MIDWEST ENT UPDATE 9/29/2020

As we approach fall and winter, we wish to update you on your ear nose and throat health. We recommend that you have your humidifiers inspected and cleaned. If you don't have one, this may be a good time to purchase. When heaters go on, so should humidifiers. In addition, nasal saline sprays and netty pots often times aid in healthy noses and throats. It is becoming increasingly well known how important good nasal breathing is for our overall health. I am sending a link to a recent story aired on CBS News, featuring James Nestor, author of the recent book, "Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art". It is very insightful and I hope you enjoy it.

We continue to take very strict COVID precautions. We have had no cases as a result anyone coming to our office or having surgery with us at Northwestern Hospital.
Flu season is rapidly approaching and strongly encourage the flu vaccine.
We are very pleased with our results of the Inspire(inspiresleep.com)procedure for sleep apnea. This has proven to be an excellent outpatient procedure for those who are not getting good results with CPAP.
As always, we offer a full range of services for your hearing health. We provide the most current technology for testing your hearing and providing the most appropriate hearing aids for each individual.
Please feel free to call the office(312-988-7777) for further information on all of the above or to set up an appointment. You may also send individual emails through our patient portal.

Wishing you all good health and safety,

Gordon J. Siegel, M.D.,FACS
Assistant Clinical Professor
Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery             
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Are Hearing Aids Right for Me?

Hearing AidsHearing loss can scare you and the idea of wearing a hearing aid can be frightening too. The truth is, you may be missing more conversation and sounds than you should. You deserve to hear everything, because sounds and conversation contribute greatly to your quality of life.
 
You may be experiencing hearing loss if you:
  1. Hear muffled speech and muffled sounds
  2. Have difficulty distinguishing words from background noise
  3. Need people to speak more clearly, loudly and slowly
  4. Have trouble hearing consonants
  5. Tend to withdraw from conversations
  6. Avoid social situations
If you experience any of these symptoms, you can certainly benefit from a hearing aid or other type of hearing device. You might consider these types of hearing aids:
 
CIC, or completely in the canal-which fits inside your ear canal. It has the advantage of being the least visible hearing aid, but it doesn’t have volume control or a directional microphone.
 
ITE, or in the ear-are made either to fit your entire outer ear, or only the lower part of your ear. It has the advantage of having volume control and ease of handling, but it is more visible than a CIC.
 
BTE, or behind the ear-are made to hook over the top of your ear and rest behind your ear; it has a tube that connects it to an earpiece inside your ear canal. The BTE is the largest hearing aid, but it has better amplification of sound.
 
Cochlear implants are another option for severe hearing loss. Cochlear implants do the work of parts of your inner ear that aren’t working or are damaged.
A hearing aid can greatly enhance your quality of life. Hearing aid users experience:
  • An improved, more positive view of life
  • Increased self-confidence and self-esteem
  • Closer personal relationships
  • Less depression
If you think you might be losing your hearing, you are not alone. In fact, according to the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) more than 30% of adults over 65 have some degree of hearing difficulty. ASHA also recommends that you should visit your ENT specialist for a hearing screening at least every 10 years through age 50, and every three years after age 50. If you think you might need a hearing aid, it’s time to take action. Don’t miss out on conversations and the sounds around you. Do everything you can to enjoy the sounds of your life, so call today!

Our Location

3 East Huron Chicago, IL, 60660, US

Office Hours

Our Regular Schedule

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

Closed

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

8:00 am-11:30 am

Sunday:

Closed