Column Archive
|
NO MORE BELLS AND WHISTLES WHEN HEARING LOSS LEADS TO ISOLATION HEARING INSTRUMENT/CELL PHONE COMPATIBILITY A BIG LEAP IN HEARING TECHNOLOGY HERE’S WHERE THINGS GET COMPLICATED HOW COOL IS YOUR HEARING INSTRUMENT? |
NO MORE BELLS AND WHISTLES One of the potential dangers of being hearing impaired is the inability to hear whistles, sirens, and other alarm signals. With this in mind, hearing-impaired individuals may want to outfit their homes and workplaces with “alerting devices,” which use very loud noises, flashing lights, or vibrators to alert hearing-impaired persons to specific sounds. Some alerting devices can be wired directly to doorbells or plugged into telephones; more advanced systems use built-in microphones to listen for specific sounds, which then trigger an alert. Such systems can be used in conjunction with smoke detectors. The value of an alerting device lies in its potential to save the life of an individual who would not otherwise hear a warning alarm. HIGH-FREQUENCY HEARING LOSS It is estimated that one-third of the population suffers from high-frequency hearing loss that diminishes the ability to understand conversation. This type of loss usually compromises the listener’s ability to properly discern between consonants, even though vowel sounds can be heard clearly. As a result, those with high-frequency listening deficits cannot understand conversation. Fortunately, the digital technology employed by many hearing instruments helps listeners overcome this problem by enabling hearing instrument specialists to program the instrument in accordance with the listener’s individual type of hearing loss. In the case of those with high-frequency hearing loss, the high frequencies are specifically amplified to address the listener’s unique hearing loss pattern. As a result, consonants can be heard as clearly as vowels. WHEN HEARING LOSS LEADS TO ISOLATION Even mild hearing losses have been found to negatively impact elderly individuals’ functioning ability. Communication problems arising from hearing loss often stand in the way of receiving proper medical treatment, strain family relations, and restrict the enjoyment of leisure activities. All this is because people who cannot hear well tend to withdraw rather than face the embarrassment of frequent misunderstandings and inappropriate responses. Instead of attempting to answer questions they do not understand, they become non-communicative. This withdrawal from social situations continues an average of ten years before assistance is sought. A more immediate response could lead them toward fuller lives more quickly. With this in mind, family members and friends of hearing-impaired seniors should suggest they get a hearing test. P.S. New open-fit hearing instruments are comfortable to wear, are barely visible, and provide excellent results. Presbycusis, the loss of hearing that gradually occurs in most individuals as they age, is usually a sensorineural hearing disorder – meaning it is caused by gradual changes in the inner ear typically brought on by repeated exposure to noise. This results in a loss of hair cells (sensory receptors in the inner ear), which can also occur because of various health conditions and side effects of some medicines (aspirin and certain antibiotics). Symptoms of presbycusis include difficulty hearing and discerning high-pitched sounds, as well as difficulty understanding conversation, hearing others’ speech as mumbled or slurred, and loudness associated with certain sounds. For many people with presbycusis, these symptoms may be overcome with the use of a hearing instrument. P.S. Presbycusis most often occurs in both ears, affecting them equally. HEARING INSTRUMENT/CELL PHONE COMPATIBILITY To address the problem of audio interference that hearing instrument wearers may experience when using cell phones, the FCC has required wireless phone manufacturers to produce products with reduced radio frequency (RF) emissions. Cell phones with a passing grade of “good” or “excellent” are assigned hearing aid compatibility (HAC) ratings of M3 or M4. (“M” stands for “microphone.”) The higher the “M” rating, the less expectation that a hearing instrument set in microphone mode will experience interference when the wearer is using a cell phone. As for cell phones that provide telecoil coupling capability, those with an HAC rating of “T3” or “T4” (“T” stands for “telecoil”) perform best. Because ratings don’t guarantee performance, consumers should “try before they buy.” P.S. Hearing instrument manufacturers use a rating system that is similar to the one described above to let consumers know how well their hearing instruments work in the microphone or the telecoil mode. A BIG LEAP IN HEARING TECHNOLOGY The best of today’s hearing instruments mimic the natural hearing ability of the Chinese Torrent frog. Recent research has shown that this amphibian is one of the only animals (including bats and dolphins) that can make long-distance ultrasonic calls to its mating partners. Moreover, it is able to block out environmental background noise so that it can localize the ultrasonic love calls from female Chinese Torrent frogs extremely accurately. Thus, these frogs have something very much in common with many of today’s digital hearing instruments that employ technology that separates sounds and boosts volume levels of the ones that listeners want to hear most. As a result, hearing instrument users are able to hear conversation above the background noise. P.S. Advanced digital hearing instruments can