"It's such a good feeling when you know you've helped better someone's livelihood," said Sergeant Munoz. The team also has a machine, much like an astronauts' G-force simulation chair, that spin's while the patient is fitted with a pair of glasses that chart their eye movement. Both the plate and a brightly colored background move to evaluate balance "We have a postureography test, which will test your balance," said Sergeant Munoz.ĭuring the postureography test the patient is strapped into a harness and stands on a metal plate. The Audiology team uses specialized equipment to perform different hearing-related tests. "When they leave the hospital their ailment is instantly fixed and they don't have to wait a couple of weeks or months for relief." "When you help someone with their hearing, that's in pain or can't sleep because of their ears, when you give them a hearing aid that fixes the problem you can see the relief come to their face and that's something you can't get with other forms of medicine," said Sergeant Munoz.
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The group also fits retirees and injured military members with hearing aids. TBI is just one small example of the issues the otolaryngologist here deals with. However, balance testing is not limited to these individuals." Posturography and rotary chair are two fairly new pieces of equipment that were brought in with military TBI patients in mind. "Audiology has specialized equipment to assess balance. "Roughly 98 percent of individuals with TBI complain of some balance related difficulties," said Capt. TBI occurs when an external force traumatically injures the brain. Kim Munoz 3rd Medical Group otolaryngologist. "If someone has TBI, some symptoms will be loss of hearing and dizziness and we test for that," said Staff Sgt. Traumatic brain injury or TBI, is a condition affecting many military members returning from deployments. It is accomplished through primarily through education and then dispensing hearing aids when hearing loss occursĮlmendorf Audiology supports the first military traumatic brain injury clinic in the Air Force. Today the mission of military audiology is focused on prevention and rehabilitation of hearing loss.
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Audiologists also may recommend, fit, and dispense personal or large-area amplification systems and alerting devices.Īudiology traces its roots back to WWII when significant numbers of returning veterans suffered from hearing loss that was attributed to war. For example, they may provide instruction in listening strategies. Audiologic treatment also includes counseling on adjusting to hearing loss, training on the use of hearing instruments, and teaching communication strategies for use in a variety of environments. Treatment may include examining and cleaning the ear canal, fitting and dispensing hearing aids, and fitting and programming cochlear implants. Oto for ears, larynx for throat, and rino for nose.Īccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook hearing disorders can result from a variety of causes including trauma at birth, viral infections, genetic disorders, exposure to loud noise, certain medications, or aging. Along with audiologist there are otolaryngologists, or medical doctors who specialize in treating disorders of the ear, nose and throat. A doctor specializing in Audiology is an audiologist they perform hearing tests, tests of balance, provide education about hearing and ear disorders, and fit hearing aids.