Colorado Hearing Clinic | Peak ENT | Denver ENT Specialists

Broomfield • Brighton • Golden

Denver Hearing & Tinnitus Clinic

Colorado Hearing Clinic

Hearing and Hearing Loss Issues & Problems

Broomfield • Golden • Brighton

Do you have difficulty hearing and understanding in conversations with friends and family? Do you have difficulty understanding in noisy places? Do you frequently need others to repeat themselves? Do you experience ringing or buzzing sounds in your ears? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then we are here to help!

Peak Hearing specializes in providing patient centered medical treatment of hearing loss and tinnitus. We believe that audiology and hearing care is health care and that patient success requires two things: Patient Choice and Exemplary Patient Care.

Some of the conditions we treat include:

Tinnitus
Eardrum Perforation
Placement of Ear Tubes
Cholesteatoma
Otosclerosis
Vertigo

How We Hear

The ear is made up of three parts:

Outer Ear
Middle Ear
Inner Ear

OUTER EAR
The pinna collects sound waves as they move through the air and directs them into the external ear canal where they are carried directly to the tympanic membrane (eardrum).

MIDDLE EAR
The tympanic membrane vibrates in response to sound waves. Sound vibrations move from the tympanic membrane through the ossicles (middle ear bones) to the cochlea.

INNER EAR
Sound vibrations cause the fluid and tiny hair cells inside the cochlea to move. Neural signals are created by movement of the hair cells and those signals activate the auditory nerve. The auditory nerve signals the auditory cortex of the brain and those signals are interpreted as sounds and speech.

Better Hearing Can Start Today.

We Specialize In Bone Induction Implants

Don’t let your hearing hold you back! Our doctors specialize in Bone Induction Implants, designed to take your hearing further. Download the fact sheet below for more information.

Our Hearing and Hearing Loss Department

Hearing

Hearing

There are three sections of the ear: the outer ear, middle ear and inner ear. Each part helps move sound to the inner ear where it is ultimately processed by the brain. When a sound occurs, the vibrations are channeled through the ear canal to the eardrum. The eardrum vibrates and causes the three bones inside the middle ear (malleus, incus, stapes) to move. The mechanical vibrations are sent to the inner ear hearing organ (cochlea), where it makes tiny little hairs move in a fluid. These hairs convert the movement to auditory signals, which are then transmitted along the auditory nerve to the brain for sound processing.

Audiology

Audiology

We believe audiology and hearing care is healthcare and we strive to provide the highest standards of patient-centered diagnostics and treatments for hearing loss. We offer the latest hearing technology from every major manufacturer of hearing solutions. We prioritize educating you and your family about hearing healthcare and treatment options customized to your lifestyle and listening needs.

Our Services Include:

Comprehensive Diagnostic Hearing Evaluations for Adults and Pediatrics
Tinnitus Evaluations and Treatment
Hearing Aid Consultations, Evaluations, Fittings, and Adjustments
Hearing Aid Repairs
Musician Ear Plugs
Hearing Protection
Assistive Listening Devices
Custom Ear Products

Tinnitus

Tinnitus

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus, which affects nearly 50 million Americans, refers to the perception of an extra sound that is not generated by anything external to the body. It is commonly described as ringing, buzzing, hissing, chirping, or roaring. It can affect one or both ears, or simply be perceived as a “head noise” without a clear direction or origin. It may be continuous or intermittent, steady or pulsatile, low or high pitch and may range in intensity from very soft to severely loud.

What Causes Tinnitus?

Some potentially serious causes of tinnitus exist and your doctor may recommend specific testing if one of these causes is suspected. The vast majority of tinnitus cases, however, are thought to be related to some degree of damage to the delicate hair cells within the inner ear, which are responsible for hearing. This damage can occur as a result of the normal aging process, exposure to loud noise, exposure to toxins or certain medications and other less common disorders.

How is Tinnitus Treated?

Tinnitus rarely goes away completely on its own. In about 25% of patients, tinnitus may actually get worse over time. In many patients, however, it becomes less bothersome with time. Unfortunately, there is no “magic bullet” or quick-fix for tinnitus. There are several treatment options to help manage tinnitus and a thorough evaluation by one of our audiologists or ENT physicians can help determine an appropriate treatment strategy for you.

