The Surprising Statistics Behind Occupational Hearing Loss

July 16, 2015 By Leave a Comment

It’s popular to think of hearing loss as an unavoidable problem connected with aging, or, more recently, as a consequence of the younger generation’s frequent use of iPods. But the numbers reveal that the greater problem may be direct exposure to loud noise at work.

In the United States, 22 million workers are exposed to potentially harmful noise, and a projected 242 million dollars is paid yearly on worker’s compensation claims for hearing loss, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

What’s more is that higher rates of hearing loss are found in increasingly noisier professions, showing that being exposed to sounds over a certain level progressively raises your risk for developing noise-induced hearing loss later in your life.

How loud is too loud?

A study performed by Audicus found that, of those who were not subjected to work-related noise levels over 90 decibels, only 9 percent suffered from noise-induced hearing loss at age 50. In comparison, construction workers, who are constantly subjected to sound levels as high as 120 decibels, experienced noise-induced hearing loss at the age of 50 at a rate of 60 percent!

It seems that 85-90 decibels is the ceiling for safe sound volumes, but that’s not the whole story: the decibel scale is logarithmic, not linear. That means that as you increase the decibel level by 3 decibels, the sound level roughly doubles. So 160 decibels is not two times as loud as 80—it’s about 26 times louder!

Here’s how it breaks down: a decibel level of 0 is barely noticeable, normal conversation is about 60 decibels, the ceiling for safety is 85-90 decibels, and the death of hearing cells takes place at 180 decibels. It’s the area between 85 and 180 that leads to noise-induced hearing loss, and as would be expected, the occupations with increasingly louder decibel levels have progressively higher rates of hearing loss.

Hearing loss by occupation

As the following table displays, as the decibel levels correlated with each profession increase, hearing loss rates increase as well:

Occupation Decibel level Incidence rates of hearing loss at age 50
No noise exposure Less than 90 decibels 9%
Manufacturing 105 decibels 30%
Farming 105 decibels 36%
Construction 120 decibels 60%

Any profession with decibel levels above 90 places its workforce at risk for hearing loss, and this includes rock musicians (110 dB), nightclub staff (110 dB), Formula One drivers (135 dB), airport ground staff (140 dB), and shooting range marshalls (140 dB). In every scenario, as the decibel level increases, the risk of noise-induced hearing loss grows.

Protecting your hearing

A recent US study on the prevalence of hearing loss in farming discovered that 92 percent of the US farmers surveyed were exposed to unsafe noise levels, but that only 44 percent claimed to use hearing protection equipment on a per day basis. Factory workers, on the other hand, tend to adhere to more stringent hearing protection regulations, which may explain why the incidence rate of hearing loss is moderately lower in manufacturing than it is in farming, despite exposure to near equivalent decibel levels.

All of the data point to one thing: the necessity of protecting your hearing. If you work in a high-risk occupation, you need to take the right protective steps. If avoiding the noise is not an alternative, you need to find ways to minimize the noise levels (best achieved with custom earplugs), in addition to making sure that you take consistent rest breaks for your ears. Controlling both the sound volume and exposure time will lower your chances of acquiring noise-induced hearing loss.

If you would like to discuss a hearing protection plan for your specific circumstances or job, give us a call. As hearing specialists, we can provide custom-made solutions to best safeguard your hearing at work. We also offer custom earplugs that, in addition to defending your hearing, are comfortable to wear and can maintain the natural quality of sound (in contrast to the muffled sound you hear with foam earplugs).

Filed Under: Articles, Hearing

Finding Financial Assistance for Your Hearing Aids

July 9, 2015 By Leave a Comment

Hearing Aid Financing

The saying “you get what you pay for” is definitely true of hearing aids, and though contemporary hearing aids are engineered to be more effective than ever, they’re not exactly cheap, either.

Fortunately, modern digital hearing aids, while not cheap, ARE becoming more inexpensive, in the same manner that the majority of consumer electronics are becoming more affordable (A 20-inch high-definition TV cost $1,200 in 1999; it costs just $84 today). And when you stop to think about it, we tend to spend a lot more money on things that simply do not increase our quality of life to the magnitude that a pair of hearing aids can.

Let’s say, for instance, that a pair of hearing aids costs $5,000. Presuming the hearing aids last 5 years, that equals a monthly price of only $83.33 per month. Many people shell out more money on their cable tv bill, and that’s why the majority of our patients openly admit that while the initial cost seems large, the monthly cost, relative to the benefit they receive from healthier hearing, is more than worth it.

The question is, would you be willing to devote less than 100 dollars per month to have better conversations and interactions with your family and friends? Most people would, and that’s why so many people elect to invest in hearing aids.

But once you elect to purchase hearing aids, what are your options for paying for them? Despite conventional beliefs, you have a range of possible options.

