Eagle Has One of Area’s First Otograms

By Stephanie Eddy, The Idaho Statesman, Boise

Mar. 29–One of the area’s first Otograms, a patient-interactive device that tests hearing and functions of the inner ear, made its debut March 14 in Eagle during the opening of Treasure Valley Hearing & Balance at 52 N. Palmetto Ave., Suite 106.

“The Otogram reduces testing time by 75 percent and patients find the automated process to be less stressful, more accurate and easy to use because they can perform the test at their own pace,” said Jacquie Elcox, a board-certified Hearing Instrument Sciences specialist.

The device uses artificial intelligence, touch-screen technology, and proprietary hearing testing equipment that allows patients to self-administer the hearing test, which takes about 20 minutes. A report is then given to the patient or their primary care physician.

“Because the Otogram includes an otoacoustic emissions test, which is not performed in standard manual testing, patients receive a much more thorough hearing test,” said Curtis Whitcomb, director of audiology services for Treasure Valley Hearing & Balance.

“This testing function is critical to the process because we learn a lot about inner ear function, which is where the majority of hearing loss occurs in our patients,” Whitcomb said.

The office is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For information, call 938-3777, or visit the Web site www.treasurevalleyhearing.com.

Boise hotel opens

Cambria Suites Hotel has opened at 2970 W. Elder St. near the Boise Airport.

The 120-room, 78,000-square-foot facility offers guest suites that are 25 percent larger than standard guest rooms. Each room has a separate work and living area with ergonomic chairs and movable desks as well as a DVD/CD player and MediaHub that broadcasts personal media on one of two LCD flat-panel screens. Free high-speed wired and wireless Internet access also is available. Meeting rooms and catering support are available for business and social groups. For reservations, call 877-424-6423, or visit www.cambriasuites.com.

Plaza work begins

Construction on Cottonwood Plaza, a 48,000-square-foot retail center adjacent to the Wal-Mart Supercenter at State Street and Glenwood in Garden City has begun. The plaza consists of two buildings that will accommodate multiple tenants ranging in size from 1,400 to 30,000 square feet. DBSI Development Services is managing the development.

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Copyright (c) 2007, The Idaho Statesman, Boise

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