Japan's new bone conduction cellphone

If you have trouble hearing in noisy environments when talking on your cellphone, Japan may have a solution for you. A popular Japanese cellphone provider, KDDI announced that they will release a bone conduction cellphone model A1407PT by Pantech in the next few weeks.

Bone conduction is not a new technology and has been used as an alternative amplification device for hearing impaired individuals who cannot benefit from traditional hearing aids. The basic principle of bone conduction is that a device, in this case a cellphone speaker, is pressed to the head just behind the ear on the mastoid bone. Sound is heard via sounds waves transversing the skull rather than through the outer and middle ear.

This niche product is aimed at workers in Japan that are at building sites with background noise that masks out speech from the cellphone. This technology will only be available in Japan at this time.

Credit: Tech.co.uk

MIT researchers discover a new hearing mechanism

An article on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) news website published on October 10, 2007 reported that MIT researchers have discovered a mechanism inside the inner ear that functions in a different way. For over 50 years, it has been known that sound waves inside the cochlea travel in an up-and-down manner. But the research team noted in the article has found that sound energy can also be carried by a traveling wave that moves from side-to-side. Read the article to learn more about the potential impacts of this discovery.

Click here to read the article: MIT finds new hearing mechanism

Click To Play

Credit: Ghaffari, Aranyosi, and Freeman, MIT

Dancing outer hair cell

This post is just another reason why our auditory system is so fascinating. To appreciate this movie, I need to give a short explanation of some auditory structures and their role in hearing.

The cochlea is a snail-shaped structure in the inner ear (beyond your eardrum) that is the sensory organ of hearing. There are microscopic hair cells with stereocilia at the tips within the cochlea that are responsible for moving in response to vibrations. Basically, it is the motion of the sensory hair cells that allows signals to be sent to the brain via the auditory nerve and process sounds we hear.

The image on the right shows a top view of the stereocilia of an outer hair cell in the cochlea. Credit: www.neuroscience.cam.ac.uk

Hair cells are most sensitive and contract at specific frequencies. They can degenerate over our lifetime with age and can also be damaged when we are exposed to very loud sounds, which is why it is important to always protect your ears. UK Scientist, Jonathon Ashmore was able to isolate a single outer hair cell and make it dance! That's right, dance...presenting you with the DANCING OUTER HAIR CELL!
Read an explanation of movie from Ashmore's website here: http://www.physiol.ucl.ac.uk/ashmore/hairexpl.htm

Boys and Girls Club of Burbank presentations

The hearing awareness conservation presentations at the Boys and Girls Club of Burbank were a hit with the summer day camp students!

The topics presented to the first-third graders included importance of hearing, how we hear, identifying very loud sounds and the danger, and how to protect your hearing.

The fourth- eighth graders received a similar but more in-depth presentation that also encompassed measuring sound levels using a sound level meter, noise-induced hearing loss and why not to use cotton swabs in the ear. After receiving a warm welcome, both groups were respectful, attentive and seemed eager to learn about hearing. I was thrilled to have had an opportunity to share my knowledge with them. It wonderful to meet students and answer their hearing-related questions. I hope to visit them again soon.



















Picture of me with the winners of the quiz session. The Earbud t-shirt prizes and Earbud brochures were courtesy of House Ear Institute. Many thanks to House Ear Institute for their continued support of my efforts!

Money magazine reviews “Noise-Isolating” earbuds

Click on the images to read the full article.


A larger image will open in the same window or right click to open in a new window.

The current issue of Money magazine features connecting a review of noise-isolating earbuds to a topic that appears to be receiving more attention in recent months than it has in the past: noise-induced hearing loss. With the popularity of mp3 players, as well as the risk they present with improper use, some magazines are finding good reason to discuss the hearing factors involved in consumer-product reviews. “Easy Listening: Noise-isolating earbuds deliver music in peace, no matter what’s going on around you” by Wilson Rothman channels the main healthy hearing message using a consumer-friendly approach.

Rothman reviews six low-priced model earbuds and declares Creative’s Zen Aurvana, priced at $100, as the Field Test Winner. But before he names the winner, he notes the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders ( www.nidcd.com), which states that exposure to sounds louder than 85 decibels for an extended period of time can cause hearing loss. He further mentions a significant detail that most consumers are unaware of: the maximum volume level on the iPod is 115 decibels. Rothman compares this sound level to a chain saw and grounded jet and provides an alternative to turning up your music to block background noise – buy a pair of decent noise-isolating earbuds to use with your mp3 player.

