American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA): Smokers are at greater risk for hearing damage

It is known fact that smoking tobacco can increase risk of stroke, heart attack, pulmonary disease emphysema and cancer.  Researchers at the Annual ASHA conference in Philadelphia (November 2010) revealed that both men and women smokers are at higher risk for permanent cochlear damage than non-smokers. This study showed that nicotine appears to reduce the blood supply to the cochlea, which is crucial for normal function of the cochlea. It was found by researchers that reduction of the blood supply occurs regardless of the number of cigarettes smoked per day. 

It is important to keep up with such research developments to bring awareness to the population we serve. This information can help us identify at-risk individuals and provide the appropriate education to promote overall well-being. 

The publication is not yet available for review, but you can find the press release on ASHA's website. 

Make a difference! Donate hearing aids to The Global Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss

It breaks my heart to think about those individuals who do not have access to hearing healthcare and rehabilitative services. The ability to hear, whether naturally or with amplification, provides us with the means to communicate. And the lack of communication can bear significant emotional and social impacts on an individual, leading to isolation and even depression. For children, the ability to hear is a crucial building block for speech and language development. 

I came across an article on AudiologyOnline about a foundation that makes a huge impact for those who are underserved across various countries. In Vietnam, there are approximately 180,000 children who are identified with a hearing loss and yet there are no "professionally trained" audiologists to serve those in need. The Global Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss, a non-profit organization, provides services to those in need, but also trains educators and families to follow their lead for continued support. 

On January 10-21, 2011, an international team of audiologists and auditory-verbal therapists will be collaborating with nine Deaf Education schools in Vietnam to provide audiologic testing, hearing aid fittings, and auditory-verbal support to children and their educators and families. If you, a relative or a friend have a good functioning behind-the-ear style hearing aid, you can donate it to The Global Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss. If you don't have access to any used hearing aids, you can also provide monetary support for the mission. 

According to the article, the foundation has already received hearing aid donations from manufacturers, Oticon and Phonak, as well as grants from other organizations for the purchase of hearing aids. It states that a $100 donation can provide one hearing aid and two batteries, which is amazing. But of course, any amount of donation can contribute to the greater good and there are even opportunities to volunteer! 

For this holiday season, take a moment to consider the difference you can make in the lives of others!


For monetary donations to support the foundation’s Vietnam Deaf Education & Hearing Aid Programs: http://www.childrenwithhearingloss.org/difference.shtml

To donate hearing aids for the January 2010 mission: Contact Paige Stringer, Executive Director, Global Foundation For Children With Hearing Loss at paige@childrenwithhearingloss.org

MIT research findings could lead to improved hearing aid technology

Image from NCBI Bookshelf

Guess how many years it takes on average from the time someone thinks they have a hearing loss to the time they decide to do something about it? The answer: 7 years (HLAA Fact Sheet)! There are a number of factors that contribute to this fact including cosmetics and cost, but also the performance of hearing devices. Most people understand that hearing devices cannot restore normal hearing; however, they can help people with hearing loss hear in many situations and thus provide the gift of communication. 

There is a constant drive towards more advanced hearing aid technology development. The most common complaint I hear about hearing devices is when people are trying to pick out speech at restaurants or other scenarios where there is background noise. Although hearing devices can be fine-tune across different pitch changes, people's voices cannot be isolated or singled out from other amplified background noise and so all sounds are amplified. 

Recently, MIT researchers announced that they are exploring future technology possibilities since discovering a new mechanism involving the inner ear's ability to distinguish sounds. In 2007, these researchers reported that the "tiny, gel-like tectorial membrane, located in the inner ear, coordinates with the basilar membrane to fine tune the ear's ability to distinguish sounds." It was also found that the proteins of the tectorial membrane play an important in this process and a gene mutation can inhibit its function. 

Their goal is to mimic this interaction between the tectorial membrane and basilar membrane in a hearing device in an effort to focus on important frequencies for speech. This type of technology could be in the future, but who know when. To stay optimistic, it is wonderful to know researchers are working towards a goal that many millions of people suffering from hearing loss would appreciate. Stay tuned...