Other Information:

Tinnitus, or a ringing, buzzing sound in the ear, is caused when the sound-sensitive cells within the cochlea are damaged. The most common form of tinnitus is subjective tinnitus in which only the sufferer can hear buzzing or ringing sounds. This type typically affects the outer, middle, or inner ear. The second type of tinnitus is classified as objective tinnitus and can be observed by a doctor during an examination. This relatively rare form of tinnitus is often caused by a blood vessel problem, muscle contractions, or a bone condition in the middle ear. The most common cause is a prolonged exposure to loud sounds and up to 90% of individuals experience some degree of hearing loss.

Other Causes May Include:

Earwax buildup
Changes in the ear bones
Prolonged exposure to loud noises
Age related hearing loss
Temporary hearing loss due to viruses, colds, and ear infections

Other Factors Which Increase Risk of Tinnitus:

Certain medications including:
Diuretics
Cancer medications
Antibiotics
Antidepressants
Large quantities of Aspirin
Quinine medications
Gender (men are at higher risk of developing tinnitus)
Smoking
Cardiovascular disorders which affect blood flow such as high blood pressure and narrowed arteries

Other Complications:

Some individuals experience additional symptoms in conjunction with tinnitus including:

Sleeping difficulties
Memory problems
Depression
Stress
Fatigue
Difficulty concentrating
Anxiety
Irritability

Causes of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss occurs when sound is blocked from getting to the brain. A number of problems can prevent sound from being properly transmitted at any point along the normal route described above. The most common cause of hearing loss (and most preventable) is exposure to loud noise. Infections, both of the ear or elsewhere in the body, are also a major contributor to hearing loss. Most causes of outer ear hearing loss can be remedied, but problems of the middle and inner ear can lead to permanent hearing loss. It is important to seek medical attention quickly if you are experiencing a problem hearing, especially if hearing loss is a sudden change. Here are some common causes of hearing loss depending on the location of the problem:

In the Outer Ear: Ear wax build-up, infections that cause swelling, a growth in the ear canal, injury, or birth defects can restrict hearing in the outer ear.
In the Middle Ear: Fluid build-up is responsible for the most common infections in the middle ear. Fluid in the middle ear prevents the bones from processing sounds properly. Tumors, both benign and malignant, can also result in hearing loss in the middle ear.
In the Inner Ear: Aging effects and long-term noise exposure cause damage to the cochlea (hearing organ), vestibular labyrinth (which regulates balance), or the auditory nerve (nerve that sends sound signals to the brain).

Other causes of hearing loss include:

Presbycusis: Age-related hearing loss, such as having difficulty hearing in noisy places, having trouble understanding what people are saying, or not registering softer sounds.
Meniere’s Disease: An inner ear disorder that causes hearing loss, vertigo/dizziness and sometimes ringing.
Heredity and Genetic Causes: Many diseases and syndromes that are either genetic or hereditary can cause hearing loss. Some, like rubella (German measles) occur when a pregnant mother has the disease, which causes hearing loss in the baby. Other, rarer types of hereditary and genetic causes include CHARGE Syndrome, Connexin 26 disorder, Goldenhar Syndrome,Treacher Collins Syndrome, Usher Syndrome and Waardenburg Syndrome.
Otosclerosis: A hereditary disorder caused by growth of spongy bone tissue in the middle ear. This results in abnormal sound transmission through the middle ear bones causing muffled hearing.
Cholesteatoma: A benign growth starting in the middle ear that erodes bone and the eardrum.

Hearing Aids

Hearing Aids

If you’ve been diagnosed with hearing loss, you might be wondering what happens next. The most common form of treatment for hearing loss is hearing aids; and while they do not “treat” your condition, they do make it easier for you to hear and communicate during your day-to-day activities.

But just as having your condition diagnosed is important, it’s also crucial to select the right hearing aids for your specific set of needs. When you select a hearing device, you want to consider the severity of your hearing loss and your lifestyle and budget. At Peak Hearing and Tinnitus, we offer the best hearing products from the top hearing aid manufacturers.

Styles of Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are available in many different sizes and styles thanks to advancements in digital technology and miniaturization of the internal components. Many of today’s hearing aids are considered sleek, compact and innovative – offering solutions to a wide range of hearing aid wearers.

