audiology

The New Choice in Hearing Protection

August 5, 2021 By quadcities Leave a Comment

While temporary shifts in hearing can occur, overloading the auditory system enough times can cause permanent loss.

One of the first questions I ask a new patient is whether they have a history of loud noise exposure. Some say no, some mention hunting, and most brush it off as listening to loud music in their youth. But the truth is that, especially in our modern world, everyone is exposed to unsafe levels of noise at some point in their lives. While noise pollution is a major concern, most people don’t consider it in their daily lives. However, protecting your ears from loud noise is one of the best ways to protect your hearing. And there are new types of earplugs designed to make that easier.

Why is Noise Dangerous?

Obviously, noise itself is not dangerous. Like anything, it’s how one uses and interacts with noise that creates potential risk. Risk is determined by both volume and duration. A loud enough sound, such as a gunshot, can create immediate damage. But even less intense sounds, like a saw or loud music, can cause harm. This type of damage tends to be cumulative, meaning it occurs slowly over time. Thus, people tend to be less aware of the risk. While temporary shifts in hearing can occur, overloading the auditory system enough times can cause permanent loss. Sustained noise exposure has also been shown to negatively affect mood, focus, sleep and blood pressure.

So, who is at risk? Anyone, really. Hearing loss does not discriminate. One estimate puts the number of individuals at risk of noise-induced hearing loss at 1.1 billion. A large amount is occupation-related, but recreational noise is equally dangerous. Fortunately, noise-induced hearing loss is preventable. Avoiding loud sounds would obviously be the best solution, but is not always a viable option. When loud noises cannot be avoided, hearing protection becomes necessary. The crux is that most people do not utilize it. An estimated 70% of those exposed do not adequately use hearing protection. Luckily, there is a new option to help address this issue.

A New Type of Hearing Protection

Phonak, one of the world’s leading hearing aid manufacturers, has developed a new line of hearing protection called Serenity Choice. Serenity Choice is an innovative line of hearing protection with multiple features that address common barriers to hearing protection use. First, they are readily available. They can be purchased “off the shelf” at the office of any participating hearing care professional. This style comes in three different sizes. If you are somebody who needs to wear them more regularly, they can be custom molded. Impressions would be taken using medical grade silicone, which would be shipped to Phonak for manufacturing. Even this scenario is quick, requiring only a 15-minute appointment for the impressions and two weeks for manufacturing. Having three sizes for the standard ones and an option for custom ones also ensures a proper fit and long-lasting comfort.

The earplugs are also designed for different scenarios. A person wanting more tranquility at the office has different needs than someone riding a dirt bike. Serenity Choice has options for Music, Shooting, Motorsport, Work (home improvement and gardening), Comfort (office), Sleep, Fly and Swim. Most scenarios have the ability to choose different strength filters, depending on how much noise reduction is desired. These filters can be easily changed by the wearer themselves. Shooting and Fly are the only ones that cannot be switched, always providing high and low levels of reduction, respectively. The filters are also designed to allow safe levels of sound to pass through, allowing for better communication ability and environmental awareness compared to other styles.

Serenity Choice also takes ear health into consideration. The filters are composed of a special membrane and mesh material, which allows for airflow into the ear canal. This is different than a foam plug, which closes off the ear canal entirely. Allowing for airflow means the ear won’t get sweaty when wearing these plugs, preventing bacteria from growing. This is especially important for those with chronic middle ear issues. It also allows sound to enter when wearing the Swim plugs. Thus, kids or adults who need to keep their canals dry can do so while in the pool, but still hear their loved ones calling to them.

Taking a proactive approach to hearing health can help to protect your ears longer and ensure they are working to the best of their ability. Phonak Serenity Choice is a great new tool to help in achieving this goal. QCBN

By Jeff Lane, Au. D.

Trinity Hearing Center is located at 1330 N. Rim Dr., Suite B in Flagstaff. For more information, visit the website at TrinityHearing.net. Jeff Lane is a doctor of audiology with a passion for improving the lives of others. Dr. Lane may be reached at 928-522-0500 or at audio@trinityhearing.net.

Phonak Offers Hearing Aids that Respond to Motion

June 28, 2021 By quadcities Leave a Comment

The hearing aid industry is changing to meet the needs of more people than ever before.

Phonak has a new hearing aid that is able to adjust sound input based on your motion! When you are walking, your hearing needs are not the same as when you are sitting in a chair talking to a friend. Speech sound while walking the dog with someone or hiking on a trail present unique challenges, which are now finally addressed. It is all based on your motion read by a chip in the hearing aid that is able to change the noise cancellation and the microphone settings in the hearing aids without any assistance from the person wearing the hearing aid. It is all automatically changed.

