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Hearing is Big Business!

January 25th, 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

Are you Assisting Employees with Hearing Loss? If not, listen up.

In a 2009 survey of 46,000 U.S. households, the Better Hearing Institute (BHI) determined that over the past generation hearing loss grew at an alarming 160 percent of the U.S. population growth— largely attributable to the aging of the American population. Yet the study found that 60 percent of people with hearing loss are below retirement age, indicating that 16.3 million people with hearing loss were in the U.S. workforce in 2010. In other words, untreated hearing loss has serious consequences for both employers and employees. Untreated hearing loss is costing society and those with the loss millions of dollars annually in lost revenue, productivity, and manpower.

Good hearing is good business.  Given the incidence and prevalence of hearing loss, most businesses will confront this challenge in the context of management’s responsibility and oversight of human resources. So, what can companies do to plan for and address the impact of employee hearing loss?  There are a number of simple steps employers can take to educate employees about hearing loss and to facilitate the use of hearing aids, where needed, that are simple to implement and very cost effective.

Previous research at BHI has shown that 50 percent of people with untreated hearing loss have never had their hearing checked by an audiologist and lack sufficient information to know whether they need to take action to correct it. Company owners and human resource professionals can help employees understand if they need treatment by:

 

  • Educating employees regarding the impact of untreated hearing loss on quality of life.
  • Encouraging employees to have their hearing screened on an annual basis, and providing opportunities for them to do so.

Employers can create a corporate climate where hearing loss is recognized so those with hidden hearing loss feel more comfortable. Here are some suggestions:

  • Avoid noisy restaurants as meeting locations.
  • Summarize meeting minutes in writing to be sure that those with hearing issues are clear on the outcome of the meeting.
  • Provide easy accommodations, such as moving an employee’s desk away from noisy hallways, machines, or air conditioning and heating vents, or installing a phone that amplifies high frequencies.
  • Build work environments that facilitate better hearing by choosing cubicles with noise-absorbent materials and equipping meeting rooms with an inductive loop that creates a wireless zone for hearing aids with telecoils, headsets or microphones.

In many cases, hearing aids can help protect employees from being at a competitive disadvantage with peers. Organizations can encourage the use of hearing devices, when needed, by participating with a private practice in Audiology to contract for the provision of services, group discounts, hearing devices, and more! Audiologists can design and implement screening programs (on and off site), as well as effective follow up scenarios to assist employees with managing hearing loss if it is identified.

Companies can also encourage employees to purchase hearing aids using pretax medical flexible spending account funds. In Montgomery, Doctors Hearing Clinic offers just such an option through their BHP program , and the good news is that it is FREE to employers, as well as employees and their families. This Better Hearing Program (BHP) offers free screenings, group discounts on hearing devices, in-service educational presentations, and a host of other hearing related employment benefits.

If you’re currently employed, encourage your employer to seek offerings for the provision of hearing healthcare services, and remember, these services can often be contracted with local audiology practices. If you’re an employer in the Tri County region and don’t currently offer a hearing healthcare package, the program at Doctors Hearing Clinic is an example of what is available to your company. This FREE array of benefits for your staff and their families, offers great value in hearing healthcare at no cost to you or your employees!

So start the 2012  business year out right. By encouraging employees to treat hidden hearing loss rather than hide it, an employer creates a win-win situation by ensuring that the loss of hearing does not interfere with job performance, productivity, safety, or the employee’s career or quality of life on or off the job.

References:

Sergei Kochkin, Ph.D., executive director of the Better Hearing Institute, a not-for-profit that educates the public about hearing loss, prevention and treatment.

Better Hearing Institute (BHI)

The Society for Human Resource Management

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Posted in Audiologist, Better Hearing Institute, Bettie Borton, Doctors Hearing Clinic, Employee Hearing Loss, Good Hearing, Hearing Checked, Hearing Evaluation, Hearing Health, Hearing Healthcare, Hearing Issues, Hearing Loss, Hearing Screening, Hearing Test, Hearing Tested, Treatable Hearing Loss, Uncategorized, Untreated Hearing Loss

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What Should You Expect from Your Hearing Evaluation?

January 12th, 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

More than 32 million Americans have significant hearing loss, yet only a fraction of that number have ever had their hearing tested by a Board Certified Audiologist. Everyone over 25 should have a baseline audiogram! Consider this fact- 17% of all those involved in motor vehicle accidents will have resultant permanent sensorineural hearing loss. However, if you’ve never had a valid hearing evaluation, you’d be hard pressed to show that your hearing was normal prior to such an accident.

