Posts Tagged ‘ear protection’

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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Protect Your Hearing. It’s Never Too Late.

December 10th, 2010

Hearing Professional Center
By: Deborah Price, Au.D. & Allison McKenzie     
5462 Glen Lakes Drive
Dallas, TX 75231
(214) 987-4114
www.hearing-center.com

The hearing system and the ability to use it are more complicated than most people might think. Hearing is often taken for granted until people find themselves having difficulties communicating. People often say they hear, but cannot understand what others say. There are many reasons why the ability to hear can become abnormal, but one of the most common causes of damage to the ear is through noise exposure. Gunfire is a large contributor to hearing loss. Luckily, unlike other causes of hearing loss, damage from noise exposure due to gunfire can be prevented through the use of ear protection. A variety of products are on the market that can be used for this purpose, ranging from the standard foam over-the-counter earplugs to custom-made amplified ear protection.

The auditory system itself is complicated and delicate, and can be divided into three sections: the outer, middle, and inner ear. Sound travels in waves through the environment to the outer ear. The outer ear directs the sound down the canal to the eardrum. The eardrum is the dividing line between the outer and middle ear. When sound enters the ear canal, the eardrum and the bones behind it vibrate, transmitting the sound through the middle ear to the inner ear. The inner ear contains the fluid-filled cochlea, which is shaped like a snail shell and contains many delicate cells. Cells in the cochlea are called hair cells and are tuned to specific frequencies. The hair cells respond to frequencies from 50 to 15,000 Hz (cycles per second). Hair cells turn sound into nerve impulses, which are sent to the brain to be processed via the auditory nerve.

There are many reasons why the ability to hear can become limited. Genetics, heredity, disease processes, medications that are toxic to the ear, the aging process, and trauma can all cause hearing loss. Damage to the auditory system can be medically treatable or permanent, depending on where and how the damage occurred. Outer and middle ear damage is called a conductive hearing loss and is often treatable through medical intervention. Damage to the inner ear is a sensorineural hearing loss and is often treatable through medical intervention. Damage to the inner ear is a sensorineural hearing loss (or nerve loss). Noise exposure is the most common cause of permanent hearing loss today and can occur from various sources, such as machinery, engines, music, and explosives.

Noise damage depends on several factors: how loud the sound is, the length of exposure to the sound, and whether or not the person is predisposed to hearing loss by heredity. Fortunately, two of the three factors can be controlled. Loudness plays a huge role with noise damage. Loudness levels of different sounds are measured in decibels. Fifty to 60 decibels is the approximate loudness level of normal conversational speech, 80 decibels approximates the loudness level of a busy intersection, and 130-155 decibels or greater approximates the loudness level of jet engines and gunfire. Exposure to sounds equal to or in excess of 85 to 90 decibels for an extended period of time is damaging to the auditory system. Thus, exposure to gunfire is well outside the safe range for hearing.

Duration is also a big factor regarding exposure to gunfire. Hearing loss can result from one-time, repeated, and/or long-term exposure to loud sounds. The more frequently a person is exposed to gunfire, the more his or her ability to hear can be damaged.

Why is this important? Due to the shape of the cochlea and the frequency components of noise, the ability to hear in the higher frequencies will decrease first if hearing protection is not used when firing a gun. Most speech cues fall between 500 to 4,000 Hz, with vowels being low pitched and consonants being high pitched sounds. Hearing loss due to noise typically occurs around 4,000 Hz. With increased exposure, hearing sensitivity in this region will decrease and hearing loss will start to encompass neighboring frequencies. The resulting damage is permanent and effects communication abilities by limiting the audibility of consonant sounds. Often, amplification in the form of hearing aids will compensate for the hearing loss. There is also a high correlation of tinnitus, or ringing, in the ears of people with noise-induced hearing loss. Tinnitus has been reported to be very frustrating and annoying by some sufferers.