Financing options for hearing aids

The very first mistake people make is assuming that no financial assistance is possible. While finding assistance can be frustrating at times, there are in fact numerous resources that you should inquire about before making a decision to hand over a full cash payment. Here are some of the steps we recommend taking:

  • Begin by speaking to your private insurance provider. While private insurance differs by company and by state, many people discover that their private insurance supplies some form of assistance with hearing aids.
  • Look into using a medical flexible spending account. This is a special type of account you can use to set aside money (pre-tax) to pay for out-of-pocket medical costs.
  • Check your Medicare and Medicaid benefits. This is not the most usual way to help pay for hearing aids, but Medicare and Medicaid do supply benefits in specific limited scenarios.
  • Contact your local VA office if you’re a veteran. Veterans may obtain benefits that can help partly or completely pay for hearing aids. Check with your local VA office for more information.
  • Search for charitable organizations that supply hearing aids or financial support. If you satisfy the financial conditions, there are a number of charitable organizations that provide hearing aids or financial assistance for hearing aids. We’ll share some resources for you in the next section.
  • Check your state’s vocational rehabilitation program. If hearing aids are necessary for work, your state may help you pay for them through its vocational rehabilitation program.
  • Consider financing your hearing aids. Several programs can be found, including CareCredit, which works like a credit card but is exclusive to healthcare services.

Additional resources

There are far too many options and resources to name, and many programs are specific to the state you live in or to the specific institutions you’re affiliated with. So, in place of browsing a long list of resources, it’s best to search for programs specific to your state or situation. For example, performing a Google search for “hearing aid funding in ” or “hearing aid assistance for veterans” will likely provide some worthwhile results.

You might also want to take a look at the list of financial resources from the
Better Hearing Institute and the Hearing Loss Association of America, both of which list programs by state and incorporate lists of a variety of charitable organizations.

If you’re still not certain where to get started, or are having difficulty finding information, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We can point you in the right direction and can help you find the financing option that works best for you. Your hearing is worth it—call us today!

Filed Under: Articles, Featured, Hearing, Hearing Aids

When Should I Get My Hearing Tested?

June 25, 2015 By Leave a Comment

Most of the time, people are unaware that they have hearing loss. It develops so gradually that it’s typically undetectable, and on top of that, most family doctors do not regularly screen for hearing loss at the yearly physical exam.

Considering these two realities, it’s no surprise that most people first find out they have hearing loss by being told about it from close friends or family members. But once people confront you about your hearing loss, it’s more than likely already relatively advanced. Given that hearing loss gets worse over time—and cannot be fully recovered once lost—it’s critical to treat hearing loss as quickly as possible rather of waiting for it to get bad enough for people to notice.

So when and how often should you get your hearing tested? Here are our suggestions:

Establish a Baseline Early

It’s never too early to consider your first hearing test. The earlier you test your hearing, the sooner you can create a baseline to compare future tests. The only method to determine if your hearing is getting worse is by comparing the results with past testing.

Although it’s true that as you get older you’re more likely to have hearing loss, keep in mind that 26 million people between the age of 20 and 69 have hearing loss. Hearing loss is widespread among all age groups, and exposure to loud noise places everyone at risk regardless of age.

Annual Tests After Age 55

At the age of 65, one out of every three people will have some level of hearing loss. Considering hearing loss is so typical near this age, we advise annual hearing tests to ensure that your hearing is not worsening. Remember, hearing loss is permanent, cumulative, and practically undetectable. However, with once-a-year hearing exams, hearing loss can be identified early, and treatment is always more effective when implemented earlier.

Assess Personal Risk Factors

As reported by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, “approximately 15 percent of Americans (26 million people) between the ages of 20 and 69 have high frequency hearing loss due to exposure to noise at work or during leisure activities.”

If you have been subjected to noisy work environments or activities such as music concerts or sporting events, it’s a good idea to have your hearing tested. It’s also a good idea to get an annual hearing test if you consistently expose your hearing to these conditions.

Watch for Signs of Hearing Loss

As we noted earlier, the signs and symptoms of hearing loss are often first detected by others. You should schedule a hearing test if someone has suggested it to you or if you encounter any of these signs or symptoms:

  • Muffled hearing
  • Trouble following what people are saying, especially in loud settings or in groups
  • People commenting on how loud you have the TV or radio
  • Avoiding social situations and conversations
  • Ringing, roaring, hissing, or buzzing in the ear (tinnitus)
  • Ear pain, irritation, or discharge
  • Vertigo, dizziness, or balance problems

Don’t Wait Until the Harm is Done

The bottom line is that hearing loss is prevalent among all age groups and that we all live in the presence of several work-related and everyday risk factors. Seeing that hearing loss is hard to detect, worsens over time, and is best treated early, we highly recommend that you get your hearing tested regularly. You might end up saving your hearing with early intervention, and the worst that can happen is that you find out you have normal hearing.

