How Hearing Aids Help With Tinnitus

Hearing aids are an effective treatment option for patients who both suffer from tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and a hearing loss that would benefit from hearing instruments. Three manufacturers of hearing aids- Siemens, GN ReSound, and Widex include a variety of tinnitus treatment options within the hearing aid circuits. These options include white noise, pink noise, or "Zen" noise introduced into the hearing aid. Activated by the audiologist, the customized sounds are mixed into the hearing aid at a loudness level that attenuates the tinnitus and amplifies speech. Maskers are no longer recommended. Over time (six to eighteen months), the user reports diminished perception of tinnitus. A control can be provided to change the ratio of the tinnitus noise to the gain of the hearing aid for those who report fluctuating tinnitus.

For more information on tinnitus, click here!

Hearing Screening vs. Hearing Test

Hearing Screening vs. Hearing Evaluation

Often at a company or community center sponsored health fair, individuals receive free hearing screenings. There are many differences between hearing screenings and hearing tests. It's important to know these differences in the event that further testing is required.

Hearing Screenings

A hearing screening tests four frequencies at 25 dB. If the individual hears all four frequencies, they pass the screening. However, if the individual does not hear all four frequencies, further testing is recommended. A screening onlydetermines the need for further testing. A screening usually takes 3-4 minutes. 

Hearing Test

A hearing test examines all three parts of the ear and usually takes about an hour.

• Outer Ear
  • First, the audiologist will look in the ear to make sure there's no fluid or obstruction (infection). The pathway to the inner ear must be clear. If it is not, a medical doctor must see the patient to treat the cause of the obstruction.
• Middle Ear
  • Tympanometry is performed to test ear drum movement, the presence of fluid, and to confirm the absence of eustachian tube dysfunction.
  • Acoustic Reflex Testing is performed to check the muscles of the middle ear to see if it contracts in the presence of loud sound.
• Inner Ear
  • Speech and Tone Testing- to discover the full range of a patient's hearing
    • Test thresholds- testing the softest sounds that are audible
    • Test MCL- testing the most comfortable level of hearing
    • Test UCL- testing the most uncomfortable level of hearing
  • Air and Bone Conduction

Together, these tests tell the audiologist what type of hearing loss the individual has and where the loss is located.

For more information, visit our website!

Apps for Hearing Healthcare

There are several hearing healthcare related Apps available through iTunes.  Here are some Apps you may find helpful:

• Hearing Loss Simulator: by Starkey
• This App allows you to record your voice and discover what different levels of hearing loss "sound" like.
• Siemens Hearing Test: by Siemens
• Siemens created a hearing test App that allows you to test certain aspects of your hearing with a measure of accuracy.
• Volume Decibel Meter
• This App allows you to determine the decibel level of any environment.  Use this App to avoid volume levels that could damage your hearing.
• uHear by Unitron
• Unitron has provided a screening test to help you determine your risk of hearing loss.

Image provided courtesy of Salvatore Vuono of freedigitalphotos.net

New Study Suggests Hearing Loss May Accelerate Cognitive Decline

Dr. Frank Lin of The John Hopkins Center on Aging and Health recently released research detailing how hearing loss may accelerate the rate of mental decline among older adults. The study began in 1997-1998 and included nearly 2000 adults whose average age was 77. The Hearing Review notes the following highlights from the researchers' conclusions:

Our results demonstrate that hearing loss is independently associated with accelerated cognitive decline and incident cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older adults...The magnitude of these associations is clinically significant, with individuals having hearing loss demonstrating a 30% to 40% accelerated rate of cognitive decline and a 24% increased risk for incident cognitive impairment during a 6-year period compared with individuals having normal hearing.

...on average, individuals with hearing loss would require 7.7 years to decline by five points on the 3MS (the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination, a commonly accepted level of change indicative of cognitive impairment) compared with 10.9 years in individuals with normal hearing. 