Fortunately, the effects of damage from gunfire can be prevented or greatly reduced with the use of hearing protection. Appropriate hearing protection depends on the circumstances surrounding the use of firearms, as well as the needs of the wearer. No single form of hearing protection is appropriate for every situation. A licensed audiologist is the best source for guidance in choosing appropriate hearing protection.

All hearing protection falls under two categories: earmuffs and earplugs. Both types of protection reduce the amount of loudness traveling through the ear and have varying range of sophistication. Earmuffs fit snuggly over the ears and are attached to a headband. Earmuffs vary in the level of complexity. Unsophisticated models are relatively inexpensive and reduce the loudness level of sound reaching the ear by insulating the ear. Sophisticated electronic models can incorporate either compression circuits that allow the loud sounds to reach the ear at a reduced loudness level, or amplifiers that increase the loudness for soft sounds only. It is important to note sufficient tension must be obtained from the headband to insure a seal is made around the ears. Many sportsmen and sportswomen find earmuffs cumbersome and uncomfortable.

The other category of hearing protection is earplugs. Earplugs also reduce the amount of loudness traveling through the ear and have a varying range of sophistication. Earplugs come in different types of materials and serve different purposes. Some are available over-the-counter, and others are custom-made. Regardless of the material used or the level of sophistication, all earplugs fit in the same part of the ear, the outer ear canal.

The two main types of over-the-counter earplugs are foam plugs and Sonic Valves. The major benefit of foam plugs is they are inexpensive and can be found in most drug and grocery stores. Foam plugs, when inserted properly, are effective sources for protection against noise damage. Ear canals vary greatly in size; some are small with bends in them, and few are straight like a pencil. Because of varying canal sizes and shapes, foam plugs are often inserted incorrectly, which reduces effectiveness. Foam plugs cannot be adequately cleaned and may be uncomfortable for extended use. Foam earplugs need to be replaced routinely.

Another cover-the-counter earplug, Sonic Valves, is relatively inexpensive and can be found in sporting goods stores. Sonic Valves are popular because they enable the user to hear conversation better than with a standard solid foam plug. The Sonic Valve has an acoustic filter that is activated when loud sounds occur, blocking these sounds from entering the ear. The Sonic Valve is shaped much like a Christmas tree, enabling it to fit a variety of ear canal sizes. Again, proper insertion is key to the effectiveness of the plug. Discomfort is also a major complaint.

Custom earplugs have gained popularity with people who use firearms. Custom plugs are desirable because they provide a more comfortable fit and are easily cleaned. Custom plugs are more expensive than foam plugs and require an ear mold impression of the ear canal. To obtain optimum noise reduction, the custom plugs must fit snuggly in the ear. There are two general types of custom plugs: solid and filtered.

The solid plug is excellent for blocking damaging noise levels. Solid plugs work well for target shooting. For maximum protection, solid plugs can be used in conjunction with earmuffs, which is best for white wing dove hunting. A common complaint regarding solid custom earplugs is the diminished ability to hear speech. Filtered custom earplugs help solve some of this problem. Custom filtered earplugs are similar to Sonic Valves in function but are very comfortable to wear. Filtered plugs allow for conversation (at a reduced volume) and protect the user when loud sounds occur. Some of our patients have reported when mowing the lawn, the mower is quiet yet they can hear approaching cars. Filtered plugs are excellent for the shooting range and all kinds of hunting environments. Filtered plugs are easy to insert, are comfortable, and provide an overall reduction of hazardous noise. For the past 28 years, we have recommended the filtered custom earplug as general, all purpose protection for all our patients who hunt.

Amplified earplugs are the latest and most sophisticated form of hearing protection on the market. Amplified earplugs enable the user to hear everything much louder than normal except gunfire. These plugs shut down to protect the user’s hearing when a rifle, shotgun, or handgun is discharged. Amplified earplugs are available in automatic or manual versions. Both models can be made out of soft or hard material. The benefit to the avid hunter is the increase in loudness of soft sounds, such as leaves rustling, traps releasing, animals moving, and danger approaching. Amplified earplugs also allow for conversation to be easily heard. The automatic model shuts off the amplification and blocks the sound when firearms are discharged, limiting the loudness of the noise going into the ear. The manual model has a booster switch that must be manipulated manually to increase loudness for soft sounds and must be turned off prior to firearm discharge to protect against the damaging effects of gunfire.

