Audiology
Linda Ronis-Kass Au.D and Natalie Watts Au.D explore the field of audiology. They share the types of conductive hearing losses that can be surgically corrected or improved and the latest treatments and newer implantable hearing devices.
Featuring:
Natalie Watts Au.D is a doctor of audiology within the Division of Audiology in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery. She performs audiologic assessments and works with hearing instruments as well as implantable devices such as cochlear implants, auditory brainstem implants and bone anchored hearing aids. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Watts has published a chapter on programming cochlear implants and has written an article on bone anchored hearing aids for the Hearing Loss Association of America newsletter.
Linda Ronis-Kass, Au.D | Natalie Watts, Au.D
Linda Ronis Kass Au.D. is a doctor of audiology within the Division of Audiology in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery practicing at Penn Medicine at Washington Square. Dr. Ronis Kass has worked in a clinical capacity for more than 30 years, providing hearing diagnostics to patients ranging from pediatrics to geriatrics. Her areas of specialty are fitting hearing aids and work in hearing conservation for those exposed to loud music or noise. In addition to performing detailed hearing diagnoistics, Dr. Ronis Kass' specialty is hearing aids, fitting all levels of technology from entry level to the most sophisicated state-of-the-art products available across many manufacturers. She is also availble to fabircate hearing protection for excessive noise or loud music exposure, as a water precaution and for reduced exposure to sound for sleeping.Natalie Watts Au.D is a doctor of audiology within the Division of Audiology in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery. She performs audiologic assessments and works with hearing instruments as well as implantable devices such as cochlear implants, auditory brainstem implants and bone anchored hearing aids. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Watts has published a chapter on programming cochlear implants and has written an article on bone anchored hearing aids for the Hearing Loss Association of America newsletter.
Transcription:
Melanie: Welcome to the podcast series from the specialists at Penn Medicine. I'm Melanie Cole. And today, we're discussing audiology at Penn Medicine. Joining me in this panel are Dr. Natalie Watts, ; and Dr. Linda Ronis-Kass, within the Division of Audiology in the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, practicing at Penn Medicine at Washington Square.
Doctors, thank you so much for joining us today. Dr. Ronis-Kass I'd like to start with you. Let's talk about the field of audiology. Tell us exactly what you do, when a patient should be referred to this type of specialist and, really, what's the difference between an audiologist and a hearing aid specialist.
Dr. Linda Ronis-Kass: Well, here at Penn, we are all doctors of audiology, which means that we've had extensive training about the auditory system. So when a patient comes to us, we're looking for things that might impede hearing, when we do a visual exam. But we're also doing very complete, comprehensive hearing testing to make sure that we can get as much information about what a patient's hearing loss looks like, the degree of their hearing loss and how they use their hearing.
We are specifically looking for problems that may be located within the nerve of hearing, the cochlea, versus the middle ear. And also whether the hearing loss that they have is negatively affecting their ability to understand. And because this is so comprehensive, we're quite different from a hearing specialist who may just be looking at hearing with regard to does this patient need a hearing aid?
Melanie: Dr. Watts, why is audiology care more important right now? Have you seen an increase in the need for hearing loss services? Is there a greater need since COVID? Tell us about that.
Dr. Natalie Watts: I do think that we have seen an increase in patients coming to us specifically because of mask use. Patients are noticing that they have a hearing loss because they're no longer able to read lips and get that visual input. also we know that some hearing loss as well as tinnitus could potentially be a side effect of COVID. So we're seeing more and more patients come in complaining of these things
Melanie: dr. Ronis-Kass, in 2016, the Food and Drug Administration changed the requirement for a medical exam for adults purchasing hearing aids. As a result, many people may have the idea that an audiology checkup isn't a needed part of that hearing loss care. Why is this a mistaken impression? Tell us a little bit about why it's so important.
Dr. Linda Ronis-Kass: Well, it's important because you really want a baseline that looks at the whole problem. And many times patients are doing hearing tests online now. Looking to see whether, you know, tinnitus is a problem based on medication they're taking or stress, you know, in addition to changes in hearing due to COVID, there's also change in stress level, which we've seen a tremendous amount, more of tinnitus related to that.
I think that it's important to get a very concise, very broad baseline information about your hearing that's done correctly. And then if somebody wants to bypass the use of audiology for hearing aids, which is possible, at least they have something very solid to go on.
Melanie: Dr. Watts, why can't someone simply walk into a retail outlet and get the same service for a hearing aid? What might be the difference between purchasing a hearing aid from a retail establishment versus a comprehensive audiology center found at Penn?
Dr. Natalie Watts: Here at Penn, we truly look at each patient as an individual. So we're looking at all aspects of a patient's hearing loss and are confident that we are treating them appropriately. Because we are a medical center, it also allows us to be able to refer patients to the appropriate provider if hearing aids are not the best option.
We also offer all major manufacturers for hearing aids. So we are not limited to a small subset, so patients are able to choose what's going to work best for them with our guidance. We also do not work on commission, so having the patient's best interest in mind.