In conclusion, our results suggest that hearing loss is associated with accelerated cognitive decline and incident cognitive impairment in older adults. Further research is needed to investigate what the mechanistic basis of this observed association is and whether such pathways would be amendable to hearing rehabilitative interventions.

 
For more information on Dr. Lin's research, click here.


Image provided courtesy of jscreationzs of freedigitalphotos.net

3 Things to Consider About Buying Hearing Aids Online- Part 3

"I see that hearing aids are available for purchase online. Is there a difference in the quality of the hearing aids?"

Yes! As we've been discussing, there are several considerations to make before purchasing hearing instruments online.  

• Will the hearing aid properly address my hearing loss?
• If your primary complaint is the inability to understand what people are saying in noisy environments, you may need a hearing instrument with more advanced digital noise suppression features. Read more by clicking here.
• How will the instruments be programmed to account for my particular hearing loss?
• Two people with the same hearing test results do not listen the same. People have varying degrees of speech comprehension, even when their hearing loss looks identical on an audiogram.  Therefore, an audiologist will adjust the hearing aid settings according to a variety of factors including how well you tolerate loud sounds, how clearly you follow speech in noise and quiet, and how well you understand rapid speech. Read more by clicking here.

The final consideration that must be made before deciding to buy a hearing aid online is: "Will the hearing aids account for my lifestyle?" Learning about an individual's hobbies, social activities, and employment is a necessary part of a thorough hearing evaluation. This helps an audiologist understand the different acoustic environments an individual will experience on a regular basis.  Does the individual swim, golf, bike, camp, work with wood or play sports consistently? Does the individual talk more often on a cell phone or land line phone?  How often does the individual travel?  Is the individual enrolled in school? Does he or she sing in a choir, speak to large gatherings, teach kindergartners, play an instrument, exhibit symptoms of tinnitus, etc.? These questions help the audiologist identify the type of technology and features an individual with hearing loss will require.  Below is a list of features contained within modern hearing aids:

1. Waterproof, dustproof, shock-proof casing
2. Wireless connection to telephones, television, computers, tablets, and iPods
3. Tinnitus Programming
4. Personal access to adjust hearing aids using iPhones, iPads, and Android powered devices
5. Wind Noise Reduction (for golfers and boaters)
6. Automatic programming for car travel
7. Hearing the caller's voice in both ears while conversing on a landline
8. Alarm system compatibility
9. Automatic Volume controls
10. No-whistle technology

For more information on buying hearing aids online, click here.

3 Things To Consider About Buying Hearing Aids Online Part 2

"I see that hearing aids are available for purchase online. Is there a difference in the quality of the hearing aids?"

Yes! As we talked about earlier in the week, most hearing aids sold online and at big box stores have circuits designed for adequate amplification in quiet environments. However, if your primary complaint is the inability to understand what people are saying in noisy environments, these hearing aids may not be able to compensate for your particular type of hearing loss. If you find it difficult to understand speech in restaurants or crowded rooms, children's and women's voices, and/or telephone conversations, more advanced digital noise suppression and other features may be required to compensate for your particular type of hearing loss. Therefore, the first consideration before you purchase hearing aids online is "Will the model of hearing aids really compensate for my hearing loss? Do they have the correct features to help me hear better in noise?" 

The second consideration when purchasing hearing aids online, is: "How will the instruments be programmed to account for my particular hearing loss?" Using an audiogram and the hearing aid manufacturer's guidelines for how the instrument should be programmed to compensate for the type of loss outlined in the audiogram may not be adequate to properly adjust the instrument's settings for how you listen. 

Two people with the same hearing test results do not listen the same.  

This means that people have varying degrees of speech comprehension, even when their hearing loss looks identical on an audiogram. Because of this, it is important to meet with an audiologist who can program the hearing aids to compensate for how you listen. An audiologist will adjust the hearing aid settings according to a variety of factors including how well you tolerate loud sounds, how clearly you follow speech in noise and in quiet, and how well you understand rapid speech.

