Fact or Fiction – Surplus Ear Wax Leads to Loss Of Hearing

October 12, 2013 By Leave a Comment

What we call ear wax develops because our ear canals are covered with hair follicles and glands that generate an oily wax called cerumen. The reason for this wax is to line the inner surface of the ear canal and protect it by gathering up bacteria, dirt and dust, and miroorganisms. Ear wax also helps to prevent irritation when the sensitive skin of the ear canal is exposed to moisture; Thus, the production of ear wax is both natural and healthy.

In the majority of people, ear wax ultimately makes its way to the outer areas of the ear, where it either falls out or is rinsed away when we clean our ears. However, the glands in certain people’s ears generate more wax than usual. Because of this, the wax builds up and may harden, blocking the ear canal and preventing sound waves from getting to your inner ear. The accumulation of ear wax is one of the most widespread causes of hearing loss, in people of any age.

The signs and symptoms of a blockage caused by excess ear wax include feeling as if your ears are clogged up, hearing a ringing noise (tinnitus), and a partial loss of hearing, which becomes worse over time. This is a type of conductive (as opposed to sensorineural) hearing loss, where the sound waves are blocked from reaching the eardrum. Thankfully, this grounds for hearing loss is easily identified and remedied.

If the signs and symptoms in the list above sound familiar to you, see us in our clinic where any of our team members can perform pain-free assessments to see whether you do indeed have an excess accumulation of ear wax. If it is, an excessive buildup of ear wax is readily treated, either at home or at the clinic.

If a hearing specialist says that you have excess ear wax that is obstructing your ear canal, you can take steps to remove it yourself in your own home. Do not attempt to use a Q-tip, which can cause the ear wax to become even more compacted. Instead, add a few drops of baby oil, glycerin, mineral oil, or commercial ear drops designed for this purpose to each ear, let them remain in the ear for a couple of minutes to loosen up the wax, and then rinse the loosened wax out, using water at body temperature. (Note: using either hot or cold water to flush your ears can lead to feelings of vertigo or dizziness.) Pharmacies sell small bulb-like syringes that can be used to flush the ear after the wax has been loosened, aiding the process. Two more things not to do are to 1) use a jet irrigator like a WaterPik because its spray is too powerful and might cause damage to your eardrums, and 2) use any kind of irrigation at home if you know for sure that you have a punctured eardrum.

If these home remedies don’t seem to clear up the blockage, call or visit us for assistance.

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Linking Foods and Nutrients to Hearing Losses

September 30, 2013 By Leave a Comment

The majority of us have been advised to eat our carrots for excellent eye sight. Chances are that you didn’t hear any similar tips about what foods were good for your ears and hearing. Now we can tell our little ones what to eat for healthy ears and hearing, and also sensible for us to follow our own advice!

Several things may cause hearing impairment, including infections, age and noise. Nutrients that may help prevent certain of hearing loss are contained in the food described below.

Surprisingly, fish like trout or salmon which contains vitamin D and omega 3 fats, has been demonstrated in studies to reduce age-related hearing loss. Other good vitamin D and omega 3 sources are the anchovies on your pizza and the tuna fish probably sitting in your cupboard. For a hearing boost in old age, eat any one of these at least two times per week.

Workers subjected to loud noise at work, for example music artists or heavy equipment operators, are at a elevated risk for ear damage. People with a job or pastime exposing them to intense noise, can help protect their hearing with bananas, potatoes, artichokes, or any other foods abundant in magnesium. Scientific studies have found that foods rich in magnesium help defend against noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). The mechanism for how the magnesium does this is not known, but the end result has been seen in animals and humans.

Noise exposure can provoke the generation of destructive free radicals which are linked to the demise of delicate inner ear hair cells. Reduce free radical damage with folic acid and antioxidants. Common foods that are rich in both folic acid and antioxidants include spinach, eggs, asparagus and nuts.

