Hearing Loss

A wrecking ball with the word truth written on it demolishes a brick wall with the word myth written on them

Hearing Loss Myths Debunked

in

Fact or Fiction? Get the Scoop Here.

It’s easy to get the wrong idea about hearing loss — its effects are invisible.

In fact, misconceptions are commonplace, from antiquated stereotypes to wrong assumptions.

These common myths are a great starting point for correcting assumptions and removing the stigma associated with hearing loss.

 

MYTH: Talk Louder to Someone With Hearing Loss

For someone with hearing loss, volume isn’t the only issue. Lack of clarity is also a factor.

Suppose your car has a damaged speaker, so the sound is a little garbled. When you turn the volume up, it won’t fix the issue. You’ll hear the sounds better, but they will still be distorted.

But how is hearing loss like that?

Your inner ear has thousands of tiny structures called hair cells. They translate the sounds you hear into nerve impulses and send them to your brain.

Aging, loud sounds, and other stressors can damage your hair cells. When that happens, you lose a little of your hearing.

Often, the first sounds to go are those that help you distinguish words. “Cat” starts to sound like “hat,” “bug” like “hug.” You can hear someone’s voice just fine — the volume is appropriate — but what they’re saying isn’t clear.

Over-articulating doesn’t help because it changes natural speech rhythms. Lipreading becomes more difficult, not easier.

If you’re asked to repeat something, say it a different way instead of repeating it.

 

MYTH: In-the-Ear Hearing Aids Are Better Than Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids

No hearing aid style is best — the style that meets your unique listening lifestyle is the best for you.

In-the-ear styles address hearing loss from mild to severe. They’re discreet, custom-fit to your ears, and a good option for glasses-wearers or those with nasal cannulas.

Behind-the-ears styles are suitable for mild to profound hearing loss and are ideal for those with less dexterity. They also have a larger battery, for longer battery life. Plus, in-the-ear styles can create a plugged-up feeling you won’t get with an open-fit behind-the-ear hearing aid.

In-the-ear hearing aids are tiny, so there’s less space in which to put electronics. Therefore, in many cases they don’t have all the features available in behind-the-ear styles.

A conversation with your hearing care professional will clarify which style works best for your unique needs.

 

MYTH: You’ll Notice When You Develop Hearing Loss

As mentioned previously, aging and other stressors damage the tiny hair cells that make hearing possible. As that happens, you lose a little of your hearing ability.

But the damage usually happens gradually, so you likely won’t notice it at first.

Speech might not seem as clear, especially high-pitched voices. Background noise in restaurants might seem more intrusive. Autumn leaves underfoot don’t seem as crunchy.

Then you might start turning up the TV volume. And when did Uncle John start mumbling, anyway?

That’s why family members and co-workers are typically the first to notice you might need a hearing test. It affects them, too.

 

MYTH: Everyone With Hearing Loss Can Read Lips

Hearing loss is unique to each person who experiences it. It can run the gamut from mild to profound. The technology used could be a hearing aid or a cochlear implant.

People are different ages when they lose their hearing, they get different levels of auditory training, and they have different listening environments. So, some people with hearing loss read lips. Others don’t. It’s most helpful as a complement to any residual hearing.

But it still helps to face people with a hearing loss when speaking, as visual clues are always helpful, regardless of whether they read lips.

Contact us today if you’re ready to get your hearing tested!

An illustration of the letters "Q&A" and question marks surrounding

Hearing Loss Q&A

in

Q: When someone speaks, I often miss nuances, like tone. Could this be hearing loss?

A: That’s an interesting question! Hearing loss shares symptoms with other conditions, though. Let’s look at what hearing loss is and consider another possible culprit.

 

Hearing Basics

Hearing is complex. It’s more than just your ears taking in sound. Your nerves and brain actively partner with your ear in a delicate dance to accomplish hearing. Here’s how it happens.

 

Area 1: The ear

Your outer ear collects sound waves, which travel down your ear canal and cause your eardrum to vibrate. Your eardrum passes the vibrations to the three smallest bones in your body, in the middle ear, which amplify the vibrations and send them to your inner ear.

In your inner ear, the vibrations become waves in a fluid-filled cavity. These waves jostle tiny hair-like cells, which convert the wave information into electric impulses.

 

Area 2: The auditory nerve

Your auditory (hearing) nerve carries all those electrical impulses as nerve signals to the part of your brain that processes what you hear.

 

Area 3: The brain

Your brain does a lot of behind-the-scenes work making sense of sound information. It pinpoints where the sound is coming from, focuses on it, separates out background noise, determines whether it recognizes the sound, and identifies whether it’s speech, music, etc.

 

Put It All Together

As you can see, a lot happens during the process we call hearing! The delicate dance happens all day, every day, effortlessly, and there are a lot of moving parts — and a lot of opportunities for things to go wrong.

 

Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is anything that does go wrong in that first area — your ears. Hearing problems can occur because of earwax buildup, damage to your eardrum, an ear infection, or damage to any of the tiny structures in your middle or inner ear.

