Courtney thought she was too young to start losing her hearing.

She started noticing the problem at work. She was having trouble hearing when people gave presentations or when she was on conference calls.

She could not hear what was being said.

“It took me a while to go in a see somebody and figure out that it was me,” she said.

Courtney, an ADC patient who did not want to disclose her last name, said it took almost a year from the time when she thought something was wrong with her hearing to when she visited Audiology at the Austin Diagnostic Clinic.

Hearing loss is often associated with aging, but it can happen at any age.

In fact, Courtney’s decreased hearing was not caused by age, but instead by a disorder where the body produces a hormone that causes degenerative hearing loss.

She says her hearing will continue to worsen. Fortunately, she has options — hearing devices or surgery.

According to Penny Barron, an audiologist at ADC, it’s important to have a baseline test to see how your hearing changes over time.

“The only way to know what is going on with your hearing is to have it evaluated and actually have it measured,” she said. “We can’t detect those very small changes.”

John Wallace, an audiology patient, says he had his hearing checked because he was frequently asking people to repeat themselves.

“About 90 percent of my job is communications – mostly on the phone and in person,” he said. “I found I was sitting in a room full of people and could not understand what was being said.”

He says he did not notice his hearing slipping away. It was not until he got hearing devices that he realized how much he had been missing.

“I hadn’t heard a bird chirp in 10 years,” Wallace said. “Hearing loss is very insidious. You don’t realize how much you are missing until you get it back.”

Do you need your hearing checked?

A comprehensive hearing evaluation is appropriate at any age.

If your ability to hear affects your daily life, you may want to consult your doctor. He or she may recommend you see an audiologist to be evaluated.

According to ADC audiologists, hearing should be tested even if you don’t think you need a hearing device.

Signs of decreased hearing include:

• Muffled speech
• Difficulty understanding words
• Frequently asking others to speak more slowly, clearly or loudly
• Needing to turn up the volume of the television or radio
• Withdrawal from conversations
• Avoidance of some social settings

What causes hearing loss?

Many people think of aging when they think of what leads to hearing loss. But in reality, a number of environmental conditions can also cause decreased hearing.

Causes include

• Inner ear damage
  This can be caused by aging as well as extended exposure to loud noise.
• Earwax buildup
• Ear infections, abnormal bone growths, tumors
• Ruptured eardrum

Hearing loss treatments

Barron says nothing can restore hearing 100 percent, but medicine and technology have come a long way, and they can help people function normally.

Once you have been evaluated, an audiologist or your physician can explain some of the treatments for decreased hearing.

Treatment options include

• Removing earwax blockage
• Amplification systems
• Cochlear implants

Resources

• NYTimes: What causes hearing loss
• Mayo Clinic: Hearing loss
• WebMD: Causes of hearing loss

This post -- When to get your hearing tested -- appeared first on The Austin Diagnostic Clinic.

“As an OB/GYN, I really wanted to truly experience every aspect of my delivery.”

Image source: Thinkstock

I had been delivering babies myself for almost seven years, when I became pregnant with my first child.

Several experiences had influenced me to want to attempt having a natural delivery, with as little intervention as possible. I was inspired by knowing that my own mother had delivered her children without the intervention of pain medication.

From attending many births I knew that natural childbirth was definitely a reasonable goal, with adequate preparation. I decided to pursue hypnobirthing in order to prepare for my delivery. I had been present at several births where hypnobirthing techniques were used, and I noticed that these patients seemed to be in a truly calm and relaxed state, even during the active and pushing stages of labor.

Support staff in the room for these deliveries would often assume that these patients had epidurals, because they were so quiet and focused.

Several colleagues at the time — who had not witnessed hypnobirthing deliveries — questioned why I would want to attempt an un-medicated birth, when I could just have an epidural.

I would reply that I would be happy to get an epidural if I felt it was necessary.

As an OB/GYN, I just really wanted to truly experience every aspect of my delivery. I can’t say I was ever 100 percent certain that I would be successful before the delivery, but I knew I would at least like to try.

Learning about hypnobirthing

I started my hypnobirthing education by reading the hypnobirthing handbook, Hypnobirthing – The Mongan Method.

One of the main themes that was highlighted was the concept of using self meditation to release any fears or negative thoughts surrounding the idea of giving birth. Having been present for and actively involved in many emergent situations during my patients’ deliveries, I knew this was going to be a vital part of me having a successful natural delivery.

