Archive for the ‘Hearing Aids’ category

« Older Entries

Constant Ringing in Your Ears?

February 1st, 2012

By: Bettie Borton, Au.D., FAAA
Doctor of Audiology
Doctors Hearing Clinic
7025 Halcyon Park, Suite A
Montgomery, AL 36117
(334) 396-1635
“Like” Doctors Hearing Clinic | Facebook
www.doctorshearingclinic.com

If it seems like your ears ring constantly, it’s probably not crickets, your imagination or the economy . . . and you’re not alone. You may have tinnitus, an inner ear ailment that affects between 25 million to 50 million Americans — with about 12 million people experiencing such severe symptoms it affects their daily lives. The good news is treatment, including hearing aids, can offer relief to some from the persistent ringing, buzzing or humming associated with tinnitus, according to the Better Hearing Institute.

Tinnitus can be intermittent or constant. Causes range from ear infections and exposure to extremely loud noises, to underlying health problems like allergies or heart and blood pressure problems. Often, sufferers are unable to pinpoint the cause of their tinnitus. “Tinnitus can have a direct impact on a person’s emotional well being,” says Dr. Sergei Kochkin, BHI’s executive director. “Not only can their hearing be affected but also their ability to sleep or concentrate.”

Tinnitus Treatment, Ringing in the Ears CausesKochkin and Dr. Richard Tyler, professor and editor of The Consumer Handbook on Tinnitus (Auricle Ink, 2008), published a survey of 230 hearing health professionals in the United States and Canada. Their survey found that six out of 10 patients reported some tinnitus relief when using hearing aids and two out of 10 reported major relief. The symptoms of tinnitus “influence basic life functions such as socialization and relaxation,” the duo wrote. “In severe cases it can interfere with the individual’s ability to perform adequately on the job, or contribute to psychological disorders such as depression, suicide ideation, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety and anger.”

Although tinnitus is actually common and can cause major life disruptions, the number of sufferers who seek treatment for tinnitus is relatively small. One reason may be that they mistakenly believe their condition is untreatable. Unfortunately, many doctors are also unaware of the latest treatment options, and as a result patients may think they simply have to learn to live with the noise.

“No one should ever ignore persistent tinnitus,” Kochkin says. “Not only is every individual entitled to a chance to regain his or her quality of life, but in rare cases tinnitus also can be a symptom of a more serious health issue that could demand medical intervention. What’s more, nearly everyone with tinnitus has hearing loss as well.”

In a recent large-scale survey of the American hearing impaired population, 39 percent (more than 9 million adult Americans) indicated they had not sought help for their hearing loss specifically because they also had tinnitus. “Research shows that untreated hearing loss has its own negative social, psychological, cognitive and health effects on the individual suffering from it,” Kochkin adds. “So those with both untreated tinnitus and untreated hearing loss suffers an even more diminished quality of life than individuals with just tinnitus or just hearing loss alone.”

While hearing aids are not a cure for tinnitus, they may be able to help tinnitus patients by:

1. Improving communication and reducing stress, which makes it easier to cope with the condition.

2. Amplifying background sounds, which can make tinnitus seem less prominent.

A new type of hearing aid, called the open fit hearing aid, may be particularly useful in alleviating tinnitus. The open fit hearing aid can reduce the effects of the tinnitus ringing sensation while still allowing sounds from the outside to pass into the ear. If you think you have tinnitus have your hearing evaluated by an audiologist and to explore the use of hearing aids to alleviate tinnitus. The American Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO-HNS) and the American Tinnitus Association recommends these additional tips for minimizing the effects of tinnitus on your health:

1. Avoid exposure to loud sounds and noises.

2. Get your blood pressure checked. If it is high, get your doctor’s help to control it.

3. Decrease your intake of salt. Salt impairs blood circulation.

4. Avoid stimulants such as coffee, tea, cola, and tobacco.

5. Exercise daily to improve your circulation.

6. Get adequate rest and avoid fatigue.

7. Eliminate or reduce some stress in different parts of your life; stress often makes tinnitus worse.

8. Experiment by eliminating other possible sources of tinnitus aggravation, e.g. artificial sweeteners, sugar, alcohol, prescription or over-the-counter medications. (Do not stop taking medications without consulting with your health care professional about the possible ototoxic impact of your medications.)

No comments »

Posted in Alleviating Tinnitus, American Academy of Otolaryngology, American Tinnitus Association, Audiologist, Better Hearing Institute, Buzzing in ears, Causes of Tinnitus, Ear Infections, Ears Ring, Hearing, Hearing Aids, Hearing Health, Hearing Impaired, Hearing Loss, Hissing in ears, Humming in Ears, inner ear, Open Fit Hearing Aids, Persistent Ringing Ears, Ringing in the Ears, Symptoms of Tinnitus, tinnitus, Tinnitus Relief, Treatment for Tinnitus, Uncategorized, Untreated Hearing Loss

Tags:

Hearing Loss And Hearing Aid Myths Debunked – Fiction vs. Fact

January 18th, 2012

By Crystal L. Chalmers, Au.D.
Doctor of Audiology
North State Audiological Services
15 Jan Court
Chico, CA 95928
(888) 844-7024
Follow North State Audiological Services | Facebook | Twitter | Youtube
www.nsaudiology.com

A recently completed study by Johns Hopkins University – published on November 14, 2011 in the Archives of Internal Medicine – now confirms that 1 in 5 Americans have hearing loss in at least one ear.  This is well over 50 million people and far exceeds previous hearing care industry estimates of approximately 25 million.

The Johns Hopkins study is unique in that the data used statistically corresponded with the entire US population by including both men and women of all races, aged 12 and older, living in cities throughout the country.

