Ringing in the ears

Ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus, can be very annoying.  For many who experience tinnitus, it can be intermittent or constant.   Tinnitus generally accompanies hearing loss, but in rare cases may be a symptom of a more serious health issue. 

There are several things you can do to minimize tinnitus:

·         Avoid exposure to loud sound and noise

·         If you have high blood pressure, seek a physician’s help to control it

·         Decrease your intake of salt

·         Avoid stimulants such as coffee, tea, cola and tobacco

·         Exercise daily to improve circulation

·         Get adequate rest and avoid fatigue

Hearing aids can help to manage tinnitus.  Amplifying sound and producing ambient noise, hearing aids are believed to reduce the loudness and prominence of tinnitus.  Often, hearing aids are recommended to manage tinnitus.

The first step you should take is to receive a complete Audiological Evaluation by an audiologist.  This will provide information regarding the nature and degree of your hearing loss and determine if you are gaining benefit from your present hearing aids.   These steps may assist you in dealing with this very anxiety provoking problem.

Life sounds great!  Enjoy every moment!

Jane Kukula, AuD
Paula Webster, MA

Advanced Audiology Concepts

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

Fax: 440-205-9818

http://www.aacHEAR.org

Finding the best hearing aids

Investing in hearing aids is a big step.  For many finding the best hearing aids is not an easy job.  Most people know little about what features are available on hearing aids let alone which options would be helpful vs which ones just are not necessary.  To complicate matters the various hearing aid companies use different terms to describe features making it hard to compare products.   

When someone is ready to purchase instruments it’s hard to know where to turn.  First, it’s important that you find an audiologist, a professional who specializes in hearing and hearing aids.  An audiologist will help you to find the best hearing aids for you and guide you through the process.  There are many things an audiologist will take into account when making a recommendation for specific hearing instruments.  We look at:

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• Hearing abilities
• Lifestyle
• Dexterity
• Hearing needs
• Financial resources

Start with an appointment with an audiologist.  An audiologist will provide a thorough evaluation of your ears and hearing.   From there, the audiologist will help you find the most cost effective solution for your hearing.  

Life sounds great!  Enjoy every moment!

Jane Kukula, AuD
Paula Webster, MA

Advanced Audiology Concepts

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

Fax: 440-205-9818

http://www.aacHEAR.org

Talking with a person with hearing loss

It is very important to recognize that a person with hearing loss is going to require some special attention in order to adequately communicate.  Hearing aids do not restore hearing to normal.  They are extremely helpful, but it is necessary for everyone to contribute toward a successful conversational situation.

Most importantly, be sure to speak face to face.  Those with hearing loss, even wearing hearing aids, depend a great deal on facial expression and lip movements to fully understand what is being said.  Speaking with a mouth full of food or chewing gum makes lip reading very difficult.  Also being in the same room is paramount.  It is not possible to carry on a satisfactory conversation from a different room, with the dishwasher running, the fan going or the television set on.

Speaking in a clear, distinct voice is most effective, particularly when speaking on the telephone.  It is not necessary to raise your voice or “yell”.  If you raise your voice, your expression changes and it will appear that you are upset or angry.  Clear speech allows the hearing impaired individual to understand enough to realize what you are trying to communicate. 

Noisy environments are particularly challenging for those with hearing loss.  Attempt to find settings away from air conditioners, running water, entryways, speakers and the restaurant kitchen.  If seated in a restaurant, be sure to find a quiet location and sit across the table from the person with hearing loss.

The person with hearing loss must advocate for themselves.  Communication is a two way street.  Family, friends and co-workers must be told what is needed to help improve communication.  Hearing loss is invisible and it is easy to forget that someone has a hearing loss.  With a little effort, we can improve communication. 

Life sounds great!  Enjoy every moment!

Jane Kukula, AuD
Paula Webster, MA

Advanced Audiology Concepts

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

Fax: 440-205-9818

http://www.aacHEAR.org

hearing aids mentor ohio

Hearing Aids and Quality of Life

Hearing aids improve quality of life in many ways, the most obvious is improved communication.  Improved communication positively affects many daily life activities, work, shopping, social situations and family life, just to name a few.  Good communication is a key to good relationships, and impacts intimacy and warmth in relationships.  It increases confidence in social situations. 

Hearing aids also return a sense of control over life events.  Emotional stability is improved and people report an improved perception of mental function.  Studies also demonstrate those who use hearing aids have greater physical health and higher self-esteem.

Those who use hearing aids also experience a decrease in feelings of anger, frustration, depression, paranoia and anxiety, and of social phobias.

Another plus to using hearing aids is increased earning power.  Some studies show an increase in income of up to $24,000 a year for those who use hearing aids vs those with hearing loss who do not.

