What are "Allergies?"

An "allergy" is simply an over-reaction of the immune system to a substance that is inhaled, eaten, or touched and viewed as a threat. When a foreign substance is introduced to the body, the immune system may treat this usually harmless substance as a threat. It immediately produces antibodies to neutralize the threat and to protect the body from future "attacks" by the same substance. This process leads to the release of histamine. Histamine is a chemical that causes many of the symptoms associated with allergies including sneezing, inflammation, scratchy throat, and runny nose. Any substance that triggers an allergic reaction is known as an "allergen." Pollen, mold, dust, and animal dander are the most common allergens. Allergies can be inherited and are often unique to the individual. For more information on allergies, visit The Asthma and Allergy Foundation. Image provided courtesy of renjithkrishnan

How Hearing Aid Manufacturers Utilize Bluetooth Technology Differently

Each hearing aid manufacturer utilizes different accessories to make wireless streaming possible. Phonak's new bluetooth streamer features an all-in-one remote control with double the battery life of the older model. Widex bluetooth streamer features audible caller ID in both ears. Oticon features a "mini-mic" that your spouse can wear to further improve speech understanding in noisy environments. Siemens, Widex, and GN Resound do not require a neckloop antenna to receive sound. Chances are good that your hearing aids are already bluetooth compatible! If you are interested in more information, please consult one of our clinical audiologists.

How Bluetooth Technology Works

Bluetooth technology wirelessly streams the volume of an audio device to your hearing aids in multiple ways. Each hearing aid manufacturer utilizes different equipment to transmit the audio signal to the hearing aids. It typically involves a necklace known as a neck loop and a remote control.  Click here for a video from Oticon describing how bluetooth technology works.

Bluetooth Technology: "Bells and Whistles" or Necessity?

Hearing loss sufferers and their family members typically have four primary complaints: "I can't hear on the phone." "We have to shout so our loved one can hear what we're saying over the phone." "I have to turn up the TV really loud so I can hear it." "The TV has to be so loud we can't watch it together now." "I can't hear conversations in noisy places." "We have to get really close so our loved one can somewhat decipher what we're saying in crowded or noisy environments." "It's impossible to turn the computer volume level high enough to understand what's being said." Bluetooth  (wireless) technology makes the following solutions possible: Streaming the volume of phones, televisions, computers, and portable music players directly to your hearing aids Watching the television without having to adjust the volume level Hearing the television from anywhere in the house Hands free phone use Hearing telephone conversations in both ears Answering the telephone without leaving your seat Focusing on social activities and people around you instead of working hard to listen! For more information, visit our website!

New Hearing Aid for Treating Tinnitus

Siemens Hearing Instruments has released a new device to mask tinnitus and simultaneously work as a hearing aid. The Siemens Life hearing aid is equipped with 4 different "masking sounds" used to mask tinnitus and enhance hearing. It also contains: SoundLearning 2.0 which equips the hearing device to learn and automatically adjust to the wearer's unique hearing preferences regardless of environment Feedback Stopper which quickly identifies, isolates, and cancels whistling before it begins. SpeechFocus which helps the wearer understand speech from any direction more clearly. If you would like to know more about Siemens Life or other hearing aids that can help you cope with tinnitus, please call our offices to schedule a no-charge consultation with one of our clinical audiologists.

Treatments for Tinnitus

Interest in finding a cure for tinnitus has dramatically increased in recent years due to the number of soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffering from this condition.  Presently, over 50 trials are being conducted by the VA to find a cure for tinnitus.  Promising treatment options include:

Neuromonics of Australia

In 2005, neuromonic treatment of tinnitus was introduced in the United States after approval by the FDA.  This treatment involves an acoustic signal which targets the neural pathways in the brain to reprogram them to filter the sounds produced by a patient's particular type of tinnitus.  The process takes about six to eighteen months under the supervision of a clinical audiologist. 

Open-Fit Digital Hearing Aids

Nearly 80% of patients properly fit with open-fit, digital hearing aids report relief from tinnitus.  Because tinnitus usually accompanies hearing loss, hearing aids have traditionally been an effective treatment method to mask tinnitus.  Researchers have reported that the benefits of digital hearing aids in treating tinnitus increase dramatically every three months during the first year of wearing the hearing device.

The Future of Treating Tinnitus

Perhaps the most encouraging development in the treatment of tinnitus is a new compound under research at the University of Buffalo.  In controlled studies, the compound eliminated tinnitus with a single dose.  Research is ongoing.

For more information on tinnitus, visit our website!

Risk Factors for Tinnitus

There are multiple risk factors that can contribute to the potential onset of tinnitus. These risk factors include: Age related hearing loss Constant exposure to loud noise Consistent middle ear or sinus infections Constricted or poor blood flow due to atherosclerosis and/or kinking in the carotid artery or jugular vein History of migraine headaches Before deciding on a course of treatment, a clinical audiologist must first look for any potential contributing factors to the onset and presence of a patient's particular type of tinnitus. A thorough history and lifestyle evaluation must be completed. In many cases, lab work is essential to investigate various potential or contributing factors like salt intake, very high or very low blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.