Rooted in Research, Reviving Hearing Health, bringing
Hope & Rehabilitation for Tinnitus, Hyperacusis, and Auditory Processing Disorders!
We're Listening So You Can Hear!
Jennifer Auer, AuD, F-AAA, CCC-A, Board Certified Audiologist
Specializing in Neuro-Audiology and Rehabilitative Audiology: Speech Perception, Auditory Processing Disorders, Educational Audiology, Tinnitus and Hyperacusis, Dr. Auer is a Board Certified (ABA) Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology (F-AAA), holding the American Speech-Language Hearing Association Certificate of Clinical Competency (CCC-A).
Serving Pediatrics and Adults by appointment.
Dr. Auer specializes in rehabilitative neuro-audiology and psychoacoustics: speech perception, auditory processing disorders, tinnitus, hyperacusis, sound sensitivities, and selection and fine tuning of hearing aids for mild to severe or difficult to fit hearing loss. She has almost two decades of experience including Speech acoustics and tinnitus research, membership on Cochlear Implant teams, Intraoperative monitoring, training in linguistics, language acquisition, speech perception and psychoacoustics, medical audiology, educational audiology, auditory learning disabilities, and more. Experience compliments continuing education, research, commitment to listening for each patient's unique needs and attention to detail in searching out a custom rehabilitation plan and solutions with the entire family in mind. The family run office is casual and welcoming, but never overlooking the importance of cutting edge research and technology applied to every case. Come see our office mascot, Valentine, and read her story "The Pony Who Couldn't Hear." She's found a life with a special calling to bless kids and adults of all ages as she does tricks to sign language to brighten any day!
Disclaimer: An Audiologist is not a medical doctor. The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, information, graphics, and images, on this website is for general information purposes only.
Copyright Jennifer Auer, 2019. Content and photos on this website may not be copied or used without permission.
Aural Rehabilitation (AR)
is much more than fitting a hearing aid for hearing loss. AR may be working on speech perception and recognition exercises for a Cochlear Implant recipient, or detailed fine tuning of a hearing aid for someone with a unique type of hearing loss. Perhaps a fluctuating hearing loss needs an adjustable hearing aid with multiple setting for the wearer to change as needed, or someone just needs something to hear better on the phone. Did you know Hearing Dogs are a type of Service Dog protected by the Americans with Disability Act? Dr. Auer has experience prescribing and assisting in specific hearing task training for
Hearing Service Dogs!
Kids who have hearing loss also need special care in choosing amplification, assistive listening devices, and in prioritizing safety and unobtrusively aiding in development of speech and communication skills. Dr. Auer is committed to safety and accuracy with Real Ear Probe Microphone measures on every hearing aid fit as well as working closely with pediatricians, speech-language pathologists and Ear Nose and Throat doctors with thorough reports that are easy to read and understand. Educational consultations are available including assistance with IEP and counseling by parental request for school staff and teachers. Please note, Dr. Auer will never discuss a child's case with school personnel unless the parent or guardian has first provided written request!
AMPLIFICATION, HEARING AIDS, EARMOLDS, ASSISTIVE DEVICES:
Cutting edge technology, no pricing gimmicks, no rush and buy coupons, best price every day with generous warranty packages and options, no pressure plays, informed choice with demonstrations before you buy. Real Ear Probe Microphone Measures on every fit and every pediatric adjustment-- because it's the gold standard for verifying your fit meets your prescription!
Custom Earmolds, Swimplugs, Musician's Plugs, Hearing Protection for shooting, machinery, and more, made on sight with your savings in mind, or from top manufacturers in the USA.
We stock demonstration assistive devices as a courtesy and tell you up front, you can probably find some of them cheaper online, that's just because it's how the system works for small offices dealing with small shipping orders and restocking issues. Our focus is on what you cannot get by mail order-- service, therapy, detailed diagnostic testing, custom fit technology, fine tuning and time to talk and understand your hearing health issues. When it comes to specialized or custom devices that work with the hearing aids, we work hard to keep current technology and devices in stock and affordable to work with phones, music, earplugs and work headsets, at school with FM systems, in addition to rare bone conduction or bone anchored hearing aids. We participate with most insurances and will always be happy to call your insurance carrier about hearing aid and assistive device coverage.
