operated hearing aids.
Kragt adds having hearing aids that are blue tooth compatible and are rechargeable does not necessarily influence the price.
“What drives up the price is how many decisions the hearing aid is making about the environment that you’re in. Right now they all kind of look the same, but they have different levels of technology,” explained Kragt, who said the hearing aids start out determining if a person is in a quiet environment or loud environment and advance up to a level that determines if a person is in a car or auditorium and automatically switches to the appropriate settings.
She emphasized it is important to talk to a professional about the environments you will be in and how you want them to react in each environment.
She adds understanding warranties on hearing aids is important in case the hearing aid does not match up with expectations and can be returned and covers follow up appointments for adjustments.
She also reviewed some common accessories for hearing aids. If a hearing aid can’t connect directly to a television through blue tooth there is a box that plugs into the television that allows the user to wirelessly connect to the television.
Kragt said there are also microphones that can be set on a table that projects sound into the hearing aid.
There is also a microphone accessory that can be given to another person to speak into when there is a louder environment with background noise.
Kragt adds newer hearing aids are now water proof and many of the newer hearing aids have apps for a cell phone, with the “Find My Hearing Aid” app being a popular one.
Climax Rotary Club members and visitors inquired about ringing in the ears, or tinnitus, which Kragt said is highly associated with having some degree of hearing loss. She said the most successful option for tinnitus is wearing hearing aids, which often masks out tinnitus.
Kragt said there are options for people that have hearing loss that has advanced to the point where hearing aids can not help or there is too much nerve damage.
She said one option is a cochlear implant. Kragt said a cochlear implant does not use the inner ear. The implant is placed just under the skin with electrode wires placed in the cochlea of the inner ear. A device, that looks like a hearing aid, is worn on the outside. The microphone on the device transmits sound through the skin stimulating the auditory nerve and offering more access to sound.
She said another hearing option is bone conduction devices for people who have conductive hearing loss who cannot wear hearing aids.
She said there are a couple of options. One option is an implant placed on the bone. A grommet type of device is placed outside of the skin and a device with a microphone is snapped on that stimulates the inner ear to provide hearing.
Kragt adds the more popular option is to implant the bone conduction device connected to a magnet. The patient connects the microphone device on the outside to the magnet that transmits the sound and stimulates the inner ear.
She said many of the implants are compatible with an MRI but you would still want to discuss that with your physician.
She adds Bronson Constance Hearing Centers are still non-profit and does provide financial assistance for people who qualify.
A Bronson Constance Brown Audiologist offered the Climax Rotary Club and visitors May 14 insight on some impressive options available to help with hearing loss.
Bronson Constance Brown lead audiologist Kim Kragt talked about the hearing evaluation process, various types of hearing aids available, accessories and other options for hearing loss.
She said Constance Brown Hearing Center was started in 1942 but merged with Bronson Hospital in 2023 when it became Bronson Constance Brown Hearing Center.
Kragt said it was becoming difficult for Constance Brown to stand on its own and remain a non-profit that offers financial assistance.
She said Bronson approached Constance Brown because the hospital has never had a separate audiology department as part of the hospital.
She said the partnership has been positive, opening up more opportunities for people with hearing loss.
Kragt, who has been with Constance Brown for 20 years, was executive director when the merge took place but is now the lead audiologist.
Kragt said if a person is concerned about their hearing loss, a hearing evaluation is a good first step to take. Besides having a comprehensive hearing evaluation administered, she said the Bronson Constance Brown staff is looking for any medical issues that may be present on a hearing test. She said Bronson Constance Brown audiologists can also determine if a person is a candidate for other medical devices to improve hearing besides hearing aids.
She adds most insurance providers will cover a hearing evaluation with a referral from a doctor including Medicare.
The lead audiologist said people at a higher risk of hearing loss would include people exposed to loud noise, a family history, certain medications, head injuries or infections, “and they’re finding that there’s a significant link between diabetes and hearing loss and any kind of heart disease or high blood pressure.”
Kragt said it is important not to wait too long when hearing loss becomes a problem. She said the biggest complaint she hears is people indicate they hear fine but speech clarity is difficult.
