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- Deficit-Specific Therapy at EAR-Central
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Hearing = Ears + Central Auditory Processing (Brain)
We evaluate & treat the WHOLE system!
Many people who have essentially normal peripheral hearing (i.e., EARS) still have difficulty processing auditory information in ways required for adequate communication,
especially in less-than-ideal listening environments (e.g. background noise). In many cases, they may have a Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD). Dr. Jack Katz, a pioneer in CAPD describes auditory processing as "What we do with what we hear." That means the central auditory nervous system's (CANS) contribution to hearing must be taken into account when a standard hearing test alone fails to explain auditory difficulties experienced by patients--including educational difficulties experienced by school children or patients with history of traumatic brain injury (TBI). CAPD can also run in families.
CALL US TOLL-FREE> 1-877-456-4725!
SPECIALIZING IN NEURO-AUDIOLOGY & AUDITORY PROCESSING DISORDERS
MICHAEL O. WEBB, M.S., CCC-A, FAAA 
(cc) From Dr. T. Balasubramanian M.S. D.L.O. (www.drtbalu.com)
EAR-Central: Retirement (for real) ...A New Season! An Update...
Well, at last update, I spoke about "Retirement (sort of)"--but this update confirms that it's retirement for real. It only took me about 6 months to make that transition, but it is made. Effective 12/31, 2021 I will be retiring from active practice. My Prescott/ Dewey Office (see picture) will be closed and I will not be seeing new patients as a primary practitioner.
I have a mentoring relationship and a potential future agreement with a new CAPD provider who may be opening his CAPD practice in Arizona early next year. If that relationship and possible agreement come to fruition, I may be working alongside of him as he gets his practice off the ground. This relationship will be transitional, and my role will not be central, but supportive and temporary.
I love CAPD practice, and will miss it. (Hence, six months to realize that it really is time!) One high priority I have is to finish my book The Elephant Between our Ears, which has been taking shape for about three years. Unfortunately, writing is very time consuming and I haven't been able to concentrate on it. I feel that this book may1 one of the best ways of helping many people in their pursuit of answers and help with CAPD.
In the short-term, I am still available as an advisor to those in the CAPD process or audiologists searching for a mentor/trainer for upgrading their skills/practice to include CAPD. Due to a number of factors, that will likely only be available for a brief while, since lifestyle changes, family commitments, and travel will make it difficult to continue.
I'm starting to get comfortable--it hasn't been easy!--with the life of an "emeritus" retired guy. I have a greenhouse which needs my attention, and I find gardening very therapeutic! I'm really enjoying fishing, and have acquired a passion for kayak fishing! It is fun, good exercise, and you meet some of the nicest people out on the water! (I even started an obscure little YouTube channel for us more (ahem!) mature kayak fishermen and women to give advice on "tricks and hacks" to make kayak fishing more fun and easier on older bodies. It's called "GeriYAKtricks + Hacks." If you kayak fish or are interested, here's the link.
I have an RV which has a wonderful habit of finding berths closer to our kids and grandkids, which is a special privilege. Being "Tata" and "Dad" is an eternal investment, close to my heart. Writing, both professionally and as a devotional outlet is my passionate avocation. Greater involvement in our faith community is an important call on our lives.
Anyway, I plan to maintain this website as a resource--a road sign--for CAPD seekers...for the near future, anyway. If I can't personally help in a particular case, I'll try to give some "connections."
I'd like to repeat the old Irish blessing: "May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand."
I don't much believe in secular vs. sacred distinctions. All of life is holy, the way can be difficult, and we all need grace, mercy and help in times of need. Finding answers and resources for CAPD help can be daunting. I pray your road will be divinely inspired, "lighted" to meet these needs, for you, your children and significant others.
If you need to make inquiries please email me at mowebb.earc@gmail.com, or call 520-227-4523 (cell).
Family Passages:
- My daughter Rebekah (37), made her big move to "Rainbow Acres"--a Christian community for adults with developmental disabilities located near Camp Verde in northern Arizona. The big day was August 13, 2019. and she was doing very well. We weren't sure if she would feel really homesick and insecure, but she left the nest and prospered! She enjoyed classes, creative activities, outings and developing new friendships. She became an encourager for some of the other "ranchers" and was recently recognized for this strength by leadership. We knew she would be a blessing, as well as being blessed! Covid restrictions changed all that, unfortunately. Since they are regulated as an assistive living facility, the limitations were severe. We didn't get to see Bekah for 9 months, she missed Thanksgiving and Christmas with family. The experience became very confining. After much prayer, Bekah has moved back home, found a good job, and is enjoying the freedoms she missed. At some point, she may again need a facility like Rainbow Acres. The RA staff assure us that she will be welcomed back if, and when, that time should occur. We are so thankful for their unique ministry to adults with disability. Their website at https://www.rainbowacres.com/.