Using the World Health Organization’s definition of hearing loss – not being able to hear sounds of 25 decibels or less in the speech frequencies – the Johns Hopkins researchers found that over 30 million Americans have hearing loss in both ears and that over 20% of the population – in excess of 50 million people – have hearing loss in at least one ear.

Despite there being so many of us with hearing difficulties, too many people are still unaware of how or where to obtain professional help as the misconceptions about hearing loss and hearing aids are commonplace in our society.   The fact that you are reading this article is an excellent first step towards empowering yourself (or a family member) and taking control of your hearing health.

Audiologist & Ear Doctor, Dr. Crystal Chalmers, Chico, CaliforniaCommon Hearing Loss and Hearing Aid Myths

Myth: Buying hearing aids online, by mail, or at a big box store saves time, money, and gets the same results as professionally fit devices.

Fact: The proper diagnosis and selection of hearing technology as a solution for hearing difficulties is not the same thing as purchasing common consumer goods.  Rather, it should be a process built upon a relationship of respect and trust between the patient and a highly trained, competent, and ethical professional whose services and products provide long-term value.

Myth: Anyone licensed to sell hearing aids is qualified to test a person’s hearing.

Fact: By law in the state of California, only audiologists are licensed to perform diagnostic hearing evaluations.  The “free” tests that hearing aid dispensers frequently advertise are not comprehensive exams and are merely designed to determine if a person could be helped by a hearing aid.

Myth: Hearing loss affects only “elderly” people and is merely a sign of aging.

Fact: Hearing loss can affect people of all ages.  As mentioned in the Johns Hopkins study, 20% of the US population aged 12 years and older have hearing difficulties severe enough to impact communication.

Myth: Hearing aids don’t really do anything but amplify sound.  Besides they’re unsightly and uncomfortable.

Fact: While the hearing aids from 20 years ago left a lot to be desired from both technology and cosmetic standpoints, today’s hearing devices are exceptional technological performers and are so small as to be very discreet.  However, the most important consideration for you, the consumer, is not what the product is, but rather how it is fit to your hearing lifestyle, and to what extent you are provided with expert follow-up in the fitting of that device.   That is what makes my patients so successful in being able to enjoy better hearing.

Would you like to learn more about solutions to hearing difficulties and  hearing aid technology?  Here are two great places to start:

#1.) My Internet website at www.nsaudiology.com. This educational website offers a world of information, including highly informative videos, a free guide to better hearing, online specials, current “News & Events”, and the “Ask Dr. Chalmers” section where I have posted previously published original articles such as the one you are reading now.

#2.) Attend my upcoming Free Educational Luncheon Seminar which will be held Wednesday, January 25, 2012, starting at 11:30 AM at the Chico Women’s Club.  I’ll be providing an in-depth discussion covering everything from how your hearing works, to what are the different types of hearing care professionals, to insights about technology solutions for hearing difficulties.  A delicious catered lunch will be served.  There is no cost or obligation to attend, but due to limited seating, reservations are required.  Simply call my office today at 1 (888) 893-1352 …. Because hearing is wonderful gift.

About the writer:  Crystal Chalmers, Au.D., is an AudigyCertified™ Doctor of Audiology, the owner of North State Audiological Services in Chico, and a member of Audigy Group, the nation’s largest member-owned association of independent hearing care professionals.

Since 2006, Audigy Group has interviewed over 5,000 of the 18,000 audiologists in the United States, yet has selected only 230 to be members in this elite association. AudigyCertified™ is a trade-mark of Audigy Group, LLC.

To learn more about Dr. Chalmers, her practice, and Audigy Group visit online at www.nsaudiology.com.

No comments »

Posted in Audiologist, Buy Hearing Aids, California, Chico, Diagnostic Evaluations, Doctor of Audiology, Hearing Aid, Hearing Aid Dispensers, Hearing Aid Technology, Hearing Aids, Hearing Care, Hearing Difficulty, Hearing Health, Hearing Lifestyles, Hearing Loss, Hearing Technology, North State Audiological Serivces

Tags:

Make the Most of Your Hearing – (re) Train Your Brain!

November 23rd, 2011

By: Bettie Borton, Au.D., FAAA
Doctor of Audiology
Doctors Hearing Clinic
7025 Halcyon Park, Suite A
Montgomery, AL 36117
(334) 396-1635
“Like” Doctors Hearing Clinic | Facebook
www.doctorshearingclinic.com

We hear in our ears, but we process and understand sound in our brain. Hearing aids can help a person detect that are no longer in their range of audibility, but they don’t necessarily provide good listening skills. There is a fundamental difference between hearing and listening, and hearing devices alone do not assure good listening. We all know people who have normal hearing but are poor listeners (ok, ok, don’t reference your spouse’s selective hearing!). Hearing requires a functional auditory system that allows sound to be heard, listening requires specific effort and skill, and that can become more difficult when a hearing loss is present.

As technically advanced as modern hearing aids might be, these devices alone cannot ensure listening skills needed for communication. Listening integrates a number of skills including attending, understanding, and remembering. Unfortunately, many of these cognitive skills deteriorate as we age. This may show up as a worsening of short-term memory, or increasing difficulty understanding rapid speech. Modern hearing aids have certainly improved the quality of sound in noisy environments, but they do not eliminate background sounds. People with sensorineural hearing loss have disproportionately difficult time understanding speech in noise. In addition, research shows that a loss of hearing produces physical changes in the auditory pathways of the brain. We now know that when hearing loss deprives parts of the brain of auditory stimulation, neural pathways actually degrade. The old adage of “use it or lose it” is very true with regard to hearing loss- waiting to get hearing aids when you know you have hearing loss is problematic because your brain may not be receiving the kind of stimulation it needs to maintain speech understanding.

