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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How Do Bugs, Dolphins and Other Species Hear?

February 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Did you know that researchers have yet to find a vertebrate species on Earth that is deaf? That’s unlike a considerable variety of amphibians, fishes, reptiles and mammals that are sightless. However, hearing doesn’t specifically call for ears. Only vertebrates have ears, whereas invertebrates utilize other types of sense organs in order to perceive the vibrations we know as audio waves.

Insects have tiny tympanal organs that can provide them with far more acute hearing than humans; for example, the female cricket fly can pinpoint the exact location of the cricket it parasitizes just by hearing its song. Hair can also be used to detect sounds. In spiders, cockroaches and caterpillars, tiny hair cells play the role of ears. The spiders and cockroaches have the hairs on their legs, while the caterpillar has them along its body. Some animals have two ways of processing sound vibrations. For example, an elephant has extremely large ears, but it also takes in sound information via its feet. Elephant feet are sensitive to the very low frequency calls of other elephants and also the rumble of thunder many miles away.

Sound travels both faster and farther through water than it does through the air, and even though fish don’t have ears, they can effectively detect sounds using lateral lines that run horizontally on the sides of their bodies. A marine mammal, dolphins have no ears, but have eardrums on the outside of their bodies that give them the best sense of hearing among animals, over 14 times better than human hearing.

Not only do many animals have better quality hearing than humans, they can hear more sounds, detecting frequency ranges that are much higher and lower than the range that humans are capable of hearing. Cats are recognized as having the most acute hearing among domesticated animals. They can hear sounds at lower and higher frequencies than humans can. A normal human range is 64 to 23,000 HZ. A normal cat range is 45 to 64,000 HZ. Birds also have acute hearing, especially owls, whose hearing is not only far better than ours, but more precise in its ability to locate the source of the sound. An owl can pinpoint the exact location of a scurrying mouse in less than 0.01 seconds.

Some species, such as bats and dolphins, extend their hearing abilities by using a form of sonar called echolocation, in which they emit ultrasonic chirps or clicks, and then interpret the sound waves as they return from objects the waves strike. Echolocation is extremely precise. It only takes one chirp to determine an objects’ size and location. Dolphins can use echolocation to detect objects the size of a small coin over 70 meters away. And if you want a real display of hearing, bats can not only hear insects flying 30 feet away from them, they can then pursue and catch them in mid-air, all in total darkness.

Looking at the animal world is a great reminder of how vitally important hearing is.

Filed Under: Anatomy and Physiology Tagged With: , , , ,

Hearing Aid Accessories 101

February 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Many hearing aid buyers are curious about add-ons and options, so in this article we provide some of our suggestions. Certain accessories work only with a particular hearing aid model, but these broad recommendations are applicable to nearly every hearing aid user.

First of all, stock up on batteries. These aren’t exactly an accessory, but take any opportunity you can to buy them in bulk or at a discount since you will need them. Expect that disposable batteries will need to be replaced every 5 to 14 days.

A dehumidifier is optional, but a very good idea. The electronics in hearing aids are very susceptible to damage from moisture. To use it, you remove your hearing aids at night before you go to sleep and leave them in the dehumidifier overnight, while you’re not wearing them. Cleaning kits are also a sensible investment, as are ear wax filters to keep ear wax away from the unit, because the cleaner you keep your aids, the longer they’ll provide you with trouble-free service.

There are various Bluetooth extensions for specific hearing aids that will extend their capabilities. Many digital hearing aids support the Bluetooth wireless connection standard, which means that they can be configured to stream sound directly from many mobile phones, audio players such as iPods, and televisions. Having a Bluetooth connection to these devices means that you don’t have to sit near them or turn the sound up to enjoy them.

Another way of doing this if you have an analog hearing aid is to use an FM system, which is basically a remote microphone/transmitter that you can place near the TV or stereo and a remote receiver/amplifier that you place closer to your hearing aid. These low-cost FM systems can be an advantage in noisy environments or those shared with other people; you can hear conversations spoken in a normal tone of voice near you while also hearing music or the TV played from much further away.

There are constantly new hearing aid accessories being introduced. If you have questions about these or any others, just ask. Smart selection of accessories goes a long way toward maintaining and enjoying your aid.

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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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Warning Signs That Your Child May Have Hearing Loss

February 3, 2013 By Leave a Comment

According to data from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), out of every one thousand children in the U.S., 2 to 3 are born deaf or with impaired hearing. Childhood hearing loss may be brought on by developmental irregularities in the ear, by a middle ear infection known as otitis media, by physical injury or loud noises, or by diseases such as meningitis, measles, or chickenpox. Early childhood hearing screenings can reveal whether your child has hearing loss. The sooner the impairment is identified, the more likely the child will follow a normal developmental track.

As a parent, there are many signs of hearing problems that you should be watchful for. When your child is still a baby, such signs include a failure to be startled by loud noises, a failure to turn the head to face you when you call his or her name, being able to hear some sounds and not others, and not turning toward the source of a sound after the age of 6 months.

