Ear Center: News and Information for Patients
WHAT'S NEW - Website Updates !!
This is where we will announce the most recent additions to our web site.
If you've visited us before and want to know what has changed, please read the items listed below.
Hearing Aid Demo Days
The Kraus K-Helix Prostheses are granted a U.S. Utility Patent #8,057,542
The Kraus K-Helix Prostheses (K-Helix Crown and K-Helix Piston) have been granted a U.S. utility patent. The patent was published by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office on November 1, 2011. Click below to review the patent.
U.S. Patent #8,057,542 B2. Ossicular Prosthesis Having Helical Coil.
Date of patent = November 15, 2011. Int. Cl. A6IF 2/18, H04R 25/00, U.S. Cl. 623/10; 600/25. Field of Classification Search 623/10; 600/39, 25.
New Hearing Aids from Phonak, Oticon, and Widex!
Check out the latest digital hearing aid technology from Phonak (the Phonak M H20 and Naida S CRT), Oticon (Intiga),, and Widex (Clear 440)!
New Neptune Waterproof Cochlear Implant Sound Processor!
Advanced Bionics Corporation has developed the first waterproof cochlear implant sound processor called the Neptune. The Neptune may be worn during swimming, bathing, etc. Click here for more information about the Neptune.
Au.D.'s at The Ear Center!!
Congratulations to our audiologists, Amy Myers, Au.D. and Stephanie Nance, Au.D. upon completion of their Au.D. degrees. Everyone at The Ear Center is very proud of their many accomplishments! Most importantly, they will be providing our patients with even more expert audiologic care.
Family Resource Guide for Hearing Loss!
Amy Myers, Au.D., our head audiologist, has written a comprehensive information guide for parents of children who have been recently diagnosed as having hearing loss. The Family Resource Guide is comprehensive and contains many links for services that are available in North Carolina. The information is available for download and printing as a .pdf file.
New Sound Booth for Testing Hearing!
We have completed installation of a new IAC sound booth with VRA capability. The new sound booth will permit us to significantly enhance the efficiency of our hearing testing, especially for children.
Special Battery Offer!
If you refer a patient to our office who purchases a hearing aid, you will receive 12 packs of free batteries for your hearing aid in appreciation for your referral.
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (ca-MRSA) infection
Learn about MRSA & ca-MRSA infections and how you can help to protect you and your family.
Medication Instructions Prior to Your Operation
Many patients have questions about:
- whether they should stop taking some of their medications prior to having an operation
- which medications to take early in the morning of the day of their operation.
We have added a new section to help answer your questions on how to best manage your current medications both prior to and on the day of your operation. Click here.
New! - BAHA Sound Processor - the programmable BP110 Power
Review the latest information concerning the new BAHA processor, the BP-110 Power. It is programmable! Click here.
New! - BAHA 3 Series Abutment
View the new profile BIA300 Series Abutment. Click here.
Recalled - Nucleus 5 Cochlear Implant from Cochlear Americas
Cochlear Americas announced in early October 2011 that its Nucleus 5 cochlear implant has been voluntarily recalled. The Nucleus 5 (CI512) has experienced a recent increase in failure due to an internal moisture problem causing one of its four diodes to fail. We are now implanting the Nucleus Freedom (CI24RE) implant. The Nucleus Freedom has not experienced the same failure mode as the Nucleus 5 in any of the 62,000 registered implants around the world. The Nucleus Freedom implant will be used with the new Nucleus 5 CP810 Sound Processor. Click here.
Released - Advanced Bionics Cochlear Implant
Advanced Bionics has released its cochlear implant for implantation in the United States after a technical recall.
Care Credit
The Ear Center is now offering a third party payment plan option through "Care Credit". For more information concerning Care Credit or to apply on-line, visit the Care Credit Web site.
Last revised February 26, 2012