You can read more details about these mechanisms on the MIT website. 

via HearingSparks

Back from being M.I.A

Although enjoyable, blogging can also be time consuming. My attempt at balancing grad school and blogging were successful earlier this year. But by summertime, an externship was added to the mix and my blog got pushed to the back burner. Now I plan to be back from being M.I.A. and ready to get back to blogging more regularly.

Video: an 8-month old baby's cochlear implant activation

Ah the joy of observing a baby hearing for the first time. His reaction to sound is priceless!




via Gizmodo

Link between Viagra and Hearing Loss

Ever closely pay attention to the list of quickly-spoken possible side effects during erectile dysfunction (ED) drug commercials? Yep, hearing loss is mentioned in the list of possible side effects and this has been the case since 2007. 

History of Viagra

Viagra a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5i) inhibiter, was initially developed by Pfizer to treat hypertension or high blood pressure by increasing blood flow to the heart. Researchers did not intend for the drug to also increase blood flow to other parts of the body, but it did and patients reported that side effect. This was back in the years 1986-1990. Viagra is now one of the most popular treatments for ED after being approved for this specific use in 1998. During the first 3 months it became available, 2.9 million prescriptions were filled! 

Recent Study

A long-term study published in the Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and conducted at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) shows a relationship between hearing loss and use of Viagra. The problem lies in the fact that the increase is blood flow is not exclusive to the heart and penis only. Therefore, the PDE-5i may also increase blood flow to the ears. Note: this is the first long term study to show a relationship between the drug and hearing loss.

The study was performed by Dr. McGwin between 2003 and 2006. It looked at about 11,500 males older than 40 years. The study found that "men who take Viagra are twice as likely to experience hearing loss than those who don't take PDE-5i drugs." Although the specific mechanism that causes the hearing loss is unknown at this time, it has been hypothesized that an increase in blood flow to the inner ear can cause damage to the hearing system. 

The results of this study cannot be generalized to the other drugs on the market to treat ED, such as Levitra and Cialis since they are not PDE-5i drugs. However, their intention is to also increase blood flow. In my limited clinical experience, I have seen hearing loss caused by ED drugs to present itself as a sudden decrease in a person's ability to hear. 

Hearing Loss Awareness

It is known fact that all medications have potential side effects and as with any medication, it is crucial to be aware of the risks involved and discuss possible side effects with a physician. Having said that, awareness about hearing loss should be put on the radar for those taking ED drugs. 

Individuals can have a basic idea of some symptoms of hearing loss. Some symptoms include, complaining of difficulty hearing in quiet and background noise, experiencing tinnitus or ringing in the ears and people showing concern about your ability to hear. Check out other symptoms at Healthy Hearing. If there are any concerns regarding hearing, consider having a comprehensive hearing test performed by an audiologist and an evaluation by an ENT. It is a good idea to have your hearing checked regularly anyway. 

Via Healthy Hearing

Image source

Folic acid may help reduce the risk of hearing loss for men

Eardoctor.org recently posted information about a study that was performed and presented at the 2009 American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) Annual Meeting in San Diego. 


The study reviewed the nutritional data of those who were identified with hearing loss in a cohort study. It was found that "men older than 60 who had maintained a high folic acid (folate) intake had a 20 percent reduced risk of developing hearing loss" (Eardoctor.org). 

Folate is a natural form of folic acid. Folic acid is also known as vitamin B₉, according to Wikipedia. Wikipedia lists the following foods (partial lists) as high in folate: 

• Leafy vegetables: spinach and asparagus
• Legumes: dried or fresh beans, peas and lentils
• Liver and liver products also contain high amounts of folate.
• Fortified grain products (pasta, cereal, bread)
• Some breakfast cereals (ready-to-eat and others) are fortified with 25% to 100% of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for folic acid.
• Sunflower seeds

The article suggests men can increase their folate intake as recommended by the daily Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) to 400 micrograms to help reduce the risk of hearing loss. The RDA for women is also 400 micrograms. Folate can be taken either as a supplement or by eating food that is high in vitamin B. To read more about the study and recommendations, please visit eardoctor.org. 

