Here at OptiVue we have always been focused on vision. But it’s not just your eye health that we care about. We at OptiVue are concerned with how your overall health affects your quality of life. That’s why OptiVue has added a comprehensive hearing program to our already extensive list of eye care services.

Vision and hearing are your two most important senses, and in several cases, when vision loss starts to occur, so does hearing loss. The deterioration of the two most vital senses are so closely linked, it only makes sense to treat the two together.

OptiVue has its own audiologist on-site, Dr. Aaron J. Burks, who will be more than happy to serve your hearing needs. With the excellent technology used here at OptiVue, 90% of hearing loss problems can be solved right here in our office.

Quick Facts about Hearing Loss

• Hearing loss affects 50% of the senior population
• Over 80% are undiagnosed and untreated
• Untreated hearing loss can have a profound negative affect that can contribute to clinical depression, the acceleration of Alzheimer’s and dementia, social isolation, and anger management problems

Signs of Hearing Loss

The signs of hearing loss can be subtle and emerge slowly, or they can be significant and come on suddenly. Either way, there are common indications. You should suspect hearing loss if you experience any of the signs below.

Socially you may…
• require frequent repetition.
• have difficulty following conversations involving more than 2 people.
• think that other people sound muffled or like they're mumbling.
• have difficulty hearing in noisy situations, like conferences, restaurants, malls, or crowded meeting rooms.
• have trouble hearing children and women.
• have your TV or radio turned up to a high volume.
• answer or respond inappropriately in conversations.
• have ringing in your ears.
• read lips or more intently watch people's faces when they speak with you.
 
Emotionally you may…
• feel stressed out from straining to hear what others are saying.
• feel annoyed at other people because you can't hear or understand them.
• feel embarrassed to meet new people or from misunderstanding what others are saying.
• feel nervous about trying to hear and understand.
• withdraw from social situations that you once enjoyed because of difficulty hearing.

Medically you may…
• have a family history of hearing loss.
• take medications that can harm the hearing system (ototoxic drugs).
• have diabetes, heart, circulation or thyroid problems.
• have been exposed to very loud sounds over a long period or single exposure to explosive noise.