What Did You Say? And So Much More

In fact, our Audiology Department has something for nearly everyone, and we offer services that are not readily available in the community. “We’d like to let our Veterans know all about us,” said Chief of
Audiology and Speech Pathology, Dr. Stephanie Givan.

One of them is the innovative ways we use to treat tinnitus. What exactly is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus – the noisy word

“Tinnitus is the noise in the ear that doesn’t come from the outside and only the one experiencing can hear it,” Givan said.

Some hear humming. Others hear ringing, buzzing or other sounds. It’s not only annoying, but it can affect a person’s concentration, mood, and sleep.

Tinnitus is the number one service-connected disability. There’s no known cure in most
cases. So, what do we do about that?

Dispelling the myths

Often, people worry that tinnitus is a precursor to a stroke or indicative of some major brain malfunction.

“This isn’t so,” said Givan. “Nobody really knows where Tinnitus comes from. There are multiple theories and probably multiple reasons. But it’s not like tomorrow you’ll have a stroke.”

Here at the VA, there’s a special program to manage Tinnitus that is a very progressive program. It follows clinical research that was developed by the National Center for Auditory Research in the Portland VA,” Givan explained. “In it we use a combination of strategies, that include specialized testing, individual and group counseling, hearing aids, and accessories, as needed.”

Some of the accessories include apps that have soothing sounds, and hearing aids that have background noise. “A hearing test is needed first,” Givan said. “So, schedule one and we can get started.”

It’s a balancing act

One doesn’t normally think much about our balance. But if you ever lose your balance and fall, that’s an event that you’ll never forget.

The balance system helps you to stand, walk, and move around your environment without falling. If that system malfunctions, it can lead dizziness, vertigo, falls and headaches. One of the places important to keeping balance is the inner ear.

If you experience dizziness or lose your balance frequently, Audiology can help.

“We have one of the most comprehensive tests of the inner ear and use a procedure which is often successful to correct the malfunction,” Givan said. We would like to spread the word that we have the test to doctors as well, so that they can refer patients."

And that’s not all that Auditory Department has to offer.

Let’s say that you notice that you have trouble understanding and miss parts of conversations. You have you hearing tested, and the result comes back showing there’s absolutely nothing wrong with your
hearing. You’re not imagining things.

Auditory Processing Disorder - a condition in young people

There’s a condition that outside the VA is not widely known or accepted as diagnosis. It’s called
Auditory Processing Disorder, but we, at the VA take it very seriously.

“That’s something that we see more often in young people and also patients with mild Traumatic Brain Injury,” Givan said. “And it can be very frustrating for those who experience this condition, and we can help.”

The VA has a comprehensive testing ability for that condition. We do auditory brain stem response, which checks for hearing problems not so peripheral but are central to determine whether the
condition exists and then we treat it.

“We also are one of major contributors to something called Superior Canal Dehiscence, where there’s a little hole in one the tubes that doesn’t always show on a CT scan.”

*All Veterans are eligible for services, including FREE hearing aids, regardless of service-connected status.