Live. Love. Hear.

My blog has moved...

2011-06-23T11:34:00.000-07:00

Please visit my blog now on tumblr @ www.livelovehear.org.

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

2010-12-12T18:44:00.000-08:00

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

2010-12-08T22:35:00.000-08:00

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

2010-12-07T21:55:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-28T20:01:00.000-08:00

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

2010-05-29T13:06:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-26T08:44:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-25T21:54:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-24T14:30:00.000-07:00

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?

2010-05-13T08:51:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-11T11:20:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-10T08:26:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-05-07T14:52:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-04T20:19:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-05-04T18:40:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-29T23:46:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-04-27T07:58:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-26T09:52:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-25T12:26:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-23T15:55:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-23T00:42:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

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.

Tips from Audiologists for dealing with noisy restaurants

2010-04-22T00:39:00.000-07:00

From that same Wall Street Journal article comes some useful tips from Audiologists. Keep them in mind the next time you dine at a city hot spot. Or share them with someone you know that has difficulty hearing in noisy situations.

Dinner Without Yelling

Audiologists offer advice for finding a quieter dining experience:

Sit in tables in alcoves, which provide a barricade against sound waves.
Avoid sitting by the bar or kitchen.
Avoid sitting near large parties, who tend to talk louder.
Ask for additional light and look at your dining companion. Without realizing it, we read lips.
Ask management to turn the music down, even if you get dirty looks. Not only does this reduce noise, but people will then talk more softly.
Look at photos of the restaurant ahead of time. No carpet or tablecloths and boxy dimensions should raise red flags.

via WSJ

Why such noisy restaurants?

2010-04-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

Photo by Eric Laignel - La Mar Cebicheria Peruana in SF (source: WSJ)

A nationwide trend for restaurants in larger cities has been to do away with heavy tablecloths, drapery, carpeting, and other elements that tend to absorb reverberant sounds in open spaces. The result: potential for a high noise environment that can make understanding speech difficult. The design components that contribute to excessive noise may include lots of windows, hardwood floors, lack of tablecloths and high-ceilings. The Wall Street Journal article titled, "Pass the Salt...and the Megaphone" provides a perspective on noisy restaurants.

I think the article provides good insight into restaurant designers' ideology and the lack of involving acoustical engineers during the design process to help deal with the sound issues. Based on the interviews by the author with some restaurant goers, it appears as though both younger and older crowds have complaints about noisy restaurants. Good news is that some restaurant owners have recognized the problem at hand and have implemented acoustical treatments to help absorb reverberant surfaces.

One of the cool features of the article is called "How Loud is it?" where you can listen to noise measured by WSJ at a few restaurants in the U.S., including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston and NYC. The samples include noise at the hostess stands and table where the reporter sat.

There is also an interactive guide that allows you to mouse over different areas of a restaurant in San Francisco to read about critiques by Tom Thunder, an audiologist and acoustical engineer from Northern Illinois University.

An excerpt from the article about the SF restaurant pictured above read: "The staff of La Mar in San Francisco realized noise was a problem immediately after opening, says general manager Andrew Generalao. It was a "low priority," Mr. Generalao says, until a local reviewer printed that the decibel level was 80—just under the level audiologists consider damaging to hearing after long-term exposure."

Check out the full article for more details, it's worth a read.

via WSJ

What is an Audiologist?

2010-04-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

More often than not, when someone asks me what I am studying and I reply with "audiology," I see a curious look on the face that is accompanied with "what is that?" Other times, people are able to make some connection to the ear. I enjoy educating others about the field of audiology and the scope of practice for an audiologist. I feel strongly about the positive difference we can make in patients' lives in helping them hear better, which can ultimately lead to an improved quality of life. Having said that, audiologists are not only involved in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss, but also evaluate those individuals with balance problems.

According the American Academy of Audiology, "audiologists are the primary health-care professional who evaluate, diagnose, treat and manage hearing loss and balance disorders in adults and children." U.S. News and World Report has ranked the profession of audiology as one of the best careers in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Check out the Best Careers 2009 report: U.S. News and World Report.

The scope of practice can vary and similar to other medical professions. An audiologist can be in general practice where he or she does diagnostics and treatment. Or can become specialized in a specific area of the field, such as cochlear implants, vestibular (or balance) testing and treatment, pediatrics, diagnostics, evoked potential testing, treatment involving amplification, etc.

The current educational requirements for becoming an audiologist is a Doctor of Audiology degree (Au.D.), which involves attending a 4-year program following a bachelor's degree and licensing.

Click on the image twice to enlarge (image source: American Academy of Audiology).

Etymotic custom earpieces - are they worth it?