Filed Under: Articles, Featured, Hearing, Hearing Loss, hearing test, Preventative Care

Understanding Your Treatment Options for Tinnitus

June 18, 2015 By Leave a Comment

Nearly 45 million Americans suffer from tinnitus, which is the perception of sound where no outside sound source is present. This phantom sound is typically identified as a ringing sound, but can also materialize as a buzzing, hissing, whistling, swooshing, or clicking.

The first thing to know about tinnitus is that it’s a symptom, not a disease. Consequently, tinnitus may signal an underlying health condition that, once cured, cures the tinnitus. Earwax accumulation or other blockages, blood vessel disorders, selected medications, and other underlying disorders can all trigger tinnitus, so the first step is ruling out any ailments that would call for medical or surgical treatment.

In most cases of tinnitus, however, no specific cause is discovered. In these instances, tinnitus is presumed to be caused by destruction of the nerve cells of hearing in the inner ear. Noise-induced hearing loss, age-related hearing loss, and one-time exposure to very loud sounds can all cause tinnitus.

Whenever tinnitus is induced by nerve cell damage, or is associated with hearing loss, tinnitus often cannot be cured—but that doesn’t imply that people must suffer without assistance. Although there is no conclusive cure for the majority of instances of chronic tinnitus, various tinnitus treatment options are available that help patients live better, more comfortable, and more productive lives, even if the perception of tinnitus remains.

Here are some of the treatment options for tinnitus:

Hearing Aids

Most cases of tinnitus are linked with some form of hearing loss. In people with hearing loss, a smaller amount of sound stimulation reaches the brain, and in response, investigators believe that the brain changes physically and chemically to accommodate the insufficiency of stimulation. It is this maladaptive reaction to sound deprivation that results in tinnitus.

Tinnitus is intensified with hearing loss because when surrounding sound is muffled, the sounds identified with tinnitus become more notable. But when hearing aids are used, the amplified sound signals cause the sounds of tinnitus to blend into the richer background sounds. Hearing aids for tinnitus patients can then grant multiple benefits, among them enhanced hearing, enhanced auditory stimulation, and a “masking effect” for tinnitus.

Sound Therapy

Sound therapy is a general phrase used to describe a number of approaches to using external sound to “mask” the tinnitus. With time, the brain can learn to recognize the sounds of tinnitus as insignificant in comparison to the competing sound, thereby lessening the intensity level of tinnitus.

Sound therapy can be delivered through masking devices but can also be provided through certain hearing aid models that can stream sound wirelessly by using Bluetooth technology. Some hearing aid models even connect with compatible Apple products, including iPhones, so that any masking sounds downloaded on the Apple devices can be transmitted wirelessly to the hearing aids.

The types of masking sounds used may vary, including white noise, pink noise, nature sounds, and music. Sounds can also be specially designed to match the sound frequency of the patient’s tinnitus, providing individualized masking relief. Since each patient will respond differently to different masking sounds, it’s essential that you work with a experienced hearing professional.

Behavioral Therapies

Numerous behavioral therapies exist to help the patient address the psychological and emotional components of tinnitus. One example is mindfulness-based stress reduction, in which the individual learns to accept the affliction while establishing helpful coping methods.

You may have also heard the term Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT), which mixes cognitive-behavioral therapy with sound masking therapy. With Tinnitus Retraining Therapy, patients learn to formulate healthy cognitive and emotional reactions to tinnitus while applying sound therapy to teach their brains to reclassify tinnitus as unimportant, so that it can be consciously ignored.

General Wellness

Together with the more specific sound and behavioral therapies, patients can participate in general wellness activities that frequently reduce the severity of tinnitus. These activities include healthy diets, frequent exercise, social activity, recreational activities, and any other activities that promote improved health and reduced stress.

Drug Therapies

There are presently no FDA-approved medications that have been found to cure or alleviate tinnitus directly, but there are drugs that can treat stress, anxiety, and depression, all of which can make tinnitus worse or are caused by tinnitus itself. In fact, some antidepressant and antianxiety medications have been demonstrated to supply some relief to patients with severe tinnitus.

Experimental Therapies

A flurry of promising research is being performed in labs and universities across the world, as researchers continue to hunt for the underlying neurological cause of tinnitus and its ultimate cure. Although several of these experimental therapies have shown some promise, keep in mind that they are not yet readily available, and that there’s no assurance that they ever will be. People struggling with tinnitus are encouraged to seek out current treatments rather than holding out for any experimental treatment to hit the market.

Here are a few of the experimental therapies presently being evaluated:

  • Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) delivers electromagnetic pulses into the affected brain tissue to lessen the hyperactivity that is believed to cause tinnitus.
  • Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is another means of delivering electromagnetic pulses into the hyperactive brain tissue that is believed to cause tinnitus.
  • Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is similar to the previous therapies in its use of electromagnetic energy, the difference being that DBS is an invasive procedure requiring surgery and the placing of electrodes in the brain tissue.

Other medical, surgical, and pharmacological therapies exist, but the results have been mixed and the risks of invasive procedures quite often outweigh the benefits.

