Hearing Professionals of Alabama

11/26/2025

🐚 Let’s talk about cochlear implants! A life-changing option for certain patients who may not benefit from traditional hearing aids…

Current candidacy criteria generally include:
📌 Limited benefit from hearing aids
📌 Significant difficulty understanding speech, even with amplification
📌 Moderate to profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears

🦻Our audiologists have years of experience working alongside cochlear implant patients, and have seen firsthand the incredible benefits these devices can bring.

Here’s the truth: cochlear implants aren’t an overnight solution. They’re a journey. From surgery to activation to ongoing adjustments…it takes time, patience, and support. But the small victories along the way? Hearing a grandchild’s laugh, understanding a conversation in a noisy room, catching the lyrics of a favorite song… those moments make every step worthwhile. 👏

And you don’t have to walk that road alone. We’re here for the fine-tuning, the encouragement, the troubleshooting, and the celebrations. 🎉

Because at the end of the day, I’m here to help you hear your best and stay connected to what matters most. 💛

11/25/2025

🔇 Tinnitus tip: What NOT to Do! 🚫

If you have tinnitus, you might think that avoiding noise and sitting in total silence will help. After all, you’re already hearing ringing, buzzing, or whooshing. Why add more sound?

❌ Wrong! In fact, silence can make tinnitus worse. When your environment is too quiet, your brain has nothing else to focus on except the tinnitus, making it seem louder, more bothersome, and more intrusive.

What to do instead? Avoid silent spaces! Try:

🎶 Playing soft music

🌊 Using a white noise machine

🌀 Turning on a fan

🌿 Opening a window to let in natural sounds

🧠 Giving your brain something else to listen to can help take the focus off your tinnitus, making it less noticeable and less frustrating. Need more tinnitus management tips? We’re here to help!

11/24/2025

Thinking about cleaning your ears at home? Stop. Please don’t!..

We’ve all seen those flashy at-home earwax removal tools online: scoops, cameras, lights… It looks like a fun gadget. But here’s the truth: they can actually do more harm than good. 😬

Here’s why DIY earwax removal is risky:
❌ You could injure your eardrum or ear canal.
❌ Wax can get pushed deeper, making things worse.
❌ You can’t confirm it’s completely removed.

Your ears deserve safe, professional care…not a social media experiment. 👂✨

11/24/2025

Tips to help you stay part of the conversation during holiday gatherings, even if hearing is a challenge. Learn simple ways to enjoy time with family and friends without missing a word.

11/23/2025

👂 Did you know? Sometimes the best hearing care means involving more than one expert.

As an audiologist, my role is to diagnose, fit, and manage hearing loss , but there are times when referrals are a part of our patients journey.

While I don’t perform surgery, we work closely with trusted physicians, ensuring you always feel supported. Think of it as a team approach: your hearing health is in the best hands!

Shout out to our colleagues at Baptist Health ENT Partners, they are simply the best!

11/22/2025

🦻 POV: you walk out of your hearing aid fitting and suddenly hear…

🚗 Your car blinker ticking

🥾 Your footsteps crunching

💨 Your jacket swishing

🚽 …and yes, even the toilet flush!

When will it all sound normal again??

Here’s the deal: your brain has been missing out on these little sounds for years. So when they all come rushing back at once, it can feel overwhelming! But the more you expose your brain to these everyday noises, the faster it learns to recognize and “file” them away as background.

🧠 Most patients adapt within about 1 month of consistent use (think: all waking hours, 8am–8pm). The key is time AND exposure. The more your brain hears, the better it can adapt.

At Hearing Professionals of Alabama, my goal is always to have you leave your fitting hearing differently AND comfortably. Change takes time, but you don’t have to walk through it alone. We’re here every step (and swish!) of the way. 🤍

11/21/2025

📺 Happy World TV Day! Let’s be honest…TV has a way of bringing us together: family movie nights, Sunday football, that one show you swore you’d only watch one episode of (and then binged the whole season 🙃).

