Fall River: 508-674-3334  |  Hyannis: 508-862-0255  |  Dartmouth: 508-910-2221

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A Personal Message from Dr. Nancy Duncan, Founder of Duncan Hearing Healthcare

If you have a patient that is experiencing hearing challenges, tinnitus concerns or balance issues, then this page shares the resources and tools that you need to assist them.

However, if you cannot find what you need or if you need any further help, then please know that our team are always here for you at (508) 674-3334

Thank you for all you do.

hearing consultation

Articles: Is Tinnitus A Side Effect Of Covid-19?

Since the pandemic struck back in 2020, you may have noticed an increase in people coming to your clinic with tinnitus-related issues, such as ringing and buzzing in the ears. We certainly have. So, is it a side-effect of COVID-19?

READ ARTICLE

Would You Like to Refer a Patient? Simply Complete This Form

If you have a patient that requires further help, then you can refer them by using this simple form. We’ll be able to help them to explore their insurance benefits and comprehensively test their hearing before sharing our reccomendations with them.

REFER PATIENT

Tinnitus Triage Guidelines

Tinnitus Triage Guidelines Image

Why We Incorporate Cognitive Screenings as Part of Our Audiological Evaluation

Cognition-Hearing Interrelationship

Increasing evidence has linked age-related hearing loss with more rapid progression of cognitive decline and incidental dementia.  Recent literature indicates that individuals with hearing loss have a 55% greater risk of developing dementia as compared to those with normal hearing, and it increases linearly with the severity of hearing loss.  Long-term hearing deprivation of auditory inputs can impact cognitive performance by decreasing the quality of communication, leading to social isolation and depression which may facilitate dementia.  And from the efferent perspective, limited cognitive skills may reduce the cognitive resources available for auditory perception, increasing the effects of hearing loss. 

Auditory Rehabilitation

Cognitive factors such as attention, listening effort, memory, multi-sensory integration and prediction, play a role in helping code sounds more easily, and compensate for poorly resolved bottom up sensory cues that may be due to hearing in noise or hearing loss.  As our patient’s hearing loss progresses and their cognitive ability declines, a stronger onus is placed on our efferent nervous system to help with language understanding. 

This influences the particular hearing devices we fit and how we fit them.  Processing speed, the amount of compression, and other factors that alter the signal become important considerations, especially for our patients with low working memory capacity.  Additionally, when there is a degree of cognitive impairment present, we need to develop aural rehabilitation strategies for the patient and provide support that goes beyond fitting hearing devices.

How We Conduct Cognitive Screenings

For the cognitive portion of our audiological evaluation, we use the Cognivue Thrive device, which is the only computerized cognitive assessment device based on FDA-cleared technology used by neurologists and other physicians for cognitive evaluation.  The Cognivue Thrive device utilizes adaptive psychophysics to eliminate bias and adapt to the patients motor and vision acuity abilities.  It is used for cognition screening and is not a diagnostic tool.  You can learn more about the Cognivue Thrive device at www.cognivue.com/physician.

ear cleaning service

Would You Like to Schedule a Zoom Meeting With Our Team of Experts?

If you would like help with a specific patient or would like us to run a workshop to help you and your staff better understand how we can support patients with tinnitus challenges, sudden hearing loss concerns or any form of hearing help, then we’re here to help. We can schedule a Zoom call at a convenient time around your busy schedule.

Schedule a Zoom Call

Hearing Health Resources

Our Experts Answer The Most Common Questions

What Happens At A Pediatric Hearing Test?

What Happens At A Pediatric Hearing Test?

by

Are you a parent of a child who has difficulty hearing what you say to them? Do they misinterpret what is being said to them? Do they struggle in school, or do their teachers feel they do not follow instructions? Is their language delayed? Maybe your child has failed...