Amplified earplugs are a custom product and need to be molded to the shape of the ear and ear canal. Proper fit is critical for protecting the ear from the gun blast. Due to the electronics available in amplified earplugs, they can be a little pricey. The plugs are battery operated, and both models contain a manual volume control.

Firearms are used in a variety of different settings and circumstances. Regardless of the situation, it is imperative to use hearing protection any time a firearm is discharged. Not only does ear protection preserve hearing, certain models can enhance the hunting experience. Men and women everywhere enjoy the sport of hunting wild game as well as the challenge of shooting targets. Protecting against noise-induced hearing loss does not have to reduce enjoyment received from excelling in shooting sports. Remember, any time firearms are discharged without ear protection, whether at a target range or out in the wilderness, damage is occurring to the shooter’s ability to hear. Protect your hearing. It is never too late.

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Hunters: Protect Your Hearing!

November 19th, 2010

Hearing Professional Center
Deborah Price, Au.D.
Doctor of Audiology      
5462 Glen Lakes Drive
Dallas, TX 75231
(214) 987-4114
www.hearing-center.com


Dr. Price is often asked by people she meets, “How did you get involved with Hunting?”

Early one morning in May 1983, Bill Weiss walked into her office to see if he could have his hearing tested.  At the time, Dr. Price was sitting on the floor, barefoot, with a paint brush in her hand.  She had opened her office several months earlier and was still putting the finishing touches on the construction.  Bill reported an extensive history of noise exposure from his favorite past time….hunting.

All her life she had wanted to hunt but her Father didn’t hunt, her brother didn’t hunt, and when she married, her husband didn’t hunt.  Of course girls didn’t hunt anyway did they?

As Dr. Price started working with Bill and his hearing loss he would share his stories and pictures about his hunting expeditions.  She had never known anyone who had been to Africa on Safari.  Her only exposure had been in movies and documentaries.  Bill had not only been to the Dark Continent but Spain, Argentina, Alaska, and other exotic destinations in the pursuit of animals. 

Bill shared stories of tiger, elephant, spiral horned antelope and rhino hunts.  He was always talking about the Dallas Safari Club.  Bill talked to Carla Peterman and Ginny Etheridge (convention organizers) about letting her exhibit at the 1986 Annual Event.  Dr. Price was accepted, given a booth, conducted hearing screenings and sold ear protection.  

Every year thereafter, Hearing Professional Center had a booth at the convention.  Dr. Price has displayed all kinds of products and devices for hearing impaired people.  She has tried to encourage hunters to wear shooting protection.  In 22 years she sees how far we have come in protecting ears from noise exposure. 

In June 1991 Dr. Price was asked to join the DSC as a member.  There were very few female members at that time and she was honored to have been asked.  She realized you cannot hang around hunting people without taking up the sport yourself.  She was actively involved in the Ladies Luncheon when it first began.  During one of the early years she went in with 3 other ladies to buy a Safari in South Africa with Conrod Vermoch.  She thought she better learn how to shoot if she was going on Safari herself.  

For the next year Dr. Price practiced shooting a Browning 22 with a Leupold 3.5×10 scope.  After going through 2 bricks of shells and grouping her shots in a 1 inch pattern, she picked up a larger gun.  She was handed a 300 Weatherby which knocked her off her feet.  She soon realized what kick meant!

Once Dr. Price knew she could shoot, she needed to know if she could “kill” an animal.  At a DSC monthly meeting, she bought a Blackbuck Antelope Hunt at the 777 Ranch in Hondo.  So, Halloween weekend in 1990 she gathered up her courage and drove to the hill country of Texas.