Source: eardoctor.org


Image source

Early cochlear implantation for children with hearing loss is best

Research has shown that delayed cochlear implantation in children can lead to a delay in speech and language development, meaning that the child is behind in terms of speech and language compared to normal hearing counterparts. Last month, Science Daily wrote an article discussing the findings of a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) regarding surgery timing of cochlear implantation in children with hearing loss.

The study followed 188 children with profound hearing loss who were implanted with cochlear implants at 6 hospitals in the states. The children were aged 6 months to 5 years. Their speech and language development was followed and compared to same-aged children with normal hearing. 

The study found that although all children showed speech and language improvement following the cochlear implant, children who were implanted before 18 months of age showed more benefit and caught up within the next 3 years with the normal group. "But those who received an implant after they turned 18 months and before they were 3, reached that milestone 15 months later than children who received an implant before age 18 months" (Science Daily). 

Other relevant factors that the researchers found included the importance of parents or caregivers communicating and interacting with children from the moment they are born regardless of any hearing loss. This is highly encouraged in clinical practice. 

Read the entire article on Science Daily. 

Image Credit: Medical illustrations by NIH, Medical Arts & Photography Branch.

How can I cure tinnitus?

Unfortunately, tinnitus cannot be cured but it can be managed. Tinnitus is an auditory sensation that is not related to the perception of some external sound. It has been described as some type of noise in the ears or head, such as ringing, buzzing, humming, or sounds like crickets. 

The exact cause of tinnitus is hard to pinpoint exactly; however it has been associated with a problem anywhere in the hearing system and it is prevalent in about 50 million Americans (according to the American Tinnitus Association). Factors that are thought to be related to the onset of tinnitus include: change in hearing, loud noise exposure, traumatic head injury, dealing with a health crisis, taking aminoglycosides, caffeine intake, and tobacco use. 

First step of treatment for tinnitus typically involves lifestyle changes to help reduce the perception of tinnitus. General suggestions include:

- Protect ears from loud noise

- Avoid silence or sound enrichment - tinnitus perception is louder when there are no distracting sounds in the environment, therefore using a low-level background noise can help reduce focus on tinnitus. Example: sound generating devices. 

- Regular exercise to help with circulation

- Avoid caffeine and excessive salt

- Stress Management 

Further management options as directed by an audiologist typically involve reducing the perception of tinnitus through tinnitus maskers for example and reducing the reaction to tinnitus through counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy, or tinnitus retraining therapy. These various methods of reducing the reaction attempt to provide distractions from tinnitus and calm fears about tinnitus. Speak to an audiologist to determine which treatment option is most appropriate for you. 

Example of a sound generator alarm clock: 

Travel Tranquil Moments Alarm Clock Sound Therapy Machine by Brookstone

For more information about tinnitus, visit the American Tinnitus Association. If you are having difficulty with tinnitus, consult a physician and/or audiologist.

U.S. News & World Report ranks audiologists as Best Careers in 2009, but not in 2010

U.S. News & World Report publishes their Best Careers rankings every year, providing readers with reasons why the careers are worthy of making their list. I distinctly remember audiologists being ranked as one of the best careers in 2007, 2008 and 2009. I was surprised to browse through the healthcare category of the 50 Best Careers 2010 list and Audiologist was not on the list. I wondered why the boot?

So, I read the article and the reason became somewhat evident: audiologist require a 4-year Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degree. US News & World Report wrote:

"Moves to make healthcare more affordable will increase the range of opportunities for careers with fewer educational requirements (and more moderate pay), such as physician assistants or physical therapist assistants." 

However, optometrists still made the list and their educational requirements are similar to audiologists, a 4-year Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree. As well as veterinarians, who also require a 4-year degree. 

I consulted the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition for Audiologists and they stated: 

"Much faster than average employment growth is projected. However, because of the small size of the occupation, few job openings are expected. Job prospects will be favorable for those possessing the Au.D. degree."