Various hearing aid styles we offer:

In-The-Ear
Invisible in-the-Canal (IIC)
Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC)
In-the-Canal (ITC)
Full Shell or In-the-Ear (ITE)
Behind-the-Ear (BTE)
Mini BTE with slim tube and tip
Receiver-in-the-ear (RITE)
BTE with earmolds

Hearing Protection

Earplugs and Earmolds for Hunting
Earplugs and Earmolds for Music
Earplugs and Earmolds for Swimming
iCustom
DefendEar 1
DefendEar 2
DefendEar Hunter

Hearing Aid Products and Accessories by Manufacturer

Bluetooth Hearing Aids

When you select a hearing aid, it’s essential to consider what features you need in a device. We offer a number of different Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids to help you connect hands-free and carefree to other compatible devices, such as: speakers, hearing systems, cell phones, and televisions. LEARN MORE

Oticon

Oticon is a people-first company. That means in addition to a line-up of advanced hearing products, they’re dedicating time and research to finding out what people really want and need. When you select a hearing product from Oticon, you know you are not only getting a quality device, but one that was created with you in mind. LEARN MORE

Phonak

The primary goal at Phonak is to improve the quality of life for individuals with hearing loss. Because of this vision, Phonak offers a variety of different hearing aid styles, models and features to ensure they have something for everyone. LEARN MORE

Rechargeable Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are highly advanced devices that rely on batteries to keep them powered. We offer a variety of different rechargeable hearing products to make your experience with hearing aids easier. LEARN MORE

ReSound

ReSound offers quality devices that focus on the wearer’s listening experience. They offer a number of features to make your hearing aids customizable to your specific hearing loss needs. LEARN MORE

Our ReSound Hearing Aids and Accessories

ReSound LINX

Signia/Siemens

Signia/Siemens produces highly-advanced devices for individuals with auditory conditions. With a plethora of styles, models and features to choose from. The line-up of hearing aids produced by Signia/Siemens ensures everyone can find the perfect device for their needs. LEARN MORE

Hearing Aid Accessories

Starkey

The Starkey Halo is the latest hearing device produced to work with the iPhone. This allows for easy streaming and hearing aid adjustments in one location. Using the TruLink app, connecting and controlling your hearing devices has never been easier. LEARN MORE

Our Starkey Hearing Aids and Accessories

Unitron

Unitron stands behind the hearing products they provide. When you select a Unitron hearing aid, you can be sure you are getting an advanced device that will help you hear the world around you again. LEARN MORE

Widex

The professionals at Widex combine knowledge with years of experience to provide you with the best hearing solutions you need for your auditory health. With innovation and technology driving our focus, you can rest assured you will find the treatment you need in a Widex hearing aid. LEARN MORE

Implantable Hearing Aids

The Cochlear™ Baha^® Attract System is a highly effective bone conduction hearing system designed to leave the skin intact. It uses a magnetic connection to attract the sound processor to the implant, sending sound to the inner ear without anything breaking the skin.

Your Invisible Connection to Sound
If you have conductive hearing loss, mixed hearing loss or single-sided deafness then the Baha Attract System may be a good option to help you hear better. The Baha Attract System is a comfortable and easy to use hearing system that requires no daily skin care. The sound processor is easy to handle and simply snaps onto a sound processor magnet to hold it in place. For added comfort and performance, the sound processor magnet features a unique Baha SoftWear™ Pad that gently adapts to the skin to improve wearing comfort. The system is based on a reliable Baha Implant with unique TiOblast™ surface technology that is proven in a long-term study to be our most stable implant ever.¹ The superior stability of the implant means you may get access to sound sooner than ever before. Depending on the recommendation of your healthcare professional, this could be as early as four weeks after surgery.
How the system works

A small titanium implant sits in the bone behind your ear. Attached to the implant is an implant magnet that is hidden beneath the skin.

The sound processor fits onto the sound processor magnet which attracts to the internal magnet to hold it in place. Sound travels as vibrations from the processor via the magnets to the implant, which then directs the vibrations through the bone to stimulate the inner ear.
1. Sound processor
2. Magnetic connection
3. Implant
References and more detailed information can be found at Cochlear™ Baha^® Attract System