Patient Spotlight

bonnie johnOur experiences with Advanced Hearing:

My husband and I had taken his father and aunt to Advanced Hearing Services many years ago.  When we started experiencing what seemed to be some hearing loss, we decided to make an appointment to get check as we knew the earlier you catch it and start working with it, the better your outcome.   I was quite sure John had some but felt I was still doing fine.  However, we felt it wise to get a base line on both of us as we were in our 60s.  When we were first tested by Susan, she found some hearing loss and to my surprise, mine was more significant than John’s.  Susan explained the difference between hearing and listening.  She said we were not at the point that aids were needed.  The whole experience was beneficial and gave us that baseline.  A few years later we felt we were noticing a change and again had our hearing tested.  The results showed that I was now at the point needing some assistance and John’s was borderline.  After discussing the various approaches to our declining hearing with Susan we made the decision to get hearing aids that synced with our smart phones for added features.  I immediately noticed a wonderful difference in following along with conversation and dialogs.  Music was so much richer again.  I realized how my gradual hearing loss had dulled my sense of hearing diminishing my quality of life without my being aware of it.  When I don’t have my aids in,  I feel like I am functioning with ear plugs in or like it is to hear when you have a head cold.  For both John and I life is indeed richer with our more natural hearing restored.

Advanced Hearing has taken very good care of us with any issues that have occurred with our devices and any adjustments needed—standing behind their work, products and guarantees.   Susan provides continued evaluation of our hearing health—wax removal, periodic testing, cleaning and adjustment of aids.

We highly recommend being proactive in your hearing healthcare and feel you can find no better a provider than Susan Baker and Advanced Hearing Services.

– Bonnie and John S


 

CarolCarol has been struggling for years to hear and understand. She feels she is missing so much of her life. I fit her with Oticon Opn and she noticed a huge improvement, she could hear her clothes and her shoes touching the floor as she walked. Hearing loss takes away the small sounds of life around us. She is excited to finally hear better.


 

Don 3I have been coming to Susan and her staff at Advanced hearing for many years with a genetic hearing loss.

I started Completely-in-the-Canal hearing aids.  They were a big help but eventually they could not provide enough amplification for my changing hearing loss so I moved to Mini Behind-the-Ear aids with more amplification and surprising comfort with the universal ear cup.

The big improvement came with the move to the Oticon On.  Speech comprehension was greatly improved; I could finally hear my wife upstairs from my basement office.  Conversations in noisy environments was greatly improved.  The ability to pair with my iPhone directly has been huge as well.  In addition to clear phone conversations (better than the land line) I noticed instruments in my favorite song that I had never heard before.

Susan and the staff have always been professional and attentive to all my questions and adjustments.

– Don W.


 

Jim F1I have been a client of Advanced Hearing for many years and have found Susan and her staff to give 5 Star performance all the time. From the friendly smiles at the front desk, throughout the exam and fittings of the hearing aids they are a top-notch group. Susan will use every tool she has to help you hear better.

– Jim F.


 

RalphFor years the hearing in my right ear has been considerably weaker than in the left. However,  there never was a need for a hearing aid. In 2015 my spinal cord slipped some and an operation was required to stabilize it. It seems that there is a chance in 250,000 that the anesthesia used in an operation can cause one to lose hearing. There must have been 249,999 leading up to the day my operation made it to the top. Unfortunately, it was the left ear which was now almost totally deafened. The surgeon said he would contact an audiologist, but he took over three weeks to set it up. The audiologist handed me a copy of a writing which said that treatment for such an injury would have to begin within a week of this type of loss to be successful. He did attempt to fix it by using some high air pressure work, but it did more harm  than good. Now there was also a hole in the left ear drum.

My personal physician immediately sent me to Susan Baker at Advanced Hearing Services, and it was the first step back to normalcy since my luck had turned bad.

When one walks in the door the warmth and professionally emitted by this amazing woman and her staff can be felt. Of course, seeing the small basket of chocolate candies set out on the counter also set the tone for me. Susan was so efficient in her testing and happily she found that not only could we improve the hearing in the right ear but that there  was some hearing still in the left ear that could be salvaged and enhanced.

It was soon after this that my attempt to clean ear wax caused me incredible pain for almost five full minutes when the liquid drops used went through that hole in the ear drum. Susan forbade me to do such a thing again, and now she begins our sessions by cleaning out the accrued wax.

My experience with Susan and her staff has been nothing but a delight and it is like visiting family. That I can hear the television and phone conversations clearly is the bonus.

– Ralph A.


 

bob maryOticon hearing aids changed our lives.

When one or both are experiencing hearing loss our days were becoming more silent because we couldn’t hear each other and resorted to shouting or not talking at all. Eating out became a struggle because of the background noise. When talking to friends and family we talked over them; talked about things that weren’t related to what the other person was saying. Talking on the telephone didn’t happen and the T.V. was turned up so the neighbors could hear it.