Due to a significant shortage of CAPD-qualified audiologists, and after requests from audiologists (and related specialists like SLPs) for help in this area of practice, EAR-Central, PLLC now offers various forms and levels of CAPD practice and procedures training for those wishing to expand their expertise into this promising, yet und
erserved sub-specialty.
One of Mike Webb's specialty areas is the fitting of Personal Hearing Devices (Hearing Aids) for Management of CAPD. (More info here.) His forty-plus years of hearing aid experience (with ten-plus in fitting CAPD patients) makes him a great resource for training in this specialty field.
Services range from email or phone consults, to online training, to on-site training. We also offer 1-3 day training courses for groups or individuals who desire that in a particular locality. Click here for a closer look. We welcome any questions you may have about availability, costs, or other specifics.
In this turbulent and disruptive season of audiology practice, the return to our habilitative and diagnostic roots--separate from, but including the use amplification devices--will mark the future and expand the value of the audiological specialist who assesses and treats the WHOLE system, not just the peripheral. And as more CAPD diagnoses impact the caseloads of related specialists, we can help de-mystify how to move forward cooperatively to help our mutual patients. We welcome your interest and inquiries.
Email: mowebb.earc@gmail.com. Call: 877-456-4725 (toll-free).
We received a very kind letter of recommendation from Dr. Jack Katz!
February 7, 2016
I am pleased to recommend my friend and colleague Michael O. Webb, M.S. CCC-A and his wife Mrs. Shelley Webb in their Neuro-Audiology and Auditory Processing Services. Michael Webb has extensive background in these two areas of Audiology and Shelley Webb’s training and experience are in reading. In addition, I have worked closely with the Webbs in the effective use of my tests and therapy materials.
For me what makes the Webbs so wonderful to work with is their intelligence, integrity and concern for those with whom they work. For these reasons I recommend them to you without qualification.
Sincerely,
Jack Katz
P.S. Mr. Webb did not request this letter of recommendation. Rather I asked if he would like me to write a letter of recommendation for his website.
Book Coming in 2021!
A Challenging and Informative Look at CAPD--Diagnosis, Treatment, and Why it gets Overlooked. By our CAPD Specialist, Michael Webb!
The Elephant Between Our Ears (Some Assembly Required):
A Proactive Guide to Diagnosing and Managing Auditory Processing Disorders (APD)
Dear Parent...Why I'm not "Dr. Webb."
I recently wrote a letter to the mom of one of my patients, explaining why my title is not "Dr. Webb" and why I usually tell people, "Just call me Mike." Having different degrees within the same profession can be a little confusing. I included it on my "Our Specialist" page (in the right-hand sidebar). Click here to read it.
Interactive Metronome® (IM) has been widely used as a treatment tool among speech/language professionals and occupational and physical therapists for a number of years. It is frequently sought out by athletes to improve certain performance skills. Peripherally, it has been recommended in the treatment of clinical manifestations of auditory processing disorders (CAPD), but not utilized very often.
What is IM? It is a training system which assesses and treats the neurological functions related to TIMING and RHYTHM and COORDINATION. What does that have to do with CAPD? Speech and language usage operates in multiple dimensions: frequency (pitch), intensity (loudness), and TIMING (duration). The timing aspect is called TEMPORAL PROCESSING. Though this is grossly over-simplified, it is not overstated to say that TIMING, and it's correlate, RHYTHM are critical in our communication skills and processing speed. There are also links to attention and self-regulation.
Recent research at Northwestern has shown that persons with deficient ability to maintain good timing/rhythm frequently have corresponding delays in speech, language, and reading abilities. IM assesses a patient's efficiency in timing and rhythm. Based on these baseline measurements, a treatment plan which trains these modalities is undertaken, frequently resulting in significant improvements in disorder areas affecting speech, language, motor skills, attention, self-regulation, auditory and cognitive processing. IM is also known to be a helpful adjunct to other traditional therapies, often accelerating and improving their outcomes. While no therapy guarantees can be made, the outcomes are typically very beneficial.
IM assessments and therapies are generally done in the clinic. In cases where prolonged therapy plans or more severe dysfunction is present, a home version, IM-Home, is available. IM Home permits less travel, office time, and more frequent, intensive therapy opportunities. Frequent and intense neurological stimulation is a critical component to successful therapy outcomes via neuroplasticity--the brain's ability to "rewire" itself through targeted activities.