Blue Ridge Hearing and Balance Clinic

Reprint from the Bluefield Daily Telegraph

Dr. Alan Desmond, Audiologist and director of Blue Ridge Hearing and Balance Clinic, recently signed an agreement with Thieme Medical Publishers to publish and release his new book. Spokespersons from both Bluefield Regional Medical Center and Princeton Community Hospital, where Dr. Desmond is on staff, said they are unaware of any other medical person affiliated with their facility who has written a medical textbook released by a publisher. The book, Vestibular Function: Evaluation and Treatment, is a textbook intended to be used in training programs for Audiologists, Ear, Nose and Throat Physicians, Neurologists, Primary Care Physicians and Physical Therapists. The book will be released internationally in the spring of 2003. (more…)

Alan Desmond, Au.D.

Falls are the leading cause of injuries and injury deaths in the elderly population. Falls leading to hip fracture often result in premature institutionalization and death, as well as enormous health care costs. Approximately 40% of elderly American patients with hip fractures die within one year or are placed in long term care. Clearly, this is a staggering health care problem, which will increase dramatically as the elderly population increases. No one argues that we, as health care and medical professionals, should intervene. The questions are rather, “What to do?” and “Will it actually make a difference?” (more…)

Alan Desmond, AuD has recently been invited to represent Audiology on a multi-specialty panel sponsored by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, writing clinic guidelines for the diagnosis and management of BPPV. He has also represented the American Academy of Audiology at the American Medical Association since fall of 2005. His textbook, Vestibular Function: Evaluation and Treatment was released internationally in May of 2004, and is currently required reading in several Audiology training programs.

Paul Kuster, Au.D. joined our practice in 2007. Dr. Kuster focuses on the use of current technology to provide optimal solutions for hearing and communication difficulties. He has 10 years experience working with all ages while serving the Beckley area.

Our Hearing Aid Specialists, Holly Meadows, BC-HIS and Tara Minnix, BC-HIS recently attended a three day seminar in Mexico on current advancements in hearing aid technology. Both have attained the highest level of board certification available to hearing aid dispensers, and offer nine and eleven years experience respectively.

Recent article published by the Bluefield Daily Telegraph

What started as a vision and little else has evolved into one of the country’s leading centers for the treatment of hearing and balance disorders. (more…)

Currently, only 20% of all people who need hearing aids actually get them. Most people also don’t realize that untreated hearing loss causes embarrassment, social stress, tension, and fatigue, not only for the person with the hearing loss but also for family members, friends and work associates. A recent study by the National Council on Aging demonstrated a dramatic benefit in quality of life from wearing hearing aids.

When someone first begins to notice hearing loss, they find that they have difficulty staying with the conversation in only certain situations. For most people, the hearing loss starts in the high pitches, This is why many people have more difficulty understanding women and children, who typically have higher pitched voices than do men. (more…)

Helen Keller called hearing loss “A worse misfortune than being blind, because when you lose your vision you lose contact with things, when you lose your hearing, you lose contact with people.” Hearing loss is the third most common chronic health condition in the elderly population, and in the United States, only one out five people with hearing loss receives treatment. As hearing loss develops with age, many patients withdraw from previous enjoyable activities and may suffer from social isolation. This is particularly distressing in the elderly, who are often restricted from certain physical activities due to health problems. Social interaction through verbal communication becomes their only link with the world. A recent study by the National Council on Aging showed a definite link between hearing loss and depression in the elderly. (more…)