Posts Tagged ‘Sound voids’

Hearing Loss Contributes to Lost Income & Impacts Employers

May 25th, 2011
By: Jennifer Bentley, Au.D.
Doctor of Audiology
The Hearing Assessment Center
9101 Franklin Square Drive
Baltimore, MD 21237
(410) 583-7021
Follow The Hearing Assessment Center | Facebook | Twitter | Youtube
www.hearingassessment.com
 

When the topic of hearing loss comes up in a conversation, most people don’t think twice about it—dismissing it as a problem faced by “old” people, and more of an inconvenience than a real health issue.

The fact is, hearing loss is a serious condition affecting nearly 30 million Americans. Studies report that one out of six baby boomers (ages 42-60) and one out of 14 in the Gen X population (age 30-41) are affected by hearing loss. Given these age breakdowns, it is fair to assume that most of these individuals are still active in the workforce.

Jennifer Bentley, Au.D. - Doctor of Audiology Baltimore, MarylandFor this large portion of the work force, hearing loss is more than “inconvenient.” If left untreated, even a mild hearing loss can jeopardize safety and cost them (and their employers) dearly.

In terms of safety, consider this: a person with untreated hearing loss, regardless of age, is given instructions to take medicine at specific times and in certain dosages. If those instructions are not crystal clear, the results can be life-threatening. Add in other outside factors such as the noise from the hospital emergency room, or a crying toddler, and the difficulty of hearing proper instructions increases.

The “danger” in these scenarios doesn’t even factor in the ability to hear sirens, smoke alarms, baby cries, car horns, and other alerting signals. The more significant the hearing loss, the greater the risk is to oneself or others, and that’s more than an inconvenience.

In addition to safety, job security and income for an employee with untreated hearing loss may be at risk. Consider a scenario where a boss gives a series of instructions and deadlines to a staff person. Even a mild hearing loss could impair the employee’s ability to hear the details correctly. This puts the project at risk and may even jeopardize that person’s job.

A survey conducted by the Better Hearing Institute indicates, “Working Americans who ignore their hearing problems are collectively losing at least $100 billion a year in earnings.” The survey showed that, “Even people with mild hearing loss, who may miss a consonant here or a word there, may lose income if they can’t completely grasp the latest news at the water cooler or a phone message from the boss.”

The report goes on to estimate that the average worker with untreated hearing loss loses from $1,000 per year (those with mild hearing loss) to $12,000 a year with profound hearing loss.

Given the fact that most hearing loss is noise-induced (contrary to years of thinking it was related to age), it is not likely that the number of people suffering from hearing loss will decline in our noisy society. As a matter of fact, there is an epidemic of hearing loss in young people.

Reports indicate that children as young as 7 are being diagnosed in unprecedented numbers with noise-induced hearing loss. The impact of this epidemic, of course, is yet to even be a reality for employers.

Being Proactive Can Make A Difference

It is easy to be proactive in addressing hearing loss in the workplace. The best place for individuals and businesses alike to begin is with a hearing-loss awareness program. The goal of an awareness program is to commit to the prevention and the proactive treatment of hearing loss for those who are affected.

In terms of prevention, hearing conservation programs are recommended for noisy businesses. When around high levels of occupational noise, the employee’s hearing sensitivity should be monitored on an annual basis. In low-noise environments, such as an office building, employers should include hearing-loss awareness education as part of their worksite wellness programs.

In terms of proactive treatment, encourage employees to get their hearing tested and treated if a loss does exist. Offering to help pay or share the cost of hearing aids (or other assistive listening devices) could speak volumes about an employer’s commitment to staff and hearing health. Such minor “investments” on the part of the business can be huge in terms of employee loyalty and enhancing morale.

Additionally, businesses can take steps to make it easier for employees with hearing loss to hear more efficiently.

For instance, offer phone amplifiers, install loop systems in meeting rooms, and encourage greater sensitivity and awareness among all staff members—offering tips or training to help them communicate more effectively with their co-workers who have hearing loss.

