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Audiology & Hearing
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Monday - Friday: 8 am - 5 pm
When to See an Audiologist
Make an appointment with an Essentia audiologist if you:
- Feel like people are mumbling when they speak to you
- Frequently ask others to repeat what they say
- Have trouble communicating in noisy areas or in groups
- Hear ringing in your ears
- Often turn up the volume of the television or radio
Conditions Treated
See the full list of conditions we treat, and select a condition to find providers and locations near you.
Comprehensive Hearing Evaluation
Learn the extent and type of your hearing loss through a personalized hearing evaluation. Your audiologist will ask about your symptoms and hearing health history. Then, he or she will choose the most appropriate hearing tests for you.
Testing usually takes about 30 minutes. Expect to get the results of your tests at the end of your appointment.
Does My Child Need a Hearing Test?
If you’re concerned about your child’s hearing, talk to your child’s primary care provider or pediatrician. Signs that your child may need a hearing test include:
- Chronic ear infections
- Family history of hearing loss
- Failure to respond to his or her name or to conversations
- Frustration in noisy situations
- Often seems inattentive
- Slow or unusual speech development
Solutions for Hearing Loss
Partner with your audiologist to find ways to communicate more effectively. Depending on your condition, needs, and preferences, your audiologist may recommend:
- Assistive listening devices, such as FM systems and personal amplifiers (like Pockettalker®)
- Hearing aids
- Implantable hearing devices, such as a cochlear implant or an osseointegrated implant
- Speech therapy
Choosing a Hearing Aid
Count on the hearing aid experts at Essentia to help you select the best hearing aid for you. You’ll learn about different styles, technologies, and features. If you want a hearing aid that works with your iPhone or other smartphone, ask us for help selecting a compatible model.
Hearing Aid Trial Period
After your hearing aid arrives, you’ll be able to use it for several weeks to see if it works well for you. This is called a trial period. Depend on us to show you how to:
- Put on and take off your hearing aid
- Change the batteries
- Care for your hearing aid
- Pair and adjust your hearing aid with your mobile device, if applicable
Schedule a follow-up visit before the end of your trial period. During this appointment, your audiologist will make sure your hearing aid is helping you as much as possible. Your hearing specialist may adjust it so it works better for you.
Multidisciplinary Care for Tinnitus
Look to Essentia for strategies to cope with ringing in your ears, called tinnitus. Get coordinated care that helps you find the best ways to manage your symptoms. Your tinnitus care team may include:
Dizziness & Balance Evaluations
Your ears not only hear, but also help you keep your balance. If you experience problems with balance or dizziness, your audiologist may be part of the team that does tests to help reveal the cause of your symptoms. Essentia offers a dedicated Dizziness and Balance Care clinic in Duluth, Minnesota.
Auditory Processing Disorder Care
People with auditory processing disorders (APDs) may have trouble understanding, remembering, or acting on what they hear. In Northeastern Minnesota and Southwestern Wisconsin, you or your child can benefit from APD care from a multidisciplinary team that includes:
- Audiologist
- Physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor
- Occupational therapist
- Psychologist
- Speech-language therapist