2010-04-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

The Wall Street Journal recently posted an article written by Courtney Banks, who shares her experience with using a pair of custom-fit, noise-isolating earphones by Etymotic, Inc. Listening to any music device can be frustrated in the presence of background noise. There have been published studies that show the effects of listening to mp3 players at very loud volumes for extended periods of time. This type of exposure can lead to noise-induced hearing loss. Since standard earpieces do not block excessive noise in the environment, people tend to crank up the volume on their mp3 players to hear over the noise. According to Etymotic, the custom-fit earphones can reduce ambient noise by 26 decibels.

Good news is that noise-isolating earphones are becoming increasingly more popular. For a more comfortable fit in the ear canal and for a better seal, custom earpieces can be added to Etymotic's Hf2 noise-isolating earphones ($179). The article describes how an audiologist can take impressions of the ear canal to create the custom piece, which fits on the earphones. These cost an additional $100, but according to Ms. Banks, they are well worth it!

Check out a video of the custom earpieces - Wall Street Journal

To reach a wider audience, Etimoytic is selling the earpieces through Perfectearphones.com and plans to sell them in Apple stores by summertime. The standard earphones are purchased with a voucher. Simply take the voucher to an audiologist's office to have impressions taken of your ear canal. These impressions are used to create the custom earpiece. Check out the full WSJ article here.

Hearing Sparks: Netflix Adds Subtitle Support for Around 100 Instant-Stream Titles

2010-04-19T20:28:00.000-07:00

Meet Megan. She happened to come across my blog and we exchanged blog information. Her blog, Hearing Sparks, shares her story on being diagnosed with a progressive hearing loss in both ears at 4 years old. She now has a severe hearing loss in her left ear and a severe to profound hearing loss in her right ear. She has been wearing hearing aids since her diagnosis.

Megan blogs about her life experiences, audiology and other technology related topics. Having a chance to take a glimpse into her life with hearing loss is very insightful! A perspective on the every day life experiences that my patients don't always have the time to share.

On a recent post, she shares some good news about Netflix adding subtitles to about 100 of the movies that can be streamed instantly on the computer (Mac and PC compatible). This is wonderful for individuals who have not used the instant streaming movies due to the lack of caption accessibility.

Read the post: Hearing Sparks: Netflix Adds Subtitle Support for Around 100 Instant-Stream Titles

Follow me on Twitter!

2010-04-19T15:42:00.001-07:00

I now have a twitter account. Follow my blog on Twitter.

Why Hearing Aids DON'T Suck by Healthy Hearing

2010-04-19T14:57:00.000-07:00

A recent article published on the Healthy Hearing website provides a rebuttal to a Wired magazine article titled "Why Things Suck: Hearing Aids," that according to Healthy Hearing, gave misinformation about current hearing aid technology. Here is one example from the Wired magazine article: "High-end hearing aids add a directional microphone trained in front of the listener, but that increases cost and, critically, bulk." This is a false statement!

Almost every digital hearing aid on the market today is equipped with directional microphones that can assist the listener understand speech better in noisy situations compared to an omnidirectional microphone that picks up sound from all around. The hearing aids with dual microphones are not more expensive nor do they require larger hearing aid casings. Check out one of Phonak's new products, the Audéo SMART (pictured), which is a small hearing device with directional microphones offered at all three performance levels along with other features. Not only does this hearing aid have a directional microphone but it has adaptive directionality, like most hearing aids on the market today. This means that the hearing device can be set to automatically evaluate the sound environment and select the best microphone configuration for the situation.

The Wired article also goes on to say, "Hearing aids can cost more than $3,000 apiece," which is also incorrect! Hearing aid technology comes in a range of prices and do not start at $3,000! The article goes on and on feeding the reader inaccurate information without any resources.

Ok, I digress. Read the article by Healthy Hearing called, "Why Hearing Aids DON'T Suck," to learn about how hearing aids can improve one's ability to hear and positively impact the quality of life of hearing impaired individuals. It also provides a good overview of advancements in digital hearing aid technology including design, microphones, digital sound processing and batteries.

Link between Painkillers and Hearing Loss

2010-04-01T16:00:00.000-07:00

Can taking common over-the-counter painkillers lead to hearing loss? The results of a study published last month in the American Journal of Medicine investigated this question. Participants included about 27,000 men who were tracked every 2 years for 18 years enrolled in the Health Professionals’ Follow-Up study. The data collected included medical information, use of analgesics, and hearing loss among other data.

Acetaminophen

Researchers found that men below 50 years of age who regularly took acetaminophen (found in Tylenol) more than two times per week had about double the risk of hearing loss compared to men who did not take the medicine regularly.

