By Lori Steindorf
photos by Sarah Griffin

Life is full of sounds, laughter, a baby’s cry, birds, our children’s first words, planes, sirens, tears and music. What happens when you can’t hear life; when the music is too soft; when you are constantly asking everyone around you to repeat themselves; when you can’t hear your grandchildren’s laughter; when you find yourself trying to turn up the volume or even worse when your world falls silent?
According to New Braunfels-based audiologist Soriya Estes, AuD, who has a mega-watt smile and gentle, approachable disposition, a popular misconception exists that only seniors experience hearing loss. “An estimated 32 million people in the United States have hearing loss, and half of them are under 65 years old. Noise-induced hearing loss is definitely a factor. Other causes of hearing loss may stem from conditions associated with middle ear pathology, such as poor Eustachian tube function, impacted earwax, infection in the ear canal, presence of a foreign body in the ear or absence or malformation of the outer ear, ear canal or middle ear,” Estes said. According to a recent ground-breaking report released by the Ear Foundation and Clarity, half of the nearly 76 million baby boomers in the United States are experiencing some degree of hearing loss.
Ray Wylie Hubbard, a local icon, is a musician, singer and songwriter in every sense of the word. His life is music. In Ray Wylie Hubbard’s case, exposure to loud music and concerts caused a gradual decrease in hearing sensitivity.
Colin Mrazek is a normal nine-year-old boy except for the fact that he wears blue and white ear molds. His hearing deficit is from middle ear deformities and, in time, may be surgically corrected.
Even a very slight hearing loss can have an impact on your daily life,” said Estes. “Hearing loss is treatable, and there is no reason for anyone to miss all the important sounds of life.”
May is Better Hearing and Speech Month. Estes, whose Estes Audiology Hearing Center is located at 1528 Common Street, Suite 5, is committed to raising awareness about hearing loss.
Estes describes her business as unique because it doesn’t take the one-size-fits-all approach to helping people with hearing loss. “The business is thriving because it couples a professional and educated staff with the latest in hearing technology,” Estes said. “We are a very unique audiology practice because of the fact that audiology and hearing healthcare is our one and only focus. With that, we can devise very customized individual patient plans for each person’s specific needs,” she said.
Fritz Welsch, an active New Braunfels resident, is a Chamber of Commerce Blue Coat, past Wurstfest Grosse Opa, and Wurstfest Committee Past President has been wearing hearing aids for ten years. Mr. Welsch commented, “The solutions to hearing loss provided at Estes Audiology are exceptional. I joke around with the audiologists that my number 3 program is my favorite (The mute button)”.
On any given day, Estes can fit anyone ranging in age from 9 months old to over 90 years old with specialized hearing devices tailored to meet their individual needs.
Ray Wylie Hubbard has been successfully fitted with Audeo personal communication devices. Hubbard said, “They gave me back a world of sound. I am truly hearing life again and it sounds great!”
For Colin, hearing aids are the best method of treatment, allowing Colin to successfully communicate at school, home and with his friends. “Estes Audiology has done so much for Colin to keeps his aids working and to be an advocate with the school,” expressed Brenda Mrazek, Colin’s mom.
“We provide all hearing services, diagnostic testing and counseling for pediatrics (to) adults up through geriatrics. We look to provide hearing solutions for protection all the way through amplification, depending on what each patient needs.” Estes and Andrea Nava, AuD, also have the capability of teaching people with hearing loss how to concentrate on hearing all sounds.
People suffering from any symptoms of hearing loss are advised to see an audiologist quickly for a hearing test, says Nava who has been in practice with Estes for two years. Nava received her Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders and her Doctorate of Audiology from The University of Texas at Austin. She encourages people of all ages to assess their hearing by using the following check list. Do you:
• frequently ask people to repeat themselves?
• often turn your ear toward a sound to hear it better?
• understand people better when you wear your glasses or look directly at their faces?
• lose your place in group conversations?
• keep the volume on your radio or television at a level that others say is too loud?
• have pain or ringing in your ears?

“I am very happy about the services provided by Estes Audiology, especially the dedicated and caring concern of Andrea Nava. She tested and fitted my ear for the perfect hearing device,” said Carl Spriegel, pilot in both military and the private sector.
Retired Col. Talmadge (T.D.) Thomas, USAF, has been wearing hearing aids for over 25 years as a result of gradual hearing loss. “I have been greatly pleased by the superb services I have received from Estes Audiology,” Col. Talmadge stated, “My hearing impairment emanates from the effects of gunfire and other extreme noise damage during my military service. In my case, the Veteran’s Administration forwarded my case file to Estes Audiology. Soriya Estes and her staff at Estes Audiology have always acted in a highly professional manner with courtesy and kindness. I strongly recommend.”
Estes received her Master of Arts in Audiology from The University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Science from Oklahoma State University. She is licensed with the State of Texas in audiology and belongs to the American Academy of Audiology, Texas Academy of Audiology and Academy of Dispensing Audiology.
Estes says what makes her life’s work most gratifying is that she can help people re-gain those precious moments in life that have escaped them for far too long, such as hearing the waves crash against the seashore, hearing the crack of a baseball bat or hearing a baby’s laugh.
“What motivates us is seeing the sounds of life brought back to people who have been missing out on family, activities and grandchildren. What really motivates us is to get them back to hearing life again,” Estes said.