“People start to lose their hearing typically in the higher pitches so then, you do lose clarity. You don’t lose hearing or volume, you’re losing the clarity. So don’t wait until you’re noticing that it’s a hearing problem because then you’ve already experienced it for a little too long,” explained Kragt.
She said there are three different types of hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss, which is medically related. It could involve having trouble with the ear drum, fluid in the middle ear, or an issue with sounds getting through the outer ear, ear drum or the middle ear. She said these types of issues can often be resolved surgically, however there are some devices that can be worn to help with conductive hearing loss.
She said the most common type of hearing loss is Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). This type of hearing loss occurs from damage in the inner ear (cochlea) or the auditory nerve, leading to a disruption in the transmission of sound signals to the brain. She said there is nothing known yet to repair SNHL, however hearing aids and other devices can improve hearing for people that have SNHL.
Kragt adds there are some people who have both SNHL and conductive hearing loss.
She said there are many options to help with hearing loss.
Over the counter hearing aids are very common, less expensive and do not require a hearing test or a professional. They are appropriate more for perceived mild to moderate hearing loss.
There are also prescription hearing aids offered at Bronson Constance Brown that match up with a person’s hearing evaluation test.
She said prescription devices can be fine tuned for people that miss certain sounds using improved technology and there are more options with prescription hearing aids then over the counter hearing aids.
Kragt said there are also implant options like cochlear implants and bone conduction implants.
The lead audiologist adds most hearing aids are blue tooth compatible, allowing the user to connect into other devices like a television, computer, phone, or tablet.
She said most hearing companies are transitioning to rechargeable hearing aids opposed to battery operated hearing aids.
Kragt adds having hearing aids that are blue tooth compatible and are rechargeable does not necessarily influence the price.
“What drives up the price is how many decisions the hearing aid is making about the environment that you’re in. Right now they all kind of look the same, but they have different levels of technology,” explained Kragt, who said the hearing aids start out determining if a person is in a quiet environment or loud environment and advance up to a level that determines if a person is in a car or auditorium and automatically switches to the appropriate settings.
She emphasized it is important to talk to a professional about the environments you will be in and how you want them to react in each environment.
She adds understanding warranties on hearing aids is important in case the hearing aid does not match up with expectations and can be returned and covers follow up appointments for adjustments.
She also reviewed some common accessories for hearing aids. If a hearing aid can’t connect directly to a television through blue tooth there is a box that plugs into the television that allows the user to wirelessly connect to the television.
Kragt said there are also microphones that can be set on a table that projects sound into the hearing aid.
There is also a microphone accessory that can be given to another person to speak into when there is a louder environment with background noise.
Kragt adds newer hearing aids are now water proof and many of the newer hearing aids have apps for a cell phone, with the “Find My Hearing Aid” app being a popular one.
Climax Rotary Club members and visitors inquired about ringing in the ears, or tinnitus, which Kragt said is highly associated with having some degree of hearing loss. She said the most successful option for tinnitus is wearing hearing aids, which often masks out tinnitus.
Kragt said there are options for people that have hearing loss that has advanced to the point where hearing aids can not help or there is too much nerve damage.
She said one option is a cochlear implant. Kragt said a cochlear implant does not use the inner ear. The implant is placed just under the skin with electrode wires placed in the cochlea of the inner ear. A device, that looks like a hearing aid, is worn on the outside. The microphone on the device transmits sound through the skin stimulating the auditory nerve and offering more access to sound.
She said another hearing option is bone conduction devices for people who have conductive hearing loss who cannot wear hearing aids.
She said there are a couple of options. One option is an implant placed on the bone. A grommet type of device is placed outside of the skin and a device with a microphone is snapped on that stimulates the inner ear to provide hearing.
Kragt adds the more popular option is to implant the bone conduction device connected to a magnet. The patient connects the microphone device on the outside to the magnet that transmits the sound and stimulates the inner ear.
She said many of the implants are compatible with an MRI but you would still want to discuss that with your physician.
She adds Bronson Constance Hearing Centers are still non-profit and does provide financial assistance for people who qualify.
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