Fall River

508-674-3334

Hyannis

508-862-0255

Dartmouth

508-910-2221

Patient Care Coordinator at a Fast-Growing and Locally Respected Hearing Care Practice

This isn’t just a “job”. It’s an opportunity to be part of a locally respected and passionate group of people that have built a stellar reputation as the most caring, trustworthy, and experienced audiological groups in Fall River, Dartmouth, and Hyannis.

We’re now seeking somebody that wants to join our “family” and shows the same commitment that we show our staff and be part of shaping our future, as a Patient Care Coordinator.

We have 3 positions to fill, 1 full time, 1 part time with the opportunity to grow into a full time role, and 1 part time.

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If you want to know more about who we are and whether our company culture is right for you, before further investing your time in this job advert, then please click here.

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As you’re still reading, you must like what you’ve seen.

The truth is, we’ve developed a very special culture, and we’re absolutely committed to maintaining it. The person that we hire must be a great fit, and we’re prepared to wait until the perfect match comes along.

Although your experience plays a key role in this process, your personality traits and attitude are the number one priority. If this is how your co-workers and friends would describe you, then we may be the ideal match:

  • Always happy, smiles a lot, positive attitude, always a pleasure to be around.
  • Friendly, warm, an extrovert, a people person – this comes across the very first time you meet someone, even on the telephone.
  • Patient, compassionate, helpful especially with older people. Even temperament, calm, always pleasant, unflappable. Has a knack for being able to turn a frown into a smile.
  • Committed, dedicated, a great teammate, pitches in without being asked, puts team accomplishments ahead of individual accomplishments.
  • Accurate, detailed, gets things right, double checks their own work, makes very few mistakes
  • Owns it, credits others for successes, and accepts responsibility for failures. Always finds a constructive way to solve a problem.
  • Coachable, doesn’t get defensive, accepts feedback with a positive attitude. Always looking for ways to grow and improve.
  • Reliable, dependable, doesn’t just arrive on time, but often comes in a little early to make sure they’re prepared for the day; willing to stay late when there’s work that needs to be done.

These statements also describe the people you’ll be working alongside, meaning that you’ll quickly discover that this is much more than a group of co-workers, it feels like a family.

We have spoken about whether you’re the right fit for this role and you’re still reading which indicates that you have the personality traits/attitude that we’re looking for. So, let’s now look at the specific duties of the role.

As a Patient Care Coordinator the right candidate will play a critical role in helping deliver patient success.

You will be playing a critical role in helping patients and being the problem solver that ensures patients remain happy, the audiologists can deliver hearing healthcare, and the business runs seamlessly.

Duties include:

  • Scheduling & confirming patient appointments, check-ups and physician referrals.
  • Ultilize electronic database system
  • Managing phone calls, checking messages, returning missed calls, changing greeting when necessary
  • Checking patients in & out of appointments
  • Working directly with insurance companies to determine patient specific coverage and understanding current HIPAA laws
  • Insurance billing
  • Data entry & record keeping
  • Troubleshooting minor hearing aid issues
  • Collecting and recording payments

If the above sounds like the kind of role that you have been waiting for, at the type of practice that you want to be part of, then here’s what we’re looking for from you.

  • Strong interest in patient care and hearing health
  • Knowledge of Microsoft Office
  • Experience with electronic database systems

You’re still here, so you must like the sound of our company culture, believe you’re the right personality fit for the role, and have the experience/qualifications that we’re looking for.

Finally, let’s discuss the wage and benefits of being part of this journey.

The salary is negotiable based on experience and includes a structured career-journey for growth that can see our experienced members of the team working their way through different wage brackets, as well as benefiting from a high-rewarding commission structure.

Additional benefits include:

  • Life insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Retirement plan

The working schedule is:

  • 8 hour shift for full time employees
  • Day shift
  • Monday to Friday

If you believe that this is the right fit for both you and us, then we would love to talk.

Please send your resume over as well as any additional information that you believe will make you stand out and capture our attention.

We very much look forward to hearing from you.