Children with otitis media may also pull or rub at their ears, become listless or inattentive, have fevers, complain of ear pain, often do not understand instructions, and may ask for the TV to be played louder. Other warning signs are if your child uses the words “huh?” or “what?” many times a day, has difficulty locating the source of sounds, or watches people’s faces carefully as they are speaking. As children get older, even mild hearing loss may cause delays in speech and language development and can lead to learning problems once the child starts school. It may also create emotional or behavioral problems.

These problems are why many states have programs that guarantee early hearing testing in children. The tests are painless, and can be performed even on babies. The sooner any issues are identified, the sooner they can be addressed. That’s why it is “never too soon to get a first hearing test”. We would be happy to arrange for a hearing screening for your child or children, and if any hearing problems are found, we have the expertise and resources to help solve them.

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Tracing the History of Hearing Aid Technology

January 30, 2013 By Leave a Comment

The earliest hearing aid is probably instinctual, cupping one hand behind the ear and using it to capture faint noises and thus hear them more clearly. The first real hearing aids, however, were the long trumpets used by sailors to hear the voices of other sailors calling to them over long distances at sea. Later in the seventeenth century, smaller versions of these ear trumpets had been adapted to help those with hearing loss; they took the same form, that of a cone-shaped device pointed at the source of the sound and inserted into the ear. Around the same time, the Metal Ear was created and sold to individuals with difficulty hearing. The Metal Ear was molded out of metal in the shape of an oversized ear and worn directly over the actual ear. During the nineteenth century the acoustic horn had been invented and was marketed under names like Auricles and Cornets. Although smaller, these devices were still so bulky that they had to be placed on a table or carried in a lady’s purse, using a flexible tube to convey the sound to the ears.

Electric hearing aids came out in 1898 on the heels of the invention of the telephone. They were not too dissimilar from the ear trumpets that preceded them. However they did noticeably expand the range of frequencies that could be amplified. In 1921 the first hearing aid using vacuum tubes was patented, but it wasn’t effectively used until 1934 because of its bulk. To operate, the hearing aid required the vacuum tube, a microphone, an amplifier, a receiver and 2 batteries. When first introduced the batteries only provided for 1 day of use. Innovation in hearing aids stalled at this point for some time. The next round of development was made possible by the invention of the transistor in 1947. Even then it wasn’t until 1952 that a transistor-based hearing aid became practical, because it turns out that transistors were sensitive to dampness. The next round of innovation was fueled by the integrated circuit – first developed in 1958. This technological advancement lasted in the 1970s.

The digital circuit and the microprocessors allowed hearing aids to take a big leap forward. Many new features became possible such as noise and feedback management and directional microphones. Microprocessors also enabled greater audio clarity and miniaturization. Unfortunately, these devices were expensive and had to be hand-crafted, requiring a wait of several weeks before you could obtain one. Digital technology first appeared in commercial hearing aids in 1987. The processor for these hearing aids was quite large and had to be worn on the body while a wire connected the to a receiver in the ear. 1996 saw the release of the first all-digital hearing aids, and that technology has been used ever since, constantly improving to provide features that 17th-century users could never have even dreamed of.

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An Introduction to Hearing in Crowded Rooms

January 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Our patients frequently ask us why they seem to have significantly greater difficulty hearing in busy spaces as compared to other conditions. Person-to-person conversations and even small group conversations don’t cause them any trouble. But in a crowd, such as a noisy party or in large public gatherings, suddenly it becomes difficult to understand what the person speaking to them is saying, or to distinguish the speaker’s voice from the background sounds. The same people that have difficulty with crowds, will often also express that they find it challenging to hear and distinguish certain consonants especially H, F, and S.

If this situation sounds familiar to you, it may be an indication that you have suffered some degree of high-frequency hearing loss. Sound comes in different frequencies, and human speech – especially the consonants mentioned above – tends to fall into the range that scientists define as “high-frequency,” between 3000 and 8000 Hertz. In crowds, there is a mix of frequencies, ranging from the low frequencies of background music or people walking or dancing to the higher frequencies of human speech. Those suffering from high-frequency hearing loss tend to perceive the low-frequency sounds (which in this case qualify as noise) as sounding louder than the high-frequency sounds they are trying to focus on – the voices of people speaking to them.

High-frequency hearing loss is common, afflicting at least 18% of the population. One of the possible causes for this condition is aging, but high-frequency hearing loss has in recent years been increasing in teenagers and younger adults as well, possibly as a result of being exposed to overly loud music, and suffering noise-induced hearing loss. There are other potential causes, including genetic factors, diabetes, exposure to toxic drugs such as chemotherapy agents, and other diseases.

If you have indeed suffered some high-frequency hearing loss, it can be treated. We can prescribe hearing aids that have been adjusted to reduce the volume of low-frequency sounds and boost the volume of the higher frequencies, so that you can hear better in crowds.

Before we get too far into treatment options, it is critical that you have a proper diagnosis. To find out if high-frequency hearing loss is the root cause behind your difficulty hearing in crowds, call and make a first appointment. Our specialists can perform tests to determine whether your problem hearing in crowds is really related to hearing loss, or whether it might arise from other causes.

