Congrats To Our Top Docs!





The Hearing Center is home again to some of New Jersey’s Top Docs for Kids!

After the voting tallies came in, we were so excited to find out that Dr. Sandler and Dr. Perle were again recognized among New Jersey’s top doctors for kids.



Not to be outdone, new member of the team, Dr. Sarah Elias was selected for the first time as well! We are so thrilled for our amazing staff. Most of all, we are SO appreciative of our amazing patients who voted for us and helped us achieve this recognition.



THANK YOU!

Stefanie Perle, Au.D., Joins The Hearing Center, Offers New Services to Dramatically Improve Hearing

Audiology practice is one of the first in NJ to offer all services outside of a hospital setting

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HIGHLAND PARK, N.J., Nov. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Stefanie Perle, Au.D., an audiologist who has a special interest in auditory processing disorders and cochlear implants is joining The Hearing Center on 11/15/2016, making the full-service audiology center one of the first in New Jersey to offer all related services outside of a hospital setting.

"Dr. Perle understands the importance of service," said Dr. Eric Sandler, Sc.D., of The Hearing Center. "Patients trust her, rely on her, and know that she is fully accessible. It's rare for patients to have good access to their healthcare providers. That's what The Hearing Center provides and what Dr. Perle will continue to do with us."

Perle earned her Doctor of Audiology degree from Salus University in Philadelphia. She worked at JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Center, Edison, N.J., and St. Peter's University Hospital, New Brunswick, N.J., before transitioning to private family practice.

"Dr. Perle has been practicing for many years, and she brings two specific areas that we haven't offered before: implantable devices and auditory processing evaluations," Sandler said. "She will offer us the ability to further develop our Cochlear Implant and bone-anchored hearing apparatus (BAHA) program." 

Perle identifies candidates for the cochlear implant device and BAHA. Instead of amplifying sound like a hearing aid, a cochlear implant sends electrical signals directly to the brain. A surgeon will perform the procedure, and Perle will conduct follow-up visits at The Hearing Center to ensure the implants are working correctly and the user is acclimating to this new way of processing sound.

"It's rare to have a private practice where you can come for cochlear implants," Sandler said. "Now, there are no audiological services that we have to refer patients to other facilities for."

Perle has a special interest in auditory processing disorders. She diagnoses school aged children seven and older, including children who exhibit signs of auditory processing difficulties at school.

"Auditory processing has a great impact on a child's learning," Perle said. "Typically, the student with auditory processing difficulties has normal hearing, but material can seem like it's going in one ear and out the other, and it clicks the subsequent time it's presented. Why is there a delay? It could be because auditory comprehension abilities are impaired."

Perle's hiring comes just a few months after The Hearing Center hired Sarah Azer Elias, Au.D., to support the expanding practice.

"In a family-based practice like The Hearing Center, I have the opportunity to get to know patients," Perle said. "I'm looking forward to working in a collaborative environment, where I can draw from all of my colleagues' strengths and provide services with other professional, doctoral level audiologists who have such a high level of skill and education."

ABOUT THE HEARING CENTER

The Hearing Center is an advanced full-service audiology practice for children and adults with three New Jersey offices in Highland Park, Manalapan, and Clark. The state-of-the-art facilities are the first in New Jersey to offer all audiological services outside a hospital setting, including cochlear implants; auditory processing evaluations; hearing aid fittings and verification; tinnitus evaluations; noise protection; and specialized earplugs for musicians. The practice celebrated its 30th anniversary this year. For more information, visit www.thcaudiology.com.

The Hearing Center is excited to add Audiologist Dr. Stefanie Perle to its staff

Dr. Stefanie Perle will be joining the hearing center in mid November! We are presently taking appointments for Dr. Perle and the office can be reached at 732-462-8412! Our office can be reached via email at DrEricSandler@thcaudiology.com . Dr. Stefanie Perle earned her Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degree in 2004 from The George Osborne School of Audiology at Salus University in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. She has a Masters of Science Degree in Audiology from Hunter College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications Disorders and Sciences from The State University of New York at Buffalo. She began her career at JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute and Saint Peter’s University Hospital where she enhanced her clinical skills for pediatric through adult populations. After starting a family, Dr. Perle transitioned to private practice settings. One of Dr. Perle’s special interests are implantable technology, including cochlear implants and the Bone Anchored Hearing Apparatus (BAHA). Dr. Perle was one of the first audiologists in Monmouth County who was identifying cochlear implant candidates and programming cochlear implants. In addition, she specializes in the diagnosis and management of auditory processing disorders in children and adults. Dr. Perle has been invited to collaborate with several local public and private schools to serve this population of students. She was selected in 2016 as one of New Jersey Family Magazine’s top doctors for children. Dr. Perle holds New Jersey Licenses for both Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensing. She is a member the American Academy of Audiology and the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association. Outside of her office, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three children.