Upon arriving at the 777 Lodge, she was warmly greeted and shown to her room.  Her guide for the weekend was patient, respectful and very encouraging to this “Newby”.  They drove all over the ranch looking for the Blackbuck and of course saw everything but.  The few Blackbuck they did see were not within shooting distance.   As the day began to wane they spotted a buck a the top of a sendero at about 300 yards.  When her guide asked if she wanted to take this buck she said sure, but tell me what to do.  She had no idea about distance, wind, uphill, etc.  All she knew was how to hit the bulls eye.  The buck was standing broadside and her guide told her where to put the cross hairs.  Dr. Price did as she was told, and squeezed off the shot and the buck collapsed.  She started shaking so badly she could not move.  She sat down and tears began falling.  Dr. Price had done something she had dreamed about since she was a child.  She was now a hunter.

Dr. Price completed the weekend with 2 other critters, a Russian boar and a Axis deer.  Look out Africa, here she comes!!

Dr. Price has been fortunate to go on many hunts since that fall weekend and hopes to have many more opportunities.  She went back to South Africa in July 2009 for a Leopard.  She has decided that she might as well just do it.  She might even be looking for an elk hunt or maybe Yukon moose and oh yes a……!

Dr. Price says, “Thank you, Bill Weiss and Dallas Safari Club for giving me the opportunity to fulfill my dream.”  

And when Dr. Price is  not hunting….we have her working at the Center.

Dr. Price is one of the leading Audiologists in the nation.  She founded Hearing Professional Center in 1983 serving the diagnostic and rehabilitative needs of over 40,000 individuals.

Dr. Price serves as Chair of the Audiology Foundation of America, Children’s Medical Center Trustee, Chair of Children’s Medical Center Injury Prevention Initiative, in addition to serving on the Head Start Health Services Advisory Committee.   Since 1986 she has provided hearing conservation education, ear plugs and hearing testing for Dallas Safari Club, Texas Big Horn Society and Women Shooting Sports as a Life Member.

Over the past 30 years, Dr. Price has donated countless hours, 400 hearing aids, 200,000 batteries, and more that $60,000 in medical equipment to benefit low-income hearing impaired children and adults.  She founded Deaf Services International in 1986 for children in Mexico.  She worked with the Rio Negro Foundation in 2003 to test and treat natives along the Amazon River.  Dr. Price says, “I entered this profession to help improve lives through better hearing and better hearing protection.  I want to continue helping others, particularly those who cannot afford hearing aids.”

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Posted in Audiologist, Dallas, Dallas Safari Club, Deborah Price, Ear Protection, Earplugs, Hearing Professional Center, Hearing Screenings, Hunters Ear Protection, Hunting, Protecting Ears, Texas, Uncategorized

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Now Hear this…. Are You at Risk for a Hearing Loss?

June 18th, 2010

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

Did you know hearing loss…

  • Is the third most prevalent chronic health condition in America, behind high blood pressure and arthritis?
  • Affects 36 million Americans (about 17% of adults)?
  • Is more common in men than women?
  • Costs our economy billions of dollars in lost wages and hidden costs annually?

Is not being adequately identified by healthcare professionals? Only 38 percent of adults ages 70 years and older and only 29 percent of adults ages 20 to 69 have had their hearing tested within the last 5 years!

Do you or someone you love have a hearing loss? If so, you’re not alone. Almost 20% of adults in the United States will develop hearing loss during the course of their lives, and if undiagnosed and untreated, its affects can be devastating. Impaired hearing can have a profound impact on emotional, physical, economic, and social well-being.  People with hearing loss have documented decrease in quality of life, reporting symptoms of depression, dissatisfaction with life, reduced functional health, and social isolation. Statistically, they have lower income levels, and frequently complain of frustration in relationships and various communicative situations, as well as inability to enjoy social situations, and fatigue. Despite the fact that most people with hearing loss can be helped with today’s state of the art amplification, many never seek help, or resist the use hearing aids or other assistive listening technologies.