I first met Susan Baker after I had had problems with another provider in Fort Collins. They had not been able to repair a detached stem. I tried other offices in town and Susan was the one able to get this done. I soon switched to Advanced Hearing Services and have not regretted this.
We attended one of Susan’s information meetings and signed up for hearing tests. After the tests we discovered that both of us were experiencing hearing loss and tinnitus. Susan loaned us each a set of hearing aids programmed to our specific needs for a week. Needless to say, we now own Oticon hearing aids.

Our lives changed because we can hear clearly again, carry on conversations, eat out, watch tv at normal voice levels, talk on the phone, and no shouting. In addition we can hear the car’s turn signals, washer/dryer buzzers, and the ringing in our ears is under control.

We’ve found Susan and her staff to be extremely professional, friendly, and knowledgeable. We know that Susan has our best interests at heart, and we are happy to be a part of the Advanced Hearing family.

– Bob & Mary


 

JVJV had a pair of older hearing aids that were not working for him. The moment he heard with Oticon Opn, his world opened up. He is excited to hear better.


 

Ed2I went to Susan at Advanced Hearing Services years ago because of hearing complications. She thoroughly checked my hearing and diagnosed the problem. I was then fitted with what I called ‘hearing aids.’ I have since learned to call them hearing devices! They changed my life. The ringing in my ears (tinnitus) is not apparent when I have my Oticon Agil Pro hearing devices in. I wear them from getting up in the morning until I tell my wife goodnight. Thanks for letting me hear her again! I can even hear rattlesnakes when I am out hiking. Very important!

I have since recommended Advanced Hearing Services to all of my patients who ask me about my hearing devices. My father is the best example of Susan treating people with concern and compassion. He has severe hearing loss, which required a lot of TLC on her part. Skip the half page ads, the internet deals, the discount houses……just go here and have someone you can depend on when you need help. Susan will treat you like you are family!

– Ed R.


 

Stan1Hi folks. My name is Stan Griep. I first met Susan Baker several years ago. I was having major problems hearing and understanding family members and friends correctly. I would try to guess at what was said and 98% of the time got it wrong. Upon getting it wrong I became a target for some hurtful comments, being laughed at and yelled at to “Go Get An Aid Man”!  At work I was also struggling in meetings where I really needed to hear and understand what was being said. I would ask others at the meeting to fill me in on things I just did not hear and understand. Sometimes folks were willing to help me out. Other times I got responses like, “pay better attention” or “that’s what you get for dozing off”.  I did pay attention and I certainly did not doze off! I just could not hear!! I had major problems hearing my wife as well. She speaks softly most of the time and in a tone that my ears just could not pick up right. When I would ask for repeats, I would either get yelled at or a somewhat louder annoyed sounding response. No fault to my dear wife or any family members and friends. It is annoying to have to repeat oneself over and over again, I get that totally. It can be quite humorous too when someone does not hear something quite right and gives a way out of left field response, that too I well understand. The problem is that it is many times very hurtful to the person with the hearing loss issues. Susan understood the situation from day one. She listened to me as I painfully admitted my hearing loss problems and comfortingly told me that she could help me. I started out with a hearing aid in one ear that helped me a bunch! I was able to hear better around family and friends. Able to hear and understand things at important work meetings too. My hearing has gotten worse and I now have a hearing aid in both ears to help keep me “In The Conversation”, thanks to a wonderful caring person named Susan Baker.

If you too are struggling with your hearing abilities and dealing with the hurtful comments, take hold of that problem and go see Susan at Advanced Hearing Services today! Why wait when help is standing right there in front of you just waiting for you to make the first move? I admit it took me some time to make the move, however I could not have come to a better person in Susan and her business, Advanced Hearing Services. Susan also helped my dear mother with some pretty major hearing issues over the years. Thank you, Susan, for your help and for being the caring person you are!

– Stan G.


 

Jerry 2My hearing loss started in my early working career. Being exposed to loud machinery noise each day was not a good thing, but I didn’t know just how damaging it was. Wearing hearing protection wasn’t cool back then. Going through life I struggled to understand what was being said and often guessed at what was being said. This was frustrating for me and my family. I knew something had to be done. I was referred to an audiologist, Dr. Lentz. He said my hearing loss was significant and hearing aids would certainly help me. Susan Baker had just started to work with him and was very helpful in working with me to find hearing aids that would work best for me. She was in the forefront of technology then and continues to stay on top of the advances in hearing aid technology. I’ve trusted her with my hearing health care for over 20 years. The greatest gift I’ve received from her is being able to hear the voices of children, especially that of our granddaughter. I gladly refer any one who is experiencing difficulty hearing to Advanced Hearing and Susan Baker. Thank you for the years of service to me.
– Jerry Y.