(Central) Auditory Processing Disorders ((C)APD)
CAPD is a delay or disorder in the central auditory system's ability to process sound. Often mistaken for or a contributing factor inattention deficit disorder (ADD or ADHD), and frequently occurring with dyslexia, children or adults may present symptoms such as inability to concentrate or discern speech in background noise, distractibility, reduced auditory memory, need for frequent repetition of spoken instruction, difficulty with musical or intonation patterns, as well as speech production, language and reading delays. Dr. Auer provides diagnostic services for APD but also emphasizes the importance of utilizing a therapy plan to address each child's specific needs and how (C)APD interacts with education, social, vocational, and other areas of growth and development. Your child will complete a comprehensive test of the peripheral and central auditory system, you will be provided detailed interpretation of the results, diagnosis, and it's implications for your child's daily functions. Our counseling includes generous time to address your questions; in addition, we provide recommendations and specific examples for therapy as well as reports for your child's speech-language pathologist, pediatricians, ENT, developmental psychologists, and educational consultation (by special arrangement) when school services are needed. Following implementation of a structured therapy plan we remain available for follow-up testing to monitor improvement and modify therapy goals. While children are the majority of patients seen for CAPD, adults are also tested and given the same attention, discussion of impact on work, social, and receive therapy strategies, modified for their needs. Many do not realize hearing loss affects central processing, head trauma and other medical conditions can also impact an adult's quality of life. Whether just a matter of better communication with loved ones or a quality of life and career issue, we want to help!
Among other specialized training and experience (see About Me page), Dr. Auer has extensive knowledge of speech acoustics, perception and production, has conducted studies in these areas as well as independent research in the speech perception and production of children who use cochlear implants as a Graduate Research Fellow at Southern Connecticut State University. Dr. Auer has received specialized training not only in the diagnosis of CAPD, but also in hands on therapy and extensive elecrophysiology testing, provided through Southern Connecticut State University's Center for Communication Disorders.
While pediatrics with reading or learning disabilities are the most common patient for CAPD testing, hearing loss in all ages can also impact the central processing system as well as head trauma and other medical conditions. Please expect 2 visits, approximately 2 hours each for a full pediatric evaluation. Adults can often manage full testing in one visit. Most insurances now recognize the benefits for CAPD services.
Tinnitus & Hyperacusis
Over 50 million Americans suffer from Tinnitus which may be perceived as a whistling, ringing, clicking, hissing, clanging, distortions, or roaring, in one or both ears or in the head. There is no external sound causing the sensation that, though it is a common condition, may be very upsetting to some people. Tinnitus may cause or worsen depression, irritability, sensitivity to certain sounds, and may be quite severe in some cases.
Tinnitus is most commonly caused by hearing loss. However, it may also be a side effect to medication, the result of noise trauma, head injury, stress related, or the result of other medical conditions.
If you have tinnitus you should talk to your medical doctor and an Ear Nose and Throat specialist to rule out medical causes and to consider medical treatment if appropriate. You should also see an audiologist specializing in tinnitus assessment and treatment for a complete Audiological evaluation to establish degree of hearing loss (if any) and degree and type of tinnitus. This information is necessary for the ENT. Once a thorough tinnitus audiological assessment is made, and medical conditions and treatments are ruled out, Dr Auer offers a custom tinnitus therapy program based on each patient's unique needs and goals, such as education and self-help solutions, sound generating treatment options such as Maskers, Amplification (hearing aids), Attention Diversion, and other Tinnitus Sound Therapies.
Custom therapy programs are offered by Dr. Auer. Please also visit the American Tinnitus Association's website for more information at ata.org.
Patients who suffer from hyperacusis or misophonia are often left feeling like the misunderstood, orphaned step-child. This is a big concern of Dr. Auer's. Each case will be approached with the same attention to detail as tinnitus or any other APD, with special arrangements made to keep testing within tolerable sound levels and progressing at the patient's pace.
Please always talk to your medical doctor about tinnitus and hyperacusis. Most insurance companies cover the cost for assessment and diagnostic procedures but we will need to call your insurance before assuming therapy programs will be covered. In those cases Dr. Auer works hard to provide as many self-help informational, educational, and take home strategies as possible including custom selected strategies included with hearing aids, when appropriate. If you are depressed or anxious because of your tinnitus, please talk to your MD and mental healthcare provider immediately. Dr. Auer will work with your other health care providers but an Audiologist is neither a medical doctor nor a mental health care provider. Don't suffer for silence, don't struggle alone-- there's help!