A thorough hearing test is the first step in determining if you do, in fact, have hearing loss. The hearing test results also allow your audiologist to recommend the best treatment options if you do in fact have hearing loss. A hearing test is a quick, painless and non-invasive test, and should always be performed by a licensed, Board Certified audiologist. Ask to see the credentials of those who will be doing your testing! As with most health care  professionals, credentialed individuals have the greatest amount of educational training in diagnosis and treatment of hearing impairment, and will offer you or your loved ones solutions that reflect their knowledge base.

Hearing Test Audiogram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The test begins with a thorough case history, which reviews specific health information that may provide insight into hearing loss causes and will assist in determining which tests should be performed. Following the case history, the audiologist will examine your ear canals and eardrums with a special light called an otoscope. Your middle ear function will also be assessed by a test called tympanometry, which offers insight regarding the status of the area behind your eardrum. This area cannot be easily seen, and so the tympangram offers valuable information to the examiner. The test involves a pressure change, and may replicate the feeling you experience while going up in an elevator, but is not painful in any way.

Next, the levels of hearing in each of your ears should be measured in a sound-treated test booth. Some hearing aid technicians don’t use this type of equipment~ but be wary of any hearing test that is not conducted in such a booth, as reliability may be seriously compromised. During this test, a series of tones of different pitches, as well as speech signals, are presented to each ear through headphones. You will be asked to respond to the signals by either pushing a button, raising your hand or in the case of speech signals, repeating what you heard. You will be asked to respond to the lowest level that you can hear which determines your hearing thresholds. Thresholds for each pitch and ear are plotted on a graph called an audiogram. These thresholds indicate the level at which you are just barely able to detect sound. The speech testing yields a word recognition score, which is important in determining in part how well you will perform with hearing aids, which listening situations will be most challenging, etc.

Further tests may be conducted during the hearing test. Your ability to understand words or sentences at different volume levels or in the presence of noise may be assessed to determine how clearly you hear speech in various conditions. Following the tests, the hearing professional will discuss the results with you and may provide further recommendations, including treatment options, like hearing aids.

If you suspect you have hearing loss it is important to have your hearing tested as soon as possible. The use-it or lose-it principle does apply to our hearing; the sooner you treat hearing loss, the better the outcome of treatment. Most people wait an average of seven years from the time they suspect they have hearing loss until they purchase hearing devices. During that time period, the auditory system is at extreme risk for auditory deprivation, or lack of stimulation due to insufficient volume. This can make a difficult situation worse than it really needs to be. So why wait? Have a Board Certified Audiologist evaluate your hearing as soon as you (or others!) suspect there might be a hearing loss.

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Posted in Audiogram, Audiologist, Bettie Borton, Board Certified Audiologist, Doctors Hearing Clinic, Ear Canal, Eardrum, Ears, Hearing, Hearing Aid, Hearing Aid Technician, Hearing Care, Hearing Evaluation, Hearing Impaired, Hearing Loss, Hearing Test, Hearing Tested, Hearing Threshold, Listening Situations, Otoscope, Sensorineural Hearing Loss, Uncategorized

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Can I Prevent My Hearing Loss From Getting Worse?

November 10th, 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

Bettie Borton, Au.D. Doctor of Audiology AudiologistWhen I diagnose patients with a loss of hearing, they usually want to know if there is any way they can stop the progression of the loss. Common sense (and a large body of research) tells us that hearing loss tends to get worse as we get older, but each case is unique. In many cases, hearing is stable for many years. In others, the hearing loss progresses relatively rapidly.

One of the most important things that all adults over the age of 50 need to do is to have an audiological evaluation that will establish their baseline hearing, and keep that on file with their primary care physician and with their health records kept at home. Getting a comprehensive audiometric  by a Board Certified Audiologist ensures that you have been evaluated by a professional who has the most training for this purpose, and ascribes to the highest ethical, practice,  and continuing education requirements available. Why is it so important to have this baseline? Well, if your hearing changes, it will be much easier to gauge the rate of progression of the loss if you have clearly established a “starting point”, and have annual re-evaluations to document any shift in thresholds. And remember, documenting that starting point could be very important –No one wants to borrow trouble, but  don’t forget that  17% of all of those involved in motor vehicle accidents with air bag deployment have permanent sensorineural hearing loss as a result! That could be difficult to prove in a court of law if you haven’t had a recent hearing test.