Patients also see the same provider each time they come in. So I think that they have that continuity of care and it's the same friendly face that they're seeing each time.
Melanie: So then based on that, Dr. Ronis-Kass, what sort of followup care can that patient expect for other providers listening that are counseling their patients on visiting an audiologist? Tell us about what you'd like the referring physician to know about communication with the internist or referring physician and the patient themselves.
Dr. Linda Ronis-Kass: Well, if an internist refers a patient to us, they will always get a copy of the hearing test and what our recommendations are. And once we've done hearing aid assessment, we certainly can forward that information onto the provider so that they can sort of reinforce if we've recommended a hearing aid that the patient actually follows through with that.
As far as followup, the patient has a fitting appointment, which is an hour and a half. And then we do at least one or two followups within a 30-day trial period, so that we make sure that if a patient is having trouble that would stand in the way of them using and keeping their hearing aids, that we address that.
And as Natalie said earlier, they're seeing the same provider each time, so that we're building on a situation of trust, a situation of if this didn't work, then we can try that. And for, at least my patients, and I would say pretty much the whole department, that really works in having us solve a problem together.
Most of the time when people come to us, they know they have a problem. We're not convincing anybody that it's time to get hearing aids. I think that often works to our detriment and the patient's detriment. But when they're ready, we are here to see this through and make sure that they get the appropriate device and then, if there are any issues, that we can follow up within their trial period or at six-month intervals for as long as they own their hearing aids, without costs for the patient during their warranty period, which can be up to three years.
Dr. Natalie Watts: Linda, I agree. And I also think that it's important to know that we have walk-in visits available if a patient is experiencing a more urgent need. We do not make a patient wait for those visits. And we can also offer remote programming for some patients. That way, if they are not able to come into the office or they just simply don't want to come into the office, we can still make adjustments to their hearing aids without them being physically present.
Melanie: Thank you both for that. So I'd like to give you each a chance for a final thought. Dr. Watts, as a summary, tell other providers, referring physicians, why it's important to counsel their patients to visit an audiologist for overall wellness.
Dr. Natalie Watts: So I think that a patient can always benefit from a comprehensive audiologic assessment. Whether that patient's coming in because they think they have hearing loss or they're unsure about it. We are professionals and we are really here to walk the patient through that entire experience. And I do think that studies have shown that there is more cognitive decline related to hearing loss, so it's important for providers to send their patients to us sooner than they may have done in the past.
Melanie: And Dr. Ronis-Kass, last word to you. What would you like referring physicians to know about the audiology care available at Penn Medicine?
Dr. Linda Ronis-Kass: I think it's important to establish a trusting relationship with an audiologist. And especially since we're not fitting on commission, we're really counseling the patient as to what their next steps could or should be. And once we do that, then even if it's not now that they choose to get a hearing aid, at least we've paved the way for them to begin to think about it, to talk about it with family members and friends. So then when it's time to do that, they can come in with a list of very good questions and get their questions answered so that this transition into using hearing aids can be an easy one.
Melanie: Thank you both so much for joining us today. And to refer to Doctors Watts or Ronis-Kass at Penn Medicine, you can always visit our website atpennmedicine.org/refer or you can call (877) 937-PENN.
That concludes this episode from the specialists at Penn Medicine. Please remember to subscribe, rate and review this podcast and all the other Penn Medicine podcasts. I'm Melanie Cole.
Melanie: Welcome to the podcast series from the specialists at Penn Medicine. I'm Melanie Cole. And today, we're discussing audiology at Penn Medicine. Joining me in this panel are Dr. Natalie Watts, ; and Dr. Linda Ronis-Kass, within the Division of Audiology in the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, practicing at Penn Medicine at Washington Square.
Doctors, thank you so much for joining us today. Dr. Ronis-Kass I'd like to start with you. Let's talk about the field of audiology. Tell us exactly what you do, when a patient should be referred to this type of specialist and, really, what's the difference between an audiologist and a hearing aid specialist.
Dr. Linda Ronis-Kass: Well, here at Penn, we are all doctors of audiology, which means that we've had extensive training about the auditory system. So when a patient comes to us, we're looking for things that might impede hearing, when we do a visual exam. But we're also doing very complete, comprehensive hearing testing to make sure that we can get as much information about what a patient's hearing loss looks like, the degree of their hearing loss and how they use their hearing.
We are specifically looking for problems that may be located within the nerve of hearing, the cochlea, versus the middle ear. And also whether the hearing loss that they have is negatively affecting their ability to understand. And because this is so comprehensive, we're quite different from a hearing specialist who may just be looking at hearing with regard to does this patient need a hearing aid?
Melanie: Dr. Watts, why is audiology care more important right now? Have you seen an increase in the need for hearing loss services? Is there a greater need since COVID? Tell us about that.