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Posted in Baltimore, Hearing Aids, Hearing Assessment, Hearing Care, Hearing Difficulty, Hearing Evaluation, Hearing Health, Hearing Impaired, Hearing Loss, Hearing protection, Hearing Technology, Hearing Tested, High-Frequency, Impaired Hearing, Kids Hearing Loss, Loud Noise, Low-Frequency, Maryland, Noise Exposure, Noise Hazards, Noise levels, Noise-induced, Noisy, Reduce Noise, Signs of Hearing Loss, The Hearing Assessment Center, Treatable Hearing Loss, Uncategorized

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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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Posted in Audiologist, Child Hearing Loss, Clinical Audiologist, Deaf Children, Deaf Kids, Deafness in Children, Decreased Hearing, Digital Hearing Aids, Doctor of Audiology, Ear Doctors, Hearing, Hearing Aids, Hearing Care, Hearing Difficulty, Hearing Health, Hearing Impaired, Hearing Level, Hearing Loss, Hearing Test, Kids Hearing, Kids Hearing Loss, Loud Noise, Noise Exposure, Noise Hazards, Noise levels, Noise-induced, Protecting Ears, Reduce Noise, Sound voids, tinnitus, Treatable Hearing Loss, Uncategorized

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Baby Boomers: The Next Generation to have Hearing Loss

April 15th, 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

For many of you between the ages of 46 to 64, your time is coming.

Time, that is, to experience what so many of your parents and grandparents came to learn of fist hand: hearing difficulties caused by exposure to excess loud noise.

The “Baby Boomer” generation – those Americans born between 1946 and 1960 – accounts for some 76 million of us in the Untied States today and at least 15 percent of Boomers already have hearing loss.

This is a far cry from the previous 2 generations, who typically did not show symptoms of hearing loss until they were in their 70’s and 80’s.  Indeed, when I was an audiology student at Minot State University earning my Master’s of Science degree I was taught that only men in their 70’s and 80’s got hearing loss.

What has changed?  Our world is now much, much louder.

An Unprecedented Century

Prior to the Industrial Revolution of the 1890’s, relatively few Americans were exposed to loud noise.  At the turn of the 20th Century, much of our population inhabited rural areas with males working in non-mechanized agriculture and females involved in homemaking chores, which they performed by hand.  There were no vacuum cleaners or food processors.

However, with unprecedented technology, mechanization, and involvement in two World Wars, the US population got its first dose of exposure to excessive levels of loud noise.

Still, the field of audiology – born of the technological research in sonar for the Navy in WWII  — was in its infancy in the 1950’s and was relying on the only set of data on hearing loss available till then, which was testing conducted at the 1939 World’s  Fair in San Francisco.

But a funny thing happened.  That data was proven wrong when, in the mid 1980’s women in their 60’s started showing up in audiologist’s offices across the country with identical hearing loss of their male counterparts.

Audiologist & Ear Doctor, Dr. Crystal Chalmers, Chico, CaliforniaWho were these women and why, for the first time in recorded history, were they suddenly experiencing hearing loss?  She was, in fact, the “Rosie the Riveters” of WWII: those young American women who, with all the men serving in the armed forces, went to work in the factories and shipyards providing the “Arsenal of Democracy” with much needed war effort labor.  These women built the Liberty ships, Sherman tanks, and B-17 bombers used to defeat the Axis Powers …. And got themselves a hefty dose of impaired hearing in the process!

Post War Boom

After victory in WWII Americans got busy in the greatest economic surge in human history … and had babies.  Lots of babies.

And as those babies grew into young adults in the 60’s and 70’s a flourishing American economy provided them with all sorts of loud recreational activities.  From rock concerts to ski boats to hot rods to stereo systems, Americans got a steady diet of loud noise long before subsequent research showed the direct correlation between the noise and hearing loss.

Early Hearing Aids: Low-Tech = Bad Reputation

Parents of the Boomers had lousy timing as hearing aids back then were pretty awful.  These devices only made sounds louder for the wearer.  While a few people benefited from this simplistic approach to solving hearing difficulties, most did not and hearing aids got a deserved bad reputation.

So bad in fact that after graduating from school, I steered my career towards diagnostics, performing testing of the hearing system for the determination of medical problems such as the location and size of brain tumors and loss of balance problems.

The Digital Breakthrough

Everything about hearing aids changed in the late 1990’s with the breakthrough of digital hearing technology.  In essence, digital hearing aids are miniature computers that dramatically increase the amount of sound processes possible (and available to the wearer) as opposed to the old linear and analog products.  And digital products keep getting better, with several major advancements taking place during the last decade with the last two years seeing some terrific gains.

Today’s digital products are so advanced we don’t even call them hearing “aids” anymore.  Instead we prefer to call these amazing products “hearing technology” as they are smaller than ever with superb sound quality.  Top-of-the-line models have features that Boomers need such as “directionality” for enhancing sound coming to from the front, while tuning down sound coming from behind such as someone might experience at a noisy restaurant or party.  Also, Bluetooth capability enhances the lives of 21st century on-the-go active Americans.