If you have a mild, moderate or severe hearing loss and are resisting hearing aids, think about these benefits. Hearing aids hold great potential to positively impact your life.  Schedule a hearing evaluation with an audiologist and discuss the benefits you stand to gain.  Why wait? 

Life sounds great!  Enjoy every moment!

Jane Kukula, AuD
Paula Webster, MA

Advanced Audiology Concepts

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

Fax: 440-205-9818

http://www.aacHEAR.org

How loud is too loud?

Noise Induced hearing loss is on the rise, especially in teenagers!   Yes, teenagers are exposed to more loud sounds than ever before.  Some sources of loud sound include; music players, car races, even toys such as a fire truck with a siren are loud enough to harm hearing.

It’s not easy to know when sound is too loud.  That is because it’s not just about how loud a sound is.  “Too loud” is a combination of the volume of the sound and how long one is exposed to it.  The louder a sound is, the shorter the permissible length of exposure. 

Sound is measured in decibels (dB). Generally, exposure to a sound at 85 dB over 8 hours is acceptable.  For every three dB increase in the sound, the acceptable time is cut in half.  For example if the volume is 88 dB, it is safe for 4 hours, 91 dB is safe for 2 hours, 94 dB for 1 hour, etc.

Here is a guide to help you determine the volume of some common sounds. 

60 dB—Normal conversations or dishwashers
80 dB—Alarm clocks
90 dB—Hair dryers, blenders, and lawnmowers
100 dB—MP3 players at full volume
110 dB—Concerts, car racing, and sporting events
120 dB—Jet planes at take off
130 dB—Ambulances and fire engine sirens
140 dB—Gun shots, fireworks, and custom car stereos at full volume

Here are few rules to go by.  You know a the sound is too loud if; you have to shout over the background noise to be heard, if the volume actually causes pain, if the noise makes your ears ring or if you have decreased or muffled hearing after being exposed to the sound. 

There are three ways to protect your hearing; use earplugs or muffs, move away from the source of the sound or turn the volume down when using a music player. Never use a music player to cover up the sound of another unwanted sound such as the lawn mower.  Use ear plugs or noise canceling plugs to decrease the volume of the unwanted noise.

When someone is exposed to loud sounds it is important to have regular hearing evaluations by an audiologist.  If you or a loved one is exposed to loud sound, have a baseline hearing evaluation.  Why wait?  

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

How the ear works

Understanding how we hear starts with understanding how the ear works.  There are three parts to the ear, outer ear, middle ear and inner ear. 

The outer ear consists of the pinna (the part of the ear we can see on the side of the head) and the ear canal.  The eardrum is located at the end of the ear canal.  The main job of the outer ear is to collect sound waves and send them down the ear canal to the eardrum. 

The middle ear includes the eardrum and three small bones.  They are located in an air filled space surrounded by the bones of the skull.  Their job is to amplify the sound waves and send them to the inner ear. 

The inner ear is located in a snail shaped bone deep inside the head.  This boney section is filled with a fluid. The hearing nerves called haircells are in this part of the ear.  Sound travels through the inner ear by setting up waves in the fluid.  These waves “wash” over the haircells, stimulating them.  The stimulated nerve fibers change sound into electrical impulses that travel to the brain.  It is the brain that assigns meaning to the sounds and words.  We hear in the brain.  It recognizes familiar voices and birds, understands words and enjoys music.

If you are a loved one are noticing changes in hearing or muffling of voices call to schedule and hearing evaluation.  The hearing evaluation checks the entire system of the ear including: a look in the ear canals for ear wax, assessing the flexibility of the eardrums and checking your hearing.  

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

Untreated hearing loss

Sadly, only 20 percent of people who have hearing loss seek treatment through the use of hearing aids.  This statistic alone, speaks volumes about what a spouse and families endure.  It not only means louder TV, repeating throughout the day, filling in important parts of conversations, it raises the anxiety levels of everyone in the family.  Struggling to communicate under these circumstances is frustrating and exhausting. 

There are many reasons why people resist seeking help for their hearing difficulties.  Often, hearing loss is perceived as a sign of aging or weakness.  Often people feel  hearing aids will be viewed as less attractive or less competent.  Putting off using hearing aids may be based on what appears to be valid logic, i.e., “I’m too young!”, It’s not bad enough yet!”,” No one I know likes their hearing aids.”, “We just can’t afford it now!”, or “My brother has a hearing loss and won’t wear hearing aids and he gets along just fine!”.  In reality, none of these excuses amount to anything but procrastination, minimizing the problem in order to justify not pursuing treatment. 

The real tragedy of untreated hearing loss is the isolation that results from avoiding all the situations that make hearing a challenge.   The natural progression of this is giving up more and more activities in order to operate within a “comfort zone”.   Coming to terms with hearing loss is not an easy task.  Encourage loved ones to seek help.  A complete Hearing Evaluation is the first step. 

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