You’ll be pleased to learn that dark chocolate is beneficial to your hearing health! The zinc contained in dark chocolate aids in preventing zinc deficiencies which are connected to age-related hearing loss. If you don’t enjoy dark chocolate, eat some oysters on the half shell; any foods that contain zinc will work!

Along with encouraging our children to consume carrots for good eye sight, now we can teach them to protect their hearing and minimize possible hearing problems with specific food suggestions.

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On-the-Job Noise-Induced Hearing Impairment: Professions With Greater than Average Risk

August 20, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Could your job be contributing to your hearing impairments? Extreme noise levels are one of the most common causes of hearing damage. Worrying about your ability to hear is a natural response for anyone working at a high-noise profession.Approximately 30 million employees are at risk of hazardous noise exposure on the job according to the Centers for Disease Control.Workers in high-noise job areas must equip themselves with the specifics of occupational hearing safety and keep an open conversation with their companies.

All employees should assess their own work surroundings for high-noise levels, especially anyone in the following jobs.

  • Manufacturing – The largest number of permanent hearing losses suffered in the workplace are in manufacturing. Manufacturing industries routinely expose workers to machinery and equipment which generates upwards of 90 decibels of noise for extended period of time.
  • Construction – Construction workers rank next to the highest for permanent hearing loss disabilities suffered in the workplace. Construction equipment routinely exposes staff to heavy machinery that produces over 90 decibels. A Washington State study of construction workers discovered that in spite of being exposed to noises exceeding 85 decibels during 70 percent of their shifts, construction workers only wore ear protectors 20% of the time (or less).
  • Chemicals Industry – Exposure to certain substances (especially those that contain n-butyl alcohol, toluene, lead and carbon monoxide) has been connected to increased hearing loss by itself. These particular chemicals now known to combine with noise to cause increased hearing loss.
  • Miners – According to the Center for Disease Control, 49 percent of male miners are expected to have a hearing impairment before age 50 – versus 9 percent of the general population – rising to 70% by age 60.
  • Motorcycle Courier – Research into motorcycle noise – with and without helmets – under various driving conditions at speeds between 45 mph to 65 noted that the noise measured ranged from 70 decibels to 128 decibels.
  • DJs and Nightclub Staff – Everyone that works in a nightclub – security, wait staff, bartenders – is at risk, not just the musicians. In a controlled research study, noise levels of up to 108 decibels were recorded in the nightclubs. The average noise level for a typical nightclub outing was 96 decibels which is over the noise level at which the provision of hearing protection is required for employers in industry. The study concluded that Disc Jockeys are at substantial risk of developing noise-induced hearing loss and sound exposure in nightclubs frequently exceeds safe levels.
  • Musicians – Across practices, studio recording and performances, musicians are constantly engulfed in sound. The list of famed music artists with permanent hearing problems or tinnitus keeps growing each and every year. Well known artists on the current list include Ozzy Osbourne, Neil Young, Phil Collins, George Martin, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, and Ludwig van Beethoven.
  • Band & Orchestra – A study on the noise exposures of classical musicians experienced during both performances and rehearsals found that the brass section averaged 95 decibels while the strings and brass section averaged 90 decibels. Top volumes were 130 decibels in the percussion and brass sections. A different Swedish research project showed that 59 out of 139 orchestra musicians had hearing losses greater than that normal for their ages.
  • Airport Staff – The noise of an airplane engine is one of the loudest auditory occupational hazards, with noise levels at a shocking 140 decibels.
  • Firefighters and Paramedics – All those sirens squealing add up over time. Several research studies have examined the frequency of hearing disabilities in firefighters and emergency vehicle drivers with most concluding that firefighters suffer increased hearing loss relative to the general public of the same age.
  • Military – Noise-induced hearing loss is the number one disability among US military personnel. According to the Deafness Research Foundation, over 65 percent of combat troops returning from Afghanistan are afflicted by noise-induced hearing loss.
  • Plumbers – The CDC website states that 48% of plumbers reported that they had a perceived hearing loss.
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How Can Shooters Safeguard Their Ears and Hearing?