Bettie Borton, Au.D. Doctor of Audiology AudiologistWhen people lose confidence in their ability to communicate in noisy social situations, they simply drop out and avoid those environments. While this may save them effort and embarrassment, it ultimately costs them important personal and social contact. Some individuals utilize compensatory strategies that may result in successful hearing aid use. Others, however, are not so fortunate. The need for additional therapy beyond that provided by devices alone is becoming increasingly evident, and is underscored by the fact that individuals with similar hearing loss frequently report a wide range in satisfaction and benefit from their hearing aids.

The good news is a Board Certified Audiologist can optimize your hearing aid hearing experience using a number of methods, strategies and techniques. The hearing healthcare professionals at Doctors Hearing Clinic specialize in developing individualized treatment plans for those struggling with hearing impairment, and can offer the very latest in technologies, as well as the time required to successfully implement them! Have realistic expectations for hearing aids – they’re wonderful devices, but not new ears. Join a self help group to share methods and techniques that are successful for you and others (Montgomery has a Hearing Loss Support Group that meets the second Thursday of each month at the First Methodist Church, 4 PM, free of charge!). And consider new computer software to “train your brain” to listen more effectively!

The great news is that with the help of a skilled Audiologist who routinely offers programs in aural rehabilitation, you or your loved ones can keep listening skills from deteriorating and improve ability to function in noisy situations. When a person injures an arm or leg, everyone recognizes the importance of physical therapy to strengthen adjacent muscles and instruction to optimize function. Similarly, it is likely that hearing devices alone will not produce optimal communication skills unless accompanied by counseling and training.

There are many exercises you can try on your own. Here are three examples:

• Use closed- captioned TV, or record programs using a DVR or TIVO. Watch the show live. Then replay it with closed captioning or by slowing it down.

• Listen to, while reading, audio books.

• Buy two copies of the newspaper. Have your spouse or colleague read the newspaper aloud while you are listening only, and then go ahead and read it yourself. Try this in quiet at first, and then proceed to noisier listening environments.

• Try self-help computer assisted training programs

One such auditory training therapy program designed to help the brain listen, Listening and Communication Enhancement (LACE) uses a computer or DVD. LACE is designed to enhance listening and communication skills, improve confidence levels, and provide communication strategies. The program consists of a variety of interactive and adaptive training tasks for listening to speech in noise, rapid speech, and auditory memory. Besides the immediate feedback given for each task, LACE provides you with a graph depicting daily improvement from the start of the training.

LACE training is conducted in the privacy of your own home at a pace comfortable to you; Doctors Hearing Clinic also offers a computer lab where you can take all or part of the training in their office. Research on thousands of people with hearing loss demonstrates that you can expect on average a 40% improvement of speech comprehension in noisy situations, if you complete the training program.

So if you or someone you love uses hearing devices, take the important step of seeking help from a Board Certified Audiologist to help you develop a comprehensive strategy for hearing and communication skills – train your brain for listening!

References: Robert W. Sweetow, Ph.D., Professor of Otolaryngology, University of California, San Francisco and the Better Hearing Institute

No comments »

Posted in Audiologist, Communication, Communication Strategies, Hearing Aids, Hearing Loss, LACE, Listening Tips, Sensorineural Hearing Loss, Uncategorized

Tags:

You bought new hearing technology, but, you still have difficulty hearing in noise. What’s going on??

November 3rd, 2011

By: Amit Gosalia, Au.D., FAAA
Board Certified Doctor of Audiology
Audiology Clinic, Inc.
505 NE 87th Ave., #150
Vancouver, WA 98664
(360) 892-9367
Follow Audiology Clinic | Facebook | Twitter
www.audiologyclinic.com 

“Dr. Gosalia, I just bought a pair of $8500 hearing aids from XYZ in Portland. I was told that I would hear normally in all environments, including restaurants and ball-games. I am less than pleased because I still can’t hear or understand in noise. Did I waste my money?”

Amit Gosalia, Au.D. - Doctor of Audiology, Vancouver, WAThis was a case I dealt with a few months ago. This patient went to a business to purchase hearing aids, and this franchise/chain location set some lofty expectations for the patient. As hearing instrument technology improves, so do patient expectations. Terms such as noise reduction, noise management & directional hearing (along with many other proprietary terms) give the perception that the end-user will not hear background noise, and only hear the person in front of them. Unfortunately and fortunately, this is not true. Below I’ve touched the surface of noise, noise reduction and directivity.

Let’s start with noise. Noise is any disrupting event (in this case, sound) that impedes one’s ability to sense (in this case, hear) a signal (in this case, speech). For the purpose of this post, we’ll concentrate on hearing speech within a noisy environment. A general term and formula that is used in hearing healthcare is Speech-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) which tells us how loud speech is in relation to noise. For example, average speech is 45-55 decibels (dB) hearing speech in a basketball stadium where the crowd is cheering over 90 dB is difficult because the speech is 35-45 dB lower than the noise. This is considered a very low SNR; now compare this to speaking at a normal volume in a quiet library, the SNR will be high making speech much easier to understand. When someone has a hearing loss things change. Without amplification important parts of speech are not heard well, making understanding the person next to you difficult, if not impossible. The natural ability of any person to hear through noise decreases as hearing loss increases. This is a fact that has been well established in research on the human auditory system. Thus, a hearing aid can help make missing pieces of speech more easily heard but it cannot repair one’s ability to hear through noise and find valuable pieces of speech. For this reason, modern hearing aids focus on managing noise and amplifying clean speech.