be programmed for different environments with varying levels of background noise, as well as automatically adapt to different settings based on the level of ambient noise. HERE’S WHERE THINGS GET COMPLICATED Hearing loss can be counted among the many complications that diabetics may have to face. This often-overlooked by-product of the disease happens to be twice as common among diabetics as it is among non-diabetics. According to research conducted at the National Institutes of Health, sounds of higher frequency are the ones most likely to be affected by diabetes. Researchers also noted that diabetes-related hearing loss can begin as early as 30 to 40 years of age. Moreover, even individuals with pre-diabetes, which is marked with mildly elevated blood sugar, have a 30 percent higher risk of hearing loss. This research serves as a warning to diabetics to have their hearing tested on a regular basis. P.S. Diabetes can damage the nerves and blood vessels of the inner ear. We humans should not underestimate our hearing ability. In fact, recent research reveals that people can develop the same system of acoustic signals used by bats and dolphins to “see” in their environments. “Echolocation” is the term used to describe the use of self-emitted palate clicks to identify surrounding objects without the use of eyes. This clicking sound, which approximates the sound that dolphins make two hundred times per second, involves placement of the tip of the tongue on the palate just behind the teeth and moving it backwards quickly. With practice, humans can learn to interpret these sounds as they bounce back off surrounding objects to identify the presence of objects. P.S. Echolocation practiced by humans can have a variety of beneficial applications, from helping the blind to aiding firefighters in smoke-filled conditions. Rock concert fans and workers in loud factories will be the first to tell you that prolonged exposure to loud noise often causes muffled hearing and fullness in their ears over the next day or so. This temporary noise-induced hearing loss, referred to as “temporary threshold shift,” is the result of damage sustained by the delicate hair cells of the inner ear. These hair cells, which are responsible for converting sound vibrations into the electrical impulses that the brain perceives as sound, can become damaged due to prolonged and excessive noise. While hearing usually returns to near-normal levels in a few days, those affected by temporary threshold shift should be careful that their hearing loss does not become permanent. P.S. Tinnitus and temporary threshold shift should serve as warnings to users of recreational firearms of impending permanent noise-induced hearing loss. HOW COOL IS YOUR HEARING INSTRUMENT? Today’s hearing instruments enjoy a “cool” status that could barely be imagined 20 years ago. Ask any teenage girl to dislodge her iPod earbuds, and explain to her that your personal listening device fits in your ear canal, where it can scarcely be seen. Watch the look on her face when you tell her that your hearing instrument has a (telecoil) switch that essentially acts like a Bluetooth device, which wirelessly interfaces with phones, TVs, and even movie theatre sound tracks. Moreover, your device not only amplifies sound, it amplifies only those sounds you want and need amplified, similar to your own personal digital equalizer. Finally, tell her to turn down the volume on her iPod to a safe level. P.S. Completely-in-the-canal hearing instruments scarcely arouse the undue notice of others, unlike the hearing-impaired person without a hearing instrument who constantly asks people to repeat what they just said.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently issued a statement concerning nighttime noise in European countries that the rest of the world may want to note. According to WHO, 20 percent of Europeans are exposed to excessive noise overnight that has the potential of damaging their health. The recommended limit of nighttime noise is an average 40 decibels, which corresponds to a quiet street in a residential neighborhood. The statement indicated that experiencing slightly higher noise levels may prompt some tossing and turning in bed, causing bouts of insomnia and other mild side effects. Levels above 55 decibels (the noise of a busy street) may cause sleepers to experience more serious side effects, such as high blood pressure and heart attacks. P.S. The same ear protection (ear plugs) that people use during the day to protect themselves from excessive and prolonged daytime noise may prove to be equally worthwhile when worn at night. A REAL EAR FOR HEARING MUSIC Is it true that some people are born with a better ear for hearing music? After all, research shows that serious musicians display superior ability at perceiving and remembering sounds. However, more recent research shows that musicians do not have better ears, but they train their brains to perform certain listening tasks. Specifically, musicians can pick out the sound of their own instrument from the sound of an entire orchestra. Tests indicate that certain sounds stimulate musicians’ brains to produce stronger electrical signals, which enable them to more accurately assess pitch, timing, and tone quality (three factors that enable the average person to pick out a voice in a noisy room). This finding may lead to improved hearing instrument technology. P.S. While ears gather sound and funnel signals through the nervous system, the brain interprets these signals and makes sense of them.