Ibuprofen (main ingredient in Advil) and Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID)

Men younger than 60 years who regularly took ibuprofen and NSAID at least twice a week had almost two-thirds higher risk of hearing loss compared to men to took it less often.

For men younger than 50 years, the risk of hearing loss was higher by 33 percent using aspirin, 61 percent with use of NSAIDs and 99 percent with use of acetaminophen, compared to men of the same age who used these drugs less often (all based on taking painkillers twice a week).

Why does this happen? According to one of the researchers, Dr. Sharon G. Curhan, of Channing Laboratory and Brigham and Women's Hospital mentions that high doses of painkillers are known to have a toxic effects on the ear leading to hearing loss and tinnitus or ringing in the ears.

A positive finding for men 60 years and older was that they did not show a greater risk for hearing loss when compared to the findings for younger men.

The take home message is that you should consult with your physician about the risks of taking over-the-counter or prescription medication. If you think you have a hearing problem, you can have your hearing tested by an audiologist.

Via Yahoo! Health

Turn On My Ears!: Watch Drew Hear!

2010-03-31T19:55:00.000-07:00

I came across this blog about Drew, an adorable 2 year, 9 month old boy who had simultaneous bilateral cochlear implants in June 2007. He was born with profound hearing loss due to Connexin 26, which is a known genetic cause of hearing loss. He was implanted at just 8.5 months old, making him the youngest child with bilateral implants in Ohio!

You can read all about Drew's process of cochlear implantation, his daily adventures and more on his blog: Turn On My Ears!

Watch a video of Drew when he hears his first sounds with his cochlear implants!

More videos of Drew's cochlear implant activation: Turn On My Ears!: Watch Drew Hear!

FDA Approved: Implantable hearing device

2010-03-31T18:53:00.000-07:00

On March 17, 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first 100% implantable hearing device called the Esteem® Totally Implantable Hearing System by Envoy Medical Corporation. The goal of the device is to replicate the function of the middle ear bones and improve quality of life.

The Esteem®, which is implanted under the skin behind the ear, consists of three components: a sound processor, a sensor and driver that are all hermetically sealed and biocompatible.

Here’s how it works: the ear naturally receives sound from the environment and the eardrum vibrates. The sensor, which is attached to the middle ear bones, picks up the vibrations and sends it to the sound processor. The sound processor amplifies and filters the signal and sends the signal to the driver, which is attached to the stapes. The driver converts the electrical signal back to vibrations to be delivered to the cochlea. The cochlea then sends the signal to the brain for processing. An audiologist programs the sound processor and the patient has a remote control to adjust the volume and change programs.

The device has been in a clinical trial period for five years. Shohet Ear Associates Medical Group, Inc. of Newport Beach, CA was one of three sites in the nation to participate in the Esteem® clinical trials. They reported, “At a quiet conversation level, average patient speech understanding improved by more than 45% over their hearing aids.”

According to FDA documents, the Esteem is recommended for patients who meet the following criteria.

Adult subjects 18 years of age or older
Mild to severe sensorineural hearing loss
Speech discrimination test score greater than 40%
Normally functioning Eustachian tube
Normal middle ear anatomy
Adequate space for the Esteem® implant

Another criteria that I believe should be included based on my educational training is that patients are candidates if do not benefit from wearing conventional hearing aids. I am looking forward to working with this newly accessible technology and seeing the positive impact it will have on patient’s lives. FDA reports that long-term studies will need to be performed to examine safety and effectiveness, as a condition of the approval.

via FDA

AudiologyNow! 2010 - April 14-17, 2010 - San Diego

2010-03-30T16:26:00.000-07:00

The annual American Academy of Audiology (AAA) conference, AudiologyNOW! is a couple weeks away in the beautiful city of San Diego. This conference is considered the "largest gathering of audiologists in the world!"

The conference offers educational sessions, clinical and research presentations, and exhibitors featuring the latest technology in hearing devices, equipment, products and more. Some of the topics discussed at the conference include hearing loss prevention, hearing loss treatment, neuro-audiology, practice management, vestibular among others.

This will be my second time attending the conference as a student volunteer. It is a great opportunity to learn about the research and technological advancements in the field of audiology. I plan to come away with insightful information to share on this blog!

Visit the AudiologyNOW! website for more information.

Revisiting the Dancing Outer Hair Cell

2010-03-29T01:18:00.000-07:00

Back in 2007, I posted a link to the video of a hair cell located in the cochlea, which is the sensory organ of hearing. I find the auditory system so fascinating, that I had to post it again.

