Posted by HearingAids on October 31, 2011 under Hearing Loss | 
Ever wonder what exactly makes your ears hear the sounds around you? There is a simple answer to that question and it is hair. There are tiny hairs that are inside your ear. These hairs pick up the sound waves around you, changing them into signals that are sent through your nerves to relay the data to your brain, allowing it to interpret the sound.
Losing these hairs means losing your hearing. When these hair cells get damaged and are unable to re-grow due to age or other issues, your hearing loss can become permanent.
There are other reasons that hearing loss can occur. It is not just the concerts, not just the damaging of the hair, but health reasons. These health reasons can actually be large factors in hearing loss.
Back in 2001 the Population Health program faculty at Wisconsin University produced a study called “The Association between cardiovascular disease and cochlear function in older adults.” In this study they found that individuals who exercised at least once a week saw a 32 percent reduction in the risk of suffering from hearing loss compared to those who did not exercise.
In creating this study Wisconsin University discovered that hearing loss was appearing in nearly 80% of those who may have suffered from a heart attack.
But that is not the only reason people have hearing loss. Other reasons include your family history, repeated exposure to loud noises (i.e. stock car racing, concerts and construction equipment) and smoking.
Since hearing loss can be related to health issues, it’s important to know these health issues and be prepared for them. Health related hearing loss issues include:
Blood
- Slow or poor blood flow to the ear
- High blood pressure
- Those with Sickle Cell Disease could also experience sensorineural hearing loss or deafness but in most cases hearing has returned.
Diabetes
- Recently the National Institutes of Health funded a study where it was discovered that hearing loss is nearly two times as common in the adults tested with diabetes than those who do not have it.
- Screenings for diabetes typically do not include hearing tests. If you have diabetes you should have your audiologist do a screening to see if you are having any kind of hearing loss.
- According to the study, the reason that hearing loss can occur with diabetes is found by the damaging of the nerves and blood vessels of the inner ear.
Meningitis
- It has been found that bacterial or fungal meningitis attacks, covering the brain and spinal cord, have caused high loss of hearing. It’s recommended you get tested once you’ve entered into the recovery period.
Ototoxic Drugs
- Any ototoxic drug has the potential of causing temporary or permanent hearing loss in individuals.
- There are approximately 200 or more over the counter drugs that are ototoxic. Check with your doctor if you are taking any of these and seem to be experiencing hearing loss.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
- Evidence of this link comes from many sources, including a recent study that was published in the Archives of Neurology. This study showed that older adults who are developing dementia with some form of hearing loss, actually have the chance of the hearing loss to become more severe as they go along.
- According to this study, for every 10 decibels of hearing loss, the extra risk of developing Alzheimer’s increased by nearly 20%.
Arthritis
- Arthritis and vasculitis are associated with some hearing loss. Conditions include rheumatoid, lupus erythematous and many others.
Kidney Disease
- The inner ear and the kidney are both very similar. Both can be irritated by some medications.
- In some cases, if something is bothering the kidneys it can also bother the ear at the same time, causing some hearing loss
Cancer
- Cancer in the ear or head will cause hearing loss
- Chemotherapy and radiation could also cause hearing loss. If you are receiving or planning to receive chemo, check with your audiologist before, during and after your treatment.
Tinnitus
- You will commonly hear a ringing noise with Tinnitus. This is one of the few that can be treated.
Meniere’s Disease
- Meniere’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear. The cause is still unknown. It typically affects individuals between the ages of 20 and 50 years old. One of the most common side effects is dizziness, resulting from the inner ear. Usually only one ear is involved, but in some cases both ears could be effected. If you are experiencing this, it is highly recommended that you visit a physician for a balance test known as videonystagmograph.
In all cases, contact your local audiologist to get your hearing tested.
Sources: Better Hearing Institute, Allegiance Health, betterhearing.org, medlineplus.com and hearflorida.com
Posted by HearingAids on May 13, 2011 under Hearing Loss |
A Customer Service Highlight
By: Suzanne Younker
Occasionally, our patient’s get “robbed” of their amplification benefits due to unexplained, unidentified, chronic malfunction problems that go unresolved. The symptoms of the malfunction cleverly disguise themselves as a component issue, when, in fact, it usually is something entirely different. Some detective work is required to prevent these cases from ending up cold.