So, job outlook looks promising. This leaves me to say that regardless of making the list or not, audiology being an "under the radar" profession is highly rewarding and definitely on my personal best careers list. Feel free to share your views on why you think audiologists didn't make the list. 

Image via Peirce Clipart Collection

Website Recommendation: Ida Institute

The Ida Institute is a non-profit educational organization based in Denmark that was founded with a grant from the Oticon Foundation. Their mission is unique in that they strive to provide a "holistic understanding of the complex journey of hearing loss" to hearing impaired individuals and hearing care professionals.

The organization provides some solid insight for hearing care professionals/audiologists about considering the person as a whole instead of simply attempting to treat the hearing impairment alone. The "Tool Room" on their website offers professionals some practical learning and teaching techniques, which are time friendly but involve a holistic approach. Note: a user account is necessary to access the tools, but it's free and takes a minute. It's worth it since they provide multiple resources for each type of tool including videos of mock scenarios between clinician and patient and excellent examples.

You can also view full lecture presentations given by well-known members in the audiology field. The presentations are available for download. There is a forum as well for member discussions.

Definitely a site I would recommend browsing through!

The Ida Institute Staff: Institute Director, Lise Lotte Bundesen heads her staff members, who include: Coordinator Anne Hedvig Westenholz, Communication Specialist Sharmi Albrechtsen, Audiologist Therese Velde, Audiologist Melanie Gregory, Learning Specialist Dorthe Hein and noted Anthropologists Kirsten Lauritsen and Hans Henrik Philipsen.

Celebrate May is Better Hearing Month!

It's that time of year again when we can take a moment to appreciate awareness for better hearing. The American Academy of Audiology has some informative fact sheets on their website that can be downloaded from here: FACT SHEETS.


Some of the topics include: Noise Induced Hearing Loss, Noise in the Work Place, Hearing Loss, Hearing Loss in Children, and more...

Roller coaster rides and ear damage

What appropriate timing for this recent U.S. News & World Report article about ear damage and roller coaster rides. Recently, I saw an 18 year old patient at the clinic for a hearing test. Her symptoms included a sharp temporary ear pain and muffled hearing for the left ear following hitting the left side of her head against the harness during a ride at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, CA. 

When I looked into her ear canal, I saw a relatively medium-sized tympanic membrane perforation, or a rupture in the eardrum (example on left). Her tympanogram (a test used to reveal the condition of the middle ear ear and movement of the eardrum) showed that her eardrum was not moving properly. The hearing test showed a mild low-frequency conductive hearing loss for the left ear, which is consistent with the hole in the eardrum. This type of hearing loss is typically temporary in nature, until the eardrum heals over time by itself or is surgically repaired. In the case of this patient, she was told by her ENT (Ear Nose Throat doctor) that they would wait for the eardrum to heal on its own, which can take between weeks to a year to heal completely. It's unfortunate for this young girl that her roller coaster ride turned into a such a negative experience. 

The U.S. News and World Report article, published on May 3, 2010, gives an example of another type of ear trauma called barotrauma. Barotrauma is when there is a "quick change in pressure between the external environment, the ear drum and the pressure in the middle ear space." The common symptoms are discomfort, pain, ear popping or dizziness and sometimes even hearing loss. The article gives the example of a 24 year old man who turned his head to the left to speak to his girlfriend during the ride and as a result, his right ear suffered from the rapid acceleration. According to otolaryngologists, his right ear was swollen and he experienced pain and fullness in that ear for 36 hours. Thus, researchers have linked rapid acceleration on roller coasters with ear barotrauma. It would be interesting to see if there are any studies about tympanic membrane perforations and roller coasters. 

It's important to be aware of these type of risks, but this is not to say that people should avoid roller coasters... just ride with caution! 


via Hearing Sparks

UK study to investigate link to mobile phone use and brain tumors... and tinnitus!