Traditional Hearing Instruments

Hearing aids are designed to pick up sound with a microphone. The microphone converts the sound waves into electrical signals. The microphone may have the ability to switch between directional or omnidirectional function, depending on the needs of the wearer. In some situations, the microphones may switch to directional to help reduce background noise. In other environments, it is important to hear sound from all directions, so the microphone switches to omnidirectional. A hearing aid with the ability to automatically switch back and forth between directional and omnidirectional microphone pick up is important to create the most natural sound.

The electrical signal is then sent to an amplifier, also called a processor, or the computer, of the hearing aid. The job of the amplifier is to change the electrical signal from the microphone and convert it into digital sounds. This is the part of the hearing aid that the audiologist programs to respond to particular pitches and situations based on the results from hearing evaluation. After the adjustments to the sound have been completed, the amplifier converts the sound back to an analog signal.

The receiver of the hearing aid takes the sound from the processor and enhances the sound to meet the hearing loss of the wearer of the aids. Receivers are made to provide mild, moderate, power or extra power to the listener, depending on the hearing loss. The receiver converts the analog signal back into sound waves that the hearing aid wearer hears. All of these components complete this process in a fraction of a second!

The New Paradise Motion Detect Hearing Aid

Now, let’s imagine you are sitting and talking to some friends over lunch. You are able to look at the person you want to hear. You will typically look left or right as each person speaks to you. You are focused only on the voices and not the surrounding sounds. Ideally, your brain will help to focus your attention on the desired voice and ignore the competitive sound in the environment. Directional microphones are used in this scenario. The microphones facing behind you are turned off or turned down and the forward-facing microphones are picking up the speech. It is important to remember that you will have the least amount of auditory distraction if you sit with your back to the room noise. You don’t want to face your friends with loud noise going on behind them, because that noise will sneak into your hearing aids.

However, if you go on a walk or hike with your friends, it is more difficult to look at the person talking. They might be off to your side or behind you. If you are walking on the side of a road and a car passes while you are listening to your friend, it would be difficult to hear. This new hearing aid feature in the Phonak Paradise hearing aid employs a unique algorithm when motion is detected. It changes the microphone focus and deactivates the spatial noise cancellation. A study in August 2020 demonstrated improved sound quality, speech understanding and environmental awareness of sound when out walking while wearing the Phonak Paradise model hearing aids. I find this feature amazing and the fact that this all happens automatically is a winner! No need to push a button or change a setting in the hearing aid app in your phone.

The hearing aid industry is changing to meet the needs of more people than ever before. The special features are just part of the advantages. Battery life, water resistant hearing aids and programming to the specific desires of an individual are now at our fingertips. Be mindful of offers that seem too good to be true, your hearing is your connection to the people you love and it is important that you explore the best fit for your lifestyle. QCBN

By Karon Lynn, Au.D.

Trinity Hearing Center is located at 1330 N. Rim Dr., Suite B in Flagstaff. For more information, visit TrinityHearing.net.

Karon Lynn, Au.D., is a doctor of audiology with 30 years of experience working with hearing impaired individuals. Dr. Lynn may be reached at 928-522-0500 or at audio@trinityhearing.net.

Tackling Tinnitus

April 2, 2021 By quadcities Leave a Comment

A major risk factor is exposure to loud noise.

Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the absence of an external stimulus. The perceived sound can vary among individuals, with ringing, hissing crickets and cicadas being the most common. It can also vary in intensity, duration and rate of occurrence. Tinnitus affects approximately 15% of adults. It is a complicated condition that requires proper understanding to be appropriately addressed.

What Causes Tinnitus?

I frequently have patients ask how to get rid of their tinnitus during an exam. Unfortunately, there is not a simple answer to their request. At this time, there is no scientifically proven cure for tinnitus. Perhaps the biggest hurdle in developing a cure for tinnitus is that the condition itself is still not understood in its entirety by researchers. The leading theories agree that tinnitus originates in the brain, but not on the physiological mechanism. Without a known origin, it is difficult to treat.

However, certain factors are known to contribute to the development or exacerbation of tinnitus. A major risk factor is exposure to loud noise. Without getting bogged down in the specifics, consistent exposure to loud noise (or a single exposure to an extremely loud one) can cause lasting physical damage to the auditory system. Tinnitus is often a side effect of this damage. Wearing hearing protection in these situations can attenuate the signal and protect the auditory system. Additionally, actual physical trauma is a known contributor.

Medications can also cause tinnitus. Prolonged use of aspirin has been shown to lead to the development of tinnitus, which often ceases after discontinuing the medication. Prescription medications can also affect some people in this manner. If so, talking to your physician about modifying the dose or switching medications can help.

As mentioned above, tinnitus can also develop alongside hearing loss. When it does, it is often permanent, although not necessarily constant. The silver lining is that in the majority of cases, tinnitus need not cause concern. It is annoying, yes, but not dangerous. However, it is important to note that, in very rare cases, tinnitus can be an indicator of a medical condition, such as a tumor (which is usually benign). This type of tinnitus is usually only in one ear, and presents alongside other factors such as dizziness, headaches or asymmetrical hearing.

