David Epter

Day 1 of #BAA25 ✅ Some really interesting research going on about how we move forward with hearing healthcare. Including the potential for… • At home testing (Kenvin Munro & team) • The use of alternative listening devices (Melanie Ferguson & David Maidment (in spirit)) (see https://lnkd.in/e_xg6n-q) • A self-referral pathway (NHS Elect team). Looking forward to tomorrow - pop by poster 83 if you would like to see the results of our most recent Delphi with Katelynn Slade Sonova Group Sigrid Scherpiet Emily Urry PhD Ft. David managing to get his face on the screen despite the dramatic non-attendance.

Optic Atrophy with Associated Sensorineural Hearing Loss? 90 yo female with macular degeneration blindness needed help with hearing aids. With relative she had extreme difficulty comprehending speech even with functioning hearing aids from an outside provider. There was family history of hearing loss and dementia, hypertension, noise exposure, pacemaker, and non-pulsatile tinnitus. This patient reminded me of a 65 year old male I had just over a year ago (see comments) with diagnosed optic atrophy with associated sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). The 90 year old female shown here has never been diagnosed with optic nerve atrophy. Patient initially had non-occluding cerumen removed here by lavage and suction, now with clear ear canals, normal tympanic membranes, normal tympanograms and absent Ipsilateral Acoustic Reflexes. Speech Reception Threaholds (SRTs) were difficult to obtain by live voice. Pure Tone results revealed asymmetrical mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss in the right ear and mild to severe to moderate mixed hearing loss in the left ear. Word Recognition was 0% with masking (-30 dB). Best score unmasked and recorded Word Recognition was very poor (24%) at 100 dB HL, bilaterally. The hallmarks of optic atrophy with associated SNHL are typically adult onset progressive blindness and asymmetrical sensorineural or mixed hearing loss in which PTAs do not correlate well with expected Word Recognition scores. Word Recognition is very poor. Outer and middle ears are normal but acoustic reflexes are absent. It is possible that ABR would be abnormal and OAEs be present. It is similar to auditory neuropathy with adult onset combined with optic nerve neuropathy. In this case, it is possible that macular degeneration may be concomitant with optic nerve atrophy. For this patient the existing Signia RIC Rs were reprogrammed from open to closed fit. The open domes were replaced by closed domes and Real Ear Measures verified appropriate settings. Cochlear implantation (CI) is also an option if necessary. In this case the adjustment of the hearing aids was immediately sufficient in improving communication one-on-one and face to face with relative, who was taught to speak clearly and at a slower rate. One recommendation regarding prognosis was patient and relative see neuro-otologist and CI surgeon due to asymmetrical SNHL and mixed hearing loss (left) with progressive blindness, tinnitus, and extremely poor Word Recognition. The patient will return here quarterly for hearing aid maintenance and annually for re-exam, cerumen management, and hearing aid related services. #opticatrophywithassociatedsensorineuralhearingloss

Happy #StPatricksDay from the #DavisFamilyHearing team members who remembered to wear green today! ☘️☘️ https://lnkd.in/eG9VmHG5 #DavisFamilyHearing #HappyStPatricksDay #BestTeamEver #WeLoveWhatWeDo

Thanks to Valeriy Shafiro for organizing Rush University Medical Center’s annual Ear Day conference. Great agenda and engagement from the audience. I’ll look forward to joining again next year. Gregory Ellis, Ph.D. Ryan Corey Melissa R. Henry, AuD CCC-A Steven Gianakas Uzma S Akhtar Valeriy Shafiro

You can’t think everyone with posteior ankle pain has an Achilles tendonopathy. There are atleast 7 common differentials you need to know. 🦶 Flexor Hallucis Longus (FHL) – The not so mentioned Achilles Differential!🕵️ Part 5/7 If you work with runners, dancers, or athletes who complain of medial or posterior ankle pain , the FHL should be high on your list of differentials! 🔎 What is the FHL? The FHL is a powerful muscle running from the posterior fibula → through the medial ankle → inserting onto the big toe. It plays a huge role in toe flexion and push-off during running and jumping. 🏃‍♂️ How can It Get Irritated? - Overuse from repetitive plantar flexion (think sprinting, ballet, or trail running 🏔️) - Compression with repeated toe flexion High-load activities like hopping or incensed time on toes. 🩺 What do we see? ✅ Pain with resisted big toe flexion 🦶 ✅ Tenderness along the medial ankle ✅ Pain with high rates of loading movements ✅ Pain with end-range plantar flexion ✅ Crepitus toe movement 🛠️ Key Tests You Can Use 🔹 FHL Stretch Test – pain at end-range dorsiflexion with toe extension 🔹 Resisted Flexion Test – aggravation with big toe resistance

Everyone please give a very warm welcome to Chris O’Brien, our newest provider in our #Villages office! Chris has been treating hearing loss for 20 years, and he recently moved from Arizona to focus on getting the Villages area in Florida hearing their best in 2025! https://lnkd.in/eG9VmHG5 #DavisFamilyHearing #2025 #HappyNewYear #DoctorsofAudiology #HearingAidSpecialists #HearingAids #CochlearImplants #TinnitusTreatment #HearYourBest

🥁roll please….the winners of the second annual Simplicity Scramble ⛳️🏌️… Greg Olson Nathan Jacobson Chase Clack Michael Siciliano, LUTCF®