photos by: JODIE BRIM CREATIVE
Seeing the world clearly and hearing those beautiful voices around you is a blessing not to be taken for granted!
With compassion and care for their patients, Dr. Anna Nichols, owner of Nichols Hearing & Audiology, and Dr. Susanna Ringeman, owner of Forsyth Eye Health & Surgery, promote how vital hearing and sight are to overall health.
An important twosome of every human’s five senses, sight and hearing allow us to stay connected to loved ones and remain active as we age – lessening the risk of cognitive decline. Clear vision very literally keeps us safely moving about while sharp hearing encourages better communication within every relationship we have. Never underestimate the power of regular check-ups and the importance of preventative care!
Dr. Nichols and Dr. Ringeman have found their practices have a lot of overlap due to their elderly patient population. “Our patients often have their vision restored through cataract surgery and then closely follow by addressing their hearing or vice versa,” says Dr. Ringeman. “Dr. Anna Nichols and I often collaborate on ideas for running a small business including marketing, staffing and figuring out Mom logistics, too!”
“As working moms, we constantly try to balance the responsibilities of taking care of patients but also taking care of our families,” shares Dr. Nichols. “It truly takes a village, and it’s important to ask for help!” Dr. Nichols loves her bond with Dr. Ringeman, as they are both able to make their patients’ lives better. “I can immediately impact someone’s quality of life by improving their hearing,” she explains. “And Dr. Ringeman is able to quickly restore vision following cataract surgery. Both of these can make a significant improvement on one’s day to day life. Both agree one of the greatest benefits of small, women-owned medical practices is that you’re getting focused – and most importantly – compassionate care.
Having opened Forsyth Eye Health and Surgery in 2019, Dr. Ringeman says being in private practice makes it easy to really get to know her patients over time. She offers medical and surgical care for a range of eye conditions including cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, dry eye/blepharitis, thyroid eye disease and diabetic eye disease. Dr. Carol Ziel also works in her office one day a week as a glaucoma specialist and medical ophthalmologist.
“Good vision helps maintain independence as we age,” explains Dr. Ringeman. “It also helps reduce the risk of falls and other resulting co-morbidities and can lower a need for hospitalization. Optimal vision also makes it easier to remain active and involved in hobbies and group activities which helps reduce the chance of developing depression and dementia.”
Anna Nichols opened her Winston-Salem practice, Nichols Hearing & Audiology, in 2021 and will be the first to tell you she truly loves what she does.
Her practice tagline – Hear Well, Live Well – couldn’t be more accurate! Dr. Nichols stresses to patients that caring for your hearing is not only a personal gesture, but something you do for the important people in your life, as well. Struggling with uneasy communication in day-to-day activities at home as well as in social situations can result in strained relationships. If you find yourself constantly translating for a partner in group settings, frustration and resentment are sure to follow.
All appointments with the Nichols Hearing & Audiology team take place in their soothing office environment with fully private rooms. Patients visit the listening lab to see the most up-to-date hearing technology available and are involved in choosing what’s right for them. The majority of patients use hearing aids that connect to smartphones through Bluetooth technology – convenient for users of any age.
Dr. Nichols shares that she’s seeing younger patients with hearing difficulties which means that establishing a baseline reading at an initial consultation can be crucial, no matter your age. The Nichols team gathers your personal case history and obtains a visualization of your external ear canal with a hearing test in the practice’s modern sound booth – the first step to hearing all of your amazing life!
Forsyth Eye Health & Surgery is located at 2827 Lyndhurst Avenue, Suite 204 in Winston-Salem, 336.842.5477. Visit them online at forsytheyehealth.com for more information on their services or to schedule your first consultation. You can also follow them on Facebook at Forsyth Eye Health and Surgery and on Instagram @forsytheyehealthandsurgery. Nichols Hearing & Audiology is located at 3640 Westgate Center Circle, Suite B, in Winston-Salem, 336.842.3437. Visit the practice online at HearWellLiveWellNC.com, follow them on Facebook at Nichols Hearing & Audiology and on Instagram @nicholshearingandaudiology.
SUGGESTED TESTING
- Baseline hearing exam at age 50; sooner if there’s a family history of hearing loss or exposure to high noise levels.
- Baseline dilated eye exam at age 40-45; sooner if there’s a family history of glaucoma, macular degeneration or retinal detachment.
