I’ve tried Lyric, the invisible hearing aid, in the past but it didn’t fit in my ear, is there anything new?

Lyric is an extended wear hearing aid.  What this means is that it can stay in your ear canal for months at a time.  The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has approved the Lyric device to remain in the ear canal for up to 4 months at a time.  The longevity of the device in your ear canal all depends on your personal body chemistry, meaning wax build up and how much your ear canals sweat.  The average lifespan of Lyric is about 2 months.  At the end of the two months, we remove the old devices and replace them with new devices.  The Lyric device doesn’t not fit everyone.  The only way to know if it is the right device for you is to try it.  Your audiologist first needs to measure the length and width of your ear canal.  To answer your question, yes there is something new with Lyric.  There are two new sizes.  There used to be only 5 sizes and now there are 7 sizes.  Lyric added an XXS and XXL.  If you are still interested in Lyric but were contraindicated in the past based on sizing, make an appointment to try Lyric again.  Allow your audiologist to resize your ear and allow you to trial it again for 30 days risk free.  

Life sounds great!  Enjoy every moment!

Jane Kukula, AuD & Ashley Spisak, AuD

8897 Mentor Ave

Mentor, Ohio 44060

440-205-8848

Fax: 440-205-9818

http://aacHEAR.org

If I wear hearing aids, will they make my hearing worse in the long run?

This is an excellent question.  We actually hear with our brains, not with our ears.  Our ears are just the pathway to the brain.  Stimulating the brain is important.  Keeping the nerves to the brain and the brain stimulated appropriately is actually the best way to make sure that your brain can continue to accurately interpret the signal provided.  When the brain is under stimulated, research actually shows that word recognition skills can decrease more rapidly.  Word recognition is your ability to decipher what word is being said over another word without visual cues.  For example, being able to interpret the difference between use or youth, fat or sat, meat or neat.  Therefore whenever your audiologist diagnoses hearing loss through an audiologic assessment, they will most likely recommend the use of hearing instruments. Our goal is to help keep our patients youthful and active.  If you feel like you are having people repeat more often than you did before or you feel like people mumble more or talk more softly, it may be time for an audiologic evaluation.  

Life sounds great!  Enjoy every moment!

Jane Kukula, AuD & Ashley Spisak, AuD

8897 Mentor Ave

Mentor, Ohio 44060

440-205-8848

Fax: 440-205-9818

http://aacHEAR.org

I’m getting ready for the upcoming holidays and I’m finding myself trying to plan where I sit at our dining table because often times I cannot hear well during such a large gathering, even with my hearing aids. Is there anything else I can do, or is there anything else that can help me?

Listening in situations with significant background noise and with multiple conversations happening all at once can be difficult for those with hearing loss.  It can be difficult for those without hearing loss for that matter!  It is especially difficult if you’re trying to follow multiple conversations.  It sounds like you are very proactive with your listening, especially if you’re planning how you can hear best in advanced. Good for you! Taking charge of your hearing and being proactive is a great first step. However you are correct, in some cases even with the best of planning and top of the line hearing instruments, hearing in a complex listening environments can still be a challenge.  There are assistive devices that can help your hearing aids achieve an even better performance in noise.  The assistive accessory technology that comes to mind is what we call Roger.  Roger technology was developed to help speech understanding in the most complex of environments.  The Roger Pen is a nice option as it camouflages well because it looks just like a pen.  It has multiple automatic modes to help you hear the best you can, including pointing mode so that you can point to a conversation and pick it up, up to 17 feet away!  If you are interested in knowing more about assistive technologies that can help you hear for the holidays you can call 440-205-8848 and make an appointment for a consultation.  

Life sounds great!  Enjoy every moment!

Jane Kukula, AuD & Ashley Spisak, AuD

8897 Mentor Ave

Mentor, Ohio 44060

440-205-8848

Fax: 440-205-9818

http://aacHEAR.org

I read somewhere that one day there could be cure for hearing loss. How can they cure damage to the hearing nerves?

The Hearing Restoration Project‘s (HRP) research is showing great potential for the regeneration of damaged hearing nerves called hair cells.  This research may one day make hearing loss a thing of the past!