A standard hearing test will determine whether you have hearing loss. Common symptoms are:

  • Trouble understanding people on the telephone
  • Difficulty following conversations with two or more people
  • Asking people to repeat themselves
  • Turning up the TV so loud that others complain
  • Problems understanding speech in background noise
  • Thinking others mumble
  • Trouble understanding children and people with higher-pitched voices

A hearing care professional should be your first stop when trying to determine whether you have hearing loss.

They’ll get to know you, test your hearing, and check the fitness of your ear canal, ear drum, middle ear, and inner ear. If they determine you have hearing loss, they’ll make recommendations about a treatment solution. Often, the treatment includes hearing devices.

But the symptom you mentioned — missing nuances like the tone of people’s speech — is more often a symptom of something else.

 

Auditory Processing Disorder

Auditory processing disorder (APD) has a lot in common with hearing loss. All the symptoms listed above, for example.

But many (not all) people with APD pass a hearing evaluation with flying colors! What’s going on here?

This is where the third area you use for hearing, the brain, comes in. With APD, something interferes with the way your ears and brain coordinate. You might hear sounds loud and clear — your ears are doing their job — but something keeps your brain from processing the sounds effectively.

How common it is? It’s hard to even pin down an estimate, because providers use different diagnostic standards. Conversations about APD typically focus on children, but it affects adults as well.

 

Symptoms of APD

Certain symptoms point more strongly to APD than to hearing loss, for example:

  • Difficulty remembering directions spoken aloud
  • Mishearing words or sentences
  • Sensory overload in noisy environments
  • Problems picking up nuances in speech
  • Being easily distracted by background noise
  • Inability to appreciate music

It’s not about intelligence — someone might remember written directions very well. But if those same directions were spoken aloud instead, they might misremember them. It’s about how the sounds are received and processed.

 

Communication Skills Affected by APD

Someone with APD could struggle with one or all of the following four communication skills.

Auditory discrimination. Auditory discrimination lets you notice, compare, and distinguish the distinct sounds in words. Someone with auditory discrimination problems might confuse similar words (like “seventy” and “seventeen”), find learning to read challenging, and have difficulties following spoken directions even when paying close attention.

Auditory figure-ground discrimination. Auditory figure-ground discrimination allows you to pinpoint the sounds you want to hear in a noisy background. Someone struggling with auditory figure-ground discrimination has trouble filtering out the background noise of a restaurant, for example. In the case of a child, their learning potential might suffer if they can’t block out classroom sounds during a lesson.

Auditory memory. Auditory memory lets you recall what you’ve heard. It includes both short-term and long-term memory. Someone with auditory memory challenges might have difficulty remembering names, memorizing phone numbers, or following instructions with multiple steps.

Auditory sequencing. Auditory sequencing allows you to understand and recall word and sound order. Someone with auditory sequencing challenges might confuse numbers (for example, 14 and 41), lists, or sequences. A child with this problem might complete a series of tasks out of order, even if they seem to have understood the directions.

 

APD in Children

Early diagnosis of APD in children is crucial, because, if not managed, it can lead to listening and learning problems. The auditory system in children doesn’t develop fully until around age 14. Early intervention, thus, helps with listening skills and the development of stronger auditory pathways.

In addition to the symptoms listed in the previous section, one classic APD symptom in children is improvements in behavior and performance in quiet settings.

If your child has trouble communicating or exhibits any of these symptoms, an audiologist can evaluate them using use a specific group of listening tests. Strategies to help your child thrive in school are determined in consultation with the audiologist and can include:

  • APD is not widely known, so sharing information about APD with school staff can help them understand how best to help children with APD.
  • Physical accommodations. These improve the listening environment and include remote microphone systems, strategic seating that reduces sound and sight distractions, and slow, deliberate speech from the teacher.
  • Individual therapies. These include computer-assisted programs, speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, and counseling.

 

APD in Adults

If you’re an adult with APD, you may well have had it your entire life. You might have had difficulty learning to read, keeping up in class, or paying attention in noisy situations. But it all went under the radar and, thus, unaddressed.

Many adults with APD don’t even realize they’ve developed strategies to cope, choosing activities and jobs that allowed them to flourish with APD.

An audiologist diagnoses APD in adults through an APD evaluation consisting of a series of listening tasks, then develops a treatment plan that could include:

  • Speech-language therapy, especially auditory training
  • Brain-training techniques to improve processing skills
  • Computer-assisted-programs that help you learn to process language advantageously
  • Counseling or art/music therapy if depression, anxiety, or self-esteem issues are present

 

Causes of APD

Just like we don’t really know how common APD is, we don’t understand the causes very well, either. It does, however, tend to be linked with ADHD and dyslexia. Suspected causes include:

  • Frequent ear infections
  • Head injuries
  • Central nervous system disorders
  • Genetics
  • Low birth weight

 

There’s No Easy Answer

As you can see, a lot must happen for you to successfully hear and understand a sound. Your symptom — missing nuances in speech — is just one symptom to consider. It could be hearing loss. It could be APD. Or it could be something else, because other health issues also show up as a problem noticing speech nuances.