Image via Gizmodo

Stay tuned for the year 2040, because the world will hopefully have an answer to the question of whether or not cellphones increase the risk of developing brain tumors. The Cohort Study on Mobile Communications (Cosmos) will recruit approximately 250,000 mobile phone users, aged 18 to 69 years, that will be monitored for about 20-30 years. The users will volunteer from the UK, Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark. 

Previous studies have only monitored for 10 years and looked at previous use rather than real-time monitoring. The interesting fact is that not only will they be evaluating for brain tumors and cancers, but also other serious health risks, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, strokes and heart conditions to name a few. Other less life-threatening conditions will also be evaluated for, including headaches, depression and tinnitus! 

Tinnitus is ringing, roaring or buzzing in the ears that is only perceived by the individual and cannot be heard from others. It is most commonly associated as a symptom of hearing loss, but people with normal hearing can also experience tinnitus. More on tinnitus at a later post, but it is exciting to learn that this study will investigate tinnitus too. 

Read the full article.

via The Independent 

Book about deafness and hearing loss

Juliet England is publishing a book called Deafness and Hearing Loss: The Essential Guide in the UK. She has had a hearing loss since birth and in a recent BBC article, she says, "It is something that has affected me at various stages of my life, work and studying." Juliet refers to hearing loss as the "invisible disability," which she felt so passionately about helping others better understand. 

The BBC article provides wonderful insight into Juliet's ups and downs of living with her hearing impairment. Her book "gives information on how hearing loss is caused, the things you can do to make life better for you or a close family member, and how to overcome the daily challenges of living with a hearing loss" among other topics including hearing aid technology and strategies for coping with deafness. 

It will be insightful to learn about coping strategies and perspectives from an individual who has organized her experiences in the form of book. Although these topics are taught in my educational program, it is very different to learn from one's first person viewpoint. 

Get your paperback copy at Amazon, available on May 1st.   

via BBC

Universal Newborn Hearing Screenings

Image via Grossman Family West 

The Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) in 2000 issued a statement that recommended universal screening for hearing loss before a newborn is discharged from the hospital. The statement also included guidelines for state and hospital programs. Research supports that the earlier a child is identified with hearing loss and intervention is provided, the better the child will be able to develop normal speech and language skills. The ultimate goal is that all infants are identified with hearing loss before 3 months old and receive intervention services initiated by 6 months old. 

The Newborn Hearing Screening typically involves a Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR), which objectively measures the brain's response to sound and Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE), which measure emissions from the sensory cells in the cochlea. Here is a good summary comparing the two measures at About.com ABR vs. OAE. 

The California Newborn Hearing Screening Program "helps identify hearing loss in infants and guide families to the appropriate services needed to develop communication skills." Read more about the program on their website. 

It's important to remember that if an infant does not pass their Newborn Hearing Screening, it does not mean that he or she is deaf or has a hearing loss. More testing is necessary to determine if there is a hearing impairment and therefore, further testing will be recommended before hearing status is determined. 

New website coming soon!

A new website for Live. Love. Hear. is in the works and will be launching in the near future! Stay tuned...

Hearing Aid Auction: Hear Indiana's "Talk Walk Run 2010" event

The non-profit Indiana chapter of the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Hear Indiana's "Talk Walk Run 2010" event is being held on Saturday, May 1, 2010.
The purpose of the 5K walk or run is to raise awareness and funds for children with hearing loss. One of the ways they are raising funds is through an auction of books, hearing loss related products, and sports memorabilia on their website.

What's interesting is that they are auctioning a pair of Phonak Naida IX hearing aids at a starting bid price of $2,000 for both. There are current no bids on the item and the auction ends on April 29 at 10:00 p.m. The retail price of this hearing aid varies depending on the practice, but the Naida IX can retail for approximately $3,000 each.

Please remember that this hearing aid is not appropriate for every individual. Consult with your audiologist about whether or not this hearing aid is appropriate for you. Learn more about the Naida IX on Phonak's website.

Here are the restrictions listed on their website:
Restrictions:
Naída is water resistant and available in 19 colors and four different styles. With the help of your audiologist, you may choose your color and style. Please contact your audiologist or Paul Kreimer (800-777-7333 or paul.kreimer@phonak.com) if you are unsure if this hearing aid is right for you.