Next I signed up for a five-week hypnobirthing class. During these classes my husband and I learned several techniques for self-hypnosis, which is basically a form of deep meditation. In between the classes we reinforced what we were learning by listening to self-hypnosis or guided meditation CDs.

During the classes the instructor used videos of people delivering using hypnobirthing, to reinforce the idea that labor and delivery can be accomplished in a calm, relaxed and pain-free way.

Labor & delivery with hypnobirthing

On Nov. 9, 2008, I went into labor. I was 39 weeks pregnant. My water broke in the afternoon and within a few hours I started having regular uterine contractions. I started listening to my birth affirmation CD to get in a positive state of mind.

By the evening, I decided to go to the hospital. I was not experiencing any painful contractions, but I was leaking a lot of fluid with each contraction, so I felt I should be evaluated. I also wanted to get settled in at the hospital, so I could continue my self hypnosis when the more intense part of labor started.

By the time my doctor, who was my partner at the time, arrived and evaluated my cervix for the first time, I was close to needing to begin pushing.

I delivered my daughter – a healthy 8 1/2 lbs – shortly after midnight.

It never crossed my mind during the labor to get an epidural or IV pain meds, I simply didn’t need it. I don’t consider myself to have an exceptionally high pain tolerance, but I have always believed that pain is your mind’s interpretation of a physical sensation. If you can train your mind to see a sensation and normal and positive, then your body will naturally relax and the sensation will not be interpreted as pain.

I often use the analogy with my patients that having a natural delivery is like preparing to run a marathon. You can not just show up and expect to run the race if you haven’t prepared, but for those who put in the time to be both physically and mentally in shape, they will almost always cross the finish line.

For those who have no desire to have an un-medicated labor, the good news is that epidurals are available and are very effective at controlling the pain of labor. However, I often encourage my patients to pursue some type of child birth preparation, even if they know they want to get an epidural.

This preparation can be very helpful to manage the discomfort of early labor and again, can help release some of the anxiety that many women feel about giving birth.

Preparing for the unexpected

When I was pregnant with my second child, I was excited to again have the opportunity to use my hypnobirthing techniques to have an un-medicated delivery. I figured that the second labor would likely be even faster and therefore even easier.

At 36 weeks I was reminded that even when prepared, labor can sometimes be an unpredictable experience. I woke up in the morning to find that my water had broken. I was not having painful contractions, but quickly made my way to the hospital, knowing that second labors can often progress fast. When I was examined at that hospital I was found to be 8 cm dilated, but my daughter was trying to arrive with her feet first. I was quickly prepped for an emergency c-section.

Luckily the anesthesiologist was able to place a spinal block, with me lying on my side, so I did not have to be put under general anesthesia. I was very grateful to be awake to hear my daughter’s first cries as she was delivered. Even though the spinal prevented me from feeling any pain during the surgery, it was my hypnobirthing techniques that allowed me to remain in a state of calm during the delivery.

I think it is important for every woman to prepare for her delivery in the way that makes most sense for them.

Hypnobirthing was a technique that worked well for me for both my deliveries, despite being vastly different experiences.

This technique has been growing in popularity in Austin and around the country and there are several options for instructors in the area.

More information on hypnobirthing

• CNN: Relax while giving birth?
• WebMD: Calmer natural childbirth?

This post -- OB/GYN: My personal experience with natural childbirth -- appeared first on The Austin Diagnostic Clinic.

Surgical technique helps lessen bleeding, pain; helps speed up healing

An ADC doctor says a device that allows him to weld tissue together during a tonsillectomy helps his patients endure less pain and recover much more quickly after the procedure.

Dr. Richard Bryarly, an ENT (ADC Otolaryngology), has been using the tissue-welding device over the past two years.  The tool is a forceps, but the tip of the tool uses heat to make precise incisions in a small area, causing less damage to the tissue.

A tonsillectomy may be performed to treat:

• Recurrent infections of acute tonsillitis
• Sleep apnea
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing

A tonsillectomy can cause pain, bleeding, and dehydration, because patients often find it painful to swallow food and liquid.

Image courtesy: Microline Surgical

Dr. Bryarly says he has been looking for a tool to help minimize the pain for more than 30 years.

“I’ve always been bothered by the fact that patients suffer pain from tonsillectomies,” he said. “I’ve actually had some patients admitted to the hospital so that they could get IV fluids because they were unable to swallow. I had tried a myriad of devices to decrease pain and make recovery easier but never found one that lived up to its promises.”