I hope this has given you food for thought and a good starting place. Feel free to contact us to get a hearing evaluation on the books today!

illustration of various contact sports accessories

Contact Sports and Hearing Loss

in ,

Playing to Win Could Mean Hearing Loss

Soccer is winding down. Hockey and basketball are revving up. College and NFL football are in full swing. Must mean summer is in the rearview mirror.

It also means pickup games galore, such as basketball, flag football, and street hockey — and more debates over concussions in contact sports.

But two symptoms of concussion that don’t get much press are hearing loss and tinnitus.

Sports and Concussions

Sports-related concussions are not rare — 1.6 million to 3.8 million occur annually in the U.S. And in the age range 5–19 years, there were around 46,000 diagnosed concussions in 2016 and 2017 in hospital emergency departments in Canada.

A concussion is serious business. Consider its other definition: The least severe type of TBI — short for traumatic brain injury. The CDC explains TBI as “an injury that affects how the brain works.”

Concussions and Your Hearing System

Your hearing system’s setup makes it susceptible to damage by a concussion, especially in contact sports. The part of your brain that processes sound is located at the side of your head, about ear level. Prime real estate for an impact.

The force necessary for a concussion can damage or break any of the tiny bones in your middle ear or inner ear.

Plus, there are more nerves connecting your ear and brain than there are for your other senses. It’s a dense net traveling between your ear, brainstem, midbrain, and cortex. These nerves take quite a pounding when your head suffers an impact — the force jostles your brain, stretching, shearing, or possibly destroying your nerve fibers.

Sound processing is demanding on your nervous system. It’s also very fast — things happen in microseconds. If a concussion damages your nerve fibers or causes inflammation and bruising, your hearing suffers.

How Concussions Affect Your Hearing

It’s common for those with sports-related concussions to hear quiet noises just fine, but then have trouble understanding speech in a noisy environment like, at a restaurant or a game.

Other possible problems include:

  • Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
  • Hearing loss
  • Sound sensitivity
  • A feeling like your ears need to pop but can’t
  • Problems understanding speech despite passing a hearing test

Symptoms of Concussion

After a head injury, concussion symptoms might appear right away or not for hours or days. They usually improve over time — often you’ll feel better within a couple of weeks.

Symptoms are different for each person and might change during recovery. For example, your symptoms might be physical early on, only to become more emotional a week or two after your injury.

Common symptoms include:

  • Light or noise sensitivity
  • Balance problems
  • Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Nausea
  • Trouble with thinking or memory
  • Anxiety
  • Irritability
  • Sadness
  • Mood swings

If You Suspect a Concussion

Unfortunately, contact sports and head injuries are a natural fit. Even a helmet or some other type of head protection only goes so far.

If you think a head injury has led to a concussion, see a physician right away. You’ll receive a neurological evaluation that measures your vision, hearing, balance, and coordination responses. You’ll also receive cognitive tests to ensure your thinking hasn’t been affected.

You might also get imaging tests such as cranial computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These identify any physical injury or bleeding inside your skull.

You need to be supervised for 24 hours, possibly in the hospital but most likely by a loved one in the comfort of your own home. This is to ensure the symptoms don’t worsen. The most common treatment for a concussion is rest and avoiding strenuous activity.

If you’ve had a concussion and suspect you’ve developed hearing loss or tinnitus, contact us to schedule a hearing consultation.

An illustration of friends who are disagreeing

I Don’t Want to Hear It: 3 Steps to a Comfortable Dialogue About Hearing Loss

in

How to Discuss Hearing Loss With a Loved One

It could be core memories of Grandpa’s loudly beeping 1960s hearing aids. It could be the cost. There are many reasons why your loved one just doesn’t want to hear it.

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, “Among adults aged 70 and older with hearing loss who could benefit from hearing aids, fewer than one in three (30%) has ever used them. Even fewer adults aged 20 to 69 (approximately 16%) who could benefit from wearing hearing aids have ever used them.”

There’s no getting around it — there is a perceived stigma surrounding hearing aid use. Some folks may worry they’ll be judged as old or weak. These are powerful words. Hidden within the thought process of even being tested for hearing loss lies your loved one’s entire self-perception, and how they feel they will be perceived by others. These feelings shouldn’t be disregarded — they are very real and impede many people’s path to hearing improvement.

The good news is that you can help your loved one jump this hurdle.

Sometimes, all it takes to get them on the path to improving their hearing is a compassionate invite to a discussion, where everyone’s voices can be heard.

Try this three-step course of action to help send you and your loved one on a journey of acceptance that leads to better hearing and a greatly improved quality of life.

 

Acknowledge

Getting them to acknowledge their hearing loss in the first place can be difficult, so a gentle and respectful approach is key. Using hearing aids is a deeply personal decision, and family dynamics are at stake.

Use words that aren’t pointed — no one wants to be told they have a hearing problem. This is especially true if, for years, your loved one has been blaming their lack of understanding on a mumbling spouse or grandkids who play “too loudly.”

Suggest that maybe Grandma isn’t mumbling; that you can hear her just fine. You could also try going along with their story — ask them, “Wouldn’t it be nice to hear Grandma without having to strain? You know how she mumbles.” Try a few roads like these and see which one helps them admit that maybe it’s time to see an audiologist.