Noise is a leading cause of hearing loss, and hearing loss from noise exposure is usually preventable. Both the level of the noise and the length of time you’re exposed to it determine if a noise will cause damage to your hearing. A good rule of thumb is: if you have to raise your voice to be heard by someone standing three feet away, the noise around you could be damaging.  Everyday sounds, such as music, power tools, or a lawn mower, have been shown to cause hearing damage.

Visit a local hearing center for advice regarding the best options for ear plugs or other noise protection to wear during these activities and get your hearing checked on a a regular basis.  Your hearing professional can compare your exams over time to determine if your hearing loss is worsening. If a significant change is noted, your hearing professional may refer to you to an ear doctor for further evaluation.

 

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Posted in Audiological Evaluation, Audiometric, Baseline Hearing, Bettie Borton, Board Certified Audiologist, Doctors Hearing Clinic, Hearing Center, Hearing Damage, Hearing Loss, Hearing Professional, Hearing Test, Loss of Hearing, Noise Exposure, Sensorineural Hearing Loss, Uncategorized

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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.

 

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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

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Medicare and Hearing Health Care

July 6th, 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

Two questions my staff and I get on a regular basis are: #1.)“Does Medicare pay for hearing tests?  Also: #2.) “If the tests show that I need hearing aids, will Medicare pay for the devices?”

The answer to question #1 is that Medicare does not cover routine hearing exams.  When I say “routine” I am referring to regular hearing testing done at the request of the patient for the purpose of determining the extent of hearing difficulties, much the same as any other health care check up.

Diagnostic audiological services are paid for, by Medicare, when a physician orders testing to obtain information to determine the appropriate medical or surgical treatment of a hearing deficit or related medical problem.

Audiologist & Ear Doctor, Dr. Crystal Chalmers, Chico, CaliforniaHowever, services are excluded when the diagnostic information required to determine the appropriate medical or surgical treatment is already known to the physician or the diagnostic services are performed only to determine the need for hearing aids or hearing aid reprogramming.

If the need for testing and hearing technology does not come under the specific guidelines outlined above, then the patient is responsible for 100% of the professional fees.

As for question #2.), the same is true for hearing aids, which under Federal law are considered “cosmetic” items.  Whether or not you agree with this, the law has stood this way for decades and it would take an act of Congress to change the national coverage policy.

That said, as a consumer you should be aware of any audiologist or hearing aid dispenser who tells you “yes” they will bill Medicare for your non-referred hearing tests and/or hearing aids.  This practice is illegal and as a consultant and special witness for the FBI, I can tell you that the Federal Government is not taking these fraudulent acts lightly.  In fact, they are cracking down on this activity and have recently prosecuted cases here in California.

To find out more about Medicare coverage for hearing care services and technology, visit the official U.S. Government site at www.medicare.gov.

If you have more questions about hearing care such as diagnostic testing and hearing technology, you can visit my website, or call my office toll free at 1 (888) 893-1352 …. 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 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 190 to be members in this elite association. AudigyCertified™ is a trade-mark of AudigyGroup, LLC.

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

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Posted in Audiologist, California, Chico, Crystal Chalmers, Diagnostic Testing, Hearing Device, Hearing Difficulty, Hearing Problem, Hearing Technology, Hearing Test, Hearing Tested, Medicare, North State Audiological Serivces, Uncategorized

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May is Better Hearing Month!

May 4th, 2011

By: Peter J. Marincovich, Ph.D., CCC-A
Audiology Associates
1111 Sonoma Ave., Suite 308
Santa Rosa, CA 95405
(707) 827-1630
www.audiologyassociates-sr.com

May is Better Hearing month—but despite the fact that more than 34 million Americans report some type of hearing problem, relatively few are screened annually. With about 1 in 10 Americans reporting some type of hearing difficulty, hearing loss is the third most common health problem in the United States. Although hearing problems are commonly associated with the aging process, hearing loss affects all age groups. More than half of hearing impaired persons in the United States are under age 65, including 6 million people between the ages of 18 and 44—and more than 14 million are school-age children. Here are some things to be aware of concerning hearing.

Better Hearing & Speech MonthSound voids. Do you hear “ool” but not sure if someone said “pool,” “tool” or “cool”? Do you find yourself saying “I hear OK, but I have trouble understanding,” or “Soft sounds are too soft but loud sounds are too loud.” Hearing clearly when there’s background noise can be especially difficult for someone with hearing loss and trying to explain your hearing situation can often be difficult.

It’s common for people to be unaware of their hearing loss due to the gradual nature of its progression. As hearing slowly declines, an individual develops compensation strategies without even realizing it. Often it’s others, who are trying to communicate with the hearing-impaired individual, who are more aware of the situation. Hearing problems often go unrecognized, sometimes taking years before sufferers seek professional help.