Case Study: Patient has severe hearing loss and is a long-time user of monaural In the canal hearing aid. He purchased one in October 2009. In September 2010, one year after favorable results, patient complained that the “volume goes up/down by itself…” There were no leads on the reason for the malfunction; could not be duplicated in the office. From September – November, several “stings” were pursued to replace components, remake with different length canal, and re-plate entirely; the culprit was untraceable. Subsequently, patient became extremely frustrated and requested justice or a refund.
C Interview with Professional on Program Settings: Kneepoints are 69-75dB, dual compression, 16dB VC range, minimum S/N reduction
C Interview with Patient on Specifics of Crime: “I always turn the wheel all the way up and then back down a little to hear well, however, with radio and TV, voices are good, then, volume goes up and go down for seconds and sometimes minutes and I miss the words…Very frustrating!”
C Interview with Siemens Audiologist: Possible issues are battery surges due to high-VC drainage, if need more gain, recommend change receiver to make it “hot” with max gain/output, turn off the input compression, change the VC range to 8dB, make a music program his primary program
Upon reviewing all of the evidence and interviews, the professional pursued the recommendation to change the VC range to 8dB and to change input compression to “off”. Outcome? The programming changes eliminated the “malfunction” and patient is, once again, a content citizen. It seems that with patient’s high volume need and wheel setting, the TV/Radio voices were being compressed causing the softening of the voices. The evidence from the detective work led to the culprit’s arrest. CASE SOLVED!
Posted by HearUSA on January 12, 2011 under Hearing Aids, Hearing Loss |
1. Modern technology brings us hearing aids that are smaller, smarter and more effective than ever
before – and a lot less noticeable than untreated hearing loss!
2. Hearing aid technology today has exceptional digital performance and is designed in many discrete and comfortable styles.
3. Advanced digital hearing aids provide fine tuning to match your degree of hearing loss and preferences.
4. Some hearing aids are equipped with several levels of programming, (memories or programs) which have different settings for diverse listening situations, such as telephone or restaurant.
5. Some hearing aids automatically store data regarding which setting you prefer in certain situations, and will automatically switch to the desired setting for each situation.
6. Hearing aids are available with and without manual volume controls and most people prefer the ability to adjust the sound level.
7. Hearing aids with built-in telephone coils reduce external sounds and allow you to hear more clearly when using a phone.
8. For improved sound clarity and understanding, Bluetooth functionality allows you to connect wirelessly with cell phones, televisions, iPods, iPads and other electronic devices.
9. Age old-complaints, such as whistling (feedback), echoes, and background noise are dramatically minimized and clarity is much improved with today’s advanced technology.
10.The most modern hearing aid is only as effective as the clinician who matches the technology features to your needs, and produces a meaningful and measurable benefit… your provider is at least as important as the product.
HEARING AIDS – EXPECTATIONS AND HOW TO ACHIEVE THEM
When properly fitted, hearing aids can vastly improve the quality of life for 95% of people with hearing loss. Your provider is your partner in the process of what, for many, is the equivalent of learning to hear again. The key to success is to establish realistic goals and to work with your hearing care provider to achieve them.
Posted by HearUSA on December 6, 2010 under Hearing Loss |
Suggestions for making holiday meals and celebrations more comfortable and enjoyable for people with hearing loss and for those around them.
• Speak clearly, distinctly, and not too fast. Never shout.
• If you must repeat something, try not to appear frustrated or annoyed.
• If your comment or question is still not being understood, re-word it. Some words are easier to understand than others.
• In a group situation, try to include that person in the conversation.
• Look directly at the person when speaking and place yourself no more than five feet apart.
• Your facial expressions, gestures, and overall body language are important aids in communicating; make sure you have the listener’s attention and that the room is well lit.
• Conversation is greatly enhanced when there is no distracting background noise, for example, from a radio or TV.
• When dining out, choose a quiet restaurant. Noisy conversations or the clatter of dishes and tableware are barriers to effective understanding.
• Conversation is much easier in a room with carpeting and upholstered furniture than in a room with tiled floors, high ceilings or wooden furniture.
Ever wonder what exactly makes your ears hear the sounds around you? There is a simple answer to that question and it is hair. There are tiny hairs that are inside your ear. These hairs pick up the sound waves around you, changing them into signals that are sent through your nerves to relay the data to your brain, allowing it to interpret the sound.
