Colleen Keith

Dr. Karen Kallio

Dr. Karen Kallio, Au.D. CCC-A
Dr. Karen Kallio joined the practice in February 2005 after the making the long move from South Padre Island, Texas. She received her bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University and her master’s degree from the University of New Mexico. She received her audiology doctorate, the highest university award given, thru the school of allied health sciences at the University of Phoenix. Karen is a member of the American Speech Language and Hearing Association and holds a Michigan hearing aid license. She has been providing clinical audiology services and hearing aid services since 1999.

Starkey Hearing Loss Simulator
Try out Starkey's hearing loss simulator to better understand what your family member, friend or colleague may be experiencing. This simulator enables you to listen to common sounds in a variety of environments, first with normal hearing and then with simulated levels of hearing loss.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Audiology Services
Our Audiologists provides diagnostic hearing tests with our state of the art sound booth and the latest computer technology. The Audiologists are both licensed hearing aid dealers and offers a wide selection of hearing aids with competitive pricing. If you have questions or would like to set up an appointment, please call our office at 231.487.3050.

Four Styles of Hearing Aids Currently Available
Three types are worn in the ear: Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC), In-the-Canal (ITC), and In-the-Ear (ITE); and Behind-the-Ear (BTE).

In CIC, ITC and ITE hearing aids, the receiver, microphone and amplifier are contained in a shell which is worn in the ear. Completely-in-the Canal aids are the newest and smallest model available. They fit deep inside your ear canal so that they're practically invisible. In-the-Canal aids are small enough to fit almost entirely in your ear canal, making them hardly noticeable. In-the-Ear aids fit within your outer ear and are the most widely recommended hearing aid style.

We offer a wide selection of these custom-made hearing aids, including a variety of sizes and circuit options.

Advantages of CIC, ITC and ITE aids:
•Inconspicuous and comfortable: invisible to hardly visible when worn, ideal for use during sports activities, exercise and at work.
•Good directional hearing

Advantages of a BTE aid:
•Versatile: a wide range of applications ranging from mild to severe hearing loss
•Easy to handle: easy battery replacement, easy to use and wear
•Very comfortable to wear
•Fits securely behind the ear
•Good directional hearing
•In BTE hearing aids, the receiver, microphone and amplifier are contained in a unit which is worn behind the ear. The sound is carried from the receiver (loudspeaker) via the ear hook and a flexible plastic tube, to the ear mold that is worn in the ear canal.

We offer a comprehensive range of BTE hearing aids in a variety of circuit options. Our wide selection of amplifier types and parameters allows us to optimally meet your amplification needs.

Fully digital hearing aids
In a digital hearing aid, the analog signal is converted to a digital signal. The conversion to digital format allows the signal processor to modify the signal in very sophisticated ways. Once the digital signal has been modified by the digital signal processor it is converted back to an analog format and transmitted to the ear as sound.

The digitization process makes it possible to analyze and filter the signal to improve speech perception in noisy environments. The incoming signal is measured, or "sampled," at certain intervals. The more frequently the signal is sampled, the better the reproduction of the input signal.

Increasingly complex sound processing, such as speech recognition technology, requires digital signal processing. This technology actually recognizes the unique patterns of speech and reduces the volume of frequencies where no speech is detected. When the competing signal is continuous noise, such as fans or car noise, the noise reduction algorithms become an important part of the signal processing that improves understanding.

Fittings & Ear molds
Since the various different systems produce different hearing impressions, it is important for you to make a comparison yourself. For this purpose we will produce custom-made ear molds based on the exact contours of your ears. We can then ensure that your hearing aid fits perfectly.

To determine the optimum settings for your hearing aids, we use your audiogram, as well as your personal impression of how well you can hear. This adjustment process is carried out using a computer. Once we teach you how to operate them and instruct you on batteries, you should wear your new hearing aids for a few days in your regular surroundings.

Based upon what you tell us about how well you can hear in your everyday surroundings, we will make any necessary final adjustments to your hearing aids.