July 26, 2013 By Leave a Comment

America’s passion for guns is almost unique in the world; we were raised with movies and TV about police and cowboys and heroes who were all totin’ guns and firing them all the time. The impression from these images was definitely powerful, because America continues to have millions of gun owners who shoot them on a regular basis, at firing ranges or while hunting. The downside not fully conveyed to these millions of gun owners is that the folks firing guns on TV and in motion pictures probably ended up deaf, or battling with serious hearing disabilities.

Hearing loss from noise exposure, named noise-induced hearing loss or NIHL, is among the most widespread types of hearing disability. The damage done to the ears by loud sounds has two primary types – damage caused by sustained high noise levels (e.g. heavy machinery sounds) and damage caused by transient high noise levels (e.g. explosions or gunfire).

Noise levels are measured on the decibel scale. Zero decibels is complete silence. A library is around 40 decibels. A normal conversation measures around 50 to 60 decibels. The logarithmic nature of the decibels scale is tough for many people. A value of 50 is twice as loud as 40, 60 is four times as loud as 40, and 70 is eight times as loud as 40 decibels. Prolonged exposure to sounds over 90 decibels (for example a motorcycle) can cause permanent hearing loss within weeks. Hearing damage can also arise in a much shorter time (minutes) from exposure to higher decibel noise levels, for instance the 120 decibels you experience around close to a jet engine or rock concert.

A typical gunshot measures 140 decibels.

One topic that most gun owners and hearing specialists agree about is that nobody should be firing a gun without using some form of ear protection. Finding the best suited ear protection depends upon the form of shooting you plan to do.

With regard to outdoor or indoor firing ranges, a “muff” type headphone that fits over the ear is recommended. The muff-type headphone has the ability to shield your inner ear and also the cochlear bones from the gunfire sounds. Numerous shooters augment the over-the-ear muffs by also using in-the-ear foam plugs with a NRR (Noise Reduction Rating) of 30 or higher. For even greater protection, go with headphones with electronic noise-cancelling technology. They are the costliest choice, but also provide maximum level of protection. Electronic noise-cancelling headphones have the additional advantage of permitting you to hear normal-volume conversations while blocking out the transient gunshots.

If you like shooting guns, before your next outing to the range, talk to a hearing care specialist about hearing protection. Then stick to the advice they give, while you can still hear them saying it.

Filed Under: Hearing Loss

Are Hearing Impairment and Alzheimer’s Connected?

June 6, 2013 By Leave a Comment

If you have some type of hearing impairment, do you ever find that listening to people speak is work, and that you need to try hard to understand what people say? You are not alone. The feeling that listening and understanding is tiring work is typical among individuals with hearing loss – even those that wear hearing aids.

Unfortunately, the repercussions of this sensation may not be limited to loss of hearing function; it may also be related to declines in cognitive abilities. In the latest studies, researchers have discovered that hearing loss substantially raises your chances of developing Alzheimer’s and dementia.

A 16-year research study of this link from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine included 639 participants between the ages of 36 and 90. The data indicated that 58 study volunteers – 9 percent – had developed dementia and 37 – 6% – had developed Alzheimer’s. The degree of hearing loss was positively correlated with the likelihood of developing either condition. For every ten decibel further hearing loss, the risk of developing dementia increased 20%.