Hearing instruments can come with or without venting. Vents are holes that are drilled through either the hearing instrument or the earmold for the purpose of letting air and sound travel in and out of the ear canal. The larger the vent, the closer you get to a more natural, open ear. Newer technology has allowed us to keep the ear open with small hearing instruments that rest behind the ear and even some custom molded devices (please see other postings for detailed descriptions of hearing technology). As cute as they may be, if your hearing is not within or near normal limits in the lower frequencies, an open ear device may not be for you.

One advantage of an open ear hearing aid is to allow low frequency sound to escape the ear canal, keeping the user’s voice more natural. When the user complains of hearing their own voice in their head or sounding as if they are speaking in a barrel, it’s usually a phenomenon called occlusion (or ampclusion). Keeping an ear canal open minimizes this effect but also introduces two detrimental issues. First, low frequency environmental sounds will bypass the hearing aid and travel into the ear naturally through the vent. These sounds that bypass the hearing aid are often heard naturally because most hearing losses are minimal in the low-frequencies and greater in the high-frequencies. This also means that the hearing aid is not able to process the sound before it’s heard, so technologies such as noise reduction do not affect low-frequency sounds in the open ear hearing aid.

Secondly, directional microphones will prove less beneficial in the open-ear fitting.2 What this means is that the more open the ear canal, the harder it becomes to hear what’s in front of you. So, theoretically, if our goal is to have the instruments focus more front-facing, the ear canal should not be very open. Note that normal low frequency hearing will be affected by closing the ear canal, and opening the canal with moderate to profound low frequency hearing will result in less hearing in those frequencies.1,2

So, what does this tell us about hearing in noise with amplification? You will hear background noise in noisy environments. You will most likely hear the kids screaming four tables away. You may still have difficulties hearing the person across the table from you. The good news is that with proper hearing aid selection and the correct technology that meets your lifestyle and budget, you’ll hear much better. Only a well trained hearing care professional can make these choices and help you to establish reasonable expectations for better hearing.

“Ms. XX, although the level of technology you purchased is consistent with an Active Lifestyle (in our clinic approx $7500 – $1000 less than the chain!!), you should know that hearing aids only supplement your hearing in those difficult environments. In fact, with normal hearing, I have difficulty hearing at basketball games and certain restaurants as well. Although we can not restore normal hearing, we can help you hear much better in more environments. You will still have some difficulty hearing and understanding in certain environments, but, with some realistic expectations, expert advice, and some auditory retraining, you will find greater success.”

 

1 What is the Effect of Venting on Directivity? Audiology Online 10/2009; Todd A. Ricketts, Ph.D., CCC-A, FAAA

2 Efficacy of an Open-Fitting Hearing Aid; Hearing Review February 2005; Francis Kuk, Phd, et al

No comments »

Posted in Audible, Audiologist, Audiology, Directional Hearing, Doctor of Audiology, Ear Canal, Earmolds, Hearing Aids, Hearing Care, Hearing Healthcare, Hearing Instruments, Hearing Loss, Hearing Technology, Human Auditory System, Open Fit Hearing Aids, Uncategorized

Tags:

It Doesn’t Really Matter If I Wear My Hearing Aids, RIGHT?

October 28th, 2011

By: Bettie Borton, Au.D., FAAA
Doctor of Audiology
Doctors Hearing Clinic
7025 Halcyon Park, Suite A
Montgomery, AL 36117
(334) 396-1635
www.doctorshearingclinic.com

WRONG! According to ScienceDaily (Sep. 20, 2011), mild hearing loss has now been linked to brain atrophy in older adults. Anecdotally, over the course of my 30+ years in private practice as a Board Certified Audiologist, I’ve observed this to be true. But now, more and more research is indicating strong correlation between failure to obtain or use hearing devices and increased problems with understanding speech and cognition.

Bettie Borton, Au.D. Doctor of Audiology AudiologistWe have all heard (or perhaps experienced) the complaint that despite the fact that speech is audible, it’s not understandable. “I hear but I can’t understand” is probably the most commonly voiced concern in my office. So, if someone has hearing loss, if your hearing aids make sounds louder, why doesn’t that solve all hearing related issues? Well, like lots of things in life, it’s just not that simple.

A person’s audiogram (or those little blue X’s and red O’s on the graph of your responses to the “beeps”) tells us a lot, but it does not yield the whole story. Hearing thresholds (or the point at which someone is just barely able to detect sound across the frequency range) are certainly important, but don’t give much information regarding how well someone will understand when speech sounds are made sufficiently loud. Word recognition testing, with and without noise, provides additional information regarding this capability, and as a by-product, an indirect measure of the distortional component inherent to sensorineural hearing loss.

We now have mounting evidence that those who have hearing loss, but fail to get and/or use hearing devices run the risk of depriving their auditory system of sufficient loudness, which in turn results in degradation of the mechanisms responsible for understanding speech. A new study by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania shows that declines in hearing ability may accelerate gray mater atrophy in auditory areas of the brain and increase the listening effort necessary for older adults to successfully comprehend speech. When any one of our senses (smell, taste, sight, hearing, or touch) is changed in some way, the brain reorganizes and adjusts. In the case of those with hearing loss, researchers found that the gray matter density of brain in areas specific to hearing was lower in people with decreased hearing ability, suggesting a link between hearing ability and brain volume.

So, use it or lose it may be the prevailing philosophy. Take heart (and USE those instruments that you have!) According to this study,  early intervention for hearing loss with the consistent use of amplification can slow the progression of speech comprehension difficulty. “As hearing ability declines with age, interventions such as hearing aids should be considered not only to improve hearing but to preserve the brain,” said lead author Jonathan Peelle, PhD, research associate in the Department of Neurology. “People hear differently, and those with even moderate hearing loss may have to work harder to understand complex sentences.”