The Best Treatment For Your Tinnitus

The optimum tinnitus treatment for you is based on many factors, and is best appraised by a qualified hearing specialist. As your local hearing care professionals, we’ll do everything we can to help you find relief from your tinnitus. Set up your appointment today and we’ll find the customized solution that works best for you.

Filed Under: Articles, Common Conditions of the Ear, Featured, Hearing, Hearing Loss, Preventative Care, Tinnitus

Getting the Most Out of Your Hearing Aid Batteries

June 11, 2015 By 1 Comment


Hearing Aid Batteries
Zinc-air-battery-types by Marc Andressen is licensed under Attribution CC 2.0

You could make a strong case that the most critical component of your hearing aid is the battery: without it, nothing else works, and if it fails, your hearing fails with it. In this short guide, we’ll present to you everything you need to know about hearing aid batteries so that you can get the maximum benefit out of your hearing aids.

How Hearing Aid Batteries Work

Hearing aids take a unique kind of battery called zinc-air batteries. Each battery has a sticker that covers small holes on the top of the battery. Once the sticker is removed, air enters the battery through the holes, resulting in a chemical reaction that activates the zinc and makes the battery live. When the battery is live, it starts discharging power and reapplying the sticker will have no influence in conserving its life.

Hearing Aid Battery Types

Zinc-air hearing aid batteries come in four standardized sizes, marked with standardized number and color codes. The four sizes, from largest to smallest, are:

  • 675-blue
  • 13-orange
  • 312-brown
  • 10-yellow

Each hearing aid uses only one of the sizes, and your hearing specialist will inform you which size you will be needing. Keep in mind that the numbers and colors above are manufacturer independent, but that manufacturers sometimes add additional letters or numbers to its packaging.

Hearing Aid Battery Life

Hearing aid battery life is reliant on a number of factors. Many patients get up to one week of life out of a battery if they use the hearing aid for 12 or more hours a day, but this will vary depending on:

  • The size of the battery – bigger batteries have a longer life.
  • The level of hearing loss – More severe hearing loss calls for more power.
  • Hearing aid features – wireless functionality, noise reduction programs, and multi-channel processing, for example, demand more power to operate.
  • Temperature – hot and cold temperatures can decrease battery life.

Your hearing specialist will review all of this with you, and can help you find the proper balance between hearing aid capability and battery life.

How to Increase the Life of Your Hearing Aid Batteries

You can effortlessly prolong the life of your hearing aid batteries with one simple trick. As soon as you remove the sticker to activate the battery, wait 5-7 minutes before inserting the battery into your hearing aids. By removing the sticker and laying the battery flat side up for a few minutes, air is able to properly activate the battery before you start using it, which lengthens its life.

A couple of other tips:

  • Keep the batteries away from coins, keys, or other metal objects that could short the battery.
  • When the hearing aid isn’t being used, turn it off and store it with the battery door open. If you don’t plan on using your hearing aids for an extended period of time, remove the batteries completely.
  • Unopened batteries can last for years; still, fresher batteries are preferred because each year that goes by decreases the life of the battery.
  • Store your batteries at room temperature. This rule is so crucial that the next section is dedicated to the topic.

How to Store Your Hearing Aid Batteries

There’s a dangerous myth out there suggesting that storing your batteries in the refrigerator extends their life. This is not only false; it produces the opposite result!

The reasoning behind storing your batteries in the refrigerator is that the cold temperature will slow down the discharge of power. While this may be technically true, the amount of power you will save will be negligible, and the undesirable effects of moisture will produce far greater negative consequences.

Storing zinc-air batteries in a cold environment allows micro condensation to form in an on the battery, resulting in corrosion and a high risk of premature failure. Therefore, for ideal performance, simply keep your batteries away from extreme hot or cold temperatures and store at room temperature.

Maintaining Your Hearing Aid Battery Supply

Once you figure out how long your batteries last, on average, you’ll want to keep a month’s supply. If your batteries last 1 week, and you use 2 batteries (1 for each hearing aid), then you’ll end up using about 8 per month. Simply set 8 as your reorder level, and once you consume your stock down to 8, order another pack. Alternatively, you may want to look into the price savings linked with bulk buys and maintain a supply that lasts a bit longer than one month. If you’re not certain, we are more than happy to help you put together a strategy and will handle all of your hearing aid battery needs. Just give us a call!

Have any other questions? Talk to one of our hearing specialists today!

Filed Under: Articles, Caring for Your Hearing Aid, Featured, Hearing, Hearing Aids, Hearing Loss, Preventative Care

6 Ways to Save Your Hearing

June 4, 2015 By Leave a Comment

The World Health Organization reports that 1.1 billion people are at an increased risk for noise-induced hearing loss, generated by exposure to substantial sound levels from personal mp3 devices and noisy settings such as nightclubs, bars, concerts, and sporting events. An estimated 26 million Americans already suffer from the condition.