 

KarenKaren has been struggling to hear for many years. She was fit with Oticon Opn devices and she noticed immediately how much she was missing. She is excited to help her brain hearing more naturally and normally.


 

JJMIn all honesty, I have probably always had hearing issues, but managed to pass hearing tests as a child.  It was not until 2007 at age 45 that I was diagnosed with a genetic hearing loss by a much larger firm that only wanted to get me out the door with a pair of $7,000 hearing aids.  There was nothing personal about the experience and I never went back.  In 2018 we were planning to go to Italy for a 17-day tour and a week with our daughter who spent that spring semester at school in Rome.  Just prior to her leaving, she and I got into a fight and she said, “isn’t it going to be sad that you won’t be able to hear anything the tour guide says?”  That was my incentive to contact and seek help from Advanced Hearing Services.  From the moment I met Susan and her staff I felt extremely comfortable getting help.  I was again diagnosed with the same genetic hearing loss and decided to go ahead with the hearing aids Susan recommended.  It truly has been life changing to be able to hear better than I can remember ever hearing.  I gave up the word “what” and really engage in conversations more.  I also pay more attention to TV, movies and what is going on around me.  Susan Baker and her staff at Advanced Hearing Services are wonderful to work with and the few minor issues I have had have always been addressed quickly.

– JJM


 

Brad 1I began noticing my hearing loss in my 30’s. I would misunderstand what someone was saying and just laugh it off as a funny, weird thing. I began noticing I would have some sort of episode where I was a little dizzy or off balance followed by heartburn that wouldn’t go away for days.

Susan has been with me as I suffer hearing loss. I have experienced other audiologists who see you in a white lab coat and show little compassion as they perform a hearing test. Susan understands my struggles to hear and finds ways to help that are productive. She understands and has a superior knowledge of the product she sells, and she is also a good trouble shooter with iPhone or iPad. Every session I have with her she works through every detail to adjust the hearing aids to give me the best hearing possible. She will say, Ok Brad tell me what you are hearing or let me fix that feedback with your cowboy hat on. Every question is an adjustment until I am satisfied. She has never let me down, gives me back my hearing, and is my most trusted caregiver. Hearing loss is an intimate problem and her efforts impact me on such a personal level as if I were touched by an angel.

– Brad J.


 

Bill M2My Hearing Story

My story likely began generations ago as my type of loss was common in our family and passed down through my grandmother and father. Many of my aunts, uncles and cousins suffer from what was always labeled in the family as “hereditary nerve loss hearing.”

It tends to begin decades before typical age loss hearing. I sensed problems in my 30’s and had tests to determine any physical abnormities that could account for this. By mid-forties, I received my first pair of hearing aids. I was told then that I had the hearing of someone in their retirement years. I’ve relied on them now for over 25 years.

I first met Susan Baker after I had had problems with another provider in Fort Collins. They had not been able to repair a detached stem. I tried other offices in town and Susan was the one able to get this done. I soon switched to Advanced Hearing Services and have not regretted this.

Service is key in the tricky world of hearing aids. The service Susan provides is outstanding. I have worried that I was her “customer from hell” because I have had to go in for many adjustments, fittings and tweakings. She has always been patient and scheduled me as quickly as possible. She has been an advocate for me to Oticon when we’ve had to send the aids back. I can’t imagine this kind of personal and professional help from discount stores or other providers.

I’ve recommended Susan to others and I know that they have appreciated her and the service she has given. My time with her allowed me to finish my working years though the lifeline of hearing aids and her constant support. I’m very happy to return this support that she’s given to me for many years.

— Bill M.


 

JoAnn2I have been a patient of Susan’s for almost 21 years. I find her very competent and an extremely caring person. She has thorough knowledge and experience with the Oticon hearing devices and can quickly and efficiently adjust them to meet the patient’s needs.

I had gradually experienced hearing loss in my early fifties and began to have difficulties hearing soft voices which, in turn made it difficult to respond appropriately during conversation. Through the years telephone conversations became extremely difficult to impossible to participate in and the ability to hear almost any voices. Background noise during family gatherings and at restaurants began to make understanding conversations extremely difficult.  I now have profound hearing loss.

Through the years, based on Susan’s expert advice and recommendations, I have purchased at least four sets of hearing devices. Each new Oticon set offering me significant hearing improvement. I must say that the Oticon Opn that I purchased in 2017 provided the most dramatic improvement in my hearing, while offering the option of device control using my cell phone. What a difference in my life this set has provided. I now have significant improvement in my hearing, a greater ability to understand and participate in conversations and the ability to connect my hearing devices directly to my cell phone using the app. I have had no failures with any of the Oticon devices and highly recommend Susan Baker and Advanced Hearing Services.

– JoAnn