Dr. Julie Eschenbrenner: She “Hears” Her Patients

Have you ever felt like your doctor was too busy to really listen to you?
Dr. Julie Eschenbrenner knows that to fully understand a patient’s needs,
especially the needs of an audiology patient, she has to slow down, focus on the patient, and listen carefully.
Dr. Julie goes above and beyond to enhance the patient experience at the Flatirons Audiology office located in Lafayette.
When you walk into her office, you are greeted by the patient care coordinator, Peggy Jensen, who immediately asks,
“Would you like a cookie?” Yes, a fresh-baked chocolate chip cookie, set alongside the Keurig of your choice: coffee, tea, or cider.
Then, you notice the magnets and postcards on the wall, which have come from patients, eager to share travel experiences
with Dr. Julie and her staff. I thought to myself, “This goes beyond just sharing pictures.
Their patients are obviously appreciative and genuinely like coming here.”
Dr. Julie will tell you that the best way to treat a patient is to get to know her, so you can create the best treatment plan for her.
Treatments at Flatirons Audiology are not “one-size-fits-all.” Dr. Julie has the expertise and the experience needed—she has been evaluating, diagnosing,
and treating tinnitus and hearing loss since 2007. Tinnitus and hearing loss are not visible,
so she can’t depend on just a physical examination to get the information she needs.
Understanding a patient’s needs leads Dr. Julie to ask questions like, “What is your life like? How is tinnitus or hearing loss affecting your life, your work,
or even your family’s life?
What might we need to do differently, just for this particular patient?
What is the best way to manage her tinnitus or hearing loss?”
Dr. Julie understands that what a patient does all day long matters when you’re deciding on the right treatment to fit her needs.
This may include fitting the patient with a hearing aid.
Only a handful of audiologists in the Denver area specialize in the evaluation and treatment of people with tinnitus. Dr. Julie is one of these audiologists.
According to the American Tinnitus Association, tinnitus is “the perception of sound in one or both ears or in the head when no external sound is present.
” It’s often described as “ringing” in the ears. There are many causes of tinnitus and, therefore, many ways to manage it.
The Better Hearing Institute (BHI) tells us how common hearing loss is:
“More than 48 million American citizens have some extent of hearing deficit. The consequences are much greater than just annoyance and frustration.”
Hearing loss is often associated with aging, and Dr. Julie notes that “33 percent of adults between the ages of 65 and 75 have some degree of hearing loss.”
However, she says, “65 percent of people with hearing loss are below retirement age.” Since opening her doors in 2007, Dr. Julie has treated patients of all ages,
from four years to 101 years!
May is Better Hearing and Speech Month. According to Dr. Julie, only 16 percent of physicians routinely screen for hearing loss. Dr. Julie encourages people to get their
hearing checked on a regular basis. She asks, “you get your eyes checked, you get your teeth checked, why not get your ears checked?” To raise awareness of new
treatment options for hearing loss, Dr. Julie is offering a hearing aid “test drive” May 4–8. You are encouraged to try the newest hearing aid technology
by taking it home and using it during that time period, at no cost or obligation, to see how it might help your hearing. Registration is required and limited;
please call 303-664-9111to sign up.
Dr. Julie goes above and beyond meeting the needs of audiology patients. She and Peggy recently went on a medical mission to Belize, helping individuals who
had no previous access to hearing aids and other treatment. She also offers a free quarterly newsletter (“Flatirons Audio Scoop”) on her website, to provide
information on hearing loss, tinnitus, new treatments, local educational opportunities, and more. The spring 2015 issue includes an important column
entitled “8 Reasons Why Untreated Hearing Loss is More Dangerous Than You Think!” Check out the newsletter at www.flatironsaudiology.com.
Flatirons Audiology is located at 300 Exempla Circle, Suite 365, in Lafayette, Colorado. For more information, you can find them online
atwww.flatironsaudiology.com, on the phone at 303-664-9111, or on Facebook under the name Flatirons Audiology.