If they wear glasses, ask them if they’d ever consider leaving their vision unchecked. Could they live without their glasses on a daily basis? That may help put the level of necessity into perspective.

 

Educate

This can get into sensitive territory. Again, gentility and respect are crucial. Weave your facts in over time, rather than providing one big information dump. Turning on a firehose of information can be overwhelming. They may already feel embarrassed or frustrated at the thought of even discussing hearing loss, let alone talking about how it applies to them.

Help your loved one understand that hearing loss affects more than just being able to hear people speak. Hearing loss affects other facets of their health.

For example, the National Institute on Aging published an article that details the many ways hearing loss can affect cognitive health. Let them know about findings such as, “Studies have shown that older adults with hearing loss have a greater risk of developing dementia than older adults with normal hearing.” You can follow that up with other data, like the fact that older adults with hearing loss tend to lose their cognitive abilities more rapidly (including memory and concentration) than those with no hearing loss or those who use hearing-restorative devices, like hearing aids. They may even flinch at the words “hearing aids.”

Wow them with all the new technology available. These aren’t your grandpa’s hearing aids — the latest devices not only look more sleek and subtle than they did years ago, but they can do fancy new tricks. Audio streaming via Bluetooth technology has been introduced into many hearing aids. You can pair them to a phone, your laptop, and even directly to your TV, with no extra gadgets.

Some newer hearing aids can act as built-in foreign language translators. Others include emergency sensors, or a “fall alert,” that can detect when the wearer has taken a tumble and send out an alert message to their emergency contact. This feature could be an actual lifesaver.

Another angle to use is that living with unchecked hearing loss could eventually hinder their independence. Sometimes, people who can’t hear are mistakenly thought to be (at best) confused or (at worst) unresponsive or uncooperative. The latter traits can lead to family members and medical professionals, together, revoking their ability to do enjoyable things, like drive.

 

Support

Offer to drive them or just ride along to their audiology appointment. Tell them you’ll go in to see the doctor with them. Suggest that you can sit and take notes for them so they can concentrate on being examined. Come from a place of service and support. Remind them that you are here because you care.

How can you support them through the feelings surrounding the stigma of using hearing aids? Part of supporting them on this journey will include finding the words to boost their confidence and sense of self. What do they love about themselves? Do they have beautiful hair? If so, you can use that to your advantage and say something such as, “Your beautiful hair will be covering those hearing aids. How wonderful that your gorgeous coiffe is the only thing everyone is going to be staring at!” Are they proud of their striking eyes or their talent for making a joke? Assure them that those traits will outshine any hearing device.

Communicating with health insurance providers can be the most difficult part of any medical journey. Offer to do the prep work for them — call their insurance company, contact a local audiologist, get some answers, and do the math and detail exactly how much this may cost them, including giving them a range of prices for different types of technology.

Let them know you love them, care about them, and want to keep them out of danger. Untreated hearing loss creates a safety hazard for them and the people they encounter throughout their day. For example, it can affect their ability to drive safely, as honking horns and police sirens go unheard.

Having someone you love continually put in harm’s way is stressful for you and for them, especially when all they need to do is visit their local audiologist and come up with a plan to tackle their hearing challenges. Make sure they know they aren’t facing this challenge alone.

Here are some tips for broaching the subject of hearing care to a resistant person:

  • Ask how you can help. Come from a place of service.
  • Gently alert them to the downsides of not being able to hear well.
  • Laugh! Keep the conversation light.
  • Be patient. People with hearing loss may also be frustrated by their condition.
  • Stay positive and relaxed.
  • Don’t give up. It may take several conversations to get them on board.

No one likes to be the bad guy, but a few moments of awkwardness and a little risk could turn one conversation into a new lease on life and better hearing for your loved one.

Start the conversation today!

an illustration of a landscape with a mountain valley, trees, and a river

Hearing Loss and the Great Outdoors

in

Be prepared to tackle your outdoor summer activities safely

Human hearing is remarkable. It can detect frequencies between 20 and 20,000 Hz and is highly adept at distinguishing familiar sounds from unfamiliar ones, alerting you to potential danger, and decoding important information about your environment. These abilities are especially crucial when you’re enjoying the great outdoors. Whether hunting, hiking, camping, or even just birdwatching, being able to hear the snap of a twig or the babbling of a brook isn’t simply pleasant — it could also save your life.

Wildlife Safety

Ask any avid hiker and they’ll tell you that a quiet forest is a reason to be alert. When birds and other small animals fall silent, it’s often because there’s a predator nearby. Depending on what part of the country you’re in, you may need to be on the lookout for bears or mountain lions. Hearing the change in your environment can clue you in to what could be lurking in the bushes nearby. It’s not uncommon to hear an animal before you see it, or to never see it at all. Keen hearing will help keep you one step ahead of dangerous wildlife and ensure nothing unexpected takes you by surprise.