Dr. Natalie Watts: I do think that we have seen an increase in patients coming to us specifically because of mask use. Patients are noticing that they have a hearing loss because they're no longer able to read lips and get that visual input. also we know that some hearing loss as well as tinnitus could potentially be a side effect of COVID. So we're seeing more and more patients come in complaining of these things
Melanie: dr. Ronis-Kass, in 2016, the Food and Drug Administration changed the requirement for a medical exam for adults purchasing hearing aids. As a result, many people may have the idea that an audiology checkup isn't a needed part of that hearing loss care. Why is this a mistaken impression? Tell us a little bit about why it's so important.
Dr. Linda Ronis-Kass: Well, it's important because you really want a baseline that looks at the whole problem. And many times patients are doing hearing tests online now. Looking to see whether, you know, tinnitus is a problem based on medication they're taking or stress, you know, in addition to changes in hearing due to COVID, there's also change in stress level, which we've seen a tremendous amount, more of tinnitus related to that.
I think that it's important to get a very concise, very broad baseline information about your hearing that's done correctly. And then if somebody wants to bypass the use of audiology for hearing aids, which is possible, at least they have something very solid to go on.
Melanie: Dr. Watts, why can't someone simply walk into a retail outlet and get the same service for a hearing aid? What might be the difference between purchasing a hearing aid from a retail establishment versus a comprehensive audiology center found at Penn?
Dr. Natalie Watts: Here at Penn, we truly look at each patient as an individual. So we're looking at all aspects of a patient's hearing loss and are confident that we are treating them appropriately. Because we are a medical center, it also allows us to be able to refer patients to the appropriate provider if hearing aids are not the best option.
We also offer all major manufacturers for hearing aids. So we are not limited to a small subset, so patients are able to choose what's going to work best for them with our guidance. We also do not work on commission, so having the patient's best interest in mind.
Patients also see the same provider each time they come in. So I think that they have that continuity of care and it's the same friendly face that they're seeing each time.
Melanie: So then based on that, Dr. Ronis-Kass, what sort of followup care can that patient expect for other providers listening that are counseling their patients on visiting an audiologist? Tell us about what you'd like the referring physician to know about communication with the internist or referring physician and the patient themselves.
Dr. Linda Ronis-Kass: Well, if an internist refers a patient to us, they will always get a copy of the hearing test and what our recommendations are. And once we've done hearing aid assessment, we certainly can forward that information onto the provider so that they can sort of reinforce if we've recommended a hearing aid that the patient actually follows through with that.
As far as followup, the patient has a fitting appointment, which is an hour and a half. And then we do at least one or two followups within a 30-day trial period, so that we make sure that if a patient is having trouble that would stand in the way of them using and keeping their hearing aids, that we address that.
And as Natalie said earlier, they're seeing the same provider each time, so that we're building on a situation of trust, a situation of if this didn't work, then we can try that. And for, at least my patients, and I would say pretty much the whole department, that really works in having us solve a problem together.
Most of the time when people come to us, they know they have a problem. We're not convincing anybody that it's time to get hearing aids. I think that often works to our detriment and the patient's detriment. But when they're ready, we are here to see this through and make sure that they get the appropriate device and then, if there are any issues, that we can follow up within their trial period or at six-month intervals for as long as they own their hearing aids, without costs for the patient during their warranty period, which can be up to three years.
Dr. Natalie Watts: Linda, I agree. And I also think that it's important to know that we have walk-in visits available if a patient is experiencing a more urgent need. We do not make a patient wait for those visits. And we can also offer remote programming for some patients. That way, if they are not able to come into the office or they just simply don't want to come into the office, we can still make adjustments to their hearing aids without them being physically present.
Melanie: Thank you both for that. So I'd like to give you each a chance for a final thought. Dr. Watts, as a summary, tell other providers, referring physicians, why it's important to counsel their patients to visit an audiologist for overall wellness.
Dr. Natalie Watts: So I think that a patient can always benefit from a comprehensive audiologic assessment. Whether that patient's coming in because they think they have hearing loss or they're unsure about it. We are professionals and we are really here to walk the patient through that entire experience. And I do think that studies have shown that there is more cognitive decline related to hearing loss, so it's important for providers to send their patients to us sooner than they may have done in the past.
Melanie: And Dr. Ronis-Kass, last word to you. What would you like referring physicians to know about the audiology care available at Penn Medicine?
Dr. Linda Ronis-Kass: I think it's important to establish a trusting relationship with an audiologist. And especially since we're not fitting on commission, we're really counseling the patient as to what their next steps could or should be. And once we do that, then even if it's not now that they choose to get a hearing aid, at least we've paved the way for them to begin to think about it, to talk about it with family members and friends. So then when it's time to do that, they can come in with a list of very good questions and get their questions answered so that this transition into using hearing aids can be an easy one.
Melanie: Thank you both so much for joining us today. And to refer to Doctors Watts or Ronis-Kass at Penn Medicine, you can always visit our website atpennmedicine.org/refer or you can call (877) 937-PENN.
That concludes this episode from the specialists at Penn Medicine. Please remember to subscribe, rate and review this podcast and all the other Penn Medicine podcasts. I'm Melanie Cole.