The new tool looks like a conventional set of forceps, but it uses direct heat at the tip to delicately cut and seal tissue. Dr. Bryarly says he was skeptical at first, but his patients have benefited greatly.

“I’m seeing a remarkable difference,” he said. “In using this device for about two years, I’ve only had one incidence of bleeding, and I think that’s because the tissue is less injured and heals up faster.”

Dr. Bryarly says patients who return to his office 10 days after a tonsillectomy are much further along in the healing process compared to before he started using the tool.

“Patients have experienced no post-operative bleeding, less pain and are getting back to their normal diets faster, particularly the younger children who can be more reluctant to eat or drink when they are in pain,” he said. “Their parents tell me that they are eating soft foods as well as drinking and I’ve had no patients admitted for dehydration since using the tool.”

Resources

• Mayo Clinic: Tonsillectomy
• MedlinePlus: Tonsillectomy education

This post -- Benefits of tissue welding for tonsillectomies -- appeared first on The Austin Diagnostic Clinic.

ADC audiologist discusses Better Hearing Month on KXAN

Audiologist Penny Barron was in KXAN’s studio on Saturday morning to talk about the importance of hearing with anchor Erin Cargile.

During Better Hearing Month, Penny wanted viewers to understand the importance of having your hearing examined at all ages.  Many people take their hearing for granted until it is diminished or gone.  She is seeing more and more young adults and teens in her office as well.

After examining Ms. Cargile with the video otoscope, Ms. Barron offered advice for cleaning your ears – simply wipe your ear with a clean cloth.  A little wax is good for you and using cotton swabs may impact or cause damage to the ear drum.

For more information about hearing screenings visit our Audiology page or call us at 512-901-4808.

Ms. Barron will also be hosting a free seminar on May 23 from 1-2 pm at ADC’s Main Clinic.

Resources:

• American Speech Language and Hearing Association
• American Academy of Audiology Fact Sheets

This post -- May is Better Hearing Month -- appeared first on The Austin Diagnostic Clinic.

Non-profit organization provides hair pieces for disadvantaged kids.

Penny Barron, ADC audiologist, has donated to Locks of Love three times.

An ADC audiologist recently cut and donated her hair to Locks of Love for the third time.

Penny Barron, M.A.-C.C.C.-A., ADC Audiology shared her story with staff and physicians at The Austin Diagnostic Clinic.

Barron was first inspired to donate her hair in 2006 when a friend told her she was growing out her hair to donate to Locks of Love.

“I looked into the organization and it inspired me to join her! Donating your hair is a very personal way to help someone,” she said.

Locks of Love is a public, non-profit organization that provides hair pieces for disadvantaged children under the age of 21.

The organization makes custom hair pieces for each child. The pieces form a vacuum seal to the child’s head so they can run, play, swim, and do gymnastics.

The hairpieces are given to the child long so the child can have them cut to a shape and style that suits them. Each hair piece would retail for between $3,500 and $6,000.

Barron says donating is rewarding, but it comes with other benefits:

1. You save money on styling products
2. You save electricity by needing to run the blow dryer less
3. You save water by needing less time to wash your hair
4. Save time styling and fussing with your hair
5. You keep cooler in the summer

To donate, the hair must be in a ponytail or braid measuring 10 inches. Hair that has been colored or permed is acceptable for donation. Bleached hair, which includes most highlights, cannot be accepted.

Shorter hair and gray hair will be sold to offset some of the manufacturing cost.

This post -- ADC audiologist donates to Locks of Love -- appeared first on The Austin Diagnostic Clinic.

May is Better Hearing Month.  Join Penny Barron, certified audiologist with The Austin Diagnostic Clinic for an open question and answer session dedicated to your ears and hearing.  Discover the answers from, “when is the right time to get your hearing checked”, to the latest technology and hearing devices for people of all ages.  Register today and arrive with your questions on Thursday, May 23 at 1 pm.

This post -- Why do my ears ring? Free hearing Q&A with an ADC audiologist -- appeared first on The Austin Diagnostic Clinic.

You may be able to manage tinnitus by treating the cause or modifying your reaction to it.

Is a ringing sound in your ears bothering you? You’re not alone.

Some 50 million people in the U.S. experience some form of tinnitus, according to the American Tinnitus Association.