Treatment Options

Habituation is an important concept when it comes to addressing tinnitus. Habituation refers to the ability to adjust to something. I attended a lecture once where the speaker defined the difference between a person who has tinnitus, and a tinnitus patient. The majority of the time, a patient will say, “I have ringing, but it’s been there so long I don’t really notice it.” These are people with tinnitus who have habituated and peacefully coexist with their noise. Tinnitus patients are the ones who are unable to habituate and report that it is destroying their life. Obviously, the difficulty in habituating is not their fault. And it is not an exaggeration for them to claim it is destroying their life. Tinnitus can cause stress, sleep disturbances, difficulty focusing and, in severe cases, suicidal ideation. These are the individuals who need tinnitus-focused treatment.

To be clear, what is being discussed is treatment, not a permanent cure.

Lifestyle modifications are the initial and simplest step in managing tinnitus. First, try to minimize stress as much as possible. Easy, right? But, studies do show a correlation between stress levels and perceived annoyance of a person’s tinnitus. Next, watch your diet. Salt, sugar, caffeine, alcohol and nicotine are all known to exacerbate tinnitus. Having background noise, such as music or a white noise machine, can help to distract your brain by offering a different stimulus on which to focus. Finally, try not to focus on the tinnitus itself, as that can increase stress, which feeds back into it.

Hearing aids also have been shown to help treat tinnitus. While the effect is only obtained when actively wearing them, many people do find a degree of relief. Hearing aids can also be programmed to have a masker, which is essentially a noise which is customized to the specific tinnitus being heard. Maskers can be programmed even if a person has normal hearing.

Non-audiologic treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy and tinnitus retraining therapy, both of which have proven effective. EMDR and current stimulation therapies show early promise, but require more research. Support from others suffering from tinnitus can also be beneficial. The American Tinnitus Association is a great resource for information connecting to a community. QCBN

By Jeff Lane, Au. D.

Dr. Jeff Lane is a doctor of audiology at Trinity Hearing Center with a passion for improving the lives of others. Trinity Hearing Center is located at 1330 N. Rim Dr., Suite B in Flagstaff. For more information, visit the website at TrinityHearing.net. Dr. Lane may be reached at 928-522-0500 or at audio@trinityhearing.net.

Treating Hearing Loss in Children

February 26, 2021 By quadcities Leave a Comment

The secret to having the best outcome for the child is early hearing aid use. The earlier the better.

We all know intuitively that you need hearing to learn traditional speech and language. If a child has a hearing loss, especially one that is not detected, the world is confusing and distorted. Imagine a mom telling her young child that it is bath time. If she does not have a bath towel in her hand or is not walking or pointing toward the bathroom, the little one may not understand what is going on. Or, think about parents sitting in the living room talking about going to the park and going out to lunch. When they stand up to get ready, they wonder why their little one is not excited to go when the other kids are getting their coats on.

What are the symptoms of hearing loss in children?

Undetected hearing loss may show up as confusion, stubbornness, moodiness, speech delay and difficulty learning. The child may be inattentive to activities unless they are expressly directed at them. They may get angry and frustrated with activities that require significant interaction with others. Put yourself in the child’s shoes: imagine playing with your toys and suddenly someone is yelling that you aren’t playing with the others the way you should. What just happened? I am in trouble? All I was doing was playing with my toys! Social skills in the hearing impaired child do not develop the same as a normal hearing child.

Hearing loss is not as evident as deafness; however, hearing loss is much more common than deafness. It is reported that two in 1,000 well babies are born with hearing loss and 24% to 46% of babies from the NICU (newborn intensive care unit) have hearing loss. Based on these figures, you can see that hearing loss is a significant issue facing children.

Causes of Hearing Loss According to the American Speech and Hearing Association, some of the common causes of hearing loss in babies are:

Infections, such as rubella or
herpes simplex virus

Premature birth

Low birth weight

Birth injuries

Drug and alcohol use while
pregnant

Jaundice and Rh factor problems

Maternal diabetes

High blood pressure while
pregnant

Reduced oxygen to the baby during pregnancy

Genetics

Causes for hearing loss in children are commonly from:

Ear infections

Ototoxic drugs (medicine that damages the auditory system)

Meningitis

Measles

Encephalitis

Chickenpox

Influenza

Mumps

Head injury

Noise exposure

Testing for hearing loss

Today, most babies get a hearing test prior to leaving the hospital when they are born. For home births, a hearing test can be scheduled as an outpatient with an audiologist. A screening test is completed first; then, if there is any question about the hearing, a diagnostic test is ordered. The test is quick and completely painless. For young children, the test is completed in a small room while the child sits in the caregiver’s lap. The sound comes from special speakers in the room that mimic wearing headphones. The child does not even know they are being tested. It is just a little room with cartoon videos playing.