The causes of hearing loss are varied and resultant impact on auditory capability may range from mild to pronounced. Sometimes the cause or etiology, such as wax build up in the external ear canal or an ear infection, is readily apparent. In other instances, the cause of hearing loss may be more obscure. Decreased hearing is often called “the invisible handicap”. Because hearing impairment (especially loss related to aging) often presents very gradually, those with significant hearing impairment can be unaware of their loss. Family members, significant others, co-workers and friends are frequently the first to notice communication problems related to decreased hearing sensitivity.

Given that 36 million Americans are faced with this “invisible handicap” what kinds of risk factors increase the likelihood that someone will develop hearing loss? Why do some people develop hearing loss and while others do not? Some risk factors are obvious, but others are much more obscure.

Perhaps the most widely recognized risk factor is aging. Presbycusis, or the loss of hearing that gradually occurs as we grow older, is a familiar scenario for those of us with older family members. In fact, about 30-35 percent of adults between the ages of 65 and 75 years have a hearing loss, while an estimated 40-50 percent of people 75 and older have a hearing impairment.

Loss associated with presbycusis is usually greater for high-pitched sounds, resulting in the frequent comment “I can hear people talking, but can’t understand them clearly”. It is most commonly binaural (in both ears), affecting the ears equally. Because this type of loss in hearing sensitivity is so gradual, people who have presbycusis frequently lose their frame of reference for normal loudness of sounds, and often do not realize that their hearing acuity is diminishing.

The resultant relationship dynamic is frequently the subject of jokes – “My husband suffers from ‘selective’ hearing and he’s driving me crazy”! In reality, however, hearing impairment is no laughing matter and can take quite a toll on communication with significant others. Research indicates that for couples where one person has unaddressed hearing loss, the divorce rate is actually significantly higher.

Most people would agree that we now live in a very noisy world. Noise levels for rock concerts, radios, motorcycles, traffic, industrial and lawn equipment, and even our personal listening devices constantly bombard our auditory system. It is not surprising that noise exposure is another one of the most frequently cited risk factors for hearing loss, and now rivals aging as the number one cause of hearing loss in this country.  Noise from occupational, recreational and sporting activities all pose significant hazards to hearing in the United States today. Firearm use is one of the biggest culprits in our area of the country. A single shot from a shotgun, experienced at close range, can permanently damage hearing.  Repeated exposures to loud machinery in the work place or as part of yard maintenance or recreational experience may, over an extended period of time, present a serious risk to hearing. Even something as seemingly benign as blow dryers for styling hair put hearing at risk.

Consider the noise levels for such activities as NASCAR, jet ski and power boat usage, and lawn equipment. The cumulative effects of these noise hazards and many others pose a serious risk for hearing. Noise exposure risk is a time weighted function – in other words, the longer the exposure time, the greater the risk, and lower the loudness level required to cause damage. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), 10 million Americans have already suffered irreversible hearing damage from noise, and 30 million more are exposed to dangerous noise levels each day. A one-time exposure to hazardous noise resultant from gunfire or a rock concert, no matter how brief the time, of 120 dB or more can leave hearing permanently impaired. Prolonged exposure to only 85 dB (which can be generated by a commonly used appliance such as a blow dryer or hand held power tool) can do the same. 

Children and young adults are bombarded with potentially damaging noise exposure, most of which is easy to overlook. Most people intuitively recognize that “boom boxes”  IPODS, and other personal listening devices, if played too loudly, constitute a risk to hearing. However, consider the noise levels inherent to playing in a school band or orchestra. Students engaged in this commonplace activity spend hours practice in noisy environments within the context of their academic activities, yet many of them are not wearing appropriate ear protection, nor are schools effectively addressing this problem. To complicate matters, for reasons that are not fully understood some people are more susceptible to noise exposure than others.  As an example, research indicates that those with blue eyes are more prone to noise exposure than those with darker eye color!

