THIS IS WHY IT MATTERS WHO YOU SEE

THE BEGINNING

Brianna Jones has worn a hearing aid in her left ear since she was four years old.  Now she was going off to college and wanted to make sure her hearing aid was working perfectly before she left.

This was the first time I had met Brianna and her mom.  Testing showed her hearing was stable, but I was confused.  More in depth diagnostic analysis indicated that the etiology of the loss was Otosclerosis (an abnormal growth of one of the bones in the ear that prevents the transmission of sound) and could be surgically corrected.

I asked Brianna and her mom, “If I told you that your hearing could be fixed with surgery, would you want to do it?”  They were both stunned.  Mrs. Jones said that the Ear Nose and Throat specialist, who diagnosed Brianna at the age of three, told her that Brianna could not have surgery.  She has been wearing a hearing aid ever since.

I told them I wanted them to see a specialist so they would know if there was another option.

YOU CAN’T MAKE THIS STUFF UP

Several months after I saw Brianna, I took my dog to a new vet.  We were getting to know each other and he mentioned he lived in Elmhurst.  I was surprised that he traveled to Northbrook every day, where his office is located. Then I said, “Well, it’s no different than me.  I have an office in Oakbrook.”

He stopped what he was doing and said, “What’s the name of your practice?  I think I just wrote you a check.”

My vet’s name is Dr. Scott Jones.  And yes, he is the father of Brianna Jones.

“My wife hasn’t stopped talking about you since she came home from that appointment.  My daughter went to the specialist you recommended and we’re waiting for the CT scan results to see if Brianna can have surgery.”

END OF STORY

I stopped at the vet’s to pick up some medication.  Dr. Jones came rushing out to the waiting room with a big grin, and hugged me. “My daughter has normal hearing,” he announced.

Doctors of Audiology are the only qualified professionals licensed to prevent, evaluate, diagnose and treat non-medical (95% of all hearing problems) hearing and balance problems.  It requires eight years of studying and training in the anatomy and physiology of the auditory and vestibular systems as well as the intricacies and pathways of the brain.

The single most important factor in determining successful patient outcomes and satisfaction is the knowledge and expertise of the provider.