Paee 10 I Volusia Health Care News I Foll 2019 I West Volusia/Lake Mory Edition M;HJl,i'l·llil·H·\M

lies, Ye,llelJt Ye

\

Fitting

hearing

aids is both

a science

and an art

For years, that medical team lacked one key component. No mat­ter how hard he cried, Rex could not find someone who could help him adequately resolve a hearing loss issue that arose shortly after he moved to Florida in 2002.

A N..:r

IT

A 30-minute walk each day and 30 minutes of light weight­lifting at the gym three days a week are among the physical

activities that keep Rex West, an 81-year­old retired commercial banking executive, from feeling his age.

&Throa1

DEVANG M. SHAH, MD

DANIELL. ROTH BAUM, MD

"Since then, I've probably been fit with hearing aids four or five times, but I wound up taking them back every time because all they did was make things louder instead of clearer," Rex states. "They really didn't help my hear­ing much at all."

"I definitely make sure to get a fair amount of physical exercise in throughout the week," Rex says. "That's important. It's also important to have a good medical team around you, and I have that as well."

Rex had all but given up on finding a solution to his hearing problem when a

Devang M. Shah, MD, is board certified in otolaryngology. After receiving his medical degree with honors from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, he completed his surgical internship and residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1997, Dr. Shah is a member of the American Academy of otolaryngology- Head & Neck Surgery and has served as chair of the department of surgery at Florida Hospital Fish Memorial, Orange City. He coauthored severaljournal artides investigating the relationship between microscopic inner-ear struc­tures and hearing function and has presented his work at research conferences.

Daniel L Rothbaum, MD, is board certified in otolaryngology and specializes in facial plastic surgery and otolaryngo{ogy. He's a leader in balloon sinus dilation surgery in Central Aorida. Dr. Rothbaum graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College in Cambridge, MA with a degree in social studies. He received his Medical Doctorate (MD) degree from Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, CT. Dr. Rothbaum completed his internship and residency training at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

visit to Atlantic Ear, Nose & Throat for an unrelated matter eventually led to a discussion with Daniel Rothbaum, MD, about hearing loss.

Comfort and Functionality "During my examinations, Rex men­tioned he had some ringing in his ears," Dr. Rothbaum explains. "I told him that kind of ringing is often associated with hearing loss. That's when he told me about his history with hearing aids.

"I wasn't surprised by that, because about one in four people who purchase hearing aids wind up leaving them in their drawer because of the quality of the hear­ing aids or because something went wrong with the fitting of them.

"That's why I say that fitting hearing aids is both a science and an an. The sci­ence is making sure patients get the right hearing aid with the right features and functionality. The art is setting up the device so the patient gets maximum use and comfort."

The staff at Atlantic Ear, Nose & Throat includes an audiologist specifically trained in the science and art of fitting hearing aids. After learning of Rex's hear­ing issues, Dr. Rothbaum turned Rex over to that audiologist for help.

"The next thing I know, I'm getting a hearing test and getting new hearing aids," Rex relates. "And they're good hearing

Visit Atlantic Ear, Nose & Throat on the web at www.myENTdoctor.com

SPECIAL TO FHCN

Experiencing Foot or Ankle Pain?

A ches and pains in the feet or ankles may be a common complaint among seniors, but it's important to under­

stand that just because something is commonplace does not mean it's normal.

Although certain medical conditions such as arthritis and diabetes can cause foot pain, the primary cause of most foot pain is actually a problem with the foot's function or biomechanics.

Pain in the foot or ankle that recurs on a regular basis or lasts for an extended period should be evaluated by a board­certified podiatrist - a physician specially trained in the treatment of the foot, ankle, and lower leg.

r

Podiatrists treat problem areas of

the feet, ankle or lower leg by

prescribing one or several of the

following:

Physical therapy

Prescription drugs

Surgery on lower

extremity fractures

Orthotic inserts

or soles

Podiatrists treat a wide variety of podiatric complaints, including heel, foot and ankle pain, and dillicult-to-heal wounds on the lower extremities.

Heel pain may result from stress on the muscles and ligaments of the foot, stretching and tearing of the fibrous con­nective tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot, or tearing of the membrane that covers the heel bone.

Plantar fasciitis. or chronic inflam­mation of the plantar fascia, is the most common cause of heel pain. The plan­tar fascia is the rigid ligament along the bottom of the foot, and it often becomes a problem for runners and other athletes, people who are required to stand for long periods at work, or even as a result of pregnancy.

A neuroma is an inflammation and swelling of the digital nerve on the bot­tom of the foot, running between the metatarsal heads at the base of the toes.

Bunions result when a patient's foot is or becomes unstable, causing the foot to roll and weakening the tendons and ligaments that stabilize the great toe. Repetitive motion from rolling, or over-pronating, allows the bone co drift and causes pain and bone enlargement.

flammertoe is a bending or curl­ing of the toe, often resulting in the formation of painful corns as the roe deformity presses unnaturally against the patient's footwear.

Conservative rrearments for these conditions may include hot or cold compresses, physical therapy,

anti-inflammatory medications and cortisone injections to relieve pain.

In the event that conservative treat­ments do not provide long-term relief, many of these troublesome conditions can be addressed with a minimally inva­sive outpatient procedure.

For bunions, an osteotomy may be used to surgically realign the bones of the toe, and the corrected position is secured with a small titanium screw implant. In most instances, patients are able to begin wearing soft, comfortable shoes within just two weeks after the procedure.

Patients suffering from unresolved plantar fasciitis often benefit from endoscopic plantar fasciotomy, or EPF, a minimally invasive outpatient surgery per­formed under local anesthesia with mild sedation. The procedure takes only a few minutes, and patients are typically allowed to return to normal activities within a week.

Morton's neuroma can typically be treated without surgery. Dehydrated alcohol injections provide long-term relief for many patients, even in cases where the patient has had a neuroma excision in the past.

Any course of treatment should be over­seen by a board-certified podiattist. Above all else, it is important to remember that foot pain is not normal, and that it should be evaluated and treated as soon as possible.

Although we may sometimes take our feet for granted, we shouldn't. The better we treat them, the better our active life­styles can be. FHCN mtf[ article. mkb

aids. It took a couple of trips to get them adjusted, but that's fine. After what I'd been through, I didn't mind that at all."

Rex received a pair of digital hearing aids with rechargeable bat­teries and Bluetooth" technology that allows for sounds generated by exter­nal electronic sources such as a TV set or smartphone to be heard directly through the hearing device.

"These hearing aids are really good, and I'm really happy with them," Rex says. "I'm finally hearing clearly again, so I'm a happy customer. Everyone at Atlantic Ear, Nose and Throat was very thorough and did a great job, and I highly recommend them." FHCN artick by Roy Cummings. Gmphic from MaxPixtL nj

For Audiological & ENT Expertise

The skilled physicians at

Atlantic Ear, Nose & Throat

welcome your call. They are

located in Lake Mary,

Deland and Orange City.

For an initial consultation

at any location, call:

(407) 774-9880or

(386) 774-9880

Common Foot and Ankle Conditions

Achilles Tendinitis Ankle Pain Arthritis Bunions Diabetic Foot Complications (ulcers) Flat Feet (adult and pediatric) Foot Pain Fractures Hammer Toes Heel Pain Ingrown Toenails Morton's Neuroma Nail Fungus Plantar Fasciitis Sprains Warts