In two recent research studies, researchers measured the relationship of hearing acuity to the brain, first measuring the brain’s response to increasingly complex sentences and then measuring cortical brain volume in auditory cortex.  Results indicate that older adults (60-77 years of age) with normal hearing for their age were evaluated to determine whether normal variations in hearing ability impacted the structure or function of the network of areas in the brain supporting speech comprehension.

The studies found that people with hearing loss showed less brain activity on functional MRI scans when listening to complex sentences. Poorer hearers also had less gray matter in the auditory cortex, suggesting that areas of the brain related to auditory processing may show accelerated atrophy when hearing ability declines.

In general, research suggests that hearing sensitivity has important consequences for neural processes supporting both speech perception and cognition. Although most the research has been conducted in older adults, the findings also have implications for younger adults, including those concerned about listening to music at loud volumes. “Your hearing ability directly affects how the brain processes sounds, including speech,” says Dr. Peelle. “Preserving your hearing doesn’t only protect your ears, but also helps your brain perform at its best.”

Physicians should monitor hearing in patients as they age, and everyone should have a baseline audiogram performed by a Board Certified Audiologist, looking specifically at speech recognition abilities even in the presence of normal hearing. Patients should talk to their physician or audiologist if they are experiencing any difficulty hearing or understanding speech. If your physician has not referred you for hearing evaluation, take action!

The research cited above in this article appears in the latest edition of The Journal of Neuroscience and was funded by the National Institutes of Health.

 

No comments »

Posted in Advanced Hearing Technology, Au.D., Bettie Borton, Board Certified Audiologist, Communication, Diagnostic Testing, Digital Hearing Aids, Doctor of Audiology, Ear Protection, Hearing, Hearing Aid, Hearing Aids, Hearing Assessment, Hearing Care, Hearing Test, Hearing Tested, Hearing Threshold, Signs of Hearing Loss

Tags:

Consumer Protection Laws & Regulations for Hearing Aid Purchases

October 12th, 2011

By Crystal L. Chalmers, Au.D.
Doctor of Audiology
North State Audiological Services
15 Jan Court
Chico, CA 95928
(888) 844-7024
Follow North State Audiological Services | Facebook | Twitter | Youtube
www.nsaudiology.com

Here in California – as in many states – purchasers of hearing aids are afforded protections under state laws and regulations administered by the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) through the Speech-Language and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispenser Board (SLPAHADB).

The SLPAHADB was formed on January 1, 2010 by combining the Speech Language Pathology and Audiology Board with the Hearing Aid Dispensers Board.  Previous laws and regulations remain virtually unchanged except that audiologists are no longer required to hold dual licensure for practicing audiology and dispensing hearing aids.

Audiologist & Ear Doctor, Dr. Crystal Chalmers, Chico, CaliforniaThis board’s mission is ensuring the competency and fair practices of hearing aid dispensers.  It does so by providing licensure through testing, ethical guidelines, boundaries for advertising practices, and acts as a vehicle for consumer complaints, ultimately providing enforcement and disciplinary functions.

While political discussion in the media about government intrusion in our lives is a hotbed topic, consumer protection laws are generally an accepted interaction between the citizenry and government.  Who wants to buy poisonous food, cars that don’t run, or housing that collapses in the slightest breeze, to name just a few examples?

Why should it be any different with hearing aids?   Purchasers have a right to expect fair and honest treatment as well as professional expertise from those they seek help.  It could be argued that hearing aid purchasers – many of whom are our senior citizens – should receive an added degree of protection as many of our laws are designed to protect us as we age beyond our more active years, and thereby tend to rely on the care and guidance of those who are younger.

While all the laws and regulations are too lengthy to list here, these are several of the most important.  For the full listings, visit the SLPAHADB website at www.speechandhearing.ca.gov

  • 30 Day Warranty  – The “Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act” provides a 30 day warranty on all new and used hearing aids.  If the hearing aid is not specifically fit for the buyer’s particular needs, the device may be returned to the dispenser within 30 days of the of the date of the actual receipt by the buyer or completion of fitting by the seller, whichever occurs later.  If the buyer returns the device the seller must either adjust or replace the device or promptly refund the total amount paid.

It should be noted that while many dispensers advertise things like “30 day risk-free guarantee” they are merely staying within the state mandated minimum trial period of 30 days.  My professional opinion is that for many purchasers, 30 days is too short as it does not allow enough time for the brain to get used to hearing again.  In my practice, I offer a 75 day trial period in order to make certain my patients have all the time they need to be successful.

  • Mail Order & Internet Sales  – California law provides that mail order/Internet hearing aids may only be purchased through a dispenser licensed in California.  The law also states that that when hearing aids are purchased by mail order/Internet, there must be no fitting, selection, or adaptation of the instrument and that the seller must not give any advice with respect to the taking of an ear impression(s). Anyone contemplating this avenue should be aware of potential risks as to work effectively, hearing aids must fit correctly.  If a sale doesn’t involve personal contact between the dispenser and buyer, it is difficult to assume that proper fitting and follow-up care could occur.
  • In-Home Contracts & Cancellation Rights – If you sign a hearing aid purchase contract in your home, federal and state laws allow you to cancel it for any reason by midnight of the third business day after you signed the contract.
  • Advertising Guidelines –  Did you know that in California, hearing aid dispensers are not licensed to perform diagnostic hearing evaluations (only audiologists are licensed to do so) and are therefore not allowed to charge a fee for “testing”?  That is why they advertise “free” tests, BUT they must state that the “test” is “to determine if you could be helped by a hearing aid.”