Causes. There are many causes of hearing loss. Sometimes it’s readily apparent, such as wax build-up in the external ear canal, a condition that’s easily treated but unfortunately goes unrecognized in many individuals. Other causes can include hereditary factors, trauma, ear disease and certain medications. The cause of hearing loss is sometimes presumed. For instance, noise-induced hearing loss attributed to the use of stereo systems or portable music players is a growing phenomenon. Avoiding loud noise may help prevent premature hearing loss and the perception of sound voids.

There are easy ways to tell if a particular sound is potentially harmful. Do you have difficulty talking or hearing others talk over the sound? Does the sound make your ears “ring” (tinnitus), “hurt” or seem “muffled” after exposure? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, the noise may be damaging your hearing. Most people don’t realize how loud everyday sounds actually are. Nearly 30 million Americans are exposed to dangerous noise levels each day, and 10 million Americans suffer from irreversible hearing damage due to noise.

The diagnostic hearing tests. The purpose of a complete evaluation is to determine the true nature of any hearing loss. The diagnostic process may include a variety of tests, depending on the assessment of your needs: audiometric tests to measure hearing at different pitches; speech evaluation to measure how well you hear and recognize ordinary conversation at different volumes; immittance tests of the middle ear; and complete medical evaluations.

Tinnitus is a medical condition characterized by persistent ringing in one or both ears, which can only be heard by the affected individual. These sounds can come and go; however, most suffers experience symptoms 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The American Tinnitus Association estimates more than 50 million Americans suffer from tinnitus. It’s also the number one complaint from United States veterans. In some cases, tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) and tinnitus retraining instruments (TRI) may provide individual solutions.

The balance system, due to its close proximity to the hearing mechanism, is also part of a comprehensive hearing evaluation. Fear of falling is a major health concern of individuals in their latter years. Nearly 300,000 hip fractures result from balance-related falls every year. The natural aging process may affect any one or all of the senses, as well as the central nervous system’s ability to interpret and react quickly to them. It’s very common to hear from someone who has fallen that they saw the curb or step, but just were not able to react fast enough or to keep their balance. With proper diagnosis and therapeutic exercise called balance retraining, many older adults are able to return to a more active lifestyle.

The Communication Needs Assessment in addition to the diagnostic hearing evaluation and after medical evaluation, if an individual still suffers from difficulty communicating; a complete communication needs evaluation is now the gold standard of hearing care. The fist step is identifying the individual’s need: What are the listening situations where the individual would like to hear well? The second step is identifying the individual’s lifestyle. For example, not just if they have trouble hearing in restaurants, but how often they do, or would they like to, go to restaurants.

May is Better Hearing & Speech MonthTechnology alone doesn’t help people hear better. Instead, it’s how well the practitioner works with the individual and applies the technology. If an individual doesn’t see well through a pair of glasses, it’s not due to the “glass,” per se. It has to do with either the measurement of the individual’s vision, the prescription or fit, or some combination. Hearing Aids are similar in application. What helps someone hear better is the correct amount of sound at the appropriate pitches for that individual’s hearing loss, environment and communication needs. Individuals with similar hearing loss may require completely different amplification strategies based on all of the factors mentioned here.

The all-important aftercare completes a comprehensive communication needs assessment for an exceptional sound experience. This includes assessment of need for assistive listening devices for telephone, Bluetooth, TV, loops or music systems. In addition to assistive solutions, aftercare will include lip reading and listening skills counseling.

It’s important that a hearing-impaired individual take an active role in listening and participate in the recommended auditory retraining and rehabilitation program to ensure he or she hears and understands as much as possible. The auditory system may not have heard certain voices and sounds for many years, and the reintroduction of new sounds and voices needs to be presented gradually. In other words, just as the hearing loss may have occurred gradually, the reintroduction of new sound needs to occur gradually. Through this process, each individual will adapt and develop necessary listening skills.

A hearing screening can quickly and accurately evaluate an individual’s hearing, determine the degree of hearing loss and put them on the path toward treatment. After treatment, it’s important to monitor the hearing loss to ensure the technology is meeting an individuals needs.

 

Peter J. Marincovich, Ph.D, CCC-A, is clinical director and owner of Audiology Associates, a full-service audiology practice since 1984, with offices in Santa Rosa, Mendocino, Novato and Mill Valley.

