How LACE AI Pro Complements Your Hearing Aids

We have exciting news to share with our Evanston Audiology community! We're now a certified LACE AI Pro provider, bringing this innovative auditory training program to our patients in Evanston and the North Shore area.

If you wear hearing aids but still struggle to catch every word at a busy dinner or during family gatherings at the lakefront, you're not alone. Many of our patients tell us that even with top-quality devices, hearing in complex environments remains challenging. That's because complete hearing solutions require both technology (hearing aids) and brain training.

If you're not ready for hearing aids but struggle in complex environments you can act now to train your brain.

The Hearing Process: More Than Just Your Ears

When someone speaks to you, sound waves travel through the air and into your ear canal. These waves cause your eardrum to vibrate, which moves tiny bones in your middle ear. These bones transfer the vibrations to your inner ear, where thousands of tiny hair cells convert them into electrical signals. Only then do these signals travel to your brain, where they're interpreted as meaningful sound.

This complex journey explains why hearing isn't just about making sounds louder. It's about capturing sound waves, converting them properly, and—most importantly—having your brain recognize and interpret them correctly. Just like reading involves both seeing letters and understanding their meaning, hearing involves both detecting sounds and comprehending them.

The Limitations of Hearing Aids

Modern hearing aids are technological marvels. They can amplify specific frequencies based on your hearing loss, reduce background noise, enhance speech signals, and even connect wirelessly to your phone or TV. For many people, they provide life-changing improvements in hearing ability.

But even the most advanced hearing aids have limitations. They can't restore neural pathways that have weakened from years of hearing loss. They can't teach your brain how to filter out competing voices at a crowded restaurant. And they can't rebuild the cognitive processing skills needed to follow fast-paced conversations.

Many of our Evanston patients describe an adjustment period after getting new hearing aids. They can hear more sounds, but understanding speech—especially in challenging environments—remains difficult. This is completely normal and happens because their brain needs time and practice to relearn how to process these newly available sounds.

The Brain's Role in Hearing

Your brain plays a crucial role in the hearing process. It doesn't just receive signals from your ears—it actively filters, organizes, and interprets them. It separates speech from background noise, fills in missing words based on context, and connects sounds to meaning.

When hearing loss goes untreated for years, the neural pathways responsible for sound processing can weaken from lack of use. It's similar to how a muscle atrophies when not used. Even after hearing aids restore access to sounds, these pathways need rebuilding.

Think of it this way: if hearing loss has kept sound from reaching your brain for years, those listening "muscles" have weakened from lack of use. Your hearing aids are like glasses that help you see the gym equipment, but LACE AI Pro is the personal trainer that helps you rebuild strength and skill. Both are needed for best results.

What is LACE AI Pro?

LACE (Listening and Communication Enhancement) AI Pro is an advanced auditory training program designed specifically to exercise and strengthen your brain's hearing-related cognitive skills. It's like physical therapy for your brain's auditory processing systems.

The program offers interactive exercises that simulate real-world listening situations you encounter daily. These exercises target specific challenges like:

• Understanding speech in background noise (like at Bennison's Bakery on a busy Saturday)
• Comprehending rapid speech (like announcements at the Davis Street Metra station)
• Following conversations with competing speakers (like at a family dinner at Prairie Moon)
• Improving working memory for conversation (holding information while processing new input)
• Filling in missed words using context (a crucial skill when you don't catch every word)

Unlike simple listening practice, LACE AI Pro adapts to your performance level, gradually increasing difficulty as you improve. This progressive approach ensures you're always working at the optimal level for your abilities.

The science behind LACE AI Pro is substantial, with more than 80 peer-reviewed studies validating its effectiveness. Developed at the University of California San Francisco by leading audiologists Dr. Robert Sweetow and Dr. Jennifer Henderson Sabes, the program has been enhancing hearing outcomes for over 20 years.

How LACE AI Pro and Hearing Aids Work Together

Your hearing aids and LACE AI Pro complement each other perfectly in your hearing health journey:

• Hearing aids handle the physical part: they amplify sounds, make speech clearer, and help sounds reach your brain.
• LACE AI Pro handles the cognitive part: it trains your brain to better process and understand those sounds once they arrive.

This dual approach creates a comprehensive hearing solution that neither component could achieve alone. It's similar to how treating diabetes often requires both medication and lifestyle changes—each addressing different aspects of the same condition.

Dr. Dunckley orients each patient to the LACE training and then monitors your progress over time.