While working on another project one of the HRP researcher stumbled across an unexpected finding. While studying drugs that damage the hearing nerves, a scientist needed to permanently damage a chicken’s hair cells. They administered the drug and were successful, the haircells were lost.  Several days later almost all of the hair cells returned. They did not believe the results and repeated the experiment several times with the same results concluding that chickens can regenerate inner ear hair cells.  They continued this new research and we now know that all vertebrate animals except for one, mammals, including humans, spontaneously regenerate hair cells.

Next the researchers experimented with drugs to see if they could stimulate regrowth of hair cells.  They were successful with mice, partially restoring hearing following the administration of drug that inadvertently allowed the supporting cells in the inner ear to regenerate hair cells.  While there is much work still to do, there is a strong belief that one day this will lead to a cure for nerve hearing loss in humans. 

In the meantime, you should still to take good care of your hearing.  Eat right, exercise and have a baseline hearing evaluation.  

Life sounds great!  Enjoy every moment!

Jane Kukula, AuD & Ashley Spisak, AuD

8897 Mentor Ave

Mentor, Ohio 44060

440-205-8848

Fax: 440-205-9818

http://aacHEAR.org

Is there a good return on investment in hearing aids?

When it comes to an investment in the quality of your life, there’s more than one way to measure value. Diagnosing and treating hearing problems has a positive impact on every aspect of your life, personally, professionally and even financially.

New technology has revolutionized hearing aids. They can automatically adapt to different environments, reducing the interference from background noise. There are daily wear and extended wear instruments.  Many are virtually invisible, sitting discreetly and comfortably inside the ear canal. Best of all, many are wireless, so you can stream sound from smartphones, home entertainment systems and other electronics directly into your hearing aid(s) at volumes just right for you.

When it comes to the purchase of personal items that enhance your life, there’s more than one way to measure value. Here are six ways that investing in professionally fitted hearing aids could bring you a greater return on your investment than you ever imagined. 

Using hearing aids reduces the risk of income loss.  People with untreated hearing loss can lose as much as $30,000 in income a year.

There is a link between hearing loss and dementia, leading experts to believe that interventions, like hearing aids, could potentially delay dementia. 

People with even a mild hearing loss are nearly three times more likely to have a history of falling. The intensive listening effort demanded by unaddressed hearing loss may take cognitive resources away from what is needed for balance and gait.

People with hearing loss who use hearing aids, may feel more in control of their lives and less self-critical. One study found that the majority of people with mild to severe hearing loss felt better about themselves and life overall as a result of using hearing aids.

Hearing aids can help reduce the prominence of tinnitus by amplifying background sound.

Using hearing aids can help improve interpersonal relationships.  People with hearing loss reported that using hearing aids improved their relationships at home, their social lives and their ability to join in groups.

Addressing hearing loss really is a smart buying decision. Start with a hearing evaluation.  


Life sounds great!  Enjoy every moment!

Jane Kukula, AuD & Ashley Spisak, AuD

8897 Mentor Ave

Mentor, Ohio 44060

440-205-8848

Fax: 440-205-9818

http://aacHEAR.org

Resistance to seeking hearing help

We often see people with hearing loss resist seeking help.  There are many reasons why they it put off. 

It easy to deny there is a problem and blame others for the difficulty.  Hearing loss causes voices to sound soft and muffled.  It does not appear as if it is their hearing, just that others do not speak up or talk clearly.  When they watch TV, the volume does not sound loud to them, leading them to believe others like it very soft.

Hearing loss is often gradual.  It decreases slowly over time.  So slowly, that people can be unaware that hearing is changing.  Some sounds, such as birds or voices from another room and more, fade away without being missed. 

Not knowing or understanding about hearing and hearing aids, or where to go and who to see, can create fear.  To complicate it, many have heard stories of people who were unsuccessful with hearing aids.  This can create concern about making a good financial investment.  We recommend an audiologist.  Audiologists have many years of study in the area of the ears, hearing and hearing aids.  If hearing aids are recommended, they can help find cost effective ones.  