For more information about how audiologists adjust hearing aids to compensate for an individual's level of speech understanding in the presence of noise, click here.

One more consideration must be made if you are thinking about purchasing hearing aids online...more next week!

Image provided courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

An App to Adjust Hearing Aids Using an iPhone

Multiple hearing aid manufacturers are working to create Apps that can access and adjust hearing aids using a handheld device like an iPad or iPhone. Siemens Hearing Instruments hopes to release an App in March that can be used by Apple and Android products to adjust Siemens hearing aids.  GN Resound recently introduced an App called ReSound Control.  This App enables ReSound Verso or Alera hearing aid wearers to adjust the volume of their hearing aids, choose between programming options, and adjust streaming volume by using their smartphone.  To utilize this App, an individual needs: iPhone 5, 4s, 4, or 3GS running iOS 5 or later OR Android smartphone running version 2.3 or later ReSound Unite Phone Clip+ ReSound Verso or Alera hearing aids For more information on the ReSound Control App, click here. The link also contains instructions on how to download the App to your device. Image provided by Stuart Miles of freedigitalphotos.net

3 Things to Consider About Buying Hearing Aids Online Part 1

"I see that hearing aids are available for purchase online.  Is there a difference in quality?"

YES! Most of the hearing aids sold on the internet have circuits designed for adequate amplification in quiet environments. However, if your primary complaint centers on difficulty hearing in the presence of background noise, these hearing aids may not be appropriate for you. Do you struggle to hear conversations in noisy places like restaurants? Are women and children more difficult to understand? Have you ever said: "I can hear you, but I can't understand what you're saying...."? Do you have difficulty conversing on the phone? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions and if you have a type and degree of hearing loss that will benefit from hearing aids, chances are you'll need a hearing instrument equipped with advanced noise suppression features.

Therefore, the first consideration before you purchase hearing aids online is "Will the model of hearing aids really compensate for my hearing loss? Do they have the correct features to help me hear better in noise?" 

For more information on hearing-in-noise solutions, click here.

Image provided courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

How Audiologists Adjust Hearing Aids to Fit Your Lifestyle

A local scientist came in today for a six month follow up visit. He has new, mid-level technology hearing aids that have been customized for his work and hobbies. It has been such fun to work with him.

For example, he is a boater, and he has an outboard motor on his ski boat. He sits at the stern while his kids sit up near the bow.  Needless to say, the noisy engine cuts out their voices. We gave him a "Boat-Talk" program with strong noise suppression to reduce the noise of the engine and at the same time enhance the volume of the kids' voices. It works.

He also drives a truck that he and his wife like to go out in for their Date Night each week. His hearing aids have a custom program called "Truck Talk" just for while they're in the truck. He pushes a button, and all four microphones automatically aim at his wife, instead of the dashboard. She is "riding shotgun" beside him. By changing their direction, they reduce road, wind, radio, and tire noise and pick up his wife's high pitched voice. It works.

When the phone rings, he keeps the cell phone in his pocket and pushes a button on his hearing aid remote control. "Hello"...as he answers the phone, the caller's voice is heard in each ear, improving the clarity of the call and eliminating the need to hold the phone while he talks. His hearing aids simultaneously turn the microphones off to reduce the surrounding noise of the truck. It works.

Once the couple arrives at the restaurant, she clips a wireless mini-mic to her blouse. Every time she talks, the hearing aids shut off the restaurant noise and her voice wirelessly transmits to his ears. This really works!

His lesson to me was at the beginning of his 6 month check up visit. He told me he had no idea that hearing aids could be this good! The dramatic difference between hearing with and without the aids, in all environments, has truly affected the quality of his life.

Don't let hearing loss keep you from connecting with loved ones, participating in social activities, and enjoying your favorite hobbies.  We can help! Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions.