A UK Scientist by the name of Jonathon Ashmore was able to isolate a single outer hair cell and make it dance! That's right, dance! Check out the dancing outer hair cell.

Read an explanation of movie from Ashmore's website here: http://www.physiol.ucl.ac.uk/ashmore/hairexpl.htm

Plantronics shows off their wall of ears

2010-03-28T17:51:00.000-07:00

If you have ever had earmold impressions taken for your ears, then you probably know that it can be described as a unique experience. Audiologists typically make impressions of ears for custom earplugs, swimmer's earplugs or hearing aids.

The company Plantronics, which makes Bluetooth accessories, has created a 'wall of ears' at its headquarters to show the wide-range of human ear shapes and sizes. This process gives Plantronics some insight for creating headsets that fit on a variety of human ears.

Check out the cool video showing how they create a model of an ear. Head's up: this is not how it's done at an audiologist's office!

Since the video is wide-screen, you can also watch it on YouTube.

Source: Plantronics United Communications Blog

Joey McIntyre (New Kids on the Block) talks about their 3 month old son's hearing loss

2010-03-28T16:57:00.000-07:00

People magazine's interview with Joey McIntyre gives a touching glimpse into one family's experience with having their baby, Rhys, who was diagnosed with a permanent severe hearing loss at birth. They discuss their reaction to the news and how their now 3 month old son, who is wearing hearing aids, is able to be a part of the hearing world. When he is 12 months old, he will be evaluated for a cochlear implant.

This story is a wonderful example showing the progress a child can show with early identification of a hearing loss and subsequent early intervention. Read story on www.people.com: Joey McIntrye Opens Up About Rhys' Hearing Loss.

It is also wonderful to recognize the outpour of support from readers' comments! Enjoy!

Source: www.people.com; photo by Alison Dyer-People

Crescenta Valley High School: Hearing Conservation Presentation

2009-01-14T17:42:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of presenting to the students of Crescenta Valley High School's Academy of Science and Medicine program. The presentation is part of the grassroots effort on behalf of House Ear Institute's (www.hei.org) teen hearing conservation program titled, "It's How You Listen That Counts!"

The presentation included a range of topics including: basic anatomy of the ear, noise-induced hearing loss information and prevention, benefits of earplugs, how to use earplugs and the myth of cotton swabs. Afterwards, the students had some of the most thought-provoking questions about hearing and ear health! They were an outstanding group, not to mention very respectful!

Hopefully, the group will be able to schedule a field trip to visit the House Ear Institute to check out the ear model in the lobby and a few research labs!

I hope that I will be asked to return for more presentations at Crescenta Valley in the future!

I plan to post some photos from the presentations soon.

House Ear Institute Teen Workshop information

Study published about genes that influence age-related hearing loss

2008-12-03T16:32:00.000-08:00

A new study by House Ear Institute and other institutions, published in the journal Human Molecular Genetics, has found genes related to hearing loss risk.

You can read more about this interesting study at the Los Angeles Times website: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2008/12/gene-that-influ.html

Here is another news brief about the same study:

Science Daily

Photos from presentation for 9th graders

2008-12-03T16:20:00.000-08:00

I posted a couple photos of the 9th graders during the presentation on Nov. 21st. Photos courtesy of Julian Diego Lometillo, a Clark Magnet HS student.

Hearing Presentation on Nov. 21st

2008-11-19T09:10:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I last posted here, but school has managed to keep me quite busy! However, I am pleased to share that I will be returning to Clark Magnet High School this week to present to 9th graders on hearing health and conservation.

I plan to post with a briefing on the experience. Check back soon!

Useful resource: Encyclopaedia Britannica

2008-11-19T09:07:00.000-08:00

Page through the various pages for information on ear related topics.

2008-07-22T17:05:00.000-07:00

Japan is releasing speakers that fit inside your ear canal this August 2008. Click on the link to read about the technology on Tech-On! Victor's Earphone Makes Sound Deeper in Ear. (Image from http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/)

Think this might be a bad idea? Definitely! Here's why...

First of all, the brain adjusts to sound after a while. So, for the argument that having the earphone deeper in the ear would allow people turn the volume down lower than with earphones that do not sit as deep... this would most likely not be the case. As the brain adjusts to the lower volume, people have a tendency of wanting to turn it up.

These speakers definitely have the potential and technology to cause permanent hearing damage. The placement of these speaker units being so close to your eardrum also mean that they are closer to the hair cells of the cochlea (sensory organ of hearing) in the inner ear. Hair cells are responsible for transmitting sound information to the brain. When these hair cells are exposed to loud sounds, anything above 85 dB, they are prone to permanent damage. There is a pie chart created by House Ear Institute with different decibel levels and the number of hours of exposure it would take to cause hearing damage. With repeated exposure at unsafe levels, there would likely be a measurable hearing loss.