The Hearing Hazards of Hunting

When discussing firearm safety, hearing protection is often a neglected topic. In addition to proper gun use and storage, protecting yourself from the earsplitting noise of a gunshot is very, very important. Depending on the gun, even a single shot can permanently damage your hearing, and not just any type of hearing protection will do. Because hunters rely on their sense of hearing to track prey, it’s important to choose a type of hearing protection that muffles loud sounds while allowing the softer sounds of the forest to reach the ears. Custom earplugs are a great option — ask your hearing care provider about getting fitted for a pair.

Camping With Hearing Aids

If you’re already a hearing aid user, you may be wondering how to safely camp or backpack with your technology. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to protect yourself and your hearing aids. Here are some tips to keep your devices working well in the wilderness:

  • Keep them dry
    • Make sure to pack your cleaning cloth, dehumidifier, and a hat or headband to wear over your ears if it’s chilly, wet, or windy out. Ziploc bags are a handy way to store these items.
  • Keep them cool
    • While exposure to cold can take a toll on any electronic device, heat poses a greater risk to your hearing aids. Remember to remove them if you’ll be sitting close to a blazing campfire, shield them from direct sunlight, and don’t forget them in a hot car.
  • Get a tune-up
    • Before you hit the trails, make an appointment for a thorough clean and check with your hearing care provider. Let them know you’ll be camping and may need some adjustments to account for the difference in environmental noise.
  • Bring extra batteries
    • Traveling always requires additional preparedness, and that goes double when you’re far from civilization. Have a couple of extra packs of batteries just in case and store them in different places to insure you against loss or damage.
  • Use the buddy system
    • Any time you venture into a remote area you should let someone know where you’re going and when to expect your return, even if you’re heading out with a companion. Don’t wander off to gather firewood or scout campsites alone, especially in the dark.

Let us help you make the most of your outdoor excursions. Contact us today to schedule a hearing evaluation or clean and check of your hearing aids.

A caricature of a man receiving energy via a battery

Erectile Dysfunction and Hearing Loss

in ,

Quality of life is something that’s on everyone’s minds these days. How to live better, feel better, and make the most of the relationships and activities we enjoy. It’s no secret that health concerns can present challenges that affect our quality of life, and hearing loss and erectile dysfunction are two of them. These conditions are relatively easy to treat, but few people realize they’re linked.

What the research says

A study conducted by the Department of Otolaryngology at Taipei Medical University Hospital found that men who experienced sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) were about twice as likely to develop erectile dysfunction as their peers with normal hearing. This held true across different age groups. No conclusions have been drawn about the reason behind the correlation, but researchers strongly suspect it may be of a vascular nature, as subjects with hypertension and chronic renal disease were found to be at an even greater risk of ED. Hearing loss is also known to be exacerbated by vascular diseases.

SSHL is defined as a partial or total hearing loss that occurs rapidly over the course of hours or days. This is considered a medical emergency and should be investigated by a doctor right away. Only a small percentage of diagnosed cases of SSHL have an identifiable cause, but the most common triggers include:

  • Infectious diseases
  • Trauma, such as a head injury
  • Autoimmune diseases, such as Cogan’s syndrome
  • Ototoxic drugs (drugs that harm the sensory cells in the inner ear)
  • Blood circulation problems
  • A tumor on the nerve that connects the ear to the brain
  • Neurologic diseases and disorders, such as multiple sclerosis
  • Disorders of the inner ear, such as Ménière’s disease

Men living with a hearing loss that occurred suddenly should be aware that they have an increased risk of developing erectile dysfunction.

The effects of ED medication on hearing

Unfortunately, the connection between sudden hearing loss and erectile dysfunction also goes in the other direction. Sometimes ED precedes SSHL, and it’s the medications used to treat the former that lead to the latter.

In the United States, the FDA relabeled phosphodiesterase Type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor erectile-dysfunction drugs after finding over 30 reports of sudden hearing loss in male patients taking Viagra. Since then, researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have discovered that men over 40 taking PDE5 drugs (which include Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra) have double the risk of developing hearing loss compared to men who do not.

The FDA reports that some incidents of sudden hearing loss also included vestibular problems such as tinnitus, vertigo, or dizziness, and that the hearing loss was temporary in about a third of cases. There is some evidence that cessation of ototoxic medications can reverse the hearing damage they cause, but patients are advised to consult their doctor before stopping a medication. Click here for more information about ototoxicity and what to do if you experience it.

If you or someone you love is currently being treated for erectile dysfunction, be on the lookout for hearing issues and contact an audiologist or ENT for an evaluation!

Sources

Hsu, Hsin-Te, et al. Increased Risk of Erectile Dysfunction in Patients with Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss. Otology & Neurotology. https://journals.lww.com/otology-neurotology/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=2013&issue=07000&article=00014&type.  Accessed November 2, 2022.

McGwin, Gerald Jr. Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor use and hearing impairment. Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20479381/. Accessed November 4, 2022.

Medical News Today. FDA Reports Hearing Loss Linked To Viagra And Other PDE5 Inhibitors. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/86215. Accessed November 8, 2022.

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Sudden Deafness. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/sudden-deafness. Accessed November 8, 2022.