NJ FAVORITE KIDS DOCS!

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We are very excited to announce that Dr. Eric Sandler was chosen by readers as a New Jersey's Favorite Kids' Docs by njfamily.com ! Patient's parents took the time to honor Dr. Sandler with a nomination for his work with their children! We were told many parents composed beautiful testimonials about the exceptional care Dr. Sandler had provided to them. This December, the full list of NJ family Kids favorite Docs will be featured in print and on line. We are very excited about this honor and look forward to the December 2016 issue of NJ Family to see the write up about Dr. Sandler!

Welcoming our newest Audiologist! Dr. Sarah A. Elias

sarah_website_best At The Hearing Center, we are very excited to announce the addition of Dr. Sarah A. Elias to our dedicated and talented group of audiologists. Previously, Dr. Elias completed a rigorous residency at Hackensack University Medical Center. She has extensive training in treating pediatric through geriatric patients, in both private practice and hospital settings. In 2014, Dr. Elias received the Joan Fox Award from the Long Island Speech-Language-Hearing Association (LISHA) in recognition of outstanding scholarship and service to the speech, language and hearing field. Dr. Elias will be seeing patients primarily in the Manalapan and Highland Park offices. The addition of Dr. Elias to our staff will allow us to expand our hours of operation in both the Highland Park and Manalapan offices. To better serve our patients, we have also recently upgraded all of our diagnostic equipment as well as all three office locations. The addition of Dr. Elias will round out our current phase of expansion and we look forward to continuing to offer the highest quality hearing health care in central New Jersey.

Are your hearing aids locked and you do not even know it?

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Did you know that many places that sell hearing aids offer 'locked' hearing aids, and never tell their patients this fact? "What is a locked hearing aid?" you may be asking yourself. Well, let us explain. Some chain stores like Sam's Club, Costco, Audigy, Miracle Ear, as well as branded private practices sell private label hearing aids. With private label hearing aids, it is likely that only the chain store that SELLS the hearing aids can also ADJUST the hearing aids.
For example, let's say a provider that offers private label hearing aid sells their practice or goes out of business, then a patient may be VERY limited as to where they can get their hearing aids adjusted. A patient cannot just go to any office to have their hearing aids adjusted. They must go somewhere that has access to the software required to adjust the hearing aids. Places that offer private label hearing aids often use this as a selling point. They advise their patients they can go to any of their stores and have their hearing aids serviced. Often those stores are very regionalized and many in the past have gone out of business.
When you come to The Hearing Center, we only offer hearing aids from major manufacturers. We do not try to obscure who makes the hearing aids we offer or what specific technology level those hearing aids utilize. If you purchase hearing aids from us and move away, whether it is around the country, or around the world, we will work to find you a provider that will service those hearing aids for you.
Any provider that works with the major manufacturers such as Resound, Oticon, Siemens (Sivantos), Phonak, Widex, Starkey can adjust the hearing aids we offer. This allows our patients to receive the best possible hearing health care!
For 30 years, that has always been our goal as we continue to provide Central New Jersey with the best and most comprehensive hearing healthcare there is. For more information and assistance with a locked hearing aid or anything concerning your hearing healthcare, book an appointment at one of our conveniently located facilities today!
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Questions answered Cont...

6. What is the trial period or return period associated with the hearing aid purchase?Any Reliable location that offers hearing aids will offer a trial period of at least 30 days, with a limited non-refundable portion of the hearing aid purchase. 7. How long should my hearing aid last? Hearing aids should be usable for a good 5 years. Perhaps a wearer will want to replace them sooner than every 5 years, and some patients will wear their hearing aids longer than 5 years. We advise patients to expect 5 years out of their hearing aids. Places that recommend you replace them every 3 years should be looked at with a healthy degree of skepticism.

