This Pitt alumna uses the latest technology to help patients manage hearing loss

Audiologist Jennifer Raneri (SHRS ’07G, ’08G) is making sure that the level of hearing care available in many big cities is available to people in rural Eastern Pennsylvania.

“Hearing is a way to connect people to the world around them, to develop relationships, to strengthen relationships and to make them more impactful,” Raneri, a doctor at Norriton Hearing in Montgomery County, said of his mission to help people deal with hearing problems. loss.

“When people are hard of hearing, they can feel cut off. That ease of communication can be something that those of us with common sense take for granted. But technology can greatly improve the quality of life. ”

Raneri’s expertise spans two decades and focuses on comprehensive hearing testing and incorporating assistive listening technologies such as the latest hearing aids. These devices can assist people in intimate conversations and have features that improve sound quality and comfort. Raneri’s specialty is cochlear implants, which are taken from patients when hearing aids are no longer sufficient.

Cochlear implants can restore total hearing loss. They use a microphone, speech processor, transmitter and receiver, and electrode array to avoid damaged parts of the ear and directly stimulate the auditory nerve so that users can recognize speech or sounds. While one part of the implant sits behind the wearer’s ear, the other part is placed under the skin.

“During the tuning process, we enter a large number of parameters into the sound machine and check how much stimulation we need to deliver to each implanted electrode to help the receiver hear. It’s a 100% individual process,” Raneri said.

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It was at Pitt that he first refined what is now his three-part diagnostic system for patients, which includes an examination of the outer ear and eardrum (otoscopy), a test that examines the eardrum. and the bones in the middle ear that allow sound. walking to be in good condition (tympanometry), and an examination of the inner ear to determine if the hair cells are working properly (otoacoustic emission).

“We’re testing all frequencies, from low bass to high treble tones. It’s basically like turning up the volume control knob to see how loud the patient perceives for every wave.”

Only after these steps does he perform more traditional hearing tests, such as raising his hand when crying. He also evaluates the ability of patients to understand speech – for example, to distinguish between knowing the person who is speaking and understanding the words spoken – to recognize how it works in their environment.

Understanding a person’s lifestyle and unique listening needs is key to finding the right solution. Individuals have approached Raneri for different reasons: to hear their family members better or because of problems at work or being interrupted by an active life in society. Others simply want to avoid being kidnapped by a pet.

“What is important to one person is not important to another,” said Raneri. “Everyone has certain sounds in their environment that are important to them, so taking the time to get to know your patients and their lifestyle can help on the journey to better hearing.”

Long-term hearing health requires first understanding what causes hearing loss. While many people consider aging to be the main cause, Raneri said important factors to consider, regardless of age, include genetics, how well we take care of our ears, exposure to noise and other medicines. He advised approaching the prevention of hearing loss in the same way one would diet or exercise.

“I try to emphasize this to patients: the sooner you treat, the better the results. Research has shown a strong relationship between cognitive function and hearing loss, so you have to stimulate the brain. It’s like other muscles of the body. If you don’t use them, you will start to lose them it.”

Providing care in rural Pennsylvania

Raneri’s journey to learning about hearing began during her high school years in Havertown, Pennsylvania, where various volunteer opportunities introduced her to physical, occupational, visual and speech therapies.

“From these experiences, I knew I wanted to work in health,” said Raneri, praising Havertown as the best in the world because of its proximity to Philadelphia and beauty of the cities. “I would recommend it to anyone going into high school: If you want to do something, get out there and watch an expert at work during the day; see how the patients are.”

When he was ready to earn his master’s and doctorate degrees, Pitt was Raneri’s No. 1 choice.

He said: “I visited many schools at home and abroad, but Pittsburgh is a medical city. “The hospitals and professors were very dedicated to our education and we were there for seven days a week. I think there is a better place where I can be trained.”

Despite the appeal of city conditions, Raneri was always determined to take his talents home. While his position has allowed Raneri to visit interesting places and introduce him to clients in the industry such as actors and musicians, he also says that working in a rural area of ​​the country gives more patients access to care. .

That includes patients like Jamie Komancheck, a PGA of America golf professional at a club near Philadelphia, who has worn a hearing aid since he was 6. When he needed a new one, he visited many before he made the Norriton decision.

Komancheck said: “I couldn’t be happier with the decision I made.” “Everyone there has shown me the utmost respect as a patient and as a person. Nothing I asked for regarding my needs in a new hearing aid was overwhelming. They made me feel completely comfortable getting the right hearing aid. They truly care about their patients, and that’s what will keep me coming back.”

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Raneri