Treatment for hearing loss

If a hearing loss is confirmed, the baby or child will be sent to an ENT to rule out hearing loss caused from middle ear fluid. If the hearing loss is determined to be caused by damage to the hearing nerves, then hearing aids are ordered. Today, hearing aids are much more comfortable and have a more natural sound than in years past. The secret to having the best outcome for the child is early hearing aid use. The earlier the better. The more exposure to sound at the earliest possible age gives the child the best chance of learning speech, language and the necessary social skills to keep up with their peers. I have fit hearing aids on babies as young as four weeks.

In addition to hearing aids, it is important to enroll the child in speech therapy as quickly as possible. Again, we are racing against the clock and need to expose that beautiful little brain to as much sound and learning opportunity as possible, as young as possible. The brain learns speech easiest prior to the age of two. You would be amazed at the amount of learning a child does when playing around the house. We want to take advantage of every single opportunity to learn. A speech pathologist will teach the caregivers how to expose the child to the best speech opportunities and will work with the child so they understand how to produce sounds.

A team approach with an audiologist, speech pathologist and the caregivers is imperative to ensure the best opportunity for a successful outcome. QCBN

By Karon Lynn, Au.D.

Trinity Hearing Center is located at 1330 N. Rim Dr., Suite B in Flagstaff. For more information, visit TrinityHearing.net.

Karon Lynn, Au.D., is a doctor of audiology with 30 years of experience working with hearing impaired individuals. Dr. Lynn may be reached at 928-522-0500 or at audio@trinityhearing.net.

Hearing Versus Understanding

January 28, 2021 By quadcities Leave a Comment

The most common concern of those with hearing loss is not being able to understand others. “I can hear them,” a patient will say. “I just don’t know what they said.”

Considering the fact that verbal communication is how most people interact with others, being able to do so is essential. However, people can often conflate hearing and understanding. While undoubtedly interconnected, they are two distinct functions. Understanding the difference can help to improve outcomes and satisfaction with hearing instruments.

Audibility vs. Clarity

Audibility refers to the ability to detect that a sound is present. The brain simply does or does not acknowledge that an auditory stimulus is present. A person with normal hearing would be able to hear a certain sound at a volume that would be imperceptible to one with hearing loss. Clarity refers to the ability to assign meaning to a sound. Even if a sound is audible to a person, their brain may not be able to understand what that sound is supposed to convey. Take a car radio, for instance. Driving through the city, the songs can easily be heard and understood. In a remote location, though, the transmission could still be heard, but the clarity would be fuzzy and distorted enough as to make it incomprehensible.

Audibility and clarity are determined by two different mechanisms in the human auditory system. When a soundwave reaches the ear, it is funneled down the ear canal to the eardrum. This sets off a chain reaction wherein the eardrum, middle ear bones and fluid inside the cochlea (organ of hearing) vibrate in a specific pattern based on the stimulus. These vibrations are coded as electrical signals which are sent to the brain. With hearing loss, impedance occurs within the middle or inner ear, causing the signal that reaches the nerve to be weakened. A weaker signal means that the stimulus has to have a much higher intensity (louder) for the brain to notice.

Clarity is determined by filters within the auditory system. Imagine trying to create a personal budget for the year. The total sum of the prior year’s expenses is known, but that in itself is not too helpful. Budgeting requires knowing how that money was spent, meaning it needs to be categorized. Speech is categorized in the same way. Incoming soundwaves are filtered so that “s” is a separate category from “m,” and so on. When the cochlea sustains enough damage, those filters become broader and less specific, so that “m” and “s” could end up overlapping. Thus, the brain can hear the person talking, but cannot understand what is said as it is receiving the equivalent of a fuzzy radio signal.

Hearing Instruments

Hearing aids are recommended for hearing losses which have become significant enough to affect communication. Hearing aids increase audibility by magnifying frequencies the ears have trouble hearing on their own. How does this help communication? Many consonant sounds, which give words their meaning, are rather soft and high-pitched (e.g., “f” and “s”). Incidentally, the majority of people suffer the most hearing loss in the high-pitch range. This means that, given the context of the situation, many consonant sounds are not audible to that person, making it difficult to understand others. The increased audibility provided by the hearing aids improves their access to these sounds.

The above scenario works well for an individual with good clarity. Unfortunately, other individuals may only have 50% clarity. In this situation, hearing aids are still a valuable resource in aiding communication. But they may not be enough in and of themselves. This is because while the hearing aids can be programmed to provide as clear and audible a signal as possible, the brain is still required to interpret that signal correctly. If the auditory system can only provide 50% clarity, a person may still struggle to understand at times, even if they are still doing better overall with the hearing aids. In these cases, assistive accessories that work in conjunction with the hearing aids and the use of good communication strategies can greatly improve an individual’s outcomes. For more severe cases, the literature shows that a cochlear implant is a safe and effective solution for significantly increasing clarity and improving communication.