If noise-induced hearing loss occurs from direct exposure to high sound levels, then what is considered to be excessive? It turns out that any noise higher than 85 decibels is potentially hazardous, and unfortunately, many of our daily activities expose us to sounds well above this threshold. An music player at maximum volume, for example, reaches 105 decibels, and police sirens can reach 130.

So is hearing loss an inescapable consequence of our over-amplified life? Not if you make the right choices, because it also happens that noise-induced hearing loss is 100% preventable.

Here are six ways you can save your hearing:

1. Use custom earplugs

The ideal way to prevent hearing loss is to avoid loud noise entirely. Of course, for most people that would mean quitting their jobs and ditching their plans to see their favorite band perform live in concert.

But don’t worry, you don’t have to live like a hermit to spare your hearing. If you’re exposed to loud noise at work, or if you plan on going to a live concert, instead of avoiding the noise you can reduce its volume with earplugs. One possibility is to pick up a low cost pair of foam earplugs at the convenience store, realizing that they will almost certainly create muffled sound. There is a better option.

Today, several custom earplugs are available that fit comfortably in the ear. Custom earplugs are formed to the curves of your ear for optimum comfort, and they incorporate advanced electronics that lower sound volume evenly across frequencies so that music and speech can be heard clearly and naturally. Speak to your local hearing specialist for more information.

2. Keep a safe distance from the sound source

The inverse square law, as applied to sound, shows that as you double the distance from the source of sound the strength of the sound falls by 75%. This law of physics may possibly save your hearing at a rock concert; instead of standing in the front row adjacent to the speaker, increase your distance as much as possible, managing the benefits of a good view against a safe distance.

3. Take rest breaks for your ears

Hearing injury from subjection to loud sound is dependent on three factors:

  1. the sound level or intensity
  2. your distance from the sound source
  3. the length of time you’re exposed to the sound

You can decrease the intensity of sound with earplugs, you can increase your distance from the sound source, and you can also control your collective length of exposure by taking rest breaks from the sound. If you’re at a live concert or in a recording studio, for instance, make certain to give your ears regular breaks and time to recuperate.

4. Turn down the music – follow the 60/60 rule

If you often listen to music from a portable music player, make sure you keep the volume no higher that 60% of the maximum volume for no longer than 60 minutes per day. Higher volume and longer listening times enlarge the risk of long-term damage.

5. Purchase noise-canceling headphones

The 60/60 rule is very hard, if not impossible to adhere to in certain listening environments. In the presence of loud background noise, like in a busy city, you have to turn up the volume on your MP3 player to hear the music over the surrounding noise.

The answer? Noise-cancelling headphones. These headphones will filter background sounds so that you can enjoy your music without violating the 60/60 rule.

6. Arrange for regular hearing exams

It’s never too early or too late to book a hearing test. Along with the ability to determine existing hearing loss, a hearing assessment can also establish a baseline for later comparison.

Considering hearing loss develops slowly, it is difficult to detect. For most people, the only way to know if hearing loss is present is to have a professional hearing examination. But you shouldn’t wait until after the harm is done to schedule an appointment; prevention is the best medicine, and your local hearing specialist can furnish personal hearing protection solutions so that you can avoid hearing loss altogether.

Filed Under: Articles, Featured, Hearing, Hearing Loss, Preventative Care

The Psychology of Hearing Loss

May 28, 2015 By Leave a Comment

If we really want to understand hearing loss, we need to understand both the physical side, which makes hearing increasingly challenging, and the psychological side, which includes the lesser-known emotional reactions to the loss of hearing. Jointly, the two sides of hearing loss can wreak havoc on a person’s quality of life, as the physical reality brings about the loss and the psychological reality prevents people from addressing it.

The numbers tell the tale. Even though nearly all cases of hearing loss are physically treatable, only around 20% of individuals who would benefit from hearing aids use them. And even among people who do seek help, it takes an average of 5 to 7 years before they arrange for a hearing test.

How can we explain the enormous discrepancy between the potential for better hearing and the commonplace resistance to achieve it? The first step is to recognize that hearing loss is in fact a “loss,” in the sense that something invaluable has been taken away and is apparently lost forever. The second step is to find out how individuals typically react to losing something valuable, which, by way of the scholarship of the Swiss-American psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, we now understand very well.

Elizabeth Kübler-Ross’ 5 stages of grief

Kübler-Ross identified 5 stages of grief that everyone dealing with loss seems to go through (in remarkably consistent ways), although not everyone does so in the same order or in the same amount of time.

Here are the stages:

  1. Denial – the individual buffers the emotional shock by denying the loss and imagining a false, preferred reality.
  2. Anger – the individual recognizes the loss but becomes angry that it has happened to them.
  3. Bargaining – the individual reacts to the feeling of helplessness by seeking to take back control through negotiating.
  4. Depression – comprehending the weight of the loss, the individual becomes saddened at the hopelessness of the situation.
  5. Acceptance – in the last stage, the individual accepts the circumstance and presents a more stable set of emotions. The rationality associated with this stage leads to productive problem solving and the regaining of control over emotions and actions.