A different 16-year research study with 1,984 participants revealed a similar connection between dementia and hearing loss, but also identified noticeable decline in cognitive function in the hearing-impaired. In comparison to individuals with normal hearing, those with hearing impairment developed memory loss 40 percent faster. A vital, but disconcerting, conclusion in each of the two studies was that the negative cognitive effects were not diminished by using hearing aids. A number of hypotheses have been put forth to explain this apparent relationship between hearing loss and loss of cognitive performance. One of these explanations is related to the question that began this article, about having to work harder to hear; this has been termed cognitive overload. The cognitive overload theory suggests that the hearing-impaired individual expends so much brain energy trying to hear, that the brain is tired and has a diminished capacity to comprehend and absorb verbal information. Maintaining a two-way conversation requires comprehension. A lack of understanding causes conversations to break down and might bring about social isolation. Another idea is that neither hearing loss nor dementia cause the other, but that they’re both linked to an as-yet-undiscovered disease mechanism – possibly vascular, possibly genetic, possibly environmental – that causes both.

Although the person with hearing impairment probably finds these study results dismaying, there is a bright side with valuable lessons to be derived from them.If you wear hearing aids, visit your audiologist regularly to keep them fitted, adjusted, and programmed correctly, so that you are not straining to hear. The less effort used in the mechanics of hearing, the more brain power available for comprehension. Also, if hearing loss is related to dementia, knowing this may bring about interventional techniques that can avert its development.

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How Does the Classification of Hearing Problems Operate?

May 9, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Hearing loss can take many different forms and occur from a number of causes, and to understand them you must understand the way we hear. Along with the eardrum and the ear canal, the outer ear is the portion of the ear on the exterior of the head which collects sounds. The eardrum can also be viewed as part of the middle ear, an area that also includes the 3 tiny bones called ossicles that carry the vibrations of sound and send them to the inner ear. The inner ear has three key parts – the cochlea, the 2 semi-circular canals (important for balance) and the acoustic nerves which send the sound signals to the brain. All of this is incredibly sophisticated and delicate, and a problem in any section can lead to hearing loss. Hearing loss is usually split into four primary classifications.

Conductive hearing loss is due to something hindering the transmission of sound in the outer or middle ear. This form of hearing loss can often be remedied by medication or a surgical procedure; if surgery isn’t a possibility, it can be treated with hearing aids.

Damage to the inner ear, including the cochlea, hair cells lining the inner ear, or the acoustic nerves is called sensorineural hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss can usually not be treated using medication or surgery, but its effects can be minimized using hearing aids to allow the person to hear more normally.

The third classification is mixed hearing loss, which is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, and which can often be treated using the same combinations of surgery, medication, and hearing aids.

Central hearing loss occurs when sound enters the ear normally, but because of damage either to the inner ear (especially to the cochlea) or to the auditory nerves, it cannot be organized in a way that the brain can understand.

Each of these four main classifications contain several sub-categories, such as the degree of hearing loss, which can be mid-level, moderate, severe, or profound. Additional sub-categories include whether the hearing loss occurs in one ear or both ears (unilateral vs. bilateral), whether it occurs at the same degree in both ears (symmetrical vs. asymmetrical), and whether the hearing loss happened before or after the person learned to speak (pre-lingual vs post-lingual). Additional sub-categories of hearing loss includes whether it is progressive vs. sudden, whether the hearing loss is fluctuating vs. stable, and whether the hearing loss was present at birth (congenital) or developed later in life (acquired). If you suffer from any of these forms of hearing loss, our specialists can help to diagnose it and then to treat it most effectively.

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Why Can I Hear Male Voices Clearly but not Women’s Voices?

April 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment

For anyone who is finding it tougher to hear ladies voices or children’s voices than to hear male voices, it may be a sign that you have suffered some degree of high-frequency hearing loss. Children’s and women’s voices have a higher frequency than men’s voices – 165 to 255 Hertz, as opposed to 85 to 180 Hertz for men. On top of that, the volume of women’s and children’s voice are often less audible because they speak more quietly that men. Although you may suspect that you have suffered a high-frequency hearing loss because you are having trouble hearing these voices, the only way to know for certain is to make an appointment for an exam.