There are many forms of managing hearing loss. A hearing care professional can help guide you to the best solution. Understanding the issue can help to properly address it. QCBN

By Jeff Lane, Au.D.

Trinity Hearing Center is located at 1330 N. Rim Dr., Suite B in Flagstaff. For more information, visit TrinityHearing.net.

Jeff Lane, Au.D., is a doctor of audiology with a passion for improving the lives of others. Dr. Lane may be reached at 928-522-0500 or at audio@trinityhearing.net.

Exploring the Lyric Hearing Aid and Tinnitus Masker

December 31, 2020 By quadcities Leave a Comment

The Lyric is a hearing aid that is housed inside the ear canal for extended periods of time. No need to change a battery or put the hearing aid in a recharging device at night. All you need to do is go to your audiologist and ask to try a pair of them for free!

Discreet Amplification

The most amazing consequence of wearing the Lyric is that you are a “normal” person. You do not have to be careful with your hearing aids around the house so the dog or cat does not eat them when you take them off. You can remove your glasses without catching the hearing aid and having it fly across the room. You can remove your facemask without worrying that your hearing aids will be lost. You can put on your motorcycle helmet or bicycle helmet without fear of losing the hearing aid. You can even swim, on top of the water, while wearing Lyric, although you must wear earplugs to protect the Lyric from excessive water while lap swimming or kayaking and bathing.

No one will politely remind you to put your hearing aids in every morning while you are simply trying to enjoy your coffee and newspaper. People enjoy the fact that they wake up hearing normally and are able to hear house noise at night similar to the other family members.

Lyric Sound is Clear

The sound of speech is clear and distinct. You are able to understand your friends and family under most circumstances. Extremely loud environments will present a challenge, but my patients report that 95% of the time they are very happy with the sound quality.

The Lyric Difference

The sound of these aids is different than other in-the-ear hearing aids because of the location in the ear canal. The canal wall has different composition as it extends to the eardrum. The Lyric sits deeper in the canal than any other hearing aid. The depth is one of the biggest secrets to the successful sound transmission. The Lyric sits ¼ of an inch from the eardrum in the boney portion of the canal. The composition of bone rather than cartilage and fat reduces the echo that many people hear with traditional hearing aids. The Lyric takes advantage of the outer ear, or pinna, in its ability to focus on the sound that the listener is facing. Finally, the power needs are much less because it is so close to the eardrum; thus, there is less distortion of sound.

The Lyric Sound is Adjustable

The Lyric comes with a wand that is designed to change the volume or even mute the sound completely. It has a sleep mode if you prefer to hear at your pre-hearing aid level. There are many options so that the sound can be modified by the person wearing Lyric.

Lyric for Tinnitus

Tinnitus is a noise that is heard by a person either in the brain or in an ear. It can be a whistle, buzz, chirp or hissing sound. There are numerous descriptions of the noise that can be heard by someone. The Lyric is a great way to either reduce tinnitus or completely eliminate the sound. Many patients will be astounded that the minute the Lyric is placed into the canal, the noise they hear is gone! Anyone who wants to find out if he or she will benefit is welcome to try out a Lyric for free.

Removing the Lyric

The person using a Lyric is able to remove it at any time. A tool is provided that is placed in the ear canal and attaches to a loop on the outer edge of the device. I have had people attempt to replace their device, but by not using the specialized tool, the ear canal was scratched. The Lyric must be reinserted by the audiologist. The fit is comfortable only if it is placed in the canal at the proper depth and at the proper angle.

Replacing the Lyric

The Lyric battery will last more than two months. Sometimes it will last up to three months, but it is safe to say that the Lyric should be replaced every two months. The audiologist will remove the Lyric, clean the ear canal and place a new Lyric in the ear canal. Even if you wear traditional hearing aids, you should try out this new technology on a free trial. QCBN

By Karon Lynn, Au.D.

Trinity Hearing Center is located at 1330 N. Rim Dr., Suite B in Flagstaff. For more information, visit TrinityHearing.net.

Karon Lynn, Au.D., is a doctor of audiology with 30 years of experience working with hearing impaired individuals. Dr. Lynn may be reached at 928-522-0500 or at audio@trinityhearing.net.

What is it Like to Have a Hearing Loss?

November 28, 2020 By quadcities Leave a Comment

As an audiologist, I see hearing-impaired individuals every day. One of the most rewarding activities of my job is to teach the family members what it is like to have a hearing loss and how to better communicate with hearing-impaired people.

What Can the Hearing-Impaired Person Hear?

I think that understanding what a person really can and can’t hear is the key to successfully living with or working with a hearing-impaired person. It is crucial to understand what can change the clarity of your voice for a person attempting to comprehend what you are saying.

