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