No one selling hearing aids in California can refer to themselves as a “specialist” without including the title “hearing aid dispenser”, nor can anyone refer to certification by putting a bunch of letters after their name.  For example, this listing: “John Doe, NB-HIS” is unlawful.  The correct listing should be:  “John Doe, Hearing Aid Dispenser, Lic. No. XXXX, NB-HIS, Certified by the National Board of Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences”

Have you ever received one of those “rebate coupons” that resemble checks as part of a direct mail solicitation?  It is a violation to send those to anyone living in California.

And finally, no California licensed hearing aid dispenser can use the terms “doctor” or “physician” or “clinic” or “audiologist” or any derivation thereof, except as authorized by law.

These are just a few of the consumer protections for purchasing hearing aids.   I urge you to be good consumers by getting the facts and educating yourself about where you stand and whom it is that you are considering doing business with.  You’ve worked hard all your life and deserve to be treated fairly, professionally, and with what is in your best interest  …. Because hearing is a wonderful gift!

About the writer:  Crystal Chalmers, Au.D., is an AudigyCertified™ Doctor of Audiology, the owner of North State Audiological Services in Chico, and a member of AudigyGroup, the nation’s largest member-owned association of independent hearing care professionals.

Since 2006, AudigyGroup has interviewed over 5,000 of the 18,000 audiologists in the United States, yet has selected only 200 to be members in this elite association. AudigyCertified™ is a trade-mark of AudigyGroup, LLC.

To learn more about Dr. Chalmers, her practice, and AudigyGroup visit online at www.nsaudiology.com

No comments »

Posted in Assisitve Listening Technology, Assistive Listening Device, Au.D., Audigy Group, AudigyCertified, Audiologist, Audiology, Chico, Crystal Chalmers, Digital Hearing Aids, Digital Hearing Devices, Doctor of Audiology, Earmolds, Hearing, Hearing Aid, Hearing Aids, Hearing Care, Hearing Device, North State Audiological Serivces

Tags:

Stop Transactional Hearing Care!

September 21st, 2011

By: Dr. Helen Hallenbeck
Board Certfied Audiologist
Vibrant Hearing
601 South Orange Street
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 549-1951 
www.myvibrantsound.com

A gentleman called yesterday and wondered if one of our audiologists would please make an impression of his ear. He found a hearing aid and wanted to “whittle on it” to make it fit his ear better. My first reaction (after “YUCK!”) was Why in the world would anyone want to wear a hearing aid that was customized for another person’s ear and hearing loss?!?!

Helen Hallenbeck, Audiologist Missoula, MTWas it a fundamental lack of understanding of the complexities of hearing loss and the insidious impact that loss has on relationships, communication patterns and lifestyle? Was it financial limitations? It takes an average of 7 years from the moment a person realizes they have a hearing loss until that person decides to get help. Throughout that period of emerging awareness, the person with a hearing loss is bombarded with mixed marketing messages. “Our Amazing Hearing Aids get rid of ALL unwanted background noise!” “Our Amazing Hearing Aids are INVISIBLE!” Our Amazing Hearing Aids will let you hear ONLY what you want to hear!”. In addition to the inexcusable exaggeration of the capabilities of any hearing technology, the hearing aid companies lure people in with FREE! everything.

Is it any wonder, when a person is finally ready to make the deeply personal and incredibly important  investment, that they fundamentally misunderstand what it is they are investing in and who it is they are investing with? The gentleman’s request for an ear impression so he could make his own hearing aid should not come as a surprise. The  hearing industry has painted themselves into a corner with salesmanship and bottom-dollar marketing. As a result the industry has devalued it’s very existence.

The truth is, hearing loss is complicated, frustrating and has a profound negative impact on the lives of the people that are affected. It is time the industry began to address the PERSON with the hearing loss. Today’s hearing technology is truly amazing and an appropriate solution can be found to fit within virtually any budget. But unless that technology has been chosen specifically for the individual, with all of his needs, desires, concerns, question and fears having been accounted for and carefully considered, then the technology has been wasted.

Let us each  work to make rigorous diagnostics, counseling, education, prevention and rehabilitation the expectation of the consumer.  Let’s stop the transactional process of hearing care that so dominates this industry and start humanizing what is truly a disability.

2 comments »

Posted in Hearing Aid, Hearing Aids, Hearing Care, Hearing Loss, hearing needs, Hearing Problem, Helen Hallenbeck, Missoula, Uncategorized, Vibrant Hearing

Tags:

Hearing with Only One Ear (Unilateral Hearing Loss)

July 27th, 2011

By: Joan D’Alessandro, Au.D.
Doctor of Audiology
Advanced Hearing & Balance Care
30 South Valley Rd., Ste. 208
Paoli, PA 19301
(610) 296-5857
www.hearingcare4u.com

Hearing loss in one ear can result from several disorders or injuries:

  • Bacterial  infections
  • Head injury
  • Vascular (blood supply) problem
  • Meniere’s disease
  • Viral infection (herpes)
  • Acoustic or 8th nerve tumor
  • Acoustic trauma (sudden loud noise to one ear)

Patients who suffer a severe to profound hearing loss in one ear report no comprehension difficulty in quiet, one-one-one conversations.  However, understanding conversation in less than ideal listening situations is severely compromised.  These include noisy areas such as restaurants,  group conversations and reverberant areas such as churches, gyms, and indoor swimming pools.

Why are these areas so challenging for those with unilateral deafness?  Your ears individually and collectively gather acoustic information and relay those signals to the auditory reception centers in your brain.  With only one ear collecting information, the auditory centers are starved for the complete acoustic picture normally provided by two ears.  When this information is lacking, a number of things  happen that impair your ability to organize and make sense of speech.