For argument’s sake, let’s select the most common hearing loss to use in our discussion. That would be a high-frequency hearing loss. Now, we will put lovely hearing aids on, which have been programmed by your favorite audiologist! That individual is now being given sound to augment what they hear without amplification. Can this person hear the same as you? I am sorry to say, no. The individual is able to hear more sounds that are used for speech and also hear room noise that is sharing the same pitches as speech. Our patient can hear water running, cinders crunching under their feet, paper rustling and other high pitch sounds. He or she can hear your voice much easier (note the word easier) but not perfectly. The individual can now hear the competitive speech sounds in the same room. The damage in the hearing organ is still there. In essence, even as a person wears hearing aids, he or she is still hearing impaired, but the hearing is aided.

Filtered Speech You Can Hear Online

There are some amazing websites that play a variety of sound samples for the normal hearing person to hear speech through a damaged hearing organ. It is a remarkable learning experience to listen to the samples and step into the shoes of an individual who lives in a world with this type of hearing. After listening to the samples, imagine going to a church service or a meeting with the “sample ears.” How loud would you need to turn the TV? Now imagine sitting in your favorite chair reading a book and suddenly hearing the demonstration sentence start up. Would you be able to understand it? If you turn the “sample ears” louder, does it eliminate all the difficulty or do you still need to concentrate on what is being said? Do you think that you could relax and listen as people were talking in a group setting?

You will notice on the websites that speech in noise is separate from the speech in quiet. Listen to the difference. Notice how noise is a significant distraction to the desired sentence on which you are concentrating.

The website called The Real Sounds of Hearing provides sentences with filtered sound, giving you unique insight into the life of a hearing-impaired person. Go to:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/06/175945670/the-real-sounds-of-hearing-loss.

This website is provided by Audrey Carlsen. She demonstrates to the listener how it is to hear with the high frequencies missing. In another sample, she demonstrates what it sounds like with a flat hearing loss. A flat hearing loss causes you to miss all the soft sounds of speech.

Another site is the Phonak website: type in “Phonak hearing loss simulation.” You will find samples of speech, music, bird song and other sounds commonly heard every day with a comparison of a normal hearing individual with that of a person with a hearing loss. One of the most glaring differences is how they each hear sounds if there is background noise. The damage in the ear creates difficulty separating the noise from the sound on which you want to focus.

I hope those of you who do not own a computer will go use a family member’s or friend’s computer to listen to these samples. You could go to your audiologist’s office and ask to hear the samples. Another suggestion is to go the public library. A librarian will be able to help you find the websites and help you use the computer.

If you live with or work with someone who is experiencing hearing loss, you will likely find this knowledge profound. My experience is that the normal hearing family members are moved to tears as they finally understand what their loved one is experiencing. QCBN

By Karon Lynn, Au.D.

Trinity Hearing Center is located at 1330 N. Rim Dr., Suite B in Flagstaff. For more information, visit TrinityHearing.net.

Karon Lynn, Au.D., is a doctor of audiology with 30 years of experience working with hearing impaired individuals. Dr. Lynn may be reached at 928-522-0500 or at audio@trinityhearing.net.

Welcome to Hearing Aid Paradise

October 30, 2020 By quadcities Leave a Comment

Advancements occur at a quick pace in the realm of hearing aids. Manufacturers are constantly developing new solutions to patients’ hearing needs, so that each successive model provides an even more natural sound quality. Phonak, one of the world’s largest hearing aid manufacturers, recently released its newest platform: Paradise. Paradise offers multiple innovations aimed at improving patient satisfaction.

Sound Quality

When surveyed, hearing aid users stated that their biggest concern was improving their hearing. Phonak consistently surveys users to determine how to best meet this goal. Respondents stated that while they could hear more in their environment, soft sounds such as quiet talkers still presented occasional challenges. To address this concern, Phonak has introduced a feature called Speech Enhancer, which provides additional volume to quiet speech. It is only activated in calm environments, as the chaos of a noisy room does not need to be enhanced further. Conversely, they have also introduced Soft Noise Reduction, which reduces quiet environmental noises such as clocks or fans. Combined, these features work to improve speech detection while minimizing bothersome environmental sounds. Both features are automatic, activating themselves based on algorithms.

Another common survey theme was being able to hear those to the side or rear of the hearing aid user when walking. Traditionally, when hearing aids detected loud environments, they would narrow their focus to only amplify what was directly in front of the patient. Thus, any sounds beside or behind the user are ignored. This is useful if the user is stable, but perhaps less so when walking. Phonak’s solution is Motion Sensor Hearing. Motion Sensor Hearing detects when the user is actively walking and widens the focus of the hearing aids so that all companions can be heard, regardless of their positioning relative to the user. The user is able to feel more open and connected to the world.

