Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center (RWBAHC) has a new audiologist on staff and officially opened its Audiology Clinic with full services on Feb. 22, which has resulted in enhanced audiology services.
Heather John joined the RWBAHC team in late January and brings 20 years of experience in the audiology field covering hospitals, hearing aids and surgical clinics.
Prior to this, a Fort Bliss audiologist provided services at RWBAHC for one week every two months.
Now with John on board, the Audiology Clinic provides the full range of services associated with hearing and the ear. The clinic includes services for patients with auditory processing disorders, hearing aid fittings, tinnitus evaluation and treatment, hearing conservation, and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) evaluations.
In addition to these services, the clinic offers all the latest modern technology.
"We have the best and latest technology available to all service members, including direct streaming of iPhones," John said.
According to John, they have hearing aids with Bluetooth compatibility that talk straight to an iPhone or an iPad.
She said having a full time audiologist on staff will especially help the readiness of the active duty service members.
"The arrival of audiology enhances readiness and deployability," John said. John especially wants to see any active-duty military with hearing loss, brain injury and ringing in the ears.
Active-duty military and dependents over the age of 8 years old are eligible to see her for hearing aid fittings. For retirees, the clinic can test hearing, but no hearing aid fittings will be available until later this year.
John has a bachelor's degree from Portland State University and a master's degree in Speech and Hearing Science from the University of Arizona. She has also completed training with the Mayo Clinic and the Veteran's Health Administration.
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