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Posted in AGX Hearing Aids, Assisitve Listening Technology, Audiologist, Balance, Balance Disorders, Balance Problems, Better Hearing, Buzzing in ears, California, Chronic Dizziness, Diagnostic Evaluations, Diagnostic Testing, Digital Hearing Aids, Dizziness, Dizzy, Ear Doctors, Fear of Falling, Hearing Aids, Hearing Care, Hearing Impaired, Hearing Lifestyles, Hearing Loss, Hearing Screening, Hearing Screenings, Hearing Technology, Hearing Test, Hearing Tested, Impaired Hearing, Loss of Balance, Mobility Disorders, Noise levels, Noise-induced, Peter Marincovich, Ringing in the Ears, Santa Rosa, tinnitus, Treatable Hearing Loss, Uncategorized, vertigo

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Sound Advice: Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Prevention

April 22nd, 2011

By: Peter J. Marincovich, Ph.D., CCC-A
Audiology Associates
1111 Sonoma Ave., Suite 308
Santa Rosa, CA 95405
(707) 827-1630
www.audiologyassociates-sr.com

Have you noticed that daily life in our society gets louder every year? The change is subtle and is a problem that most of us take for granted and even ignore. According to many leading Audiology professionals, casually ignoring the sounds around us can lead to serious hearing problems, including noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).

One of those professionals is David Coffin, Audiology clinic coordinator at Indiana’s Ball State University. “We are exposed to all sorts of sounds that can lead to permanent hearing loss,” Coffin says. “The average person will wear a helmet when riding a bike, or a seat belt in a vehicle, but doesn’t even think about ear protection when going to watch a rock band, a fireworks display, or even an auto race.”

According to the Better Hearing Institute, 30 million Americans are exposed to dangerous noise levels each day and 10 million Americans have already suffered irreversible hearing damage from noise.

The problem of noise induced hearing loss has been around for decades. It occurs at home, in the yard, at the office, at the factory, on the farm and in the military. But today, because of technology, virtually everyone is effected and at younger and younger ages. It is not uncommon for audiologists to see 20-year-olds with the hearing of 60-year-olds.

However, there is good news as well: NIHL is easily identifiable and completely preventable. Today, audiologists can assist with the prevention, diagnosis and rehabilitation of hearing loss.

Hazardous Noises

Normal conversations occur at approximately 60 decibels. Raising your voice over a noise in order to be heard by someone an arm’s length away is a good indication that the noise could be within risky range. Knowing which noises can cause damage, such as jet engines, lawn mowers, motorcycles, chainsaws, powerboats, and personal media players is the best arsenal against NIHL.

“Risky noise,” says Coffin, “can come in the form of the pop of fireworks, the snarls of traffic, the buzz of lawn mowers, or the percussive tones of marching bands.”

According to Coffin, such sounds are typically within the range of 90 to 140 decibels, but any noise above 80 can cause long-term hearing damage. The maximum exposure time per day for the exposed ear is 8 hours at 90 decibels. The risk of noise-induced hearing loss depends on both the intensity and duration of the exposure. As intensity increases, the length of time for which the exposure is “safe” decreases. For example, exposure to 85 decibels (often produced by gas-engine lawn mowers) for 8 hours can be as equally damaging as exposure to 110 decibels (often produced by a chain saw) for only a few minutes. For every 5 decibel increase in volume, the maximum exposure time is reduced by 50 percent. Therefore, according to Sight and Sound Associates, the maximum daily exposure time at 95 decibels is four hours; at 120 decibels, seven minutes, 30 seconds.

Warning signs that exposure to hazardous noise has occurred or is occurring include: the inability to hear someone a few feet away, ear pain after leaving a noisy area, ringing or buzzing (tinnitus) in the ears immediately after exposure to noise, or hearing people talking but being unable to understand them.

Loud explosions that peak for a few milliseconds at levels greater than 130 to140 decibels may cause hearing loss. More often, however, hearing loss is caused by repeated exposure to noise above 85 decibels over long periods. Some sources of common noises and associated decibels are: lawn mower, 90 decibels; stereo headphones, 105-110 decibels; automobile horn, 110 dB; baby’s cry, 115 decibels; rock concert, 115-120 decibels; and firearms, 125-140 decibels.

The commercial popularity of portable media players with earphones, such as the iPod and similar devices, and their long-term use by consumers, increase the risk of NIHL in those users. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, almost 15% of Americans below the age of 19 suffer from some measure of hearing loss. And according to Sight and Hearing Association, the incidents of teenage hearing loss has increased 400 percent over a ten-year period, as found in a recent study of eighth graders.