But here’s the kicker… when hearing loss sneaks in, suddenly the volume’s at 40, captions are always on, and your family’s giving you the look. 👀

👂 Hearing well isn’t just about keeping up with conversations. It’s about enjoying the little things, like laughing along with your favorite characters or actually catching the referee’s call during the big game.

So today, celebrate TV the way it was meant to be heard: clear, connected, and without complaints from the couch. 🛋️

11/20/2025

🥧🍗 Holiday gatherings can get loud (and not just from Uncle Bob’s football commentary). If you’ve got a loved one with hearing loss, here are some easy ways to make the table feel more welcoming:

👂 Turn down the background noise TV off, turkey carving on. The game can wait until after pie.

👥 One at a time, please Think “family meeting,” not “rowdy debate club.” Overlapping voices = loud chaos. (We appreciate for some families this is easier said than done 😆)

🗣️ Speak clearly (not louder) No need to yell across the table, it’s not an auction! Face them and let your expressions help.

🍽️ Strategic seating Put them next to the family member who is patient and includes everyone…not next to the loud cousin who dominates conversation.

♻️ Rephrase instead of repeat If “pass the gravy” didn’t land, try “hand me that saucy stuff.” Fresh wording works better than shouting the same line again.

Little tweaks = big difference. Because holidays should be about connection, not confusion. 💛

11/19/2025

The holidays are near, and family gatherings are full of chatter. Making sure everyone, including those with hearing loss, can follow along keeps the season more enjoyable for all.

The new HLAA Hearing Loss Toolkit is your go-to resource for understanding and living well with hearing loss.

11/16/2025

📱👂 Bluetooth woes with your hearing aids? You’re not alone!

Technology is amazing… but sometimes it can be a little tricky. Here are 5 common troubleshooting tips you can try at home:

1️⃣ Reboot your devices: Sometimes a simple restart of your hearing aids, phone, or tablet fixes the issue.
2️⃣ Repair your Bluetooth connection: Not broken? Try re-pairing your hearing aids to your device.
3️⃣ Check for software updates: Keep your phone, apps, and hearing aids updated for best performance.
4️⃣ Evaluate other issues: Too many paired devices, low battery, or being too far from your device can all cause problems.
5️⃣ Seek help: If things still aren’t working, don’t stress! We’re here to help get you back up and running.

Bluetooth streaming should make your life easier, not harder. Let us help you get the most out of your hearing aids!

11/15/2025

👓 Ever grabbed a pair of “cheater” reading glasses off the rack? They might work fine for menus and quick fixes, but they’re not the same as prescription lenses tailored to your eyes.

🦻 Hearing works the same way!

📣 OTC (over-the-counter) hearing aids are like cheaters:

● One-size-fits-most

● Designed for mild hearing loss

● Limited customization

● You’re on your own for setup & troubleshooting

🦻 Prescription-fit hearing aids

● Customized for your exact hearing loss

● Professionally programmed and verified (we make sure they work for you)

● Ongoing support, adjustments, and follow-up care

● Designed for long-term hearing health, not just a quick fix

✨ OTC devices can be a starting point, but for many people, they don’t go far enough. Hearing is too important to leave to guesswork!

If you’ve been wondering which option is right for you, I’d be happy to walk you through it. Your ears (and the people you love hearing most) deserve clarity.

11/14/2025

🎗️ World Diabetes Day 🎗️

Most people know diabetes can affect the eyes, the heart, and the kidneys… but did you know it can also affect your ears? 👂

Research shows that people with diabetes are twice as likely to experience hearing loss. Why? Changes in blood sugar can damage the tiny blood vessels and nerves in the inner ear, making it harder to pick up sound.

🩺That’s why caring for your overall health also means caring for your hearing health. ✨

👂Today is a great reminder: if you’re living with diabetes, add a hearing check to your wellness routine. Your ears (and your loved ones) will thank you.