Help them to focus on what they are missing and how hearing loss is changing thier life in negative ways.  Often those with untreated hearing loss isolate themselves and withdraw from social situations including family gatherings.  They miss out on grandchildren and their stories.  It can impact relationships and her quality of life.  Stop in your local audiologist's office pick up some literature.  Knowledge about what to expect can help dispel some of the fear and anxiety.  Encourage them just as you would with any health issue. 

The longer they put it off, the more likely they will have a reduced ability to understand words.   Call and schedule a hearing evaluation.  

Life sounds great!  Enjoy every moment!

Jane Kukula, Au.D.
Paula Webster, M.A.

Advanced Audiology Concepts

8897 Mentor Ave
Mentor, Ohio 44060
440-205-8848

Fax: 440-205-9818

http://www.aacHEAR.org

Picture obtained from:

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How to choose the right hearing aid

You play the most significant role in assuring satisfaction with hearing aids.  In order to be happy with your hearing aids, your needs, desires and expectations must be met.  You and your audiologist can address your communication issues and develop strategies for improving them.  Here are some suggestions for improving your chances of being fit with the right hearing aids.

·         Identify your own personal needs

·         Make a list of situations where your hearing loss has been a problem

·         Describe difficult situations:  i.e., the telephone, TV, communicating with family, movies, meetings, church, small groups, listening to young children, large conferences

Other factors to consider include:

·         The degree of your hearing loss

·         Size and condition of your ears

·         Your ability to manipulate the instruments and batteries

·         Your individual lifestyle

A positive attitude with realistic expectations about your hearing aids will improve your chances for a successful hearing aid fitting! Today’s digital technology allows for smaller instruments, improved noise and feedback management and automatic features.  These instruments are programmed and fine tuned to meet your individual needs by the audiologist.

Be patient, ask questions and work closely with the audiologist who is fitting your hearing aids.  Before you know it a whole new world will open up for you! 

Life sounds great!  Enjoy every moment!

Jane Kukula, Au.D.
Paula Webster, M.A.

Advanced Audiology Concepts

8897 Mentor Ave
Mentor, Ohio 44060
440-205-8848

Fax: 440-205-9818

http://www.aacHEAR.org

Picture Obtained from:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.digitalhearing.com.au/upload/HearingLoss.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.digitalhearing.com.au/hearingloss.html&h=298&w=232&sz=18&tbnid=0CCq72ZXYwB-mM:&tbnh=91&tbnw=71&zoom=1&usg=__OhNnJ6VQ2lOaOQk6YLlmcC_6d9I=&docid=olN8CxQipm9tFM&sa=X&ei=S9ikUZuRHeaDywGelICoBA&ved=0CDkQ9QEwAg&dur=2578

Effects of Hearing Loss on Quality of Life

Untreated hearing loss has been known to have a significant impact on the quality of one’s life.  A multitude of emotions surround those with hearing loss.  To name a few: sadness, anger, frustration, embarrassment, feelings of inadequacy, isolation, loneliness and loss of concentration.  Often these feelings can lead to exhaustion, withdrawal and depression. 

Treatment of hearing loss, with the fitting of hearing aids, has been shown to improve:

      Earning power

   Communication in relationships

   Intimacy and warmth in family relationships
   Ease in communication

   Emotional stability

   Sense of control over life events
   Perception of mental function

   Physical health

   Group social participation

Additionally, hearing aids also reduces anger and frustration in relationships, feelings of anxiety and paranoia, depression and self-criticism.  Research by the National Council on Aging has demonstrated that hearing aids clearly are associated with impressive improvements in the social, emotional, psychological and physical well-being of those with hearing loss.   

May is Better Hearing Month.  Schedule a complete hearing evaluation.  If hearing loss is identified, consider the impact of an untreated hearing loss.  Fitting of hearing aids has the potential to positively change your life.

Life sounds great!  Enjoy every moment!

Jane Kukula, Au.D.
Paula Webster, M.A.

Advanced Audiology Concepts

8897 Mentor Ave
Mentor, Ohio 44060
440-205-8848

Fax: 440-205-9818

http://www.aacHEAR.org

Hearing aids mentor Ohio

Do hearing aids really work?