Although these are not “noise-canceling” headphones as Rothman points out, he covers all the essentials in his review of some brand-name noise-isolating earbuds and gives consumers a range to choose from. I use the Apple In-Ear earbuds and agree with Rothman that the price and sound quality are good but I think it has a couple drawbacks. My ear canals are fairly narrow and they fall out of my ear canal too often while exercising even though I use the appropriate size inserts. Without a nice tight fit, it is difficult to achieve its noise-isolating capacity.

Hearing in the news - L.A. Times

It's always nice to find an audiology article in the newspaper since it doesn't happen quite often enough, at least in my opinion. However, in the past year I have noticed a slight increase in news about noise-induced hearing loss.

"Like an earplug in a pill," published in the Los Angeles Times on July 2, 2007, discusses noise-induced hearing loss and otoprotectants.

Here is a snippet of the article. You can read the full article at: http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-lab2jul02,1,4407246,full.story

"TED AX knows he should wear earplugs when he leans into the noisy engine compartment of an MG sports car. He's been working among clanging metal and whirring power tools in garages for the last 15 years and has already developed tinnitus, a ringing in the ears that is one of the most common symptoms of hearing loss caused by excessive noise."

Upcoming Presentation

On Thursday, August 2, I will be conducting hearing conservation awareness information to the members of the Boys and Girls Club of Burbank, CA. I'm thrilled to have this opportunity to speak to 1st-8th graders about dangerous sound levels and method of protecting their hearing.

Free ear plugs and hearing health materials will be provided courtesy of the Hour Ear Institute's "It's How You Listen That Counts," an awareness campaign for teens. Also, Ear Bud t-shirts will be rewarded as a prize during a short quiz session.

For more information about the event, visit their website: Boys and Girls Club of Burbank - News & Events

Ringing in the ears

Have you ever experienced ringing or buzzing in your ears? Sometimes after being exposed to very loud situations, for example concerts, you may hear ringing in your ears immediately afterwards. For most people, the ringing is only temporary and is a result of the noise exposure. However, others are bothered by ringing in their ears often or most of the time. It is estimated that 12 million Americans suffer from tinnitus
Definition of tinnitus: Tinnitus is the medical term for the perception of sound in one or both ears or in the head when no external sound is present. It is often referred to as "ringing in the ears," although some people hear hissing, roaring, whistling, chirping, or clicking. Tinnitus can be intermittent or constant-with single or multiple tones-and its perceived volume can range from subtle to shattering (American Tinnitus Association).

What causes it? There are a few causes of tinnitus; these include hearing loss, exposure to loud noise, certain types of medicines, allergies, tumors and problems in the heart and blood vessels, jaws and neck. In most cases, tinnitus is a result of damage to the microscopic endings of the hearing nerve in the inner ear. Typically, the younger the person, the more likely it is that their tinnitus is a result of loud noise exposure.

What should you do if you are experiencing the symptoms of tinnitus? Go see a doctor and he or she will try to determine the cause. Your doctor may refer you to an ENT to examine your ears and an audiologist, who can test your hearing.

Are there any treatments? Yes. Although there is no cure for tinnitus, there are some treatments that can provide relief. Treatments include maskers, medicine, relaxing and more. Click here for a complete list of treatments: Treatments

I have talked to several people that suffer from tinnitus and they describe it as being sometimes difficult to deal with and distracting. It is important to find a treatment method that works and practicing it. Some people find that listening to the TV or music helps to mask the ringing or buzzing. With proper treatment, it is possible for most people to live a normal life.


LISTEN: audio simulation which mimics what tinnitus (ringing in the ears) (click on link to play)
Tinnitus simulation by Dr. Billy Martin of the Oregon Hearing Research Center at Oregon Health & Science University has created the following sound clip that will give you an idea of what it sounds like to suffer from tinnitus.


Resources:
American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
American Tinnitus Association
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCH)

Postcards

Some useful information!

I gave these to students at Clark as part of the presentations.





design & print by My Prints Ready

What is considered too loud?

It can be surprising to find out how loud some everyday activities can be. Check out this great poster:

Noise Thermometer Poster
(be sure to zoom in for details)

Remember that possible ear damage begins to occur at 85 decibels (dB). If you are going to exposure your ears to sound levels above this level, use hearing protection: foam earplugs, high-fidelity earplugs or earmuffs.
Some factors to keep in mind when trying to determine safe and unsafe sound levels:
1. How close you are to the source of the sound The closer you are to the source (ex. speaker), the louder and possibly more harmful the sound.
2. Duration (time) you are exposed to the sound The recommended exposure time depends on the decibel level. Check out this helpful chart:

Source: House Ear Institute (http://earbud.org/nihl.html)

Feel free to message me with questions!

