WINTER 2021 | LAKE OCONEE LIVING 81
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Get More Out of
Life
By Dr. Kimberly Hoffman,
Advanced Audiology
I think we can all admit that
life is busy, and at times we
tend to push some things to
the back burner.
When it comes to healthcare,
and hearing healthcare
in particular, if it doesn’t hurt,
we tend to put it off for other
issues that are acute or painful,
however it is never a good idea
to do that.
It is important to be proactive
about our health and your
hearing is part of your overall
health. We understand the
importance of annual checkups
with our family physician
as medical problems can be
identified early and can pave
the way for early intervention,
but all too often we fail to have
regular hearing checks.
In my 20-year career as an
Audiologist, the most common
answer to “When was
your last hearing evaluation?”
is “never” or “decades
ago.” As a result of not having
our hearing tested routinely
throughout adulthood, hearing
loss often tiptoes up on us
and tends to cause issues in
our lives that could have been
prevented if diagnosed and
treated earlier.
Hearing affects so many
aspects of our lives and contributes
to our overall wellbeing.
An untreated hearing loss
can limit learning potential,
limit earning potential, cause
anxiety and depression, lead
to strained relationships,
isolation, and lead to increased
cognitive decline. Hearing loss
can increase the amount of effort
it takes to process sounds
and understand, making it
harder for the brain.
Regular hearing tests
throughout life, coupled with
treatment, can help prevent
these serious detrimental
effects. It is a simple appointment
covered by most
insurances that takes less than
an hour and the benefits can
last a lifetime. Audiologists
are specialists trained in the
assessment and appropriate
management of hearing loss.
A comprehensive evaluation
involves listening to pure
tones at various intensities and
pitches as well as determining
word understanding. We can
determine middle ear function
and specifically where the
hearing problem is occurring.
As an Audiologist, my mission
is to empower patients
through education so we can
improve lives. Now is the time
to live your best life. Get your
hearing evaluated and make
sure it is on your to-do list and
not on the back burner!
Dr. Hoffman has been
serving the patients of Lake
Oconee for the past 17 years
and Madison for the past
9 years. She is now seeing
patients on Wednesdays in her
new Madison location at the
rear entrance of Dr. Hall’s office
at 2002 South Main Street.
The Lake Oconee Office at
Harmony Medical Center is
open Monday-Thursday from
9-5 and Friday from 9-12.
Visit www.hearlakeoconee.
com to learn more.
/www.hearlakeoconee
/www.hearlakeoconee.com