An illustration of power tools in a repeatable pattern

How Loud Is It?

in

When Breaking Out the Power Tools, Protect Your Ears

Since childhood, you’ve probably heard the warnings about loud noises and hearing loss. Maybe you’ve even experienced the sensation of ear pain, ringing in the ears, a headache, or a moment of hearing difficulty after the piercing bang of a firecracker, a blast from your phone playing music on high volume, or an ice-crushing blender whirring at the fastest speed.

But how loud is too loud? As power tools get pulled out of storage for spring projects, let’s look at the level of noise they generate and what you can do. After all, hearing is one of the most important senses. Understanding the dangers of excess noise exposure — and how you can protect your ears — can go a long way toward preserving your hearing.

 

Measuring Noise: Easy App

Did you know? The free NIOSH Sound Level Meter app, compatible with iOS-based mobile devices, can measure the sound level in your environment — at home, work, or play.

Using your phone or tablet’s built-in microphone, the easy-to-use app offers an instant decibel rating. It doesn’t replace professional instruments or expert opinion, but it can help approximate noise.

Check it out!

 

What’s the Problem?

It’s a fascinating fact that sound can affect your health. Your ears and brain work together to perceive and process sound. The cochlea, an organ within the inner ear, contains tiny hair cells that detect sound and send signals to the brain through the auditory nerve. Excess noise can damage the hair cells, leading to temporary or even permanent hearing loss.

Hearing loss not only might impact communication, but can also:

  • Lead to withdrawal from social situations
  • Play a role in increased risk of balance issues and falls
  • Go hand in hand with dementia and other cognitive problems
  • Appear alongside tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ears or head)

 

When Is It Too Loud?

As a measure of loudness, decibels play a critical role. Your own perception also matters, but sometimes unsafe volumes aren’t perceived to be as loud as they truly are. If you already have a hearing loss, the sounds may not seem as loud but can still do damage. Generally, sounds that are 85 decibels or higher can be especially harmful. The louder the sound and the longer it lasts, the more dangerous it can be for your ears.

Consider these decibel estimates for some common power tools as well as other familiar sounds:

  • Whisper — 30 decibels
  • Typical conversation — 65 to 80 decibels
  • Lawnmower — 80 to 100 decibels
  • Gas leaf blower — 100 decibels
  • Sports game — 94 to 110 decibels
  • Hand drill — 98 decibels
  • Personal listening device at highest volume — 105 to 110 decibels
  • Chainsaw — 110 decibels
  • Jet at takeoff — 140 decibels
  • Fireworks — 140 to 160 decibels

 

What Can You Do?

Power tools can be hard on the ears, making it all the more important to take control of your listening environment. Wondering where to start? Look for equipment that’s rated for being quieter while still ticking all the performance boxes of its classic counterpart. With no power parts, reel lawnmowers can do the job with a lot less noise, but electric, battery-operated, or even some quieter gas mowers might fit the bill, too.

Lowering the volume on your equipment can make a difference as well. You won’t find a volume knob, but a reduced speed setting — when appropriate for the job — might bring the noise level down. In addition, the user manual may provide options for limiting noise. And remember to take periodic breaks from using the equipment altogether, giving your ears a breather.

 

Have You Heard?

According to the CDC, “Every year, around 22 million workers come in contact with noise loud enough to damage their hearing at a job site, and nearly half of all construction workers have hearing loss.” It’s usually too late to avoid the offending noise until it has already damaged a person’s hearing; warning signs (like ringing in the ears or pain) usually don’t kick in until the damage is already done.

Hearing can be permanently damaged in as little as one minute if you use certain power tools without some form of earmuffs or earmolds.

 

How Long Does It Take?

  • Electric Drill — under 1 minute
  • Chainsaw — under 2 minutes
  • Lawnmower — 15 minutes
  • Shop Vacuum — 2 hours

On the bright side, today there is SO much you can do to protect your hearing. From earmuffs to earmolds, talk to an audiologist about generic and custom options to protect your hearing from prolonged loud noise.

 

Wearable Hearing Protection?

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety says, “The surest method of preventing noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is to eliminate the source or to reduce noise at the source by engineering methods. However, in certain situations, these measures are not possible. In such workplaces, workers may need to wear hearing protectors to reduce the amount of noise reaching the ears.”

Steering clear of excess noise isn’t always possible, but hearing protection has your back. Audiologists and other retailers offer a range of hearing protection options to help safeguard your auditory health, catering to various needs and preferences. When you visit an audiologist, you gain access to professional advice and customized solutions. Audiologists can assess your unique hearing protection needs, considering factors like occupational noise exposure, hobbies, and recreational activities. They may recommend custom-made earplugs or earmuffs, which are molded to fit your ears perfectly. These provide an unmatched level of comfort and effectiveness, ensuring that you receive the highest level of protection.

Nonmedical retailers, on the other hand, offer a wide selection of off-the-shelf hearing protection solutions. These include disposable foam earplugs, reusable silicone earplugs, and earmuffs. These products are readily available and come in various sizes and noise reduction ratings, making it easy to find an option that suits your needs. While they may not provide the same level of customization as audiologist-recommended options, they are often more affordable and convenient.