Symptoms of NIHL

NIHL usually develops gradually. People may lose a significant amount of hearing before becoming aware of its presence. The first sign of NIHL is not being able to hear high-pitched sounds, such as the singing of birds, or not understanding speech when in a crowd or an area with a lot of background noise. If damage continues, hearing declines further, and lower pitched sounds become hard to understand.

Signs of hearing loss from unsafe sound exposure include the inability to comprehend somebody talking from two feet away, hearing muffled speech, experiencing pain or ringing in the ears following exposure, and needing others to speak louder in conversation.

People often fail to notice the impacts of unsafe exposure to noise because it causes few symptoms. Hearing loss is rarely painful. Symptoms may go away minutes, hours or days after the exposure to noise ends. Many people naturally assume that if the symptoms abate, their ears have recovered to normal. However, even in the absence of more symptoms, some cells in the inner ear may have been destroyed by the noise. Hearing returns to normal only if enough healthy cells are left in the inner ear. But if the noise exposure is repeated and more cells are destroyed a lasting hearing loss will develop.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

When the hearing system is exposed to noise at a risky or hazardous level, mechanical and metabolic changes can occur. Scientific research, based on studies of industrial workers, as well as lab studies of humans and animals, have investigated the effects of noise on hearing.

In these studies, excessive noise stimulated cells in the inner ear, resulting in chemical processes that can exceed the cells’ tolerance. This damages cell function and structure and results in sensorineural hearing loss (as opposed to a conductive hearing loss, where the outer or middle ear have been affected) and tinnitus (ringing of the ears).

The sensory cells in the cochlea may recover from their damage (as you have possibly experienced after a loud concert or work with a loud machine). Usually, recovery from temporary threshold shift (or TTS) occurs quickly, largely disappearing in 16 to 48 hours after exposure to loud noise. However, if the hearing sensitivity does not recover within a few days, an irreversible and permanent threshold shift has taken place.

Prevention

Hearing loss is not reversible, but NIHL is preventable. Individuals vary in their susceptibility to hearing loss and hearing typically declines with age, but a healthy person who is not exposed to hazardous noises can enjoy normal hearing into his senior years.

Noise is probably the most common occupational hazard facing workers today. Employers at noise-hazardous workplaces, and physicians, are in a position to advise those at risk for developing NIHL that there are three simple keys to prevention:

1)      Understand what noises put them at risk – those above 85 decibels, commonly portable media players, lawn mowers, motorcycles, chain saws, jet engines, etc. A general rule of measurement is that if one has to shout to be heard an arm’s length away, assume the noise is above a hazardous threshold.

2)      If possible, decrease noise at the source – for example, keep the volume low on portable media players, purchase motorized equipment with an effective muffler, etc.

3)      Buffer loud noises with earplugs or other forms of hearing protection. These are known as hearing protective devices (HPDs) and are required by law to be labeled with a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) based on performance obtained under ideal laboratory conditions. HPDs are powerful tools for preventing NIHL if worn correctly and throughout the duration of the hazardous noise. Also sound absorbing materials, such as floor mats, can help reduce noise.

Early identification is important in order to recognize the presence of NIHL and take steps to prevent further hearing loss. Those regularly exposed to hazardous noise in the workplace or elsewhere should have an annual hearing test. If hearing loss is developing, it might indicate under-protection and could suggest preventative measures, such as better HPDs or turning down the volume on the iPod

Dr. Peter J. Marincovich, Ph.D., CCC-A

Clinical Audiologist

Dr. Peter Marincovich earned his graduate degree in communicative disorders from Louisiana State University, and his Ph.D., in Audiology from the University of Memphis. A Santa Rosa native, Dr. Marincovich has practiced in his hometown since 1984. Dr. Marincovich works with patients of all ages and levels of hearing loss. He is also a frequent presenter at seminars and academic conferences. He holds specialized credentials in teaching the handicapped, and conducts courses at Santa Rosa Junior College. Dr. Marincovich is owner of Audiology Associates with offices in Marin, Santa Rosa and Mendocino.

References

ANSI (1996). American National Standard: Determination of occupational noise exposure and estimation of noise-induced hearing impairment. New York: American National Standards Institute, Inc., ANSI S3.44-1996.

National Institutes of Health (1990). Noise and Hearing Loss. NIH Consensus Development Conference Consensus Statement 1990, Jan 22-24; 8 (1).

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (1998). Revised Criteria for a recommended standard – Occupational noise exposure, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication 98-126.

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (1999). Noise-Induced Hearing Loss. NIH Pub. No. 97-4233.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (1983). Occupational Noise Exposure Standard. 29 CFR Chapter XVII, Part 1910.95.