People with hearing loss progress through the stages at different rates, with some never getting to the final stage of acceptance — hence the discrepancy between the potential for better hearing and the low numbers of people who actually seek help, or that otherwise wait many years before doing so.

Progressing through the stages of hearing loss

The first stage of grief is the hardest to escape for those with hearing loss. Seeing that hearing loss develops slowly over time, it can be very hard to detect. People also have the tendency to make up for hearing loss by cranking up the TV volume, for example, or by forcing people to repeat themselves. Those with hearing loss can persist in the denial stage for years, saying things like “I can hear just fine” or “I hear what I want to.”

The next stage, the anger stage, can show itself as a form of projection. You may hear those with hearing loss assert that everybody else mumbles, as if the issue is with everyone else rather than with them. People remain in the anger stage until they realize that the problem is in fact with them, and not with others, at which point they may move on to the bargaining stage.

Bargaining is a form of intellectualization that can take various forms. For instance, those with hearing loss might compare their condition to others by thinking, “My hearing has become much worse, but at least my health is good. I really shouldn’t complain, other people my age are dealing with genuine problems.” You might also come across those with hearing loss devaluing their problem by thinking, “So I can’t hear as well as I used to. It’s just part of aging, no big deal.”

After passing through these first three stages of denial, anger, and bargaining, those with hearing loss may head into a stage of depression — under the mistaken assumption that there is no hope for treatment. They may remain in the depression stage for a period of time until they recognize that hearing loss can be treated, at which point they can enter the last stage: the acceptance stage.

The acceptance stage for hearing loss is shockingly evasive. If only 20% of those who can benefit from hearing aids actually wear them, that means 80% of those with hearing loss never reach the final stage of acceptance (or they’ve arived at the acceptance stage but for other reasons choose not to take action). In the acceptance stage, people recognize their hearing loss but take action to correct it, to the best of their ability.

This is the one positive side to hearing loss: unlike other forms of loss, hearing loss is partly recoverable, making the acceptance stage much easier to reach. Thanks to major improvements in digital hearing aid technology, people can in fact enhance their hearing enough to communicate and participate normally in daily activities — without the stress and difficulty of impaired hearing — allowing them to reconnect to the people and activities that give their life the most value.

Which stage are you in?

In the case of hearing loss, following the crowd is going to get you into some trouble. While 80% of those with hearing loss are trapped somewhere along the first four stages of grief — struggling to hear, harming relationships, and making excuses — the other 20% have accepted their hearing loss, taken action to strengthen it, and rediscovered the joys of sound.

Which group will you join?

Filed Under: Articles, Hearing, Hearing Loss

A Short Biography of Raymond Carhart, the “Father of Audiology”

May 21, 2015 By Leave a Comment

Raymond Carhart

Most people are surprised to discover how young the field of audiology really is, and how recently its founding father founded the profession. To put this in perspective, if you desired to find the founding father of biology, for instance, you’d have to go back in time by 2,300 years and read the The History of Animals, a natural history text penned in the 4th century BCE by the Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle.

In contrast, to find the founding father of audiology, we need go back only 70 years, to 1945 when Raymond Carhart popularized the word. But who was Raymond Carhart, and how did he come to create a distinct scientific discipline so recently? The narrative starts with World War II.

World War II and Hearing Loss

One of history’s greatest lessons shows us that necessity is the mother of invention, which means that challenging circumstances prompt inventions aimed toward reducing the difficulty. Such was the case for audiology, as hearing loss was proving to be a bigger public health concern both during and after World War II.

In fact, the primary driving force behind the progress of audiology was World War II, which resulted in military personnel returning from battle with extreme hearing damage due to direct exposure to loud sounds. While many speech pathologists had been calling for better hearing evaluation and therapy all along, the number of people afflicted by hearing loss from World War II made the request impossible to ignore.

Among those calling for a new field, Robert West, a distinguished speech pathologist, called for the expansion of the speech pathology discipline to include the correction of hearing in 1936 — the same year that Raymond Carhart would graduate with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Speech Pathology, Experimental Phonetics and Psychology.

Raymond Carhart Establishes the New Science of Hearing

Raymond Carhart himself began his career in speech pathology. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech and Psychology from Dakota Wesleyan University in 1932 and his Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Speech Pathology, Experimental Phonetics and Psychology at Northwestern University in 1934 and 1936. Carhart was in fact one of the department’s first two PhD graduates.

Immediately following graduation, Carhart became an instructor in Speech Re-education from 1936 to 1940. Then, in 1940 he was promoted to Assistant Professor and in 1943 to Associate Professor. It was what took place next, however, that may have changed the course of history for audiology.

In 1944, Carhart was commissioned a captain in the Army to head the Deshon General Hospital aural rehab program for war-deafened military personnel in Butler, Pennsylvania. It was here that Carhart, in the context of serving more than 16,000 hearing-impaired military personnel, made popular the term audiology, assigning it as the science of hearing. From that point forward, audiology would divide from speech pathology as its own exclusive research specialty.

