Voices Of Experience Nik Kolev And Petya Koleva
by Joy Thompson
December 18th, 2010 10:40 AM
Two highly-trained, specialized physicians working in the field of hearing loss are helping to create a whole new understanding of hearing impairment and its correction.
When Nik Kolev was a young student, specializing in Neurology in Bulgaria, he was motivated by a desire to understand the workings of the human brain; the causes and cures for neurological health and disease. Through fifteen years of working in Neurology, Nik came to understand that “things are not always as they seem to be”. Often problems associated with the functioning of our minds are actually the result of sensory loss, such as the (surprisingly) common, hearing loss.
Hearing loss is a complicated, mysterious condition. We do know that hearing loss, even a mild loss, stresses the brain’s ability to interpret and understand the environment. Memory patterns are affected if someone is straining to hear, and lost memory is not necessarily the result of the natural decline of aging, but actually can directly stem from the loss of the ability to hear and interpret sound. Lack of correction of an existing hearing loss puts enormous stress on our mental processes, and causes us to experience symptoms that we might wrongly associate with aging, including fatigue, withdrawal, cognitive functioning, and more. Nik’s extensive background in this area makes him an authority and a very sensitive and capable hearing care practitioner.
Petya Koleva was motivated by the desire to understand and to be able to correct malfunctions of the ear through surgery. Petya performed countless surgical operations throughout her fifteen-year medical career, and she is painfully aware of what can and cannot be corrected through surgery. When someone is experiencing hearing loss, it can easily be corrected through a modern hearing instrument which is almost invisible physically, But to our brains, the hearing instrument is anything but invisible, supplying all the important mechanical information the brain needs to keep on functioning well. Both physicians agree that the hearing aid is an ingenious device that, when used well, can keep a person keenly aware and involved. A hearing aid keeps the brain and body younger, and the sooner it is implemented, the better, so that sensory deprivation does not occur.
Petya’s medical background as an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist helps her to understand the complicated mechanics of sound and hearing. Petya explains that sound is mechanical energy which is converted to electrical energy in the ear, which is then interpreted by our brains. Petya stresses how important it is that we stimulate our brains with the full complement of sounds in our outer world. “It is like playing a piano - in order for the piano to function well, and to make real music, all keys must be stimulated on a regular basis. If we are missing sounds, the piano is playing at less than an optimal level and we have a poor tune”.
Nik cautions that after too long, the “piano” cannot be repaired - that is why Grandpa, who had been ‘hard of hearing’ for so many years, always said that his new hearing aid didn’t work. What had actually happened was that he had been too long in silence, and his brain had lost the ability to interpret the sound. “That is why, as soon as a hearing loss is detected, it must be corrected,” says Nik. “Hearing aids today are incredibly sophisticated, and they produce very high quality sound - sounds that the brain remembers and can interpret easily, for optimal functioning and understanding. Our neurons and neural pathways, through the stimulation of high-quality sound, stay keen and perceptive much longer, and we are able to enjoy mental processes that do not have to be lost as we age. “
“When someone has a hearing loss, it is very noticeable to friends and family, perhaps more so to them than the person with the loss. It makes it difficult for loved ones, who become very tired of repeating themselves and straining their voices. It is the responsibility of the person with the hearing loss to see a specialist and then purchase a hearing device that will correct their particular problem. Denial does not solve the problem; it only makes matters worse.”
Correcting a hearing loss in 2008 is much different than 50 years ago ... it’s time to really consider going to one of the two most highly trained experts in the field, to find out whether or not you have any hearing loss, to discuss your options with the experts, and to make an informed, empowered decision. The right way to begin is to call Beltone, at 604 922 6111 in West Vancouver, or 604 988 8013 in North Vancouver and schedule an appointment.
Copyright North Shore Magazine Issue Apr - May 08
When Nik Kolev was a young student, specializing in Neurology in Bulgaria, he was motivated by a desire to understand the workings of the human brain; the causes and cures for neurological health and disease. Through fifteen years of working in Neurology, Nik came to understand that “things are not always as they seem to be”. Often problems associated with the functioning of our minds are actually the result of sensory loss, such as the (surprisingly) common, hearing loss.
Hearing loss is a complicated, mysterious condition. We do know that hearing loss, even a mild loss, stresses the brain’s ability to interpret and understand the environment. Memory patterns are affected if someone is straining to hear, and lost memory is not necessarily the result of the natural decline of aging, but actually can directly stem from the loss of the ability to hear and interpret sound. Lack of correction of an existing hearing loss puts enormous stress on our mental processes, and causes us to experience symptoms that we might wrongly associate with aging, including fatigue, withdrawal, cognitive functioning, and more. Nik’s extensive background in this area makes him an authority and a very sensitive and capable hearing care practitioner.
Petya Koleva was motivated by the desire to understand and to be able to correct malfunctions of the ear through surgery. Petya performed countless surgical operations throughout her fifteen-year medical career, and she is painfully aware of what can and cannot be corrected through surgery. When someone is experiencing hearing loss, it can easily be corrected through a modern hearing instrument which is almost invisible physically, But to our brains, the hearing instrument is anything but invisible, supplying all the important mechanical information the brain needs to keep on functioning well. Both physicians agree that the hearing aid is an ingenious device that, when used well, can keep a person keenly aware and involved. A hearing aid keeps the brain and body younger, and the sooner it is implemented, the better, so that sensory deprivation does not occur.
Petya’s medical background as an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist helps her to understand the complicated mechanics of sound and hearing. Petya explains that sound is mechanical energy which is converted to electrical energy in the ear, which is then interpreted by our brains. Petya stresses how important it is that we stimulate our brains with the full complement of sounds in our outer world. “It is like playing a piano - in order for the piano to function well, and to make real music, all keys must be stimulated on a regular basis. If we are missing sounds, the piano is playing at less than an optimal level and we have a poor tune”.
Nik cautions that after too long, the “piano” cannot be repaired - that is why Grandpa, who had been ‘hard of hearing’ for so many years, always said that his new hearing aid didn’t work. What had actually happened was that he had been too long in silence, and his brain had lost the ability to interpret the sound. “That is why, as soon as a hearing loss is detected, it must be corrected,” says Nik. “Hearing aids today are incredibly sophisticated, and they produce very high quality sound - sounds that the brain remembers and can interpret easily, for optimal functioning and understanding. Our neurons and neural pathways, through the stimulation of high-quality sound, stay keen and perceptive much longer, and we are able to enjoy mental processes that do not have to be lost as we age. “
“When someone has a hearing loss, it is very noticeable to friends and family, perhaps more so to them than the person with the loss. It makes it difficult for loved ones, who become very tired of repeating themselves and straining their voices. It is the responsibility of the person with the hearing loss to see a specialist and then purchase a hearing device that will correct their particular problem. Denial does not solve the problem; it only makes matters worse.”
Correcting a hearing loss in 2008 is much different than 50 years ago ... it’s time to really consider going to one of the two most highly trained experts in the field, to find out whether or not you have any hearing loss, to discuss your options with the experts, and to make an informed, empowered decision. The right way to begin is to call Beltone, at 604 922 6111 in West Vancouver, or 604 988 8013 in North Vancouver and schedule an appointment.
Copyright North Shore Magazine Issue Apr - May 08