Whether you choose to consult an audiologist or purchase hearing protection from a store, prioritizing your hearing health is important. Hearing protection can help prevent noise-induced hearing loss, a condition that is both permanent and largely preventable. By investing in high-quality hearing protection, you can enjoy your daily activities without risking your long-term hearing health. It’s also crucial to follow manufacturer recommendations for the proper use and maintenance of your hearing protection, to ensure its continued effectiveness. Ultimately, the choice between audiologist-recommended solutions and store-bought options depends on your unique circumstances and preferences, but the goal remains the same: preserving your hearing.

Count on us to help you seize the season. Have questions about noise-induced hearing loss or options for hearing protection? Reach out to our knowledgeable team today!

An illustration of dozens of sports related items and icons superimposed one over another

NCAA Athletes With Hearing Loss

in

Notables in Volleyball, Swimming, and Beyond

For many in the U.S., the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) means brackets, basketball, and American athletes. But it’s so much more.

Did you know at least 50 Canadians have participated in the last three NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships?

In 2023, Toronto’s Zach Edey was named the Big Ten Player of the Year and consensus National Player of the Year, and Kingston, Ontario’s Aaliyah Edwards was named 2023 AP and USBWA Third Team All-American. Canadians have truly become staples in the athletes-to-watch NCAA basketball category.

But the NCAA is also about many divisions in many sports — with notable athletes with hearing loss throughout.

 

Gallaudet University

Gallaudet University, in Washington, D.C., was the first school for the advanced education of the deaf and hard of hearing in the world. It’s a member of NCAA Division III and competes in:

  • Men’s baseball, basketball, cross country, football, soccer, swimming, and track and field
  • Women’s basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, swimming, volleyball, and track and field

Dawn Birley, who would go on to win several national Canadian Taekwondo championships, played volleyball, basketball, and softball for Gallaudet. And current phenom Christina Elsbury, of Uniontown, Ohio, plays women’s softball and — yep — men’s baseball.

 

Talia Little

After being wooed by and committing to NCAA Division I Boise State, gymnast Talia Little developed sudden sensorineural hearing loss. With no clue how it happened and knowing she would have it for life, she got back to work. With the help of inspiring coaches, she climbed her way back to high-level gymnastic ability. She’s established herself as a force to be reckoned with despite her hearing loss and, now, tinnitus.

 

Jeff Float

Olympic Gold medalist Jeff Float lost most of his hearing as an infant. He earned 10 gold medals and World Records in all 10 available events at the 1977 Deaflympics (then known as the World Games for the Deaf) in Bucharest, Romania. Float competed in swimming for the NCAA Division I school the University of Southern California in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.

 

Taylor Vaneekeren

The University of West Florida, an NCAA Division II school, put together a Silent Set during a volleyball match against Valdosta State in September 2022. Until the UWF Argos reached eight points, it was asked that everyone — including the spectators — remain silent. The set was requested by UWF player Taylor Vaneekeren, who has worn hearing aids since second grade. She wanted to raise awareness of something that affects so many. Her coach was delighted to make it happen.

 

Tamika Catchings

Bringing it full circle, what list of NCAA players with hearing loss would be complete without living legend Tamika Catchings? Born with hearing loss, Catchings was already awash in awards and recognition in high school as a WBCA All-American. During her storied tenure with the NCAA Division I Tennessee Lady Volunteers from 1997 to 2001, she earned the Naismith College Player of the Year award, the AP Player of the Year award, the USBWA Women’s National Player of the Year award, and the WBCA Player of the Year award. She would go on to have a 15-year professional career with the Indiana Fever that included a staggering number of awards and recognitions.

An illustration of a man using a laptop on the beach

9 Hits for Your 2023 Summer List

in

The Summer Reading/Watch/Listen List You Need

No summer’s complete without a good reading list, so we’re hooking you up.

From books to films to podcasts, we’ve put together some inspiring, entertaining, or thought-provoking options that have some connection to hearing loss or sound. Take a listen, watch, or read, and let us know what you think!

 

The Way I Hear It: A Life With Hearing Loss (Book)

Humorist, actress, public speaker, and hearing loss advocate Gael Hannan takes readers on a journey of life lessons and more in this 2015 book. Her insights offer advice and inspiration not only for those with hearing loss but for their loved ones, too.

 

Sound of Metal* (Film)

Imagine being a musician on tour when suddenly confronted with profound hearing loss. It’s the challenge of a lifetime for heavy-metal drummer Ruben, who’s also in recovery. The deep-diving movie has garnered praise in the Deaf community and took home two Academy Awards.

 

The Hear Me Out! [CC] Podcast (Podcast)

Everyone has a story worth hearing, and host Ahmed Khalifa sees to it. Whether talking deaf representation in pop culture, censorship in captions, or success at audiology appointments, Khalifa — a host with firsthand hearing loss experience — offers interviews and more in this candid series.

 

The Walking Dead>* (TV series)

You’ve probably heard of this juggernaut zombie series that wrapped up after its 11th season. But did you know recent seasons include two amazing actors — Angel Theory and Lauren Ridloff — who use American Sign Language on the show and have hearing loss in real life? Check it out!