Filed Under: Hearing Loss Tagged With: , , , ,

A Further Life for Your Old Hearing Aids

January 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Our practice is often asked about how to deal with unwanted, used hearing aids. This question arises more than you may expect for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the old aid belonged to you and you have upgraded to a newer model. Or perhaps it belonged to a family member or friend that no longer needs it.

One choice that does not occur to many people is to hang on to the old one so you can use it as a backup if something happens to your new aid or if it requires servicing.

If it is a newer model and in good working condition, you may be able to sell the used hearing aid on a website such as eBay or Craigslist. Before you do this, make sure it is legal in your area to resell hearing aids; there are many states in which it is not. If you decide to try to sell it, be sure to list in your ad all the relevant information a buyer would want to know: the manufacturer and model number, the unit’s age and condition, warranty type, the type of battery it takes, and your reason for selling it. Also, don’t expect to get nearly as much money as you paid for it; look for ads for similar hearing aids, and keep yours within the same range.

An excellent alternate option is to give your used hearing aid to someone who needs it. There are organizations that specialize in collecting used hearing aids and redistributing them to people who need one, but cannot afford them. In the United States, organizations that specialize in the charity collection and redistribution of hearing aids include the Lions Clubs International, Hear Now, and Sertoma. Worldwide Hearing is an international organization that specializes in distributing used hearing aids in developing countries.

Filed Under: Caring for Your Hearing Aid Tagged With: , , , ,

A Primer on Rechargeable Hearing Aid Batteries

January 9, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Theoretically, re-chargeable batteries for hearing aids are definitely a great idea, but in the past this idea didn’t always succeed in reality. Early rechargeable hearing aid batteries were so large that they could only be used in over-the-ear type aids; they also took hours to recharge and then didn’t hold a charge for very long. Instead of the 12 to 14 hours of use that hearing aid wearers need, these early batteries commonly lasted only 5 to 6 hours.

Numerous technological advancements were needed to make rechargeable batteries a practical option. Batteries became smaller and held a charge longer. And the rechargers themselves were redesigned. Together, these enhancements propelled rechargeable hearing aid batteries so far forward that they are now more eco-friendly and often more cost-efficient than disposable batteries. To emphasize these two qualities, during a 3-year span a binaural (both ears) hearing aid user will go through an average of 300 disposable batteries, which would have to be replaced at a cost of 300 to 400 dollars, and would have to be disposed of. In the same time period, the cost of rechargeable batteries (plus the charger) would be about $100 to $200 dollars.

Other benefits of rechargeable batteries include, interestingly enough, having to open fewer sealed-tightly-in-plastic-to-avoid-easy-access battery packages, which can often be a challenge for those over 70, who just happen to be the primary wearers of hearing aids. With some rechargeable hearing aids, you don’t even need to open them to remove the batteries; simply place the entire aid in a recharging unit over night, and it’s all done for you automatically. There are even portable battery rechargers, the size of a pen, which you can use anywhere because they don’t need to be plugged into a wall socket.

Rechargeable hearing aid batteries may have gotten off to a rocky start, but today that are an excellent viable option. They will help you save money and reduce waste. And, you can always revert to disposable batteries in a pinch. If you don’t have access to your charger, just pop in a few disposable batteries in the meantime.

Filed Under: Caring for Your Hearing Aid Tagged With: , ,

Tinnitus Indications and Warning Signs

December 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Tinnitus is defined by The American Tinnitus Association as the condition in which a person hears sounds that most often no one else can hear. It is a condition that seems to be related to age (most cases appear after the age of 50), and is much more common in men than in women. An estimated 50 million Americans have tinnitus; for some reason more of them in the South than other parts of the country.

Tinnitus can be of different types, and those who experience it may hear very different types of sounds. Subjective tinnitus is the most common, and is defined as the person hearing sounds that no one else can hear; objective tinnitus is much more rare, and is indicated when a doctor or audiologist can also detect these sounds. Other less common types of tinnitus include 1) hearing low-frequency sounds, often mistaken for being actual sounds in the environment, 2) pulsatile tinnitus, in which the person hears rhythmic beats in time with their pulse, and 3) musical hallucinations, or hearing music that is not really present.

The most common symptom of tinnitus is a persistent, almost-always present, high-pitched ringing noise in one or both ears. Though this is the most commonly heard sound others hear buzzing, clicking, whistling, roaring and hissing that can increase and decrease in pitch and volume. If you have mild tinnitus, you might tend to notice it only in quiet environments, because the ambient sounds of noisy environments can mask the buzzing or ringing sounds. Some experience the symptoms of tinnitus more when they are lying down or sitting, as opposed to standing up. Although for most people tinnitus is more a nuisance than anything else, for some it has severe repercussions: they may suffer increased levels of stress, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Some tinnitus sufferers have complained that the condition made it more difficult for them to concentrate or sleep.

Tinnitus can be diagnosed by one of our specialists by performing a short, painless examination. Scheduling an appointment is highly recommended, because sometimes tinnitus can be an indicator of serious disease conditions such as arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, and Meniere’s disease, or indicate more serious forms of hearing loss.

Filed Under: Tinnitus Tagged With: , , , , ,
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