Aging and noise exposure are two rather obvious risk factors for hearing loss, but there are many other factors that are more insidious. Studies suggest that there is a strong genetic component inherent to hearing loss, both for childhood deafness as well as presbycusic loss. If your parent or grandparent had hearing loss, your risk factor for developing a similar impairment may increase. If you had a relative who was hearing impaired from birth, family members of child bearing age need to be mindful of this risk factor, and be particularly vigilant with regard to insuring that the newest members of the family are effectively screened at birth for hearing sensitivity.

Various diseases of the ear certainly pose risk to hearing sensitivity. Ear infection, otosclerosis (a bony growth in the middle ear cavity), Meniere’s Disease, acoustic neuroma (a tumor on the auditory nerve), and a host of other maladies are obvious risk factors for hearing loss. But did you know that hearing loss is about twice as common in adults with diabetes compared to those who do not have the disease, according to a new study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)? Visual deficits have long been associated with diabetes, but hearing loss is an under-recognized complication. Because of the strong correlation between diabetes and hearing loss, The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), recently suggested that people with diabetes should consider having their hearing tested.

Use of common drugs such as antibiotics, aspirin, diuretics and chemotherapy can cause hearing loss. Typically, hearing loss from ototoxic drugs is high frequency, which often results in the hearing impairment less obvious to those it affects. All radiation and chemotherapy patients should insist on baseline hearing assessments before, during, and following their course of treatment to insure that auditory effects of ototoxic interventional strategies are carefully monitored and treated.

Race and gender also play a role in hearing loss risk factor determination. Researchers now know that compared to women, men are five and one half times more likely to have hearing loss. White and Mexican American men have a higher incidence of both high-frequency hearing loss and hearing loss in both ears than blacks, who were 70 percent less likely than white participants to present with hearing loss.

With the dramatic increase in airbag use, motor vehicle accidents (MVA’s) are common culprits for increased risk of hearing loss. In fact, 17% of those involved in MVA’s with airbag deployment will have permanent loss of hearing as a result. Other insidious risk factors for hearing loss include smoking and cardiovascular disease. The incidence of hearing loss is significantly more pronounced among smokers, as well as those with any type of cardiovascular disease.

Many healthcare professionals simply don’t make these associations, and as a result, do not refer patients for hearing evaluation as often as risk factors might dictate. So, the message is be aware, and be proactive in assessing your risk, or that of your loved one, for hearing loss. For a comprehensive audiometric evaluation, see a Board Certified Doctor of Audiology. If you’ve never had a baseline audiogram, it’s certainly in your best interest to do so. Only 38 percent of adults ages 70 years and older and only 29 percent of adults ages 20 to 69 have had their hearing tested within the last 5 years.   If you’re over 65, hearing evaluation each year by a Board Certified Audiologist should become part of your annual medical maintenance program.
(Sources: BHI, NIDCD, ABA)

Dr. Bettie Borton is a Board Certified Doctor of Audiology, and a nationally recognized expert in hearing healthcare. She has more than 30 years’ experience diagnosing and treating hearing impairment in children and adults. Dr. Borton has served as the President of the Alabama Academy of Audiology, National Chair of the American Board of Audiology, and currently serves on the National Board of Directors for the American Academy of Audiology.

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Posted in Acoustic Neuroma, Assisitve Listening Technology, AudigyCertified, Audiogram, Audiologist, Audiometric Evaluation, Auditory, Bettie Borton, Binaural, Binaural Hearing, Clinical Audiologist, Diabetes, Doctor of Audiology, Doctors Hearing Clinic, Ear Disease, Ear infection, Ear wax, Hearing Aids, Hearing Assessment, Hearing Damage, Hearing Difficulty, Hearing Evaluation, Hearing Impaired, Hearing Loss, Hearing protection, Hearing Test, Hearing Tested, Impaired Hearing, Meniere's Disease, Noise Exposure, Noise Hazards, Noise levels, Otosclerosis, Ototoxic Drugs, Presbycusis, Signs of Hearing Loss, Treatable Hearing Loss, Uncategorized

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