At the conclusion of the war, Carhart would go back to Northwestern University to develop the country’s first academic program in audiology. As a skillful professor, he guided 45 doctoral students to the completion of their work, students who would themselves become notable teachers, researchers, and clinical specialists across the country. And as a researcher, among innumerable contributions, Carhart developed and enhanced speech audiometry, especially as it applied to calculating the efficiency of hearing aid performance. He even identified a particular pattern on the audiogram that reveals otosclerosis (hardening of the middle ear bones), eponymously named the “Carhart notch.”

Raymond Carhart’s Place in History

Of history’s founding fathers, the name Raymond Carhart may not be as well known as Aristotle, Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, or Charles Darwin. But if you wear hearing aids, and you know the degree to which the quality of life is elevated as the result, you might place Raymond Carhart on the same level as history’s greats. His students probably would, and if you visit the Frances Searle Building at Northwestern University, you’ll still see a plaque that reads:

“Raymond Carhart, Teacher, Scholar, and Friend. From his students.”

Filed Under: Articles, Featured, Hearing, Hearing Loss, News

Questions to Ask Your Hearing Specialist Before You Buy Hearing Aids

May 14, 2015 By Leave a Comment

Question Mark

When it’s time to purchase a car, the majority of us know exactly what to do. We do some research, compare options, and compose a list of questions to ask the dealership. We do this so that by the time we’re ready to stop by the dealership, we have an idea of what we’re looking for and we know which questions to ask.

When it’s time to purchase hearing aids, however, many people don’t know where to start. Even though the process is similar to purchasing a car, it’s also in many ways more complicated (and probably not quite as fun). It’s more complicated because each person’s hearing loss is distinct and each pair of hearing aids demands customized programming. If purchasing a car was like this, it would be like you taking it home and having to install the transmission yourself.

Luckily, you don’t need to know how to program your own hearing aids, but you do need to know the questions to ask to ensure that your hearing specialist covers all bases, correctly programming the most appropriate hearing aids for your preferences and lifestyle. In this manner, compiling a list of questions to talk about with your hearing specialist is the single most important thing you can do prior to your hearing test.

But which questions should you ask? Here are 35 to get you up and running, broken down by category:

HEARING LOSS

Specific kinds of hearing loss require specific types of treatment. The more you understand your own hearing loss, the better you’ll be able to evaluate hearing aid alternatives. You need to learn what form of hearing loss you have, if it will get worse, how soon you should treat it, and all of your treatment options.

Questions to ask:

  • What form of hearing loss do I have?
  • Do I have unilateral or bilateral hearing loss?
  • Can I have a copy of my hearing test?
  • Will my hearing loss get worse over the years if left untreated?
  • Will hearing aids improve my hearing?
  • How much of my hearing will hearing aids repair?
  • What are my other alternatives other than hearing aids?

HEARING AID STYLES AND FEATURES

Hearing aids are made in numerous styles, from multiple manufacturers, loaded with numerous features. You need a systematic way to narrow down your choices to assure that you get the proper hearing aid without spending money on features you don’t need or want.

Questions to ask:

  • How many different kinds of hearing aid styles do you offer?
  • Which hearing aid style is ideal for my requirements and lifestyle?
  • Which digital features would be relevant to me, and which could I do without?
  • What are telecoils and directional microphones and do I need them?
  • Do I need Bluetooth compatible hearing aids?
  • Do my hearing aids need to be professionally programmed?
  • Do I need one or two hearing aids, and why?

HEARING AID PRICES, FINANCING, WARRANTIES, AND TRIAL PERIODS

The total cost of a pair of hearing aids commonly includes the professional fees associated with custom fitting and programming, along with many other services or accessories. You want to make sure that you fully grasp what you’re receiving for the price, if financing is available, if insurance will help, what the warranty includes, the length of the trial period, and if any “restocking fees” apply to the end of the trial period.

Questions to ask:

  • What is the total price of the hearing aids, including professional services?
  • Do you provide any financing plans?
  • Will my insurance help pay for hearing aids?
  • How much will my hearing aids cost me each year?
  • Do the hearing aids have warranty coverage?
  • How much do hearing aid repairs cost after the warranty has ended?
  • Are repairs handled at the office or someplace else?
  • If my hearing aids have to be mailed out for repairs, are loaner hearing aids available?
  • Is there a trial period and how long is it?
  • Is there a restocking fee if I return my hearing aids during or after the trial period?