Educate Yourself: Get the Facts about Hearing Care

The myths and misperceptions associated with hearing loss and hearing aids of 30 years ago should be put to rest.  The science of Audiology has come a long way as has hearing technology.  No one needs to suffer all the serious communication issues associated with hearing difficulties … if they would only seek help.

Get the facts!  As the month of May is National Better Hearing Month, I will be providing a Free Luncheon Seminar on Hearing Care on Wednesday May 4th at the Chico Women’s Club.  This informative seminar will answer all of your questions about hearing difficulties and technological solutions.   The seminar if free but advance reservations are required, so call my office 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 Audigy Group, LLC.

To learn more about Dr. Chalmers, her practice, and Audigy Group visit North State Audiological Services.

SIDEBAR:  More baby boomers showing signs of hearing loss

  • More than 55 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss—approximately one in 5 individuals — and this number is expected to increase further by 2030.  Much of that looming surge is a baby-boomer phenomenon.
  • Among Americans ages 46 to 64, about 15 percent already have hearing problems, according to a survey by the Better Hearing Institute.
  • Two out of three people with hearing loss are below retirement age.
  • Sixty percent of people with hearing loss are male.
  • Only 12 percent of physicians today ask patients if they have any hearing problems.
  • Only one in five people who could benefit from hearing aids currently wear them.

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Posted in AudigyCertified, Audiologist, California, Chico, Clinical Audiologist, Crystal Chalmers, Hearing Aids, Hearing Care, Hearing Difficulty, Hearing Health, Hearing Impaired, Hearing Loss, Hearing Technology, Impaired Hearing, Loss of Balance, Noise-induced, North State Audiological Serivces, Signs of Hearing Loss, Treatable Hearing Loss, Uncategorized, vertigo

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Hearing Loss, Dizziness and Balance Disorders in the Elderly

May 28th, 2010

By Neil W. Aiello, Au.D., FAAA, CCC-A
Doctor of Audiology
Cheif Operations Officer
Columbia Basin Hearing Center
1149 N. Edison Street, Suite D
Kennewick, WA 99336
(509) 736-4005
www.columbiabasinhearing.com  

Adults are now living longer.  But with increased longevity comes a corresponding increase in the incidence of hearing loss, dizziness and balance problems.  Each of these conditions are common problems among the senior population.  Some revealing statistics from the National Institute on Aging include: 

  • Approximately one-third of Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 have hearing problems. 
  • Nearly half the people who are 75 or older have hearing loss. 
  • As many as 40% of all adults will experience dizziness severe enough to warrant reporting it to their doctor. 

In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health, over 90 million Americans will experience dizziness or vertigo in their lifetime.  Dizziness or vertigo is the #1 complaint of patients over the age of 70, and is the third most frequent complaint among all patients after headache and back pain.  Approximately 85% of all vertigo and balance problems are due to an inner-ear incident.

Neil Aiello, Au.D., Doctor of Audiology | Columbia Basin Hearing & Balance CenterHearing loss can have many causes including aging of the auditory system, overexposure to loud noises over a period of time, infections, ear wax buildup in the ear canal, heart conditions or stroke, head injuries, tumors, certain medicines and heredity.  Common symptoms of hearing loss include; if you often can hear people talking, but simply have difficulty understanding them; struggling to hear conversations clearly in background noise or in group situations; having difficulty hearing over the telephone or needing to turn the TV volume higher so that others complain.  These Sound Voids ™ are the result of some form of hearing loss, either temporary or permanent, and may result in situations where an individual’s hearing loss does not permit them to detect or understand important sound and speech cues.  Individuals often find that Sound Voids result in tiring, frustrating, and embarrassing situations.

Dizziness is a symptom with a multitude of possible causes.  Determining the underlying cause is one of the biggest challenges for physicians.  The most common causes are related to the inner ear; therefore, referral to an audiologist is highly recommended.  Other causes include central nervous system problem in the brain or brainstem, related heart conditions, medications, as well as infections of the inner-ear or vestibular nerve.  Specificity is the key to finding the source of the problem.  The more specific you can be about when the symptoms began, when they are most likely to occur and exactly what they feel like will help the audiologist or physician develop a more accurate diagnosis.  Be aware that determining the source of dizziness is very complex and difficult to localize.  In fact, many times the exact source of the dizziness is never found.  However, more serious sources of the problem are ruled out.