8. For how many years will this hearing aid be repairable if something were to go wrong? Hearing aids can almost always be repaired. Some places that sell hearing aids will not repair hearing aids once the device is over 5 years old. They will tell patients the hearing aids can no longer be repaired. That is not true. Some manufacturers may no longer support a hearing aid for repairs, however, there are outside labs and 'all-make' repair options.

9. Can the hearing aid being recommended integrate with other technology that I use in my day to day life? Most of the hearing aids that we recommend offer connectivity options. Some connect directly with devices such as iPhones and iPads. Some require intermediary devices to connect to other technology devices. However, virtually all of the hearing aids we offer have connectivity options.

10. Are more than 1 manufacturer of hearing aids offered here? Yes, we work with many of the major manufacturers. We work mostly with GN Resound and Oticon, but we also work with Phonak, Widex, Unitron, and others when necessary.

11. Are you an independent practice or are you owned by another entity? We are fully independent. Our owners are all audiologist in the practice.

12. How long have you been in practice? The Hearing Center was opened in 1986 by Dr. Judith Sandler and Dr. Meredith Rothenberg. In 2010 Dr. Eric Sandler became a parter.

13. How can I communicate with my provider if I have a problem. We offer communication via phone and email. Patients are welcome to contact us on off hours via email so that questions can be answer and problems can be addressed when office hours are not in session. We strive to offer access for our patients so that we may provide service unparalleled at any other practice.

14. Why is there such a price range when it comes to hearing aids? There is a wide variation in hearing aid technology as well as features and bells and whistles. Not every patient requires the most advanced hearing aids, and not every patient is well served with less expensive hearing aids. A decision as to what hearing aids are most appropriate for you is determined via a needs-based assessment.

Answers to the most important Questions!

These are the answers to these questions that you would receive in our Clinics: 1. What is the cost of the device and what is included with this cost?

A. It depends upon the technology level. We look to match the technology to the patient's lifestyle. The more active the person, the more likely they are to see increased value in more expensive technology. We Currently offer 5 price tiers of hearing aid technology.

2. How many years of service, how many office visits are included with the hearing aid purchase?

A. We offer cleaning and hearing aid checks for the life of the hearing aid at no charge and we do not limit office visits.

3. Are there costs for replacement parts (domes, receivers, filters, etc)?

We do not charge for domes. In warranty, filters and receivers are covered as well.

4. Will I be able to see the same provider at each visit or the same team of providers, or is staff constantly shuffled?

Patients are welcome to request the same provider for each visit.

5. Are hearing aid fittings verified with Real Ear Measurements?

Yes, we do offer real ear measurements at all of our offices for all of our hearing aid fittings

Keep an eye out for the answers to the rest of the questions you should be asking of your Hearing Health care provider.

The changing landscape of hearing healthcare

We are asked by patients all of the time, "How do we know the right place to get a hearing aid". Many of our patients report being bombarded by local advertisements offering the next best thing in hearing health care at a rock bottom price. To those seeking out hearing health care I caution it can be a minefield out there. There are many ways that you can protect yourself against deceptive practices and slick sales people. First, The MOST important factor in deciding where to seek your hearing health care is that you trust the provider. It is more important to shop around for the Audiologist than to shop around for the product (hearing aid). Go with the person that you trust!

Second, you want to make sure that you are seeing an Audiologist for your diagnostic hearing tests. Often times, test are offered as 'free' because those providing the tests are not able to provide diagnostic tests because insurance companies do not recognize them as providers. If someone is selling hearing aids and is not an Audiologist, they may only be able to test hearing for the purposes of fitting a hearing aids. This test will not be the same as a comprehensive diagnostic test. At many hearing aid stores, the sales person will wear a lab coat to confuse the patient and make them think they are a 'doctor' when in fact they are just selling a device.

Third, you want to make sure that your provider is working with name brand nationally or internationally recognized hearing aid manufacturers. These major hearing aid manufacturers include names such as Resound, Oticon, Phonak, Widex, Siemens (Sivantos), or Starkey. You also want to make sure that the provider is not offering hearing aids that have in a sense, 'locked' technology. If you move away from your current provider, could your hearing aids still be adjusted? Many hearing aids are designed to limit who can actually adjust and program them.