Tinnitus is when you perceive sound that is not being made externally. Janet Davila, an ADC audiologist, says some people hear a ringing noise, but others hear buzzing, hissing, roaring, whistling or clicking.

She says there has been a lot of discussion about what tinnitus is and what causes it. But there are some things known to trigger or worsen tinnitus. They include:

• Noise exposure – Power tools, weapons, music
• Head and neck trauma
• Tumors
• Wax build up
• Cardiovascular disease
• Certain medications

“Sometimes it is something that is serious. And sometimes it is not,” Davila said. “Sometimes it could be as simple as your Eustachian tube not working correctly. Sometimes it can be as serious as a tumor behind the eardrum. It varies in sound quality, but that doesn’t necessarily mean something really bad.”

Tinnitus does not cause hearing loss – rather, it can be a symptom. And not everyone who experiences tinnitus hears the same sound. The sound of this condition varies as much as the potential causes.

Watch the above video to find out what tinnitus sounds like.

Diagnosing tinnitus

If you think you have tinnitus, consider seeing a doctor to have the condition diagnosed.

But Davila says to take heart – it’s probably not as bad as you think.

“If tinnitus is bilateral (in both ears) and has a sudden onset, you should still see a doctor just to rule out anything serious,” she said. “Unilateral tinnitus (on one side) is more of a red flag, but I would still recommend anyone who develops tinnitus, whether it is unilateral or bilateral, to see a doctor about it.”

Davila says your reaction to the sound can determine how severe the sound is.

“You want to be careful what you tell someone so they don’t make a judgment about it and make it worse — just because they judged it as important,” she said.

Managing tinnitus

Davila uses this drawing to illustrate how to lessen tinnitus.

There is no cure for tinnitus, but Davila says the condition can be managed. The key is teaching your brain to ignore the sound.

“What people will recommend a lot of times is to mask out the tinnitus to where you can’t hear it anymore… that’s kind of a misconception,” she said. “The best thing you can do is put on some kind of noise in the room like a fan or soft music to mute it a little. You don’t necessarily want to drown it out completely. If you drown it out completely, your brain cannot habituate to it. Usually we recommend that you turn on the noise to where you just barely hear the tinnitus.”

Here are some things that can help lesson your awareness of tinnitus:

Tips for managing tinnitus

1. 

   Davila’s tinnitus illustration

   Increase background noise.
   Mute the sound a little with a fan, music or other white noise, but not completely.

2. Relax.
   Reduce stress, which can aggravate tinnitus.
3. Watch out for triggers.
   Avoid smoking, caffeine and alcohol.
4. Get a proper amount of sleep.
5. Avoid salt if it seems to trigger it.
6. Use hearing instruments (if you have hearing loss) to mask out the sound.
7. Preserve your hearing
   Protect your ears from further damage by avoiding loud noise or using earplugs

For about 10 million people in the US, tinnitus is significantly bothersome. Davila says there are specific therapies that can help.

“The best thing you can do for yourself if you have bothersome tinnitus is to see an ear nose and throat doctor to be sure it is nothing serious, then you can relax and start taking control over the tinnitus,” she said.

Davila says certain anti-anxiety drugs and anti-depressants can ease tinnitus – not because they affect the tinnitus itself, but because they slow down the central nervous system.

However, Davila warns that most medications cannot help.

“There’s all kinds of things out there that they say will help – don’t waste your money on them. They don’t help with tinnitus,” she said.

Resources

• American Tinnitus Association
• MedlinePlus: Tinnitus
• WebMD: Ringing in the ears
• American Academy of Otolaryngology

This post -- How to ease your tinnitus -- appeared first on The Austin Diagnostic Clinic.

Candace Wheeler, Patient Access Supervisor

Every month, The Austin Diagnostic Clinic recognizes a staff member who is making a difference. In April, ADC recognized Candace Wheeler, Patient Access Supervisor for Family Practice and EasyCare at Cedar Bend.

Wheeler, a Hutto native, has been working at ADC for more than four years.

As a patient access supervisor, she helps make sure the front desk is working smoothly when patients check in or out.

“Cedar Bend is constantly a very busy building,” Wheeler said. “We have Family Practice, Pediatrics and Easy Care in our building. We also do services for lab and X-ray. We try to give every patient a positive experience everyday.”

Wheeler is passionate about health and wellness. She is currently working on her personal training license and enjoys working with people to help them reach their fitness goals.

Wheeler says one day she would like to open her own training studio, but in the meantime, she loves her work at ADC.