If you think that hearing loss is solely a symptom of old age, you should know that many of the millions of people currently suffering from hearing loss are anything but old. Due to generally noisier environments and earphones that feed loud music directly into listeners’ ears, hearing loss is about two-and-a-half times more common among young people than it was just 25 years ago. Thus, younger individuals should forget the stereotypes surrounding hearing loss and old age and ask themselves if they experience difficulty hearing. If you experience problems hearing people speak, need the TV volume turned up inordinately loud, or have trouble hearing in noisy environments, you have reasons to believe that you are losing your hearing. Regardless of a person’s age, discovering and acknowledging there is a hearing problem is the first step toward correcting it. The next step is turning to a board certified hearing instrument specialist for comprehensive examination, evaluation, and determination of the best approach to the impairment. Are you thinking there might be a problem with your hearing? Would you like to learn more about today’s advanced technology in hearing instruments? We can help you address these issues and others at FAMILY HEARING CARE CENTER, 534 Main Street (Rt. 18), across from the Stetson Bldg. in Weymouth. We can be reached at 781-337-1144 P.S. When it comes to hearing loss, prevention is best. Limit your exposure to loud noise. FEELING THE MUSIC IN HIS BONES Not only is Ludwig van Beethoven considered to be among the foremost musical geniuses that the world has ever known, but he was also hearing impaired. He began to lose his hearing at age 31, and he was totally deaf at age 42. So, how was he able to write his musical masterpieces without being able to hear a note? Using the same principle that makes a bone conduction hearing instrument work, Beethoven held a baton between his teeth and placed one end against a musical instrument. In this way, he was able to conduct sound vibrations through the stick to his teeth and on to the bones of his skull and into his inner ear. The human ear is an amazing instrument. When its parts break down or fail to function properly, however, today’s remarkable technology is doing its best to keep pace to help the hearing impaired once again enjoy the sounds of the world around them. If you have concerns about your hearing, or a parent or other family member’s hearing abilities, we hope you’ll feel comfortable discussing today’s options for better hearing with a Board Certified Hearing Instrument Specialist at FAMILY HEARING CARE CENTER. Our facilities are full-service at 534 Main Street (Rt. 18), across from the Stetson Bldg. in Weymouth, and we welcome you to stop by or call us at 781-337-1144.
LIVING WITH TINNITUS Tinnitus is the phantom ringing, buzzing, and whistling in the ear that arises from a malfunction in the ear, auditory nerve, or the brain. This noise that no one other than the person affected can hear is nearly always accompanied by hearing loss. The millions of tinnitus sufferers who annually seek medical advice for tinnitus are usually referred to an otolaryngologist and an audiologist for a hearing test. While some find that the condition can be silenced by treating an underlying condition (such as ear-wax buildup), most must find some way to live with it. Many are helped with hearing instruments that increase the sounds they want to hear and drown out those they don’t with built-in sound maskers. At FAMILY HEARING CARE CENTER, we recognize that there are varied needs and uses for different kinds of hearing instruments. We carry a full range of styles of hearing aids because we want our patients to end up with the right kind of hearing aid that will enable them to hear to their best ability. And whether you’re dealing with tinnitus or hearing loss, you can count on us at 534 Main Street (Rt. 18), across from the Stetson Bldg. in Weymouth, for free hearing tests, experienced, knowledgeable recommendations, evaluations, fittings, and follow-up support. We can be reached at 781-337-1144. We accept most HMOs, State GIC, Union Benefits, and Mass Health. |