Photos by Libby Rogers
Dr. Cahill specializes in the vestibular system, the part of the ear that helps us remain upright. She reaches behind her for a visual aid and unfolds a diagram of the entire inner ear. She specializes in dizziness, treating patients with dizziness and imbalance problems by correcting the issue in office or referring them to another doctor based on what treatment is needed. Dr. Cahill will see anywhere from 5 to 12 patients in a day, most of them having dizziness issues and some seen for follow-up care.
When I ask Christie what sets their practice apart, her answer had no hesitation, “Service, service, service. We are very passionate about taking care of our patients. When a patient comes in, we make them feel at home, and we go out of our way to help them to the best of our ability.
There are times I give patients my cell phone number and tell them to call me if they have any issues or questions. The other day, I came up to the office on a Sunday morning to print something. A patient saw that I was at the office, and she came by real quick to ask me to clean her hearing aid because it wasn’t functioning for her. Little things like that show our patients that we are accessible and here for them.”
Aside from their mission to care for their own patients, the practice is also involved in the community. The good nature of this office reaches beyond its walls to better the people of this town, specifically those who require these services. Christie has been a Cub Scout leader, a youth leader in her church, and is also involved in Rotary Club. The office pays visits to Carriage Inn the last Friday of every month and Creekside assisted living the first Friday of every month. At both facilities, they donate their time to do hearing screenings for those who need it.
The biggest part of what they do on these service trips is take care of everyone in the facility, whether they are their patient or not. The team will go in and clean hearing aids, make sure they are working properly, change batteries, and fill those needs to improve the hearing of everyone who needs it. “Hearing aids aren’t like glasses. They need constant upkeep, constant parts changed; they’re little computers. These small electronic parts can break or get plugged up with wax, so we go in and clean them, and those people are back to hearing again like they did when they were brand new,” she explains.
Service-wise, they see a variety of ages and patients: newborns who failed their newborn hearing screening, ages 3+ for hearing tests, kids with fluid behind the eardrum due to an infection, and (of course) adults. They prescribe hearing aids and do all of the upkeep. Christie likes to see her patients at least every four months to make sure the devices are functioning properly, and this service is available for the lifespan of the equipment.
Lastly, I ask Dr. Cahill what is special about her practice. “I have an amazing staff. They are trained to take care of the patients, so even if I’m not available, they are here to help. They get tons and tons of positive reviews from our patients, and I don’t think you could find a staff in the medical field that treats people better. We will bend over backwards. If we don’t have space for a patient and they need to be seen, I will use my lunch hour, or we will squeeze them in somewhere.” Accessibility makes all the difference in the medical world, and solely from my encounter with this staff, I would steer my loved ones through their front doors if any hearing issues ever arise. You are greeted warmly upon entering, and the genuineness is easy to sense. After meeting with Christie and her staff, I feel confident that you could trust the Family Hearing & Sensory Neural Center to take care of you and your family.
1911 22nd Street
Huntsville, TX 77340
(936) 291-2414
familyhearingcenter.com