Eyeing whole health

From his center on County Line Road, Dr. Keith B. Stolte, M.D., F.A.C.S., makes sure his patients understand the importance of whole health.

The Stolte Eye and Hearing Center focuses on treating the patient from a holistic approach.

Stolte elaborated on the relationship between a healthy body and good vision.

"The eye receives the most blood flow of any organ in the body," Stolte explained. "All the vitamins and nutrients needed for eye and brain function require a physician to treat the whole body rather than just the condition."

Stolte has performed more than 20,000 cataract surgeries and 1,800 LASIK procedures on patients of all ages. His eye center treats conditions including glaucoma, corneal disease, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and cataracts.

Stolte also practices rejuvenative medicine, cosmetic treatments and the science of hormonal balancing, and is currently pursuing his Fellowship and Master Program in Functional Medicine at the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) to gain greater expertise with hormonal imbalance, metabolic function and proactive, patient-centered healthcare as a way to prevent disease.

The A4M is dedicated to the advancement of technology to detect, prevent and treat aging related disease, promote research into methods to retard and optimize the human aging process, and educate on biomedical sciences, breaking technologies and anti-aging issues.

Stolte said patients suffering from hormonal imbalances associated with menopause or aging can benefit from customized treatment plans that restore hormonal balance, eliminate or reduce menopausal symptoms, boost energy and help the body maintain peak performance.

The center also offers hearing evaluations and high-tech hearing aids.

Recent health fair focused on holistic healthIn an effort to increase community awareness, the Stolte center recently held a health fair that highlighted several aspects of holistic health.

Jennifer Rickert, office manager said, "Dr. Stolte wanted to host the health fair to give back to the community and to offer some free services to people who may not otherwise be able to get them."

The event included free glucose and blood pressure tests, eye screenings, hearing evaluations, vitamin samples, skin cancer screenings, and scoliosis checks.

Participants included Dr. Marc Polecritti, D.O., of the Julian Institute of Plastic Surgery (www.julianplasticsurgery.com); Terlep Chiropractic (www.drterlep.com); Advanced Rehabilitation Technologies pain management equipment (www.artrehab.com); Pinnacle Home Care, highlighting their low vision rehabilitation program (www.pinnaclehomecare.net); and Essence of Aromas by Mandy Borkowski (www.essenceofaromas.com).

Representatives from Jordan and Safilo displayed the latest in trendy frame fashions from designers that included GUCCI, Saks Fifth Avenue, Chesterfield, Georgio Armani and more.

Representatives from Brooksville and Spring Hill Regional Hospitals' new Enrichment Centers handed out calendars crammed with daily activities for residents of all ages and abilities. For more information can be found by calling 352-544-6022 or online at www.SpringHillRegional.net, www.BrooksvilleRegional.net, or www.SeniorExtra.com.

Hearing evaluations and treatmentHarry Arnett, a board-certified hearing aid specialist (BC-HAS) with Stolte Hearing Center, sat down to talk about hearing evaluations and to highlight some of the latest in hearing assistance technology.

Arnett said the first step is to have a complete, thorough hearing evaluation. A patient is tested for frequency loss and word discrimination in communication.

Next, the extent of loss is determined and lifestyle is discussed. The technician recommends a hearing instrument that would best fit both the patient's hearing loss and lifestyle.

"If you're sedentary you won't need too many bells and whistles," Arnett explained. "But nowadays, there's an onslaught of people in their 40s and 50s with hearing loss. One in 10 individuals will have some level of loss. In the next five years they're predicting it will be one in five."

The Baby Boomers are seeing the results of years of loud rock music, medications, our environment and other factors which contribute to hearing loss, Arnett added.

Job environment plays a major role in hearing health. Arnett gave examples, such as people who work at an airport or as a truck driver that are constantly exposed to noise. Even school children at recess will eventually damage a teacher's hearing, as will policemen using guns or directing traffic, those working in underground transportation, etc. A lot of World War II and Vietnam veterans also suffered acoustic trauma from grenades, guns and bombs.

"It's very important to tell our children not to play their iPods at full blast, and to avoid loud noise," he added. "Unfortunately we're a product of our environment. When you walk out the door there's so much noise. We all have to be constantly vigilant about protecting our hearing."

Arnett reiterated that a lot of medications contribute to hearing loss.

He has seen amazing developments in hearing technology, adding that manufacturers in this growing industry are overcoming style issues by making designs more fashionable, producing hearing instruments in many bright colors.

He said research and development is one of the most important aspects of success for manufacturers. "They're constantly finding new little 'fluffs' to promote the hearing industry," Arnett stated.

"Advancements in the last five years have been phenomenal," he said. "The quality, the size of the instruments (hearing aids), and the improved comfort and clarity are truly enhancing the lives of those with hearing impairments."

"The newer technology allows hearing aids to automatically adjust to your environment, by dispelling background noise, raising the higher front end sounds. You don't have to adjust the volume control. They're smaller, with an open fit."

Arnett pointed to several samples on his display table, explaining how today's hearing assist devices no longer occlude (plug up) the ear.

"They're smaller and more comfortable," he said. "Many are now water resistant, too. If you forget and wear it into the shower it will be okay. One of the biggest concerns in Florida is actually sweating, so a waterproof hearing instrument is a great advantage."

Arnett explained that all hearing aids use batteries. Some are rechargeable, although the most popular brands that Stolte sells use replaceable batteries. While some can hold an initial charge for 12 to 18 hours, they can still die out when you're away from home, which can be frustrating.

He talked about the difference between "hearing" and "understanding." "People can often hear but not understand," he said. "The ability to have clarity and comprehension in communication is critical. As hearing fades, it can become muffled and sounds become garbled."

Arnett feels very strongly he has a mission and a responsibility to help people hear better. "I truly am concerned about the quality of life of my patients," he said. "You need to have genuine compassion. I want to help them. It comes back twofold when you do. It's my job to try harder."

Arnett said although they can dispense any brand available on the market, Stolte primarily dispenses Starkey hearing assist devices because of their quality, service and the company's reputation. "They're one of the largest hearing aid manufacturer's in the world," Arnett said, "and the company's owner spends a lot of time in third world countries giving hearing aids to those in need."

Academy Award-winning deaf actress Marlee Matlin recently raised $1 million for the Starkey Hearing Foundation on Donald Trump's reality T.V. show, "The Apprentice."

Unfortunately, Arnett said very few insurance companies pay anything toward hearing aids. While there are outlets galore touting hearing aid offers, he recommends using a medical environment such as what Stolte has established. "Being evaluated and treated under a medical umbrella, in my opinion, is the best way to buy medical equipment," he concluded.

Stolte offers "CareCredit" medical credit financing, which can be used to pay for many types of medical expenses including hearing devices.

Stolte said using highly advanced technology is an important asset in obtaining the most accurate diagnoses and offering the most appropriate patient treatments.

The eye center utilizes a 3-D Wavefront Analyser that Stolte said offers "spectacular precision in evaluating and identifying the root cause of patients' complaints, that might ordinarily go undiagnosed."

Stolte said this state-of-the-art instrument was designed after the Hubble space telescope and has dramatically enhanced his evaluative capabilities.

The facility includes eight exam/treatment rooms, an operating room and optical shop that carries designer frames such as GUCCI, Dolce & Gabbana, Guess, Marc Jacobs and Candies. The center has a second waiting room for patients requiring softer lighting after pre or post examination eye drops, which leave eyes sensitive to light.

More information is available on their new website at www.stolteeyecenter.com or by calling them at 352-666-9990.