Ease of Use

Bluetooth connectivity has long been a feature of hearing aids, with direct connectivity being a more recent development. Direct Bluetooth connectivity allows hearing aid users to stream phone calls, music, videos and other audio to their aids, hands-free. Phonak Paradise retains this feature, while improving ease of its use. In prior models, the phone had to be answered by pressing a button on the hearing aid. Such a task can be difficult for those with arthritis, neuropathy or even large fingers. Paradise aids allow a user to now answer the call by double-tapping on either ear. Double-tapping can also activate phone assistants (Siri, Google) or pause and resume streaming. For instance, if a user is listening to an audiobook and someone begins talking to that person, he or she can double-tap to pause the book, converse, then double-tap to resume their book. All of these features can still be controlled by the hearing aid button if desired.

Another improvement involves the connectivity itself. In the prior model, the aids could pair to fewer devices and could only connect to one device at a time. (Pairing refers to the aids and another device recognizing that each other exist, while connecting allows a device to actively stream to the hearing aids.) If a user wanted to switch from using a phone to using a tablet, he or she had to disconnect from the phone and connect to the tablet. This could, of course, be inconvenient. Paradise hearing aids allow a user to pair to more devices (eight) and be actively connected to two at a time. Thus, switching between devices is now seamless. If a user has more than two devices paired, the aids will automatically connect to the two most recently used, rather than the user having to choose each time.

myPhonak app

When launching its prior model, Phonak introduced the myPhonak app for phones and tablets. myPhonak allows the phone or tablet to act as a remote control for the aids, while also allowing for distance programming. With the Paradise aids also come improvements to the myPhonak. Users can now control whether rechargeable aids turn on automatically, choose what the double-tap controls and monitor daily use of the aids. Users also can work with their provider to set goals for acclimating to the hearing aids. These goals are also monitored through myPhonak.

With Paradise, Phonak continues its mission of offering superior sound quality and maximum convenience. Previous Phonak users have reported a substantial improvement in their hearing. A hearing care professional will be the best resource for determining which devices will best suit your needs. QCBN

By Jeff Lane, Au. D.

Understanding the Value of Baseline Hearing Tests

February 1, 2020 By quadcities Leave a Comment

People getting a hearing test are often asked if there has been a change in their hearing. Some want to know how much their hearing has diminished through the years. Others ask to have a comparison made from the test and ask if their hearing is likely to change significantly. These are important concerns; however, let’s look at a missing component.

Why Baseline Tests are Important

Hearing, as with any function of our body, will change or fluctuate through time. The bloodwork you had to monitor your insulin or thyroid function last year will not be suitable to use this year. The same goes with vision testing. You need a current vision examination to correctly order glasses. Hearing is no different. Hearing loss can gradually creep up on people and without proper, testing it may go untreated. A baseline hearing test gives the patient and audiologist a starting point or reference. This helps with short-term and long-term planning. The baseline hearing test is recommended before you start experiencing hearing difficulty so the audiologist can have a good grasp of how you functioned before noticing a decline in hearing.

Follow Up Testing

Once you have a through baseline hearing test, it is time to decide how often you want to have monitoring tests completed. Your audiologist will be able to make a recommendation. My recommendation is different depending on what the individual is experiencing. If someone has normal hearing and is not currently having difficulty hearing, I might recommend a hearing test every two to three years. If an individual is struggling to hear in some situations, I would recommend a hearing test once a year. Most insurance policies will pay for testing at least once a year. If someone has bouts of significant changes in hearing, I recommend they call and schedule a test while the hearing is acting up! We need to document what is going on while it occurs to better diagnose what or where the problem is.

Who Needs a Baseline Test?

Hearing testing can be completed on all age groups. A one-year-old or even a newborn can have a hearing test. We normally recommend a hearing test on children who are not speaking at the level expected for their age. Another time to request a hearing test would be if a child has chronic middle ear infections. Hearing is important to learn to speak and function within a family. Once a child enters school, the school will usually offer hearing screenings when children are in their elementary years. If a child does not pass a school screening, it is important that the parents follow the school’s recommendations for attention to the hearing. Once a child reaches high school, it is recommended that they have one test prior to leaving school. This would be the hearing test as the individual goes out into the world and will serve as the baseline for future testing. Adults can ask their primary care doctor to order a hearing test to safely store in their medical records should it be needed at a later time.

Why Would Hearing Change?

Traditionally, when a person gets a hearing test, he or she usually wants counsel on management strategies and hearing health. If the individual has not had a test in three or more years, it is difficult to offer a comparison of change in hearing and recommend long-term solutions. Hearing changes at different rates for every individual and the best person to compare your hearing against is you!