Yes although those with hearing loss who are fit with hearing aids have an earmold that sits deeper inside their ear canal, which delivers amplified sound to their ears, they only have access to making minimal adjustments with their volume control. The amount of gain applied is prescribed using objective measures. However with these speakers, unless you were well aware of safe sound levels, you could potentially blow your eardrums. Anyone heard of a ruptured eardrum?

Whittier Daily News - Youths warned of threats to hearing

2008-05-26T09:27:00.000-07:00

As a presenter on behalf of House Ear Institute in Los Angeles, California, I present hearing information to kids and teens. On May 21, 2008, I presented my hearing conservation awareness presentation to the 7th and 8th graders at Downey West Middle School in Downey, California.

We were lucky enough to have the local newspaper, Whittier Daily News come out to cover the event. Since I still need to get permission to post images here, I have posted the link to the article:

Youths warned of threats to hearing - Whittier Daily News

Below is a PDF file of the article, since it will move to the archives soon.
Simply click on the images to read the full article.

South Pasadena Middle School Presentations

2008-04-06T13:04:00.000-07:00

On January 14, 2008, I prepared and presented the hearing conservation program titled, "It's How You Listen That Counts" on behalf of the House Ear Institute at South Pasadena Middle School in Pasadena, CA. The goal of the presentation was to educate approximately 1,050 students (6th-8th graders) on basic anatomy of the ear, how we ear, safe sound levels, dangers of loud noise exposure and how to protect our hearing. The presentations ranged between 25-30 minutes and included a question and answer session. The students were a great group and asked some thoughtful questions!

An interactive portion of the presentation involved the use of a sound level meter to measure the loudness level of music in decibels (unit used to measure sound intensity). To show this, an iPod was connected to an external speaker and a student volunteer read the level displayed on the sound level meter as I increased the volume of the iPod. The purpose of the demonstration was to listen to what 85 dB sounds like and also emphasize the importance of the location of the sound source in relation to your ears. The students learned that sound intensity attenuates (decreases) as distance increases and how this can help us with protecting our ears.

As always, it was a pleasure to be able to meet with students in the community and contribute to their learning experiences. I hope that the information will help them make sound decisions, such as using earplugs in loud environments (ex. concerts) and setting safe volume levels on their mp3 players and other electronic devices. I am also continuously amazed at how receptive children and teens can be on hearing matters!

AudiologyNOW! 2008

2008-04-06T11:15:00.000-07:00

AudiologyNOW!, the annual audiology convention held by the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) was at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, NC from April 2-5. This year, the convention was themed "Hear to Stay" to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the American Academy of Audiology. With approximately 7,000 attendees, the event offered learning labs, research poster displays, technological information and the Audiology Solutions exposition.

The expo featured products and services related to audiology including the latest developments in hearing aid technology. The expo included the following categories among many others: diagnostic instruments, hearing aid manufacturers and accessories, implantable devices, earmold/impression material, listening devices, earphones, batteries, and hearing protection. The Employment Service Center is available each year to provide an opportunity for employers and job seekers to network.

The DiscovEARy Zone was a free and interactive station designed for kids to educate about the human ear and hearing loss. More specifically, information about how the ear works, dangerous sounds, information about how to protect ears from loud sounds and hearing screenings provided by audiologists on-site. This was made possible using interactive computer kiosks, hands-on learning tables, displays and listening stations. The DiscovEARy Zone debuted at last year's convention and was open to the public.

As a first-time attendee, I enjoyed every aspect of the experience and felt I gained some valuable resources as a student. One of the highlights of the event was having an opportunity to meet audiologists, other audiology doctoral students, and professionals and individuals involved in our profession. There was a wealth of information available, such as recent research findings and interesting case studies to learn from. With all the great events and activities, it was just a matter of having enough time to experience everything.

Next year, AudiologyNOW! will be held in Dallas, TX on April 1-4, 2009. For more information and to download the program (PDF) for AudiologyNOW! 2008, you can visit www.audiologynow.org.

Japan's new bone conduction cellphone

2007-10-16T21:40:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-16T21:06:00.001-07:00

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

2007-10-09T21:25:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-02T17:56:00.003-07:00

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

2007-07-23T16:42:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-13T12:42:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-10T22:42:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-29T09:11:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-29T08:09:00.000-07:00

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?

2007-06-28T21:27:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-28T21:03:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-28T20:57:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-06-28T20:39:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-28T20:33:00.000-07:00

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)

2007-06-28T20:16:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-05-30T22:06:00.000-07:00

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!