Joan D'Alessandro, Au.D. - Doctor of Audiology, Paoli, PennsylvaniaHead Shadow Effect

When a sound occurs toward the deaf ear, the arrival of that sound at the hearing ear is partially blocked by your head, commonly known as the head shadow effect.  The sounds most easily blocked are the higher pitches which are absolutely  necessary for accurate perception of the voiceless consonant sounds of speech, the s,c,f,t,p,ch and  sh sounds.  These consonants allow us to tell the difference between words like teach versus feast and distillery versus facility. This word discrimination ability is compromised by hearing with only one ear because of the head shadow effect.

Localization Ability

Your brain needs well-balanced sound information from both ears for you to be able to easily pick out the direction from which a sound originates.  Both a sound’s time of arrival (it arrives a few milliseconds faster at the ear closest to the sound) and its intensity or loudness (louder for the ear closest to the sound) are cues that your brain uses to locate the source of a sound.  When you have only one ear, all sounds seem to be coming from the side of the  good ear, even when originating from the bad ear side.  So someone with hearing in only one ear lacks the instantaneous locating cues of time and intensity.  If someone calls your name outdoors, you have to turn your head around to locate the source and it may take several repetitions to accurately pinpoint the source.

Sound Summation and Noise Squelch

To your brain, one ear + one ear = three!  A sound which is barely audible at 20 feet away with only one ear, is easily audible at 30 feet when two ears are listening.  This is called the binaural summation effect and is the result of the two hearing nerves crossing many hundreds of times before the information reaches the cortex.  This crossing or decussation results in the enhancement of sound, so softer sounds become audible.

In addition, this neural sharing contributes to an advantage, known as binaural squelch, when listening in background noise.  This ‘squelch’ provides 3 decibels more signal than noise, also known as the signal –to- noise ratio or SNR.  Even though three  decibels may not seem like much, the decibel is a logarithmic function much like the Richter scale for earthquake measurement.   For every 3 decibels, sound power actually doubles. So three decibels extra is a significant amount and allows for easier understanding in noisy situations.

Solutions for Those with Only One Hearing Ear

The traditional hearing aid solution for unilateral hearing loss has been the use of a CROS hearing aid. The acronym stands for Contralateral Routing of Sound and employs a unit on the dead ear which contains a microphone to pick up sounds arriving on that dead side.  Those sounds are then transmitted wirelessly to a receiver unit on the good side. The sounds from the dead side are then routed into the good ear.

This CROS type aid prevents the head shadow effect but does nothing for localization ability and does not provide binaural summation or squelch.

If the hearing loss is in the  severe category, a traditional hearing aid either in a behind-the-ear(BTE) or in-the-ear style  can be fit.  As with all hearing aids fittings there is an accommodation period during which the patient learns to use the acoustic information from the damaged ear.  The sooner the fitting is done, the more likely the patient will be a successful hearing aid user.

A fairly recent surgical solution for single-sided deafness (SSD) is the implantation of a BAHA or Bone-Anchored Hearing Aid.  This surgical implant uses bone conduction to send sounds from the bad ear side to the good ear via an implant with a microprocessor that adheres to a magnet under your scalp.  The processor is detachable for showering, etc., and is easily hidden underneath your hair.  Again, the BAHA does not accomplish true binaural hearing but does lessen the head shadow effect and some recipients do notice improved localization ability after use of the BAHA for some time.

Our brains are wired to receive information from both ears. Loss of hearing in one ear is a significant handicap with which many people cope through the use of CROS type hearing aids, BAHA implant and positioning themselves  to maximize the best sound reception to the hearing ear.

2 comments »

Posted in Advanced Hearing & Balance Care, Audible, Binaural, Binaural Hearing, Deaf Ears, Decibles, Ears, Hearing Aid Compatible, Hearing Aid Styles, Hearing Aid Technology, Hearing Aids, Hearing Ear, Hearing Loss, Joan D'Alessandro, Listening Situations, Listening Tips, Paoli, Pennsylvania, Uncategorized, Unilateral Deafness

Tags:

Musically Trained Ears & Learning to Hear with Hearing Loss

July 21st, 2011

By: Suzanne Yoder, Au.D.
Doctor of Audiology
HearWell Center
2400 Ardmore Blvd., Suite 401
Pittsburgh, PA 15221
(412) 271-3002
Follow HearWell Center | Facebook | Twitter
www.hearwellcenter.com

Professional and highly skilled musicians have taught researchers in audiology and hearing science that the ear can be trained with practice. The studies have uncovered that musical training creates more activity in the brain of the listener to help sort wanted sounds from unwanted sounds. Research further demonstrated that musicians have a listening skill that is helpful not only in musical applications but in other real world listening situations such as hearing in noise. Noisy environments are challenging for every listener. Normal hearing individuals will understand between 60-70 % of speech in the presence high noise levels. Good listeners will employ a number of skills in order to understand speech in noise including filling in the blank when a word is not heard, watching for visual input (lipreading and gestures), standing closer and leaning in towards the speaker. With these skills a good listener, even in noise, will be able to follow conversations fairly well.

Noise is naturally disruptive to understanding speech and more so in individuals with hearing loss. Most hearing disorders are a result of permanent damage to the delicate structures of the inner ear including the cochlear hair cells. The more severe the loss, the more damage there is to these hair cells leading to increasingly distorted and muted sound signals to brain and a loss of specificity for speech. Therefore, individuals with hearing loss who wish to communicate verbally must learn additional coping and listening skills to offset this specificity loss.

