Every Voice is Too Precious to Miss: Going Above and Beyond

A Patient Care Story

At Hearing Health Center, going the extra mile is part of our mission statement. We strive to bring our patients the best care in every way we can; it’s written into our foundation. That’s why Dr. Robert Risley made a home visit recently after he had seen all of his patients for the day.

Let’s say this patient’s name is Sarah. Sarah is homebound in an apartment and lives with a care giver. Since her hearing aids are no longer strong enough for her hearing needs, Sarah relies on written notes for her caregiver and subtitles on the television to stay engaged with what is happening around her. Her daughter does not live locally, making assisting her mother a near-impossible task.

The circumstances surrounding our health do not define us. That’s why Dr. Risley brought his portable audiometer in hopes of being able to improve Sarah’s quality of living. We do not realize the divide hearing loss wedges between us and our loved ones. Old hobbies become a challenge, routine life feels much more fast-paced and confusing. Hearing loss is gradual; the average American waits seven years before seeking help. Do yourself and your loved ones the biggest favor and stop in for a hearing check-up. You’ll be glad you did.

Ronna Fisher

Dr. Ronna Fisher, AuD, CCC-A, FAAA is the founder and president of Hearing Health Center, which she established in 1984 in memory of her father, who suffered from untreated hearing loss and died at 53. That personal loss has shaped her entire career. Under her leadership, Hearing Health Center has been voted the best hearing practice in Illinois three years in a row by Hearing Review. In 2005, she expanded her mission by founding the Fisher Foundation for Hearing Health Care, a nonprofit dedicated to making auditory care more accessible. Dr. Fisher earned her doctorate in audiology from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology and a member of the Academy of Dispensing Audiologists. Today, Dr. Fisher is focused on the growing body of research linking untreated hearing loss to dementia and cognitive decline, and committed to making sure both patients and the medical community understand what is at stake. As she puts it: You can't remember what you didn't hear.

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