Fourth, here are some VERY important questions to ask when purchasing hearing aids:

1. What is the cost of the device and what is included with this cost? 2. How many years of service, how many office visits are included with the hearing aid purchase? 3. Are there costs for replacement parts (domes, receivers, filters, etc)? 4. Will I be able to see the same provider at each visit or the same team of providers, or is staff constantly shuffled? 5. Are hearing aid fittings verified with Real Ear Measurements? 6. What is the trial period or return period associated with the hearing aid purchase? 7. How long should my hearing aid last? 8. For how many years will this hearing aid be repairable if something were to go wrong? 9. Can the hearing aid being recommended integrate with other technology that I use in my day to day life? 10. Are more than 1 manufacturer of hearing aids offered here? 11. Are you an independent practice or are you owned by another entity? 12. How long have you been in practice? 13. How can I communicate with my provider if I have a problem. 14. Why is there such a price range when it comes to hearing aids?

Stay tuned to this blog for the answers to the questions later in the week! Please check us out and like us on Facebook. Check out our website for updates at The Hearing Center . Please contact our Director of Audiology DrEricSandler@thcaudiology.com with any questions you may have.

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The Hearing Center updates all services to computer based diagnostics

At The Hearing Center, we are very proud to announce that by the end of the week, all of our facilities will be offering state of the art computer based diagnostics. Our practice has enhanced our diagnostic testing capabilities and modernized our facilities. Integrated real ear measures are now available for all hearing aid fittings at all facilities. Please contact our office to set up an appointment and take advantage of our state of the art capabilities!

The Hearing Center joins Cochlear's exclusive provider network

We are very excited to announce that we have been approved as a selected clinic site for the Cochlear Americas Provider Network. In the near future we will be working with Cochlear Implant and BAHA patients for their evaluations and mapping. Please contact us for further details! Keep an eye on this blog for more exciting updates in the near future! Check out this video to get learn about the newest cochlear implant technology:

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Professional Hearing Aid Fitting Simplifies Process And Improves Outcome

THC_FB_WEB_3x1.45 The Central New Jersey Patch.com news service recently ran an article on us! Check it out:

MANALAPAN, NJ -- Oftentimes during the holiday season, people who use hearing aids without advice or guidance from professional audiologists are left at a disadvantage around the dinner table. Even worse, they may not even be aware that their hearing aids are ill-fitting, leading to conversations peppered with requests to repeat jokes and stories from family and friends.

“We get patients who have had bad experiences with hearing aids, through internet purchasing or big box purchasing,” said Dr. Eric Sandler, an audiologist with The Hearing Center in central New Jersey. “Proper hearing aid fitting is a part of the hearing healthcare process, but it is not the end of the process. We provide comprehensive hearing health care beyond just hearing aids.”

At The Hearing Center, Sandler said that comprehensive hearing healthcare, aural rehabilitation and hearing aid use reduces struggles users may have with non-personalized service by ensuring that hearing aids fit and function properly, in accordance with each individual’s needs. When going to an audiologist, patients “work with a doctorate-level expert, concerned with all aspects of hearing health care. Not at the place where they buy their toilet paper.” This expert advice can often make a critical difference, when contrasted with the experience of ordering online or going into a discount store.

“At The Hearing Center, each device is expertly programmed, not just to a cookie cutter formula,” Sandler said. “We are making sure that the hearing aids we fit are doing what we expect them to do because we verify fittings and each person’s hearing loss is different. The acoustics of the individual ears need to be taken into account as well.”

According to Sandler, patients of The Hearing Center know they are receiving a quality, FDA-approved hearing aid.

“There are regulations that are often skirted around with some of these sales channels,” Sandler said. “There are guidelines regarding what can be called a hearing aid. Items that are not hearing aids are called personal sound amplifiers, and those are not necessarily regulated by the FDA.”

Comparing personal sound amplifiers to vitamins in the health and wellness industry, Sandler said that FDA regulation is in place to protect consumers looking to improve their hearing.

“Like with unregulated vitamin supplements, you don’t always know what you’re getting or if what they are claiming is true,” Sandler said. “A lot of sound amplifiers aren’t cheap. They could be hundreds of dollars, which gives the illusion of quality. Then when patients have a bad outcome with them, they assume all hearing aids don’t work because they tried them out in a less-than-ideal way.”