If it turns out to be high-frequency hearing loss, you’re not alone; this is the most common form of hearing loss. High-frequency hearing loss can have many causes: genetics, aging, noise-induced hearing loss (exposure to loud sounds), certain diseases, and certain drugs. The good news is that high-frequency hearing loss can generally be counteracted with technology.

One effective option involves the fitting of digital hearing aids, whose sophisticated electronics can be programmed to respond differently to sounds at different frequencies. For a person suffering from high-frequency hearing loss, for example, a technician could program the digital hearing aid to raise the volume of high-pitched sounds, while not raising the volume of low-pitched sounds as much. Another treatment option is the use of open-fit hearing aids, which leave your ear canal open or partially open, so that low-frequency and mid-frequency sounds enter the ear normally, and only the high-frequency sounds are amplified. A third option for very severe cases of high-frequency hearing loss is a cochlear implant. Because they require minor surgery, cochlear implants are a more serious and more expensive option, but they can provide a solution in extreme cases involving industrial deafness or nerve deafness.

But the first step to finding a solution to your hearing problem is to have an examination, and allow our specialists to determine what the nature of it actually is. In some cases, for example, high-frequency hearing loss has been caused by nothing more than a buildup of ear wax, which can be cleared up without the need for any type of hearing aid. So the best “first step” in dealing with your hearing problem is to make an appointment and allow us to determine the real nature of the problem.

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Addressing the Essential Safety Requirements of Loved Ones with Hearing

March 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment

One component of hearing loss which is seldom discussed is the simple decrease in safety of people who have hearing difficulties. For instance, imagine that a fire starts in your house; if you’re like most people you have smoke alarms to sound an alert so that you and your loved ones can evacuate the house before a fire becomes widespread, and thus deadly. But this time imagine further, and ponder what might happen if your smoke alarm goes off at night after you’ve gone to bed, having removed your hearing aid.

The smoke detectors standard in most homes and those required by city or state governments produce a loud warning sound at a frequency between 3,000 and 4,000 Hz. Although most people can hear these tones without difficulty, these frequencies are among those most impacted by age-related hearing loss and other forms of auditory impairment. So even if you were awake, if you’re among the more than eleven million Americans with hearing loss, there is a possibility that you would not hear the alarm.

Fortunately, there are home safety products that are expressly created for the needs of the hearing impaired. For people with mild to moderate hearing loss, there are smoke alarms that emit a 520 Hz square-wave warning tone that they can generally hear. In case you are completely deaf without your hearing aids or when you turn off your cochlear implants (CIs), there are other alarm systems that use a mix of blinking lights, loud alarms, and vibrating units that shake your bed to wake you up. Several of these systems are intended to be integrated into more extensive home security systems to warn you of burglars or neighbors pounding madly on your doors in the case of an emergency.

Many who have hearing aids or who wear CIs have chosen to boost the performance of these devices by installing induction loops in their houses. These systems are in essence long strands of wire placed in a loop around your living room, kitchen, or bedrooms. These can activate the telecoils inside your hearing aid or CI that raise the volume of sound; this can be very helpful during emergency situations.

And of course there is the humble telephone, which all of us tend to ignore until we need one, but which can become critical in any sort of emergency. Fortunately, a number of contemporary mobile and home phones are now telecoil-compatible, to permit their use by individuals wearing hearing aids or cochlear implants. Moreover, there are telephones specifically designed for the hearing impaired which incorporate speakerphones that operate at high volumes, and which may be voice-activated. These phones allow you to voice-dial for assistance in an emergency situation. Other companies produce vibrating bracelets that communicate with your cellphone to wake you up or advise you if you get a call.

Other safety recommendations are less technical and more practical, such as always keeping the telephone numbers of fire departments, ambulance companies, health care providers, and emergency services handy. We are as serious about your basic safety as we are about your hearing, so if we can be of assistance with any further tips or recommendations, feel free to give us a call.

