INSERT YOUR PRACTICE LOGO
DATE
Contact: (INSERT CONTACT NAME)
(INSERT e-MAIL)
(INSERT PHONE NUMBER)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUDIOLOGY AWARENESS AND PROTECT YOUR HEARING MONTH HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANCE OF
CHOOSING AND AUDIOLOGIST FOR HEARING HEALTH CARE
(City, State)—(INSERT NAME OF PRACTICE ie. Dr. Smith’s Hearing Center) and the Academy of Doctors of
Audiology (ADA) urge consumers who suspect that they have hearing loss to seek treatment from a
licensed audiologist to ensure the proper diagnosis and treatment, and to identify potentially serious
underlying medical conditions.
“The purchase and use of a hearing aid without a proper examination, diagnosis and counseling is a
recipe for poor treatment outcomes and increased risks,” said (insert your name ie. Dr. Joe Smith,
Au.D.). “It is also important to understand that even when hearing loss is detected through a
comprehensive examination, hearing aids are not always a recommended course of treatment.”
Key risks of omitting an evaluation and treatment by a licensed audiologist or other licensed hearing
healthcare professional include the missed diagnosis of a serious underlying health condition that
requires medical intervention and subsequent hearing loss as a result of improper fitting and/or
programming of hearing aids. Online, over the counter and “do-it-yourself” hearing testing and (hearing
aid) distribution models that can pose significant health and financial risks for the consumer.
According to the Academy of Doctors of Audiology, there are many possible causes of hearing loss
including:





Aging – Can result in difficulty understanding speech, especially in background noise.
Blockages in the outer ear-- Most notably earwax that can cause discomfort and muffle sounds.
Ear infections – Can result in pain, swelling and muffled hearing .
Fistula – Is a serious condition characterized by ear ringing (tinnitus), dizziness and a feeling of
fullness in the ear.
Head injury – A head injury can damage nerves in the hearing centers of the brain.





Medication – Some medications are known to cause tinnitus (ear ringing) and sudden hearing
loss.
Meniere’s Disease – Pressure in the inner ear may cause fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus
(ringing sensation), dizziness and nausea.
Noise Exposure– The single most common cause of hearing loss is exposure to loud noise.
Otosclerosis – This is a hereditary disease that results in a slow progressive hearing loss in the
middle ear cavity.
Tumors – Hearing loss and dizziness have been related to some types of tumors in a specific
area of the brain.
Many of these above conditions may be symptoms of a more serious condition and cannot be treated
with a hearing aid and require medical treatment.
“Hearing aids are medical devices regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration. They require
proper , fitting by a trained professional, counseling and follow up care,” said (insert name ie. Dr. Smith).
“Hearing aids, are just part of the treatment process for hearing loss, which should also include a
comprehensive hearing evaluation and hearing aid selection based upon each person’s individual needs.
It takes time to adjust to hearing aids, and without expert counseling from an audiologist before and
after obtaining hearing aids, successful rehabilitation is far less likely.”
It is estimated that more than 36 million Americans have a hearing loss (approximately 1 out of 10
people). Hearing loss affects people of all ages--in fact half of all people with hearing loss are younger
than age 65. One in fourteen Generation X-ers already have hearing loss, and at least 1.4 million children
have hearing problems (source: Better Hearing Institute).
About (Insert Your Practice Name and a Brief Paragraph)
About Audiologists
Audiologists are highly trained healthcare professionals, who are university trained and licensed
to specifically identify, evaluate, diagnose, and treat audiologic disorders of hearing. Audiologists
use specialized equipment and procedures to accurately test for hearing loss. These tests are
conducted in sound-treated rooms with calibrated equipment. The audiologist is trained to
inspect the eardrum with an otoscope, conduct diagnostic audiologic and vestibular (balance)
tests, and check for medically-related hearing problems.
###