Sandler’s practice works with medical professionals to guarantee that any medical issues are addressed prior to fitting hearing aids.

“We often work closely with physicians to make sure that medical issues are treated,” Sandler said. “We are doctorate-level audiologists who understand the science and physiology of the ear. [Hearing aid] manufacturers will often put lesser technology in big box stores, and they tend not to have the most up-to-date technology in those sorts of places.”

Sandler said that this lesser technology -- including recent efforts to consolidate hearing aid manufacturers and outlets where the devices can be purchased -- can be detrimental to unknowing patients.

“There has been a lot of consolidation in the industry, where hearing aid companies are buying practices,” Sandler said, noting that The Hearing Center remains independent and not tied to any particular hearing aid manufacturer or representative. “People don’t necessarily know when their practices are owned by a hearing aid company, whose employees are pushing those particular products.”

Sandler explained that while the cheaper price can be appealing to those on a budget, these compromise options would almost certainly not work as well in the long run.

“People will oftentimes shop around for price -- the more important thing is to shop for the provider that they are comfortable with,” Sandler said. “So many hearing aid products are similar across manufacturers. You need the audiologist that you feel most comfortable with to ensure that you adjust accordingly. A lot of places will advertise cheap hearing aids but won’t tell you that service terms may not be included or may be less comprehensive.”

One of the ways The Hearing Center helps patients adjust to hearing aids is with free classes led by Dr. Anne Michele Puglisi, the center’s audiologist who specializes in aural rehabilitation. These classes guide patients on exactly how to maximize the benefits they derive from their hearing aids. Staff is open to questions via email as well as on their very active Facebook page.

“We give patients access to us off-hours via email, where we can be very responsive and they are not limited to our office hours,” Sandler said. “I have patients who are traveling the world, and I can troubleshoot their hearing aids via email.”

In addition to the classes, patients can draw maximum benefit from hearing aids by utilizing the state-of-the-art technology employed at The Hearing Center that fine-tunes hearing aids and guarantees that they are at full working capacity in relation to each person’s particular hearing needs.

The Hearing Center is in the news!

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  Many of our satisfied patients know us as the best place for all of your audiology needs, including hearing aids and audiological exams, but did you know that The Hearing Center is also a leader in community outreach and education?

Check it out, from our latest press release which was picked up on Yahoo News, Reuters, the International Business Times and dozens of other huge media sites! Even the Boston Globe is running our story!

 

New Jersey audiology practice The Hearing Center now offers free community education courses on communication-enhancing skills for those experiencing hearing loss.

"Many patients do not have a great understanding of hearing loss," said Dr. Eric Sandler, director of audiology at The Hearing Center. "Hearing loss affects you in different listening environments, so [we teach] different strategies to compensate for how the hearing loss affects them."

Aural rehabilitation classes cover strategies that enhance communication, including lip-reading and handling stressful listening environments.

According to audiologist Dr. Anne Michele Puglisi, class facilitator and aural rehabilitation specialist with the center, group settings are useful ways to learn how to cope with reduced hearing capabilities.

"The class is a perfect time for [attendees] to share thoughts or to ask questions about hearing loss," Puglisi said. "Classes give patients the opportunity to learn more about strategies they can use to improve communication.

Attendees learn how to use visual cues to improve understanding. We practice techniques using real-life situations and language. We even review technology that can complement their hearing aids in challenging listening environments."

The free aural rehabilitation class begins on Oct. 7 at 1:15 p.m. at The Hearing Center's Manalapan offices, 224 Taylors Mills Road. Additional sessions will take place at the same time and location on October 14th and 21st. Reservations are required and space is limited; call (732) 462-8412 to reserve.

For the full story including more quotes from our staff check out the release here!

And remember to make your reservations if you'd like to attend a class. You can give us a call or reach out via our contact form by clicking here.

Welcome to The Hearing Center, new and improved!

Audiologist celebration To all of our patients, customers and friends, we thank you so much for your support throughout the years! We are very proud of our brand new website which uses the latest in web design technology just as we use the latest in audiology technology. We hope you will enjoy using our streamlined system which is specially designed to be easily accessible on computers, smart phones and tablets.

Keep checking back here for more updates and news from The Hearing Center!

And if you haven't yet, make sure you connect with us on social media:

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