Hearing aids and assistive listening devices are very important for treating hearing loss but they are not the only treatment necessary for learning to hear again. Since most people delay getting hearing aids for years the consequence is an under-stimulated auditory system. People with long standing, untreated hearing loss become accustomed to not hearing and consequently, not listening. This is not a surprise since it is hard work to listen when you can’t hear and people with untreated hearing loss often withdraw from communication limiting their opportunities for practice. Wearing hearing aids does not mean the brain will instantly remember how to hear and listen. Hearing aids will return audibility for sound but it takes time to adapt to new sounds and it takes time to learn to listen again. Audiologists are trained to help people in both areas with counseling and follow up being the most important aspects of the hearing aid selection and fitting process. New hearing aid users need to be closely monitored on their progress with hearing devices as well as counseled on auditory training programs when needed.

Hearing aid success varies widely and not all listeners are created equal. The most successful hearing aid wearers are those that educate themselves about the adaptive process behind using hearing devices and take on the task of improving their listening skills by doing auditory training exercises. With all that we’ve learned in research with musicians, it is apparent that the ear can and should be trained to help compensate for loss of hearing sensitivity. Thanks to musicians and the researchers in the field we have the tools and resources to make this possible.

No comments »

Posted in Audiologist, Audiology, Auditory, Ears, Hearing Aids, Hearing Device, Hearing Science, Hearing Sensitivity, Listening Situations, Musicians, Normal Hearing, Uncategorized, Untreated Hearing Loss

Tags:

You Heard Right. Patients are Happy with Hearing Aids!

July 13th, 2011

By: Drs. Neil and Shannon Aiello
Doctors of Audiology
Columbia Basin Hearing Center
1149 N. Edison Street, Suite D
Kennewick, WA 99336
(509) 736-4005
Follow CBHBC | Facebook | Twitter | Youtube
www.columbiabasinhearing.com

Why don’t people use hearing aids? If asked, many people are hesitant based on the fact that they have a friend, who has an aunt, whose husband spent a great amount of money on hearing aids that he ended up hating. There are indeed many “hearing aid horror stories” circulating the popular bridge clubs and local fishing holes. “They were uncomfortable, they made everything louder, they whistled, and of course, they costs so darn much.” There was a time that these were valid complaints from hearing aid users. However, we are happy to report that those times are over.

In 2011, it was reported that 74% of hearing aid users are satisfied with their hearing aids, a 55% increase from 2000. Furthermore, satisfaction with hearing aids that are less than one year old has increased to 81%. And believe it or not, 82% of hearing aid users would recommend hearing aids to a friend. The patient population of hearing aid users has not changed much in the past ten years. So what has changed to account for this increase in satisfaction? (MarkeTrak VIII, 2010)

There has been much advancement in the past ten years resulting in greater patient experience and satisfaction with their hearing aids. The hearing aid technology itself has exponentially advanced. Equally important, the Audiologists providing hearing care have also grown in their knowledge and patient care.

Neil and Shannon Aiello, Columbia Basin Hearing and Balance, Kennewick, WATechnologically, hearing aids are much more advanced than those of even five years ago. As with every other modern technology, be it cell phones or computers, new hearing aid technologies are also rapidly emerging. These advancements have focused on increasing audibility of a speaker in a difficult listening situation, such as background noise. Hearing aids are now automatically processing when “noise” or unwanted sound is present and reducing it. Likewise it is also processing when “speech” or a desired listening signal is present and increasing it. Most of the hearing aids dispensed today have some amount of automatic adjustments making it so patients don’t have to adjust the hearing aids themselves. With new hearing aids performing countless adjustments per millisecond, it’s no wonder patients are hearing better in difficult environments.

Another emerging technology in hearing aids is Bluetooth. In its simplest form, Bluetooth technology allows patients to directly receive audio input through their hearing aids. For example, if a person is using a cellphone with Bluetooth compatible hearing aids, the signal from the phone is routed through the hearing aid rather than through the phone allowing the patient to “hear” the phone directly through the hearing aids. This technology is also available for the television, landline phones, or iPods. It can even help hear a spouse in a difficult environment, such as a restaurant or the car, by using a small lapel microphone. These advancements have added another level of satisfaction for hearing aid users and their families.

There has also been much advancement in the styles of hearing aids offered today. Gone are the days of the Grandma Monster Behind-the-ear or In-the-ear hearing aids. New digital hearing aids, even the behind the ear style, have become more streamlined and cosmetically appealing. In fact, there are now some hearing aids that fit completely down the ear canal and are 100% invisible. Now even the most cosmetically concerned patients can experience the benefits of better hearing without the embarrassment of others knowing they have a hearing aid.

More important than the technological advancements in the hearing aids or design of the hearing aids, patients are more satisfied with the care they are receiving from their Audiologists. Many Audiologists have now obtained their Doctor of Audiology, or Au.D., which has their increased the education and training. In addition to that, some Audiologists have obtained certification, such as AudigyCertification, in addition to the entry level requirements as a commitment to premier patient care. This certification assures patients that they are receiving expert advice by the highest trained and credentialed Doctors of Audiology. It also helps patients know that they will be recommended appropriate technology based on their unique needs and listening environments, and not be recommended technology that is the latest hearing fad or on a special one day sale. Additionally, by instituting patient-centered care, the Audiologist, patient and significant family members work closely with one another. The patient is routinely seen for aural rehabilitation, which involves retraining the brain to hear again, through the trial period and beyond to make sure that they are experiencing better quality of life through better hearing.

If you or your loved one has been hesitant to try hearing aids because of Aunt Betty’s hearing aid horror story, there has never been a better time to experience the benefits of advanced hearing technology and patient-centered care. Insure the best hearing possible  by calling an AudigyCertified Doctor of Audiology today.

1 comment »

Posted in Advanced Hearing Technology, Au.D., AudigyCertified, Audiologist, Bluetooth, Doctor of Audiology, Hearing Aid, Hearing Aid Styles, Hearing Aid Technology, Hearing Aid Users, Hearing Aids, Hearing Care, Uncategorized

Tags: