News Archives

November, 2007
Fall 2007 Newsletter available for download
Our office newsletter, Hearing Alert, is available for download. This is our annual patient newsletter that includes information about our assistive listening device, ALD, sale just in time for the holidays. You'll find great saving on TV listeners, amplified telephones, ear and hearing aid dryers, and just about any ALD we carry. I placed a link here (about 2200kb's to download). to a pdf document that you can download to your computer. You will need Adobe's Acrobat Reader to view this file. If you need more information or don't know what Acrobat Reader is, don't despair. The reader is FREE for all computer operating systems. Click here to visit Adobe's site and download a reader.

March 31, 2006
YES!! Apple issues update for Ipod and Nano to limit maximum volume levels.
Earlier this week Apple computer issued a software update for their video Ipod and Nano music devices. The update was NOT required by federal or state law, but was very likely done to avoid potential lawsuits over hearing loss when the devices are used at high volume levels. Previously Apple included a written disclaimer/warning with the product urging safe use, but there were no physical controls to limit the use of high volume. The Ipod is capable of producing sound levels which peak above 110 dB. At this level even minimal use can cause permanent hearing loss. While Apple's products do not provide significantly different volume levels than devices made by other companies;, Apple sold nearly 50 million devices--significantly more that all the other companies put together. This made them an easy target for litigation. If you are an Apple fan, you might also point out that the company has a history of standing behind their products and want to ensure consumer safety.

There are two components to the update:

• A software interface to limit the amount of maximum volume for any user.
• Additional password access to the interface to prevent over-ride of the maximum volume levels. This prevents anyone who doesn't know the password, such as a child, from entering the interface and changing the maximum volume.

The update can be downloaded here. To learn more about the update, click here.

January 29, 2006
Ipods & other types of personal listening devices; Just how much volume is too much?
Apple computer experienced world wide record sales of the ipod last year. It's hard to walk anywhere today and not see someone listening to music. So, how volume is too much and are these devices dangerous to your hearing? Well, the answer is that these devices CAN produce volume levels capable of damaging your hearing.
There have been a series of articles published in the last few months. I am posting links below so that you can learn more:

• Rolling Stones magazine article feature a report with Pete Townshend here
• ASHA, American Speech & Hearing Association, published two statements last year. There is a link here that includes a video public service announcement, and another link here This site has the most comprehensive information.
• EarBud.org is a web site sponsored by the House Ear Institute. There are hosting the MTV commercial on the risk of listening to music at loud levels. Also very informative site with some general guidelines on MP3 player use. Click here to visit their site.
• CNN News published a report just before the holidays here

There is direct relationship between the loudness level and and how long you should use the devices. Volume levels which are at 60% of the available level, really should be use for more than 1/2 hour per/day. If you listen at lower levels, you can significantly increase your usage per day.

October 12, 2005
A History of Hearing Aids
Recently the Washington School of Medicine published a web history of hearing aids from the 19th and 20th centuries. You will find an excellent photo gallery and a time line to name just a couple of items. I found the information very interesting. If you would like to learn more about the history of hearing of hearing aids, click here to visit the web site

June 5, 2005
New Reduced Cost On Hearing Aid Batteries
Last fall we began using a new supplier for hearing aid batteries. I am happy to report that the new supplier continued to deliver the same high quality battery you've always purchased from our office. In addition, we were able to add two additional batteries per package without raising the price! That's right, for a little at $3.00 a package, you can purchase 6 batteries. In case quantities, batteries are as little at 0.37 cents each. For more information, click here to visit the download page. There you find a money saving coupon and learn how to start saving money on your hearing aid batteries today!

June 1, 2005
New Consumer Website and Education Brochure
Better Hearing Institute, BHI, expanded their web site to include consumer information. In the past, they were devoted exclusively to professionals dealing with hearing loss. If you have never visited their site, I recommend you stop in and check out their content. Click here to visit there home page.

Recently BHI published: Your Guide To Better Hearing. It is a comprehensive consumer guide to hearing loss. I highly recommend you read it! For your convenience, I've placed a link to the pdf file here. (It's a 32 page document that is about 3 mb's to download). You will need Adobe's Acrobat Reader to view this file. If you need more information or don't know what Acrobat Reader is, don't despair. The reader is FREE for all computer operating systems. Click here to visit Adobe's site and download a reader.

January 17, 2005
Doctor Of Audiology. Au.D. Completed
I've received many emails asking why the web site updates were slow coming last year. Well, I was working hard to complete a journey that I started two years ago to upgrade my credentials. For the past two years I worked and studied so that I could earn my Doctor of Audiology, Au.D., degree. The graduation ceremony was in Tempe AZ August 2004. I am very proud of earning this degree as well as seeing how the effort helps our office serve you better!

The Master's degree that I graduated with in 1987 will be phased out of most academic programs by the end of this year. Our professional organizations decided that clinicians needed to replace this older academic degree with a professional degree that would prepare clinicians to better serve the public. During this unique transition period that began in the late 1990's, I was allowed to earn this degree without leaving my practice. During the day I saw patients in the office, and at night I participated in a distance learning program through the Arizona School of Health Science School of the A.T. Still University of Health Sciences. The new professional degree, Au.D. exceeds the academic and training of all previous degrees. Unlike the Ph.D. that focuses on research, the Au.D. is a professional practice degree. For more information about what Doctors Of Audiology do, download this short informational pdf here. You will need Adobe's Acrobat Reader to view this file. If you need more information or don't know what an Acrobat Reader is, click here to learn more.

If you would like to know more about my experience in the Au.D program, I published a report last year. Click here to visit the link and download the report.

August 2001
Gillian completes audiometric technician training!
Gillian just returned from Portland where she completed training and certification as an audiometric technician. Naturally, she graduated at the top of her class. You'll see her helping out more in the office with testing in the future. Way to go Gillian!.

May 2001
New commercials uploaded.
We just finished production on two new office commercials. We have two themes: the bingo parlor and the golf course. . Poor hearing can cost you the bingo prize! . You also need good hearing when you are out on the golf course.

These commercials can be downloaded. To download the commercials, click here and follow the on screen instructions.

January 2001
Songbird disposable hearing aid now available!

• Requires no major financial or emotional commitment.
  
• Is inexpensive – costs less than a dollar a day (professional fees not included). At this price, a spare hearing aid is very affordable.
  
• Is always state-of-the-art – technological advances are never more than 40 days away.
  
• Is comfortable – features a ComforSeal™ soft tip.
  
• Is easy to maintain – it's disposable, so no batteries, cleaning, or adjustments are required. Repairs are never needed. If a Songbird fails to perform as promised, we'll replace it FREE.
  
• Is easy to fit – same-day fitting lets you have a new hearing aid in just one office visit.
  
• Requires no costly insurance policies to cover the loss of a hearing aid. It is disposable – just get a new one!
  
• Is virtually invisible and gets you back in the conversation!

December 2000

Christmas specials and stocking stuffers!
It is that time of the year again. If you want to get someone you love a gift that will help them to hear better, now is your chance. Each year in December we put all of our assistive listening devices on sale. Assistive listening devices are devices like amplified telephone, TV amplifiers, hearing aid dryers, and shake awake alarm clock to name a few. You can see a list of most of our items by reading the November 2000 newsletter. Click here to view this newsletter. You'll need Acrobat Reader to view the file. To learn more about Acrobat Reader, click here.

September 2000
Don't let heat and humidity damage your hearing aid.
Heat and humidity are hard on hearing aids. They can cause your hearing aids to short out or to distort sound so that you no longer hear clearly. Don't let this happen to your hearing aids. Even if you purchased your hearing aids somewhere else, you won't want to miss this special free opportunity. Click here to learn what you can expect for your hearing aids. You'll need Acrobat Reader to view the file. To learn more about Acrobat Reader, click here.

August 2000
Results of the National Inline Speed Skating Championships in Lincoln Nebraska.
Club Fresno, sponsored by Basin Audiology, just returned for the national championships in Lincoln Nebraska. Click here to read how they did.

May 2000
Why people turn to Basin Audiology – even when they didn't purchase hearing aids there!
You asked for it, and now you have it. You've purchased you hearing aids somewhere else, but now you would really like to have your hearing aids "adopted" by us. We have a money saving service contract that you can purchase. You'll be able take advantage of our service contract program at an affordable price. You'll be getting the same worry free service for your hearing instruments that our patients get when they purchased their hearing aids from us. You may download the file as a pdf. Click here to download the file. You'll need Acrobat Reader to view the file. To learn more about Acrobat Reader, click here.