If you become ill and need strong medications, you may suffer a change in hearing. If you have whiplash or a head injury, you may notice a change in hearing. Head injuries may occur after falling off a horse, getting hit with a bat, slipping on ice or a motor vehicle accident, to name a few causes. Perhaps you fly somewhere and when you land your hearing is not as sharp and clear and it just doesn’t seem to recover. Hearing change may come after being exposed to a loud noise. It can happen as the result of attending a concert, going on a hunting trip or being near a child who is playfully blowing a horn. I have seen people who woke up one day and one of their ears was completely stopped up. The availability of a baseline hearing test will help your audiologist and physician determine the type and degree of change you suffered and offer the best management options. QCBN

By Karon Lynn, Au.D.

Trinity Hearing Center is located at 1330 N. Rim Dr., Suite B in Flagstaff. For more information, visit TrinityHearing.net.

Karon Lynn is a doctor of audiology with 30 years of experience working with hearing impaired individuals. Dr. Lynn may be reached at 928-522-0500 or at audio@trinityhearing.net.

Hyperacusis: Hearing That is Too Good

June 28, 2019 By quadcities Leave a Comment

Most of us are aware of hearing loss and the difficulty associated with not being able to hear conversation or other important sounds. What about the people who suffer (suffer is the correct word to use here) with hyperacusis? One in 50,000 people reportedly suffer from hyperacusis.

What is Hyperacusis?

The definition of hyperacusis varies and may even seem unclear. Most audiologists define hyperacusis as a condition in which a person has intolerance to a level of sound. It can be defined as a condition that is a disorder of the perception of loudness of sound. This may also occur with what you might consider a soft sound.

The physical characteristic of the sound need not be loud to have the sensation of pain or discomfort. Another way to describe hyperacusis is a decrease in sound tolerance. There are other definitions for sound intolerance, such as phonophobia: the fear of a sound; and misophonia: a negative reaction to a sound. The term hyperacusis is usually reserved for individuals who feel that particular pitches or sounds cause physical discomfort. Individuals may describe discomfort, pain, tingling or pinging.

What Causes Hyperacusis?

A hypothesis about the cause of hyperacusis is that the individual has a reduced nerve input in response to sound. This causes the brain to attempt to compensate and increase the gain of the sound, which causes the over-amplification. This means that the issue is in two areas: the hearing organ and the auditory path in the brain.

There are people who have increased activity of a muscle that tenses the eardrum called the tensor tympani. This muscle is designed to contract in response to loud sound but in some individuals the muscle moves too much and causes discomfort. Hyperacusis is more prevalent in people with a history of noise exposure, ringing in the ears, physical trauma to the head or viral infection of the inner ear. There are conditions associated with hyperacusis, including Bell’s palsy, Lyme disease, depression and autism. Actual hearing ability does not seem to predispose someone to this condition. People with hearing loss or normal hearing may experience the discomfort.

How is Hyperacusis Tested?

All forms of hearing sensitivity are tested by having a person sit in a very quiet room and listen through earphones for pure tones or speech signals. The unique nature of hyperacusis shows as a reduction in loudness growth from the pure tones or standardized environmental sounds. The individual will say that sound which is slightly louder than what they can just hear is uncomfortable. A normal response to stepping the sound up louder and louder while staying comfortable is about 100dB! A person with hyperacusis may only tolerate an increase of 10dB.

Hyperacusis Treatment

The two most common management techniques for hyperacusis are counseling and sound therapy. Counseling for hyperacusis includes activities that are focused on cognitive behavior therapy, helping the individual to adjust his or her perceptions of sound. The individual is exposed to the noise in a controlled environment and the noise is increased in volume and the length of time of the session is increased. Some of these therapies focus the sound to be similar to the difficult sounds; other therapies focus on general environmental sounds. The therapy is a slow process but people with significant hyperacusis are thankful that they can try this technique rather than withdraw from the sounds of society.

Wearing Musicians’ Earplugs

Another treatment is noise reduction by wearing musicians’ earplugs. These are custom-fit earplugs that are comfortable enough to wear day and night. This type of noise reduction does not completely block your hearing but reduces the extreme edges of sound. The plugs come in 9dB, 15dB and 25dB sound-reduction options.

The plugs have a diaphragm that functions as an acoustic filter to give various amounts of reduction to sound. The 9dB reduces the sounds through the middle frequencies, the 15dB uniformly reduces sound across all frequencies and the 25dB gives a relatively flat sound reduction across all frequencies. The sound of your own voice sounds the most natural using these filters (not muffled). The goal is to wear the least amount of noise reduction so that your natural auditory filter is given the chance to work as much as possible. Many people find that they only need to wear the plugs in certain situations and they are comfortable enough not to wear them in other situations.

It is important to discuss your hearing issues with an audiologist. A professional will be able to point you in the right direction. QCBN

By Karon Lynn, Au.D.

Trinity Hearing Center is located at 1330 N. Rim Dr., Suite B in Flagstaff. For more information, visit the website at TrinityHearing.net. Karon Lynn is a doctor of audiology with 30 years of experience working with hearing impaired individuals. Dr. Lynn may be reached at 928-522-0500 or at audio@trinityhearing.net.

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