New website - Deafteens.org

A nicely designed website, deaf teens is a new blog where you can share and read stories about hearing impairment, hearing aids, cochlear implants, etc. It provides an opportunity for people to connect with one another through blogging and even chat. There's also a doctor's and parent's corner for commenting.

How the website came to be is an inspirational story of its own. According to the blog Hearing Sparks, David, a teenager with bilateral cochlear implants set out to build a website for an Eagle Scout project. He chronicled the  process on his website: David's Eagle Scout Project. Share your story by emailing him at davidcluff2012@gmail.com 

Here is one particular touching story from the website: “My Story” By JoEllen R., age 18

via Hearing Sparks

Phonak Audéo PFE, Perfect Fit Earphones

Audéo PFE with microphone (left) and Audéo PFE (right)

I have fairly small ear canals and it can be difficult to find standard sized earphones that are comfortable. I currently have a pair of custom earmolds that I fit over standard iPod earbuds and although they are comfortable, they don't provide any noise-isolation features. 

After hearing a lot of buzz about the Phonak Audéo PFE from forums and briefly trying out my professor's pair and finding them very comfortable. I ordered a pair of white ones with a microphone from their website for $159 plus tax. The Audéo PFEs without a microphone retail at $139 plus tax. Available in black or white and with free shipping.

For this price, users have found the frequency quality excellent using the various different audio filters available. CNET reviews gave it the editor's choice in March 2009. 

What's included:

• 1 pair of Audéo Perfect Fit Earphones with microphone
• Audio filter box with 6 audio filters (2 grey, 4 black)*,  and changing tool
• Silicone ear tips – 3 pairs (1 pair S, 1 pair M, 1 pair L)
• ComplyTM foam tips - 1 pair M
• Cleaning tool for ear tips
• 2 silicone ear guides
• Carrying case

Coming up... a full review. 

Science Daily: Structure of inner-ear protein is key to both hearing and inherited deafness

Thousands of microscopic hair cells located in the cochlea of the inner ear are extremely sensitive structures. Stereocilia are hair-like structures located on the hair cells and tip-links are filaments that connect the stereocilia in bundles. These structures are involved in the depolarization process, which ultimately leads to the excitation of the auditory nerve resulting in physiologic percept of sound.

ScienceDaily.com released an article on April 17, 2010 about new studies from the labs of David Corey, professor of neurobiology at Harvard Medical School and Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, and Rachelle Gaudet, associate professor of molecular and cellular biology at Harvard University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences. The group performed studies on one of two proteins, cadherin-23, that join to form each tip-link. Their studies show how mutations of the protein can make this otherwise extremely strong protein to weaken in its calcium bonding, resulting in inherited deafness. When weak, stress can cause this bond to "break in billionths of a second."

"Still image from a simulation that "stretches" the two end-most segments of the cadherin-23 protein, much as loud noise might do to its real-life counterpart in the inner ear. Such extreme stress can cause cadherin-23 to break in billionths of a second. (Credit: Marcos Sotomayor)"

Read the awesome article: Structure of inner-ear protein is key to both hearing and inherited deafness

via Science Daily

Apple explains the science of sound and listening responsibly

On December 30, 2009, Apple Inc won their appeal for iPod hearing loss lawsuit. The appeals court in San Francisco ruled that the plaintiffs failed to show that use of the iPod poses an unreasonable risk of noise-induced hearing loss. Senior Judge David Thompson wrote, "At most, the plaintiffs plead a potential risk of hearing loss not to themselves, but to other unidentified iPod users" (via Reuters). I believe that the lawsuit was originally filed in 2007.

At that time, Apple was under fire and decided to address issues concerning responsible use of their iPod. So, they launched a page on their website called Sound and Hearing and the option to set the maximum volume limit on an iPod. This can be especially useful for parents who want to protect their kids ears from exposure to loud sounds. 

Just remember that exposure to any sound at extremely loud levels can cause damage to the hearing system.