How we hear

I really doubt that you have ever had to tell your brain to hear. Luckily, we don't have to. We have the ability to hear sounds and speech instantly on a continuous basis, without ever having to stop and think about it. The ear anatomy seems simple enough from the outside, yet the auditory system and the process of hearing are both fairly complex.

It's a cool process to learn about. Our ears are composed of 3 regions with structures that work together to help us hear. These are the outer, middle and inner ear (see diagram). The sensory cells in the inner ear are responsible for sending information to the brain using the auditory nerve.

To learn about the process of hearing, check out the House Ear Institute's website: How we hear

Illustration Source: MED-EL Corporation

Don't have earwax removed by the "coning" method

During the presentations, a few students asked me about the "coning" procedure used to remove earwax from the ear canal. I was not very familiar with the procedure so I asked an audiologist at House Ear Institute for more information. He referred me to this website: Why Ear Candling Is Not a Good Idea.

Remember, DO NOT insert cotton swabs (ex. q-tips) inside your ear canal. Use them to clean ONLY the outer portion of your ears. Earwax is there to protect your eardrum from bacteria, dirt and dust particles and earwax will naturally migrate out of your ear canal.

Please remember that if you feel you have earwax accumulated in your ear canal, you should see a physician to have the earwax removed.

Thank you Clark students!

I wanted to thank all Clark Magnet students that listened to my presentation. I appreciate the fact that you were all so attentive, respectful and interested in learning about hearing conservation. There were some really great questions asked; I am impressed!

Please remember that I am here to answer any questions you may have on hearing and ear related topics. Just send me a message and I will be more than happy to reply to you.

Please be sure to check back frequently for new blog posts.

Thank you for giving me the chance to share my knowledge with you. Best of luck to everyone! :)

Etymotic Earplugs

As promised, here is a recommendation for a decent pair of musician's earplugs that you can purchase that preserve sound quality, while protecting your ears from high noise level exposure. These are less expensive than custom musician's earplugs but are high-fidelity meaning that sound quality is preserved.

This is the one I showed to the classes as an example during the Clark Magnet HS presentations on hearing conservation awareness. They come with a plastic key chain container, which makes it very convenient to carry around with you.
Etymotic earplugs website


You can buy foam plugs, similar to the ones distributed from any local drugstore.

Remember that "NNR" stands for Noise Reduction Rating. This rating will tell you the potential amount of decibel reduction the earplugs can provide, if worn properly.

Audio Demo of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)

In celebration of "Better Hearing and Speech Month" in May, I put together a presentation for Clark Magnet High School. I'm posting an audio clip I played from my iPod to the students. It is an simulated audio clip of what noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) may sound like.


Here is some information and the clip from Health & Safety Executive that was shared with me by a friend of mine, who is an audiologist.
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Audio Demonstration of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Noise induced hearing loss is irreversible damage to the ears caused by exposure to high levels of noise. This recording demonstrates how hearing is gradually lost over a working life. Do NOT adjust the volume after starting to listen to the clip.

The hearing loss simulations all include the effects of noise exposure and aging. At the end of each simulation the hearing undamaged by noise for the age can be heard.

Click on the link below to listen to the audio demonstration.

• Audio demonstration of noise induced hearing loss [Windows media audio clip]

To save this demonstration to your computer - right click on the link and select 'save link as'

Welcome to my Blog!

As an Audiology major, I thought it would be fun to start a myspace page and blog where I can share information about hearing and related topics.

I've come across plenty of people who have never heard of an audiologist... No worries, here is a quick description. According to ASHA.org, audiologists are experts in the non-medical management of the auditory and balance systems. They specialize in the study of:

-Normal & impaired hearing
-Prevention of hearing loss
-Identification, evaluation and assessment of hearing and balance problems
-Rehabilitation of persons with hearing and balance disorders
-Dispensing hearing aids and other amplification systems

As boring as it may seem at first, the phenomena of hearing is actually fascinating! I hope to bring awareness to the younger generations as we are becoming more and more technologically savvy in our society and we should be careful about noise exposure. I personally love listening to music and use my iPod regularly, just at a safe volume level.

Communicating with family, friends and loved-ones is a huge part of our lives and we shouldn't take it for granted!