Covid-19 update as of March 23, 2020: Due to recent recommendations from the CDC and the American Academy of Audiology we will be closed until further notice. We will be checking voice messages and emails during this time, and will be able to mail any supplies for your hearing needs. Thank you for your understanding during this time! Originally published on March 18, 2020: We continue to monitor the rapidly evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) situation closely. Compass Hearing Ce

Many people have heard that most smart phones have Bluetooth capability, but did you know hearing aids have Bluetooth capability too? That’s right. I have at least one person a week ask about Bluetooth Hearing Aids. I would like to touch on a few of my favorite features about Bluetooth Hearing Aids that have opened many options that were once unattainable for hearing impaired people. Telephone use often was a challenge for people with hearing loss, but direct streaming helps

Did you know there are many famous celebrities with hearing loss? I have compiled a list of celebrities with hearing loss from many different blogs into one power list!* Hearing loss has many faces; from tinnitus, to hearing aids, to deafness. I applaud these brave famous people for bringing awareness to a condition that affects billions of Americans. Arnold Palmer Barbara Streisand Bill Clinton Brian Wilson Chris Martin Danny Elfman Eric Clapton Gerard Butler Halle Berry Hol

There is a common misconception about what to expect after purchasing a hearing aid. You do NOT just put them on and suddenly the world starts sounding clear. Yes, they do amplify sounds; however this often involves a learning process of training your ears to "hear again”. Depending on the severity and length of time you have had your hearing loss, more time may be required to acclimate your ears and your brain to hearing the world again. When stimulating your inner ear and

As an Audiologist I get asked this question almost daily, "How do I clean my ears at home?". Let me start by telling you what NOT to do: Do NOT use an ear candle. These candles or “auricular cones” actually received a warning from the FDA in 2010 for a risk of burns to the head and face and for ear trauma. Believe me; you don’t want to sustain a burn to your ear. Click here to read the full article. Do NOT use a bobby pen, car key, or any other foreign body to clean your ears

In an effort to spread awareness of fireworks and hearing loss during Independence Day, I teamed up with the American Academy of Audiology t

Hearing loss currently affects more than 36 million Americans today. Although hearing problems are commonly associated with the normal aging process, more than half of all hearing-impaired persons are younger than 65. With the increased use of personal music players (MP3s) and earbuds, the number of Americans experiencing hearing loss at a younger age is growing. Most Americans consider hearing loss a condition that is simply associated with aging and don’t know how to recogn

Who's ready for a party?! It's Compass Hearing Center's One Year Anniversary & Open House Celebration! Please join Dr. Shannon Parker and staff on Tuesday, March 20th from 10am-12pm for a birthday party and open house celebration at Compass Hearing Center in Denver City, Texas. We will have punch and cake and the first 50 people will receive a door prize! We hope to see you then! Please join our Facebook event and feel free to share with your friends: Click here to RSVP Learn

March 3, 2018 is World Hearing Awareness Day! This day was founded by the World Health Organization (WHO) to promote awareness and prevention of Deafness and Hearing Loss. The WHO focuses on early identification and treatment of hearing loss as well as hearing conservation (preventing acquired hearing loss). Here are some facts borrowed from the WHO website: In 2012, WHO released new estimates on the magnitude of disabling hearing loss based on a review of 42 studies carried

Recently I hosted a lunch and learn for many of my patients at Compass Hearing Center, located in Denver City, Texas. With the help of my friend and presenter shown in the above picture, Dr. Jennifer Bobo with Oticon, we explained the facts that associate cognitive decline with hearing loss. We also went over all possible solutions to treat hearing loss and decrease the risk of early dementia and cognitive decline. I want to make it clear that having hearing loss doesn’t nece

My recent blog was about the potential causes of tinnitus (What Makes My Ears Ring?). This month I would like to focus on ways to “treat” this condition. Currently there is no FDA approved “cure” for tinnitus- no surgery and no magic pill that will make those sounds go away. Instead we manage the symptoms of the tinnitus and hope to make the tinnitus less bothersome. The following list of management strategies comes from the American Tinnitus Association website: Hearing Aids

Dr. Shannon Parker is promoting better hearing & breast cancer awareness with "Hear in Pink" campaign celebraing 10 years of s

I get asked this question on an almost daily basis. According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control over 50 million Americans (15% of the general public) experience some form of ringing in the ears or “tinnitus”. Some people only notice the ringing after being exposed to loud noises (i.e. concerts or hunting), and some people live with it daily. The degree and severity of tinnitus can vary from person to person as can the cause. Some people describe tinnitus as ringing, buzz

An ear infection is the most common cause for a pediatric visit to a medical facility. Nearly half of all children by the age of three have had at least one ear infection. In the U.S. alone, the cost to treat ear infections is $3.5 billion dollars annually. Ear infections are more common in children because of the difference in developing anatomy compared to adults; however in 2006 the Surgeon General said there was enough evidence to suggest a connection between secondhand s

Are you missing the sounds of your life? According to the American Academy of Audiology, approximately 36 million Americans suffer from hearing loss. To bring awareness to this common health problem, we celebrate the month of May as Better Hearing Month. Here are some more facts about hearing loss from our friends at the American Academy of Audiology: More than half of people with hearing loss are younger than age 65 1 in 3 people over age 60 have hearing loss 1 in 2 people o