“I absolutely love all of my co-workers,” she said. “I seriously think that I work with the best people. They are always so uplifting and encouraging. I can honestly say they are so much more than just people I work with they are truly family. I have established some of my best friendships at ADC.”

This post -- Leaders at ADC: Meet Candace Wheeler -- appeared first on The Austin Diagnostic Clinic.

Here are important facts all people should know about pregnancy and high blood pressure.

Image source: Thinkstock

Expectant mothers may often spend a lot of time worrying about potential health problems like down syndrome and other genetic disorders in their unborn children. Yet a serious and more common health condition can harm both mother and child if left untreated or undiagnosed: high blood pressure.

Dr. Allison Devine, ADC OB/GYN, says high blood pressure — hypertension — is a health risk that can be present in women before, during, or after pregnancy.

“Expectant mothers should make sure they fully understand the type of high blood pressure they have to help ensure their own health and safety, as well as their child’s safety,” Dr. Devine said.

Understanding high blood pressure

Blood pressure is defined as the amount of force exerted by the blood against the walls of the arteries. If the blood pressure in a pregnant women becomes too high, it can lead to very serious health risks for both the mother and child, according to Dr. Devine.

“The main health risks of high blood pressure during pregnancy include a decreased flow of blood to the placenta, which can slow the development of the baby and increase the risk of a low birth weight,” Dr. Devine said. “High blood pressure can also cause dangerous internal bleeding in the mother and result in stillbirth.”

High blood pressure problems happen in about 6 percent to 8 percent of all pregnancies — most of them in first-time pregnancies, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Types of high blood pressure

Dr. Devine says there are three different types of high blood pressure than can occur during pregnancy.

One type is called chronic hypertension. If women had high blood pressure before becoming pregnant, developed it during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, or have high blood pressure lasting more than 12 weeks after delivery, it’s considered chronic hypertension.

“Another type is gestational hypertension, when high blood pressure develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy,” Dr. Devine said. “But usually this type of hypertension goes away after delivery.”

She says preeclampsia is the third and most dangerous form of high blood pressure during pregnancy.

Preeclampsia happens when women with chronic or gestational hypertension develop high blood pressure and a protein in the urine after 20 weeks of pregnancy. It can also take place in women with no prior history of high blood pressure.

Preeclampsia can lead to serious and even fatal complications for mother and baby if left undiagnosed, says Dr. Devine.

“Preeclampsia affects the placenta and it can affect the mother’s kidney, liver, and brain,” Dr. Devine said. “It may cause seizures in the mother — called eclampsia — which is the second leading cause of maternal death, and may lead to other complications such as low birth weight, premature birth, and stillbirth.”

Keeping mother and baby healthy

If you do develop hypertension during pregnancy, you may need to take blood pressure medication and have more frequent prenatal doctor visits.

“Some blood pressure medication can’t be prescribed during pregnancy,” said Dr. Devine, “but we do have alternatives that are safe for mother and baby.”

Women with chronic or gestational hypertension can also help control their blood pressure through exercise and reducing sodium, she said.

For preeclampsia, however, there is no proven means of prevention. Most women who develop preeclampsia will be closely monitored to lessen or avoid health problems, said Dr. Devine.

“If you experience persistent headaches, experience blurred vision or other changes in vision, or have upper abdominal pain, these could be indications of preeclampsia and you should check with your physician or call 911 immediately,” she said.

In some cases, your doctor may prescribe bed rest if you have preeclampsia. In other cases, early delivery of the baby may be required to protect the health of the mother and child.

“The most important thing you can do for you and your baby is to get early and regular prenatal care,” Dr. Devine said. “It’s the best way to help ensure a safe, happy, and healthy delivery.”

This post -- Pregnancy and High Blood Pressure -- appeared first on The Austin Diagnostic Clinic.

Infant Immunization Week is April 20-27, 2013

Dr. Beth Nauert, pediatrician at ADC Circle C, stopped by the KXAN studios to discuss infant immunizations.   Infant Immunization Awareness week is April 20-27 and she shared reasons why it’s a good idea to keep your infant immunized.  She also had some good advice for adults too – after all keeping up with good health is a life-long commitment.

Resources:

• A Parent’s Decision on Immunization: Making the Right Choice
• The AAP:  Where We Stand on Immunizations

This post -- Infant Immunizations Week 2013 -- appeared first on The Austin Diagnostic Clinic.