Yattaw, M. (1999, July 21). Audiology doctorate among nation’s first. Ball State University News. Retrieved October 19, 2010, from http://www.bsu.edu/news/article/0,1370,-1019-1169,00.html

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Improving the Lives of Orphans

March 4th, 2011

Treasure Valley Hearing & Balance
By: Jacquie Elcox, BC-HIS
Boise, ID 83704
(208) 377-0019
www.treasurevalleyhearing.com

In July we had two different groups of children hosted by Summer of Hope in our clinic for free hearing screenings.  One group was from Columbia, the other from the Philippines.  These children are orphans in their home countries.  They were brought to the United States this the summer to be introduced to potential adopting families.  While they are here, the opportunity is taken to get them different medical exams which they have not been able to get in their home countries.  Enter Treasure Valley Hearing & Balance.  We offered the free hearing screens, while other local clinics donated eye, dental and physical exams.  Our Audiologist, Dr. Mel Miller, who is a pediatric specialist, performed the screening work.

The Summer of Hope is a faith-based Christian organization that brings school aged orphans from other countries to the United States for a 4-week vacation.  The children get exposed to potential adopting families before returning to their home countries to await a possible legal adoption.  While here, they receive medical attention, mentoring, and often stay connected with the people they meet for life.

For more information about the program visit SummerofHope.org.

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Posted in Audiologist, Hearing Loss, hearing needs, Hearing Screening, Hearing Screenings, Hearing Test, Hearing Tested, Treasure Valley Hearing & Balance, Treatable Hearing Loss, Uncategorized

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Demystifying Audiograms

September 17th, 2010

By: Mark Saunders
AudigyGroup Freelance Writer

Demystifying Audiograms: Taking an audiogram and how to understand the results

If you’re one of the nearly 40 million Americans who may suffer from hearing loss, there’s a good chance you’re in need of an audiogram. The audiogram determines, for each ear, the degree of hearing loss you are experiencing.

Now that you’ve been using the appropriate hearing aids and your brain has been retrained to hear with their assistance, it may be time for another audiogram. The good news is, thanks to your devices and the adaptive capabilities of the human brain, your next test results may place you within the “normal” range of hearing.

As you may recall, an audiogram records the results of a hearing test in a graph of symbols. Each ear will have a table and a graph showing how well one can hear sounds at various frequencies, which are measured in units of cycles per second known as Hertz (Hz). As frequency increases, so does pitch. The degree of loudness or intensity is measured in units called decibels (dB).

The audiogram will measure the lowest volume (or decibel) that you can hear pure tone signals at different frequencies, for your left and right ear. The softest sounds you hear at each pitch, at least 50 percent of the time—known as your hearing threshold—will be classified as your hearing level.

For example, a bass drum is a low frequency-low pitch sound, while a flute or violin is a high frequency-high pitch sound. An audiogram’s graph displays low to high frequencies (low to high pitches) from left to right, much like the keys on a piano; soft sounds appear at the top of the graph, loud sounds at the bottom. A person’s low frequency thresholds are read first, followed by the mid and high thresholds.

The results of an audiogram can be clarified when combined with other tests, such as the ability to recognize or understand words, as well as hearing capability in noisy environments.

If you think it’s time to get your hearing retested, contact your AudigyCertified™ professional for an appointment. He or she will explain the results of the test and discuss your options for improved hearing.

The Softest Sounds You Hear

Hearing is measured in decibels (dB), a recognized unit of loudness tied to a scale. The softest sound you can hear is considered your hearing threshold:

  • Normal hearing: 0 to 20 dB (can hear chirping birds)
  • Mild: 21 to 40 dB (can hear clock ticking)
  • Moderate:  41 to 55 dB (hard to hear or understand regular speech)
  • Moderately-severe: 56 to 70 dB (hard to hear telephone ringing)
  • Severe: 71 to 90 dB (can only hear loud sounds such as sirens)
  • Profound: 91+ dB (trouble hearing motorcycles, power tools, etc.)

Remember, the extent of your hearing loss is an important factor when choosing the correct hearing aid.

