Clinical Audiologist Abby Turnbough

In life, it is important to “get in motion and grow.” What better way to grow than by adding a new team member to ExcelENT of Alabama? Our team would like to introduce Abby Turnbough, Au.D., CCC-A, FAAA, clinical audiologist at ExcelENT of Alabama!

The Topic of Hearing Loss Needs Attention

According to the World Health Organization, more than 466 million people suffer from disabling hearing loss worldwide. Age-related hearing loss commonly occurs as we grow older. Hearing loss can also affect children, which hinders their speech and language skills as they age.

Auditory impairment is a medical issue that everyone should pay attention to, as it can affect anyone at any given time.

“Hearing loss affects me on a personal level, as both my parents suffer from hearing loss, as well as being visually impaired,” says Dr. Turnbough. “You rely so heavily on your vision and hearing. The thought of people not being able to have those tools in life weighed heavily on me growing up, and even now. I wanted to do what I could to help make a difference in people’s lives and possibly help them get their hearing back.”

Reduce Your Risk of Hearing Loss

While genetics and an individual’s susceptibility to noise can play a role in hearing loss, there are a number of ways we can take action to prevent hearing loss from occurring in our lifetime.

Ways to prevent hearing loss include:

• Be careful when listening to music, particularly when wearing earbuds
• Keep away from loud noises
• Undergo a hearing test
• Wear protective hearing gear, especially at work and/or loud events

“Summer is just around the corner, and one of most people’s favorite pastimes, especially young adults, is attending summer concerts,” Dr. Turnbough says. “However, concerts are extremely loud and can damage a person’s hearing more than they realize at the time. Therefore, it is important to make sure your hearing is protected so you can enjoy the music without the risk of hearing loss.”

When Should You Get Your Hearing Tested?

Hearing tests for children usually occur around the ages of four to six. Then, at age eight and 10, your children should be tested by an audiologist again to ensure that they haven’t had additional hearing loss.

During adulthood, you should have a baseline hearing test around age 21. After that, you should have your hearing tested with your annual physical. However, you can seek the care of a clinical audiologist anytime you are worried about your hearing.

“Most people start noticing a difference in their hearing between the ages of 40 and 50,” says Dr. Turnbough. “It is important to have a baseline so that if you are worried about hearing loss, there is something to compare a reading to. However, you don’t have to have a baseline; it is just a helpful tool in the future.”

Are You Already Exhibiting Signs of Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss can appear in a number of ways, including but not limited to:

• Asking for things to be repeated
• Can’t distinguish between consonants
• Difficult time having conversations
• Having a hard time hearing high-pitched sounds
• Hypersensitivity to sound
• Muffled speech
• Ringing in ears

If you are worried you might have hearing loss, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with Dr. Turnbough today!

Are you having hearing issues? Contact the team at ExcelENT of Alabama today to schedule an appointment for a medical evaluation to receive the proper diagnosis and treatment plan when it comes to hearing loss.