HEARING AID OPERATION, CARE, AND MAINTENANCE

Your hearing specialist should explain to you how to care for, clean, and operate your hearing aids. To make sure that nothing is missed, make sure all of these questions are answered:

Questions to ask:

  • How do I operate my hearing aids?
  • How do I use hearing aids with telephones and other electronics?
  • Can you show me how to use all of the buttons, features, and settings for my hearing aids?
  • What are environmental presets, and how do I access them?
  • Do I require a remote control, or can I use my smart-phone to operate the hearing aids?
  • What batteries do I need, how long will they last, and how do I replace them?
  • How should I clean and store my hearing aids?
  • Do I need to come back for follow-up visits?
  • How long will my hearing aids continue working?
  • Do I need to update the hearing aid software program?
  • Do I qualify for future hearing aid upgrades?

YOU’RE READY TO SCHEDULE YOUR HEARING TEST

Ok, so picking out a pair of hearing aids might not be as fun as buying a new car. But the quality of life you’ll achieve from better hearing might very well make you more happy, as you’ll reconnect with people and enjoy the intricacies of sound once again. So go ahead and book that hearing test — your new pair of hearing aids are waiting for a test drive.

Filed Under: Articles, Choosing a Hearing Aid, Hearing, Hearing Aids

The Digital Advantage: Analog Vs. Digital Hearing Aids

May 8, 2015 By Leave a Comment

Digital Code

You’ve most likely been told that today’s hearing aids are “not your father’s hearing aids,” or that hearing aid technology is light-years ahead of where it used to be, even as recently as 5 to 10 years ago. But what makes today’s technology so much better? And what exactly can modern day hearing aids achieve that couldn’t be accomplished in the past?

The short answer is, like the majority of consumer electronics, hearing aids have benefited greatly from the digital revolution. Hearing aids have emerged as miniaturized computers, with all of the programming adaptability you would expect to see from a modern computer.

But before hearing aids became digital, they were analog. Let’s see if we can figure out why the shift from analog to digital was such an enhancement.

Digital vs analog hearing aids

At the simplest level, all hearing aids work the same way. Each hearing aid includes a microphone, amplifier, speaker, and battery. The microphone picks up sound in the environment, the amplifier strengthens the signal, and the speaker delivers the louder sound to your ear.

Fundamentally, it’s not very complex. Where is does get complex, however, is in the details of how the hearing aids process sound, which digital hearing aids accomplish much differently than their analog alternatives.

Analog hearing aids process sound in a relatively straightforward way. In three basic steps, sound is picked up by the microphone, amplified, and presented to the ear through the speaker. That is… ALL sound is made to be louder, including background noise and the sound frequencies you can already hear properly. Put differently, analog hearing aids amplify even the sounds you don’t want to hear — think of the scratching sound you hear from an analog recording on a vinyl record.

Digital hearing aids, in contrast, apply a fourth step to the processing of sound: transformation of sound waves to digital information. Sound itself is an analog signal, but instead of just making this analog signal louder, digital hearing aids first convert the sound into digital configuration (saved as 0s and 1s) that can then be altered. Digital hearing aids, therefore, can CHANGE the sound before amplification by changing the information saved as a series of 0s and 1s.

If this seems like we’re talking about a computer, we are. Digital hearing aids are effectively miniature computers that run one customized program that manipulates and improves the quality of sound.

Advantages of digital hearing aids

Most today’s hearing aids are digital, and for good reason. Seeing that analog hearing aids can only amplify incoming sound, and cannot alter it, analog hearing aids will usually amplify disruptive background noise, making it frustrating to hear in noisy environments and nearly impossible to talk on the phone.

Digital hearing aids, however, have the flexibility to amplify specific sound frequencies. When sound is converted into a digital signal, the computer chip can detect, label, and store specific frequencies. As an example, the higher frequency speech sounds can be labeled and stored separately from the lower frequency background noise. A hearing specialist can then program the computer chip to amplify only the high frequency speech sounds while suppressing the background noise — making it easy to follow conversations even in noisy environments.

Here are some of the other advantages of digital hearing aids:

  • Miniaturized computer technology means smaller, more discreet hearing aids, with some models that fit totally in the ear canal, making them practically undetectable.
  • Digital hearing aids tend to have more attractive designs and colors.
  • Digital hearing aids can be programmed by a hearing specialist to process sound in various ways depending on the setting. By changing settings, users can achieve ideal hearing for a range of situations, from a quiet room to a noisy restaurant to speaking on the phone.
  • Digital hearing aids can be fine-tuned for every patient. Each person hears different sound frequencies at different decibel levels. Digital hearing aids allow the hearing specialist to adjust amplification for each sound frequency based on the characteristics of each person’s distinctive hearing loss.

Try digital hearing aids out for yourself

Reading about digital hearing aids is one thing, trying them out is another. But keep in mind, to get the most out of any set of hearing aids, you require both the technology and the programming proficiency from an experienced, licensed hearing specialist.

And that’s where we come in. We’ve programmed and fine-tuned countless hearing aids for people with all forms of hearing loss, and are more than happy to do the same for you. Give us a call and experience the digital advantage for yourself!

Filed Under: Articles, Choosing a Hearing Aid, Hearing, Hearing Aid Technology, Hearing Aids
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