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Detecting Indications of Hearing Loss in a Family Member or Loved One

March 10, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Hearing loss can take many forms, and may occur either suddenly, due to injuries or trauma, or gradually, due to the aging process. Hearing loss may range from mild episodes of not being able to hear conversations correctly to extreme periods of being unable to hear at all, and can be either permanent or temporary. Moreover, a person might suffer a loss of hearing in either a single ear or both ears.

Probably the most commonly noted symptom of hearing loss is progressively becoming unable to hear and comprehend conversations properly. People’s speaking voices might seem to be at low volume or sound muffled . You may be able to hear people speaking, but not be able to differentiate specific words, especially if multiple people are speaking or the conversations are in environments with a lot of background noise.

Other usual signs of hearing loss include having to increase the volume on your television or radio, having a harder time hearing men’s voices than women’s, and not being able to differentiate sounds like ‘s’ and ‘th’ from one another. If you feel pain, tenderness, or itching in your ears, have periods of vertigo or dizziness, or hear a constant buzzing or ringing sound, these symptoms may also be indicators of hearing loss.

Because it generally arises gradually, many people with hearing loss are not aware of it. Or they may recognize it but exhibit “denial behaviors” to try to disguise or conceal their hearing loss from others. Examples of these types of symptoms include asking people to repeat themselves frequently, avoiding discussions and social situations, acting as if you’ve heard stuff that you really didn’t, and feelings of isolation or depression.

If these symptoms sound familiar to you, it is time to make an appointment with one of our hearing specialists. They can give you a hearing test to determine if you have indeed experienced hearing loss, and if so, can help you to do something about it.

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Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans Left with Tinnitus and Hearing Loss by the Millions

February 10, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Veterans – especially those who’ve served in conflict zones – have much higher percentages of hearing loss than the general public. Seeing as 20% of the public in the United States has some level of hearing loss, the rates among veterans are alarmingly high. Hearing loss and tinnitus have become the most common service-related disabilities among troops who served in Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2011, the number of veterans receiving disability benefits as a result of hearing loss or tinnitus (148,000) was more than triple the number of veterans receiving benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder (42,700). The result is a public health problem of the highest order, one that cannot help but get worse in the future, as the noise-induced hearing loss experienced by these soldiers gets worse as a result of normal age-related hearing loss. The tinnitus component is often worse because of the side effects. The constant ringing in the ears is know to lead to headaches, mood changes, anxiety, insomnia, vision changes and depression. On top of that, many veterans have suffered profound levels of hearing loss and deafness. According to Brett Buchanan, a VA-accredited insurance claims agent who has made a study of hearing loss in veterans, “The military, in general, is just a high noise-producing environment.” In the Navy, most sailors work below decks in high-noise environments, filled with “the constant drumming of engines and metal-on-metal noise.” In the Army or Marines, soldiers spend most of their day inside or near noisy vehicles such as tanks or transport carriers. Of course, in a war zone this background noise is often punctuated by the sounds of gunfire and explosions, creating pretty much an ideal environment for creating hearing loss. Many efforts are made to reduce the risk and exposure. The US military provides hearing protection and noise-reducing ear plugs. These safety measures are used consistently in training, but are a secondary concern in actual battle. When faced with bullets flying, IEDs and mortars exploding, the soldier isn’t going to turn back for ear plugs. It is worth noting that a soldier wearing ear plugs may not be able to hear whispered instructions or may miss clues about the enemies whereabouts.

The military is doing what it can to increase the use of hearing protection by providing more sensitive earplugs that block loud noises but allow soldiers to hear even the faintest normal conversations. While better solutions are in the works, the Veteran’s Administration has become the largest buyer of hearing aids in the US. Hearing aids are provided at little or no cost to veterans who need them. If you are (or know) a veteran who has suffered hearing loss, encourage them to get tested. Our expert staff would be happy to determine the extent of the loss, recommend solutions and help you navigate the VA benefits system.

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