According to a distinguished expert in the field of dizziness and balance disorders; Doctors of Audiology have an educational and clinical advantage in the identification and diagnosis of many forms of dizziness and vertigo problems.  The high incidence of inner ear symptoms with balance and vertigo disorders, in conjunction with the increasing number of elderly patients that need our expertise is on the rise.  In fact, many insurance companies are seeing the proven benefits and under-utilization of Doctors of Audiology who specialize in dizziness, vertigo and balance disorders.

If you or your loved ones have hearing loss, Sound Voids™, dizziness, vertigo and/or balance problems, seek out your local Doctor of Audiology for the latest in modern professional hearing, dizziness and balance services.  General information on these topics can be found online at www.ColumbiaBasinHearing.com , www.audigygroup.com or www.dizzy.com

Definitions:

Audiologists (noun): are autonomous professionals who identify, assess, and manage disorders of the auditory, balance, and other neural systems. Audiologists provide audiological (hearing) rehabilitation to children and adults across the entire age span. Audiologists select, fit, and dispense amplification systems such as hearing aids and related devices. Audiologists currently hold a Master’s or Doctoral degrees in audiology from an accredited university or professional school.

Sound Void™ (noun):

  1. A moment lacking in clarity in hearing or understanding.
  2. An empty space in one’s life caused by the absence of sound clarity.

Hearing Loss (noun):

  1. Impairment of the sense of hearing.

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Posted in Audigy Group, AudigyCertified, Audiologist, Balance, Clinical Audiologist, Columbia Basin Hearing & Balance Center, Dizziness, Doctor of Audiology, Hearing Aids, Hearing Impaired, Hearing Loss, inner ear, Signs of Hearing Loss, Sound voids, Treatable Hearing Loss, Uncategorized, vertigo, vestibular nerve

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A Guide to an Exceptional Sound Experience

April 29th, 2010

A Guide to an Exceptional Sound Experience

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 hearing problems, relatively few are screened annually. Hearing loss is the third most common health problem in the United States. Although hearing problems are commonly associated with the aging process, they affect all age groups. More than half of hearing impaired persons in the United States are under the age of 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.

Sound voids. Do you hear “ool” but not sure if someone is saying “pool” 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, as can be trying to explain your hearing situation.

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 individual, who are more aware of the situation. Sometimes it takes years before sufferers seek professional help.

Causes. Sometimes it’s readily apparent, such as wax buildup. Other causes include hereditary factors, trauma, ear disease and certain medications. The cause of hearing loss is sometimes presumed. For instance, noise induced hearing loss is attributed to the use of stereo systems or portable music players is a growing phenomenon.

There are eary ways to tell if a particular sound is potentially harmful. Do you have difficulty talking or hearing others talk over sounds? 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 evaluation. 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: audiometric tests to measure hearing at different pitches; speech evaluation to measure how well you hear and recognize ordinary conversation at different volumes; immitance tests of the middle ear; and complete medical evaluations.

Tinnitus is a medical condition characterized by persistent ringing in one or both ears. These sounds can come and go; however most sufferers experience symptoms constantly. The American Tinnitus Association estimates mre than 50 million Americans suffer from tinnitus. It’s also the number one complaint from United States Veterans. In some cases, tinnitus retraining therapy TKT and tinnitus retraining instruments TRI may provide individual solutions.

The balance system. Due to its close proximity to the hearing mechanism, balance is also a part of the comprehensive hearing evaluation. Fear of falling is a major health concern of older individuals. Nearly 300,000 hip fractures result from balance related falls every year. The natural aging process may affect one or all of these 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. 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 a medical evaluation and after medican and/or surgical intervention, if an individual still suffers from difficulty communicating, a complete communcation needs evaluation is now the gold standard of hearing care. The first step is identifying the individuals needs: What are the listening situations where they individual would like to hear well? The second step is indentifying the individuals lifestyle. For example, not just if they have trouble hearing in restaurants, but how often they do, or would like to, go to restaurants.

Technology 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 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 technology is similar in application. What helps someone hear better is the correct amount of sound at the appropriate pitches for that individual’s heairng 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 includeds assessment of need for assistive listening systems for telephone, Bluetooth, TV, loops, or music systems. In addition to assistive solutions, aftercare will include lip reading and listening skills counseling.

It is important that a hearing-impaired individual take an active role in listening and participate in the recommended auditory retraining and rehabilitation program. The auditory system may not have heard the 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.

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

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Posted in AudigyCertified, Audiologist, Balance, Dizziness, Hearing Aids, Hearing Device, Hearing Difficulty, Hearing Impaired, Hearing Lifestyles, Hearing Loss, Hearing Technology, Ringing in the Ears, tinnitus, Treatable Hearing Loss, Uncategorized

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