The Noise Thermometer*

The Sight & Hearing Association, a nonprofit organization that helps to identify preventable loss of vision and hearing in children, created what it refers to as The Noise Thermometer, a chart used to associate risk of hearing damage to decibel (dB) level:

85 dB: Beginning of OSHA regulations

90 dB: Lawn mower, truck traffic; hearing damage in 8 hours

95 dB: Motorcycle, power saw; hearing damage in 4 hours

100 dB: Chainsaw, stereo headphones; hearing damage in 2 hours

105 dB: Jackhammer, helicopter; hearing damage in 1 hour

110 dB: Snowmobile, driver’s seat; hearing damage in 30 minutes

115 dB: Stadium football game; hearing damage in 15 minutes

120 dB: Rock concert; hearing damage in 7.5 minutes

125 dB: Firecracker; pain threshold

140 dB: Jet engine at take-off; immediate danger to hearing

*1997-2004 Sight & Hearing Association

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Posted in AudigyCertified, Audiogram, Decibles, Hearing Aids, Hearing Capability, Hearing Level, Hearing Loss, Hearing Test, Hearing Threshold, Uncategorized

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Hearing Care, the Internet, and “Big Box” Retailers

July 23rd, 2010

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

A full decade into the 21st Century, it would be rare to find an American who has not been to a modern shopping mall or used the Internet.  In fact many of us visit “Big Box” anchored shopping malls at least occasionally, and the number of Americans who regularly use the Internet far exceeds the number who do not.  Even amongst senior citizens — the final demographic to embrace this technology — the gap between Internet users and non-users continues to narrow.

Without doubt, the Internet is a fabulous tool, providing us with a wealth of easily obtainable information in mere seconds.  And the amount of relatively low-priced goods and services that “Big Box” and chain retailers supply can certainly help many families stretch their monthly budget.

But are these two venues the be-all-and-end-all for every consumer scenario?

The short answer is, “Absolutely not!” … especially when it comes to professional hearing care technology and follow-up service.  The Internet outlets as well as “Big Box” and retail chain stores simply cannot provide the level of patient care and service that a full-service, AudigyCertified™ hearing care practice must provide to its patients.

These outlets may tout “low prices” but remember that “price” is only an issue in the absence of value.  And when it comes to hearing care services and technology, value is clearly lacking from these types of retailers.

Compare Apples with Apples

You’ve heard that old saying countless times before and there is a good reason for its longevity.  High volume consumer retailers and Internet companies are famous for blow-out prices on a host of products, many of which are either close-outs on outdated technology or are subsidized by the manufacturer.  Then, they make those skinny margins work for them by cutting corners on labor which means poor service … for you!

This may be fine for a lot of goods such as flashlight batteries, printer paper, bulk grocery items, and various sundries.

But because hearing difficulties are so unique to each and every individual a far different approach is absolutely mandatory for a successful solution.  Achieving that solution should be a process built upon a relationship of trust and respect between the patient and a highly trained, competent, and ethical professional whose services and products provide long-term value.

For example, as a private care Doctor of Audiology and member of Audigy Group™ – the nation’s largest member-owned association of hearing care professionals — my practice is AudigyCertified™ in order to guarantee my patients that they will receive nothing less than the most experienced, professional care available in the Untied States.

All my patients receive the following:

● 100% Service Satisfaction Guarantee in Writing

● Complimentary 75 Day Trial Period on all New AGX Hearing Aid Technology Purchases

● 3 Year Warranty

● 3 Year Loss and Damage Insurance

● Free Batteries … for Life!

● Complimentary Monthly Clean & Check of Technology with Fresh Batteries Installed

● Free Annual Hearing Screening

As a smart consumer, you really do need to make sure you are comparing apples with apples.  And one good way is through the Internet, which, as noted above, shines in providing information.  Check websites. Do research.  Verify credentials as well as state and federal consumer protection laws.  A good website should educate you.

In closing, I founded North State Audiological Services with the goal of offering complete hearing health care ranging from diagnostic testing to treatment for tinnitus, with hearing technology sales and fitting based upon patient need and lifestyle; not on manufacturer incentives.  For my staff and I, our jobs are not about selling something.  Instead, it is all about taking care of our patients and helping them hear better.

Do you have questions for me or about my practice?  You can call toll free at (888) 844-7024, post a comment on this blog, email me at drchalmers@nsaudiology.com or visit my website at www.nsaudiology.com …… 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 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 170 to be members in this elite association. AudigyCertified™ is a trade-mark of Audigy Group, LLC.

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Posted in AGX Hearing Aids, Audigy Group, AudigyCertified, Chain Hearing Aid Retailors, Crystal Chalmers, Diagnostic Testing, Doctor of Audiology, Hearing Aids, Hearing Care, Hearing Difficulty, Hearing Screening, Hearing Technology, Hearing Test, North State Audiological Serivces, Professional Hearing Care, tinnitus, Uncategorized

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