The answer is an overwhelming YES! Hearing aids really do help.  Everyone benefits differently from amplification due to different types of hearing problems.  While everyone benefits differently, 90% of people are helped with hearing aids.  Those with mild, moderate and severe hearing loss can experience significant improvements in hearing abilities and communication.

The National Council on the Aging study of more than 2,000 people with hearing loss and their significant others revealed that hearing aids clearly bring about impressive improvements in the social, emotional, psychological, and physical well-being of people with hearing loss in all hearing loss categories from mild to severe. Specifically, hearing aid usage is positively related to the following quality of life issues. Hearing loss treatment was shown to improve:

· Earning power

· Communication in relationships

· Intimacy and warmth in family relationships

· Easier conversations

· Emotional stability

· Sense of control over life events

· Perception of mental functioning

· Physical health (yes hearing aids support better overall health)

Learn the various types of hearing aids available including which aids are better according to the type of hearing loss. Click here.

If you or a loved one is experiencing changes in hearing and or a muffling of voices, call today and schedule a hearing evaluation with an audiologist. 

 To find an audiologist in your area click here.

Life sounds great!  Enjoy every moment!

Jane Kukula, AuD
Paula Webster, MA
Advanced Audiology Concepts
8897 Mentor Ave
Mentor, Ohio 44060
440-205-8848
http://www.aacHEAR.org

 

Facts About Hearing Loss

Men are more likely than women to experience hearing loss. 

1 in 5 Americans have hearing loss in at least one ear.  This is 48 million people and far exceeds previous hearing care industry estimates of approximately 25 million.
 

20% of the US population aged 12 years and older has hearing difficulties severe enough to impact communication.
 

There is a direct link between age and hearing loss: about 18% of American adults between the ages of 45 and 54, 30% of adults between ages 65 and 74, and 47% of adults ages 75 and older have hearing impairments.
 

In the United States, three out of every 1,000 children are born deaf or hard-of-hearing.
 

About 26 million Americans between the ages of 20 and 69 have high frequency hearing loss due to exposure to loud noises at work or in leisure activities.
 

About 60% of deployed military service men and women have noise induced hearing loss (NIHL), tinnitus (ringing in the ear), and other hearing injuries.
 

Impairment of auditory activity and tinnitus are more likely to occur in Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans than post-traumatic stress syndrome in Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans.

48 millions American's have hearing loss.

Hearing aids help 95% of people with hearing loss restoring normal volume and improving conversations in quiet and noisy places.

People with hearing loss, on the average wait 7 years before seeking hearing help.

People with untreated hearing loss, earn on the average $20,000 less a year and are less likely to be promoted.

Those with hearing loss who use hearing aids are healthier and more active socially.
 

Exposure to tobacco smoke and second-hand smoke has been directly linked to higher risks of hearing loss.

http://hearinghealthfoundation.org/85

Life sounds great!  Enjoy every moment!

Jane Kukula, AuD
Paula Webster, MA
Advanced Audiology Concepts
8897 Mentor Ave
Mentor, Ohio 44060
440-205-8848
http://www.aacHEAR.org

Television amplifiers

I recently had a patient looking for something to help with just the television.  I recommended a television amplifier.  With a television amplifier you can adjust the volume for television based on your needs without increasing the volume for the entire family. Television amplifiers not only allow the user to increase the volume without disturbing others, they also separate the voice track from the background sounds and music.  This way the words come through stronger then background noise.

There are several models available some work with hearing aids and others work without hearing instruments.  The ones that work with hearing aids work with the telephone feature on some hearing aids.  With the telephone feature the television signals go through the hearing aids at the prescribed settings.

The amplifiers that work without hearing aids use a headset.  The volume I usually adjusted through the headset.   These are especially great for people who have some hearing loss and do not use hearing aids.  With a television amplifier, the family can set the volume on the TV to a comfortable level.

They are easy to set up.  The transmitter is plugged into the audio out on the TV and into a wall socket.  Typically the transmitter is also used to store the headset and recharge batteries.  Stop in for a free demonstration and see for yourself. 

Life sounds great!  Enjoy every moment!

Jane Kukula, AuD
Paula Webster, MA
Advanced Audiology Concepts
8897 Mentor Ave
Mentor, Ohio 44060
440-205-8848
http://www.aacHEAR.org/