September 2000
Don't let heat and humidity damage your hearing aid.
Heat and humidity are hard on hearing aids. They can cause your hearing aids to short out or to distort sound so that you no longer hear clearly. Don't let this happen to your hearing aids. Even if you purchased your hearing aids somewhere else, you won't want to miss this special free opportunity. Click here to learn what you can expect for your hearing aids. You'll need Acrobat Reader to view the file. To learn more about Acrobat Reader, click here.

May 2000
Why people turn to Basin Audiology – even when they didn't purchase hearing aids there!
You asked for it, and now you have it. You've purchased you hearing aids somewhere else, but now you would really like to have your hearing aids "adopted" by us. We have a money saving service contract that you can purchase. You'll be able take advantage of our service contract program at an affordable price. You'll be getting the same worry free service for your hearing instruments that our patients get when they purchased their hearing aids from us.
Click here to download the file. You'll need Acrobat Reader to view the file. To learn more about Acrobat Reader, click here.

Stan Rogers Was The Winner. Stan won our Fall 1999 hearing aid give away. Stan now wears two new complete In-The-Ear digitally programmed hearing aids. Here's what Stan has to say about his new hearing aids:

"I went to church Sunday and for the first time in years I could hear the services. Now I can have company and be able to carry on a descent conversation with them. How wonderful for me and also them"
Stan Rogers
Klamath Falls, OR

April 2000
Basin Audiology has sponsored a speed skating team, Club Fresno.

February 2000
I just returned from a trip to the Siemens Lab in California. It was an exciting time. Siemens just introduced their latest digital hearing aid, Signia. This is the most advanced digital hearing aid made today. The Signia uses eight different channels to process sound. The Signia digital processor works to separate speech from noise so that you don't have to work as hard to understand speech. Unique to the Signia is the ability to reduce feedback automatically. It's available in all of the common sizes, including the Complete-In-The-Canal aid. To learn more about the Signia, click here to visit the Siemens site.

12/15/99
Gillian Attends Hearing Aid workshop.
In December, Gillian attended a workshop at the Siemens hearing aid factory in Los Angeles. It was a great opportunity for them to learn how a hearing aid lab operates.
Here is what Gillian had to say!
I recently had the opportunity to travel to Siemens Hearing in Cerittos, CA. Christie and I were invited to get a more in depth understanding of the repair and manufacture of hearing aids. We followed an aid through the steps of manufacturing, starting with the pouring of the shell and ending with the shipment of the aid to the dispenser, and all the quality control check points the aid went through in between. Brent King, a trainer for Siemens showed us first hand the materials used to make the aid. He demonstrated tips and tricks on how to repair holes in the hearing aids using an ultra strong UV material. The material is the same as is used in the shell of the hearing aid so patched are almost invisible and very strong. He set the patches using a UV gun, similar to the guns used in a dentist office to seal the bonding on teeth. He showed us how to replace the string on a CIC and patch holes in vents in the office to avoid sending the aid in for repair. Brent also talked to us about the future of hearing aids with soft shell CICs and removable faceplates in the not too distant future. Christie and I were also treated to an afternoon of shopping in Beverly Hills and a day at Disneyland. That too was a learning experience. We learned that if you give a famous person change for a parking meter, he has to let you take his picture and it takes more than one day to see Disneyland. But that is another story.

2/1/99 Basin Audiology purchases 35 year old local hearing aid office.Click here to read more

  P r e s s  R e l e a s e s

After nearly 35 years of practice in Klamath Falls, Dr. Lawson has decided to retire from the hearing aid business. We welcome all of Dr. Lawson's previous hearing aid patients to our office.

Suddenly, Hite Can Hear Again article appeared on Thursday, September 25, 1998 and is approximately 300k. Dore Hite, the past mayor of Merrill, was fit with new hearing aids by Basin Audiology. Click here to download this file. You will need Adobe's Acrobat Reader to view this file. If you need more information or don't know what an Acrobat Reader is, click here to learn more.