Image provided courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

Hear Conversations in Noisy Places with Phonak's RemoteMic

Do you find it difficult to participate in conversations in noisy places? Phonak has introduced an accessory that will drastically improve your ability to hear the person you are speaking with in a crowded or noisy environment.  The RemoteMic is a small, lightweight, clip-on accessory that works with Phonak's comPilot.  It is a wireless microphone that transmits the speaker's voice directly to your hearing aids in distances of up to 60 feet for 8 hours. The RemoteMic is battery operated and rechargeable. It also supports the full hearing aid's bandwidth for natural speech.  For more information on the RemoteMic, click here.

Believe you might benefit from the RemoteMic?  Feel free to contact our office and speak with one of our clinical audiologists.

"When one person in the family has a hearing loss, the FAMILY has a hearing loss..."

I was reminded this past week that when one person in the family has a hearing loss, the FAMILY has a hearing loss...

A very young looking senior, her husband and adult daughter came this past week for a consultation. She was fit with hearing aids earlier this year at another local facility, had been back to see them a time or two...and reported difficulty hearing conversations, felt separated from her family, couldn't hear at her weekly book club meeting or on the telephone. A friend told her about us. Her husband and daughter indicated that she didn't begin to know what she wasn't hearing, and the television was too loud.

The hearing aids were in good working order, and were top-of-the-line premium hearing aids.  With the hearing aids on, I tested her word understanding ability: she closed her eyes, told me she could hear me well, even when she couldn't ready my lips, and repeated the words I read to her.  She correctly repeated only 32% of the words. She confidently thought she got most of them correctly, and she was surprised to hear her score. Even with the hearing aids, she couldn't understand words in a quiet setting.

I connected the hearing aids to the computer and saw that no modifications were made to the manufacturer's recommended settings. Based on the words she missed in the test, I modified the ear molds and hearing aid settings. I increased the noise suppression, gave her a special program for her club meetings, turned on the automatic telephone program, and counseled them on communicating in restaurants and other noisy places. When I retested her hearing, her score improved to 84%. I told the family about some free apps to practice and improve hearing in noise, and to understand rapid talkers. 

Sometimes what premium hearing aids need is an experienced audiologist, who takes the time to check perception hearing, AND listening.

Let me tell you, it is really fun to be an audiologist!

Don't hesitate to contact our office if you have any questions about your hearing healthcare.

How to Help A Loved One Get Help For Hearing Loss

Over the holiday season, you probably noticed some people in your family who aren't hearing well.  You might have even talked to them about getting their hearing checked.  Were you surprised by how resistant they were to the idea of having their hearing evaluated?  Statistics show that it takes an average of 7-10 years for a person to seek help for their hearing loss!  

People with hearing loss usually cannot understand how it is impacting their life and the people around them. It's difficult to understand what you're missing out on if you cannot hear it.  Also, because the effects of hearing loss are gradual, it's difficult for an individual to see how isolated they are becoming as they begin to avoid situations where they can't hear well.  If your loved one is resisting help for their hearing loss, here are some proven strategies to help them understand how it is impacting their life:

• Lovingly explain how the hearing loss is impacting your life. Help them discover how their hearing loss has become your hearing loss because you are always interpreting what others are saying and repeating yourself.
• Stop interpreting phone conversations
• Stop continually repeating what you say and raising your voice
• Avoid interpreting conversations and help your loved one see how their hearing loss is preventing them from connecting with the people they care about the most

Change usually happens best in an environment where the person with the problem is allowed to experience the consequences of the particular problem in a safe environment.  While it is difficult to allow a hearing loss sufferer who refuses to get help begin to experience the reality of their hearing loss, it may be a necessary step toward finding real solutions.  

If you have a loved one who is resisting help for their hearing, please don't hesitate to contact our office and speak with one of our clinical audiologists for some practical guidance and support.

Image provided courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net