Real Benefits Our Patients Experience

The effectiveness of LACE AI Pro is evident in the real-world improvements users report after completing the program. Many become more focused and alert during conversations, applying the communication strategies they've practiced.

Users commonly report significant improvements in comprehension, especially in environments with competing noise. For some, the difference is so substantial they compare it to their first experience with hearing aids—a true breakthrough moment in their hearing journey.

Social confidence also typically increases, with many LACE AI Pro users no longer avoiding social gatherings or public spaces that previously caused anxiety. Audiologists frequently observe measurable improvements in background noise tests during follow-up appointments.

Beyond these immediate benefits, research suggests potential long-term cognitive advantages. Studies show that untreated hearing loss is associated with cognitive decline, possibly because the brain diverts resources from other cognitive tasks to focus on understanding speech. By improving your ability to understand speech with less effort, auditory training may help reduce this cognitive load.

In fact, research indicates that 25 dB of hearing loss (considered mild) is equivalent to 7 years of cognitive aging. By addressing both the physical and cognitive aspects of hearing through hearing aids and auditory training, you're taking a comprehensive approach to your hearing health that may benefit your brain in multiple ways.

What to Expect from LACE AI Training

The LACE AI Pro program is designed to be user-friendly and fit into your daily routine. Here's what to expect:

• Time commitment: 20-30 minutes per day, 5 days per week, for about 4 weeks
• Format: Interactive exercises that adapt to your performance level
• Access: Use it on your computer, tablet, or smartphone at home
• Progress tracking: The program monitors your improvement over time
• Support: Our team at Evanston Audiology will help you get started and answer questions throughout your training

We incorporate LACE AI Pro into your overall hearing care plan. Typically, we'll introduce it after you've had some time to adjust to your hearing aids, usually 2-4 weeks after fitting. This timing allows you to become comfortable with your devices before adding the training component.

As for improvements, most users notice changes within 2-3 weeks of consistent practice. You'll likely notice better comprehension in challenging environments first, such as restaurants or family gatherings. By the end of the program, you should experience noticeable improvements in your overall listening abilities and confidence.

Questions Our Evanston Patients Ask About LACE AI Pro:

'Is it difficult to use if I'm not tech-savvy?'
Not at all—we set everything up for you and show you exactly how to use it. Many of our clients in their 80s and 90s use LACE AI Pro without any technical difficulties.

'How long before I notice improvements?'
Most people notice changes within 2-3 weeks of consistent practice, especially in challenging environments like downtown restaurants or family gatherings.

'Can I do this training if I don't have hearing aids?'
Yes, LACE AI Pro can benefit anyone with hearing difficulties, with or without hearing aids. However, the combination of hearing aids and auditory training typically produces the best results.

'Will I need to repeat the training in the future?'
Many patients find benefit from occasional "refresher" sessions. We can discuss whether periodic training would be helpful for your specific situation.

Next Steps

Ready to get more from your hearing aids with LACE AI Pro? Here's how to get started:

1. Schedule a consultation: Call us at 847-869-9433 or stop by our office at 1811 Benson Ave to discuss whether LACE AI Pro is right for you.
2. Assessment: We'll evaluate your current hearing abilities and challenges to create a personalized plan.
3. Setup: We'll help you set up the program and walk you through the first session so you feel comfortable using it at home.
4. Follow-up: We'll schedule check-ins to monitor your progress and make any necessary adjustments to your hearing aids based on your improved listening skills.

Our office is conveniently located at the corner of Clark and Benson, with free parking in back. We're open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday (9am-5pm), Friday (9am-3pm), and select Saturdays (9am-12:30pm). Coffee shops and lunch spots are just steps away—many patients combine their appointments with a nice morning out in Downtown Evanston.

Learn more about LACE Today

Hearing is a complex process that involves both your ears and your brain working together. At Evanston Audiology, we're committed to providing comprehensive hearing care that addresses all aspects of hearing health.

By combining advanced hearing aid technology with evidence-based auditory training through LACE AI Pro, we can help you achieve better hearing outcomes than either approach alone could provide. Dr. Kate brings her research expertise and clinical experience to create personalized hearing solutions for each patient.

We invite you to learn more about how LACE AI Pro can complement your hearing aids and help you rediscover the joy of clear communication. Your brain and ears are waiting to work together—let's help them become the perfect team.

Contact Evanston Audiology today to take the next step in your hearing journey. We'd love to show you how LACE AI Pro can help you hear better with the brain you already have.