Mid Coast Hospital welcomes Anna K. Strange, AuD, to its Rehabilitation Services staff.

Dr. Strange is a clinical and dispensing audiologist and joins the Audiology Department at 310 Bath Road. She received her clinical doctorate from Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg, PA.

“Anna’s arrival truly complements the mission of our department,” said Director of Rehabilitation Services Dory E. Holmes, MPH, TR/LL. “Our goal is to maximize or restore people to their highest level of functioning and to support healthy living. Without optimal hearing, an individual cannot fully function in the community.”

Dr. Strange grew up in northern Maine and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Maine at Orono.

She maintains certifications through the American Speech-Language Hearing Association and the American Academy of Audiology, as well as Maine state licensure in audiology.

“Anna’s skills in diagnostic testing and hearing aid technology enable Mid Coast Hospital to offer meaningful solutions to hearing loss,” said Holmes. “The hospital offers an interdisciplinary approach—involving primary and specialty physicians; physical, occupational, and speech therapists; and audiologists —to restore the greatest level of independence to its patients.”

The department offers diagnostics, rehabilitative testing, and services to children and adults, and offers thenewest technology in hearing aids and hearing protection.

Audiology services available at 310 Bath Road include:
• Complete audiological evaluations for adults and children
• Assessment of middle ear function / Tympanometry
• Otoacousitic Emission (OAE) testing
• Occupational hearing screenings
• Newborn hearing screenings follow-up (AABR)
• Musician and traditional custom hearing protection
• Hearing aid evaluations, fittings, and adjustments
• Assistive listening devices

For more information, call Rehabilitation Services at (207) 373-6175,
or visit www.midcoasthealth.com/rehab/hearing-audiology.aspx

Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting older adults. One in three people older than 60 and half of those older than 85 have hearing loss. Hearing problems can make it hard to understand and follow a doctor’s advice, to respond to warnings, and to hear doorbells and alarms. They can also make it hard to enjoy talking with friends and family. All of this can be frustrating, embarrassing, and even dangerous.

Do I have a hearing problem?

Ask yourself the following questions. If you answer “yes” to three or more of these questions, you could have a hearing problem and may need to have your hearing checked by a doctor.

Do I have a problem hearing on the telephone?

Do I have trouble hearing when there is noise in the background?

Is it hard for me to follow a conversation when two or more people talk at once?

Do I have to strain to understand a conversation?

Do many people I talk to seem to mumble (or not speak clearly?)

Do I misunderstand what others are saying and respond inappropriately?

Do I often ask people to repeat themselves/

Do I have trouble understanding the speech of women and children?

Do people complain that I turn the TV volume up too high?

Do I hear a ringing, roaring or hissing sound a lot?

Do some sounds seem too loud?

Why am I losing my hearing?

Hearing loss happens for many reasons. Some people lose their hearing slowly as they age. This condition is known as presbycusis (prez-buh-KYOO-sis). Doctors do not know why presbycusis happens, but it seems to run in families. Another reason for hearing loss may be exposure to too much loud noise. This condition is known as noise-induced hearing loss. Many construction workers, farmers, musicians, airport workers, tree cutters, and people in the armed forces have hearing problems because of too much exposure to loud noise. Sometimes loud noise can cause a ringing, hissing, or roaring sound in the ears, called tinnitus (tin-NY-tus).

Hearing loss can also be caused by a virus or bacteria, heart conditions or stroke, head injuries, tumors, and certain medicines.

From the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)