 

Impossible Music (Book)

This young-adult novel follows two Australian teens navigating deafness after having been able to hear most of their lives. The coming-of-age story about change, identity, belonging, relationships, adaptation, and resilience offers another perspective on life’s twists, turns, and blessings.

 

See What I’m Saying: The Deaf Entertainers Documentary* (Film)

What’s it like as an entertainer with hearing loss to follow your professional dreams? This award-winning 2009 documentary offers an unflinching up-close look through the ups, downs, adventures, and triumphs of drummer Bob, comic CJ, actor and educator Robert, and singer TL.

 

My Deaf Friend Can Do Anything You Can Do (Book)

Misconceptions and stereotypes can get in the way of building better understanding. This children’s book offers an opportunity for the whole family to explore the experiences of those with hearing loss and gain greater appreciation for what everyone brings to the table.

 

Twenty Thousand Hertz (Podcast)

Cool title, right? This podcast is all about sound — as in, what it is, how it works, how beings can hear, and so on. It breaks down interesting topics such as synesthesia — dig into the January 13, 2021, episode to learn more — and serves up backstories on well-known sounds you might recognize.

 

Holland’s Opus* (Film)

We’re hitting the archive for a classic! A composer who takes a teaching position as a temporary job discovers life sometimes has different plans for us. An important subplot film is the relationship between the titular character and his Deaf son.

We hope you enjoy this summer list. You might come up with a few entries of your own, too! And remember, we’re here to help you get the most out of the season by hearing your best. So don’t delay. Schedule a hearing evaluation with our caring team today.

*Viewer discretion advised for language or visuals.

An illustration of a woman writing poetry on a giant piece of paper with a giant feather quill.

7 Poets With Hearing Loss

in

Take in Some Stanzas for National Poetry Month in April

It’s April, and that means poetry! Make it official, outspoken (#NationalPoetryMonth), or under the radar, but whatever you do, celebrate these poets with hearing loss and singular voices.

Gael Hannan

A renowned humorist, author, and passionate advocate for hearing loss issues, Gael Hannan grew up with progressive hearing loss. She teaches speechreading, holds hearing awareness workshops, and conducts sensitivity training for organizations large and small. She was honored with the Consumer Advocacy Award from Speech-Language and Audiology Canada.

Her poem “Those Things on the Side of Our Head” concludes this article featuring three other poems by authors with hearing loss, including the next person on our list!

Shanna Groves

Shanna has progressive hearing loss and is a speaker, author, and advocate for hearing loss issues. She has a popular blog, Lipreading Mom, is a finalist in the Oticon 2022 Focus on People Awards, and launched an awareness campaign, Show Me Your Ears.

Here’s that link again. This time, catch Shanna’s poem, “A Different Kind of Beauty.”

Camisha L. Jones

Camisha served as managing director of Split This Rock, a national poetry nonprofit centering social engagement, from November 2013 through August 2022. She competed at the 2013 National Poetry Slam on behalf of Slam Richmond, is co-editor of a forthcoming anthology of disability poetry, and lives with fibromyalgia and Ménière’s Disease.

Her poem “Ode to My Hearing Aids” is from her chapbook Flare, which focuses on her experiences with hearing loss and chronic pain.

Noah Baldino

Noah is a writer and editor with middle-frequency hearing loss whose poems have appeared in POETRY, The Yale Review, and elsewhere. A recipient of the 2019 Academy of American Poets Prize, Noah has also received support from numerous organizations, including Bread Loaf, Poetry Foundation, and The Stadler Center for Poetry and Literary Arts.

Head here to check out Noah’s poem “Hearing Loss.”

Raymond Antrobus

Raymond Antrobus MBE FRSL is an East London-born poet, performer, and hearing aid user. His poems have appeared in magazines and literary journals, he has read and performed his poetry at prestigious festivals and universities, and he is co-curator of popular London poetry events Chill Pill and Keats House Poets.

Enjoy this spoken-word performance of his two-minute piece “The First Time I Wore Hearing Aids.”

Willard J. Madsen

Any article on poetry and hearing loss wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the classic “You Have to Be Deaf to Understand.” Willard J. Madsen’s 1971 poem became so popular it was eventually translated into seven different languages, was reprinted in numerous publications, and is considered a classic of Deaf culture. Madsen became deaf at age two because of scarlet fever and taught at Gallaudet University for almost 40 years.

Clayton Valli

Clayton Valli pioneered the concept of using a curriculum for deaf children focusing on ASL as a first language. He was also the first person to earn a doctorate in ASL poetry, from the Union Institute in Ohio. His original works of ASL poetry garnered international recognition, for example, “Dandelion,” which suggests ASL persists despite intentional efforts to weed it out.

Whether poetry or K-pop, we’d love to help you hear your passion better — contact us today to schedule a hearing consultation!

We transform lives by helping people with hearing loss and tinnitus

protect their brain health and stay connected to what matters most.
canada-flagProudly Canadian and Independently Owned and Operated

Ready to take the next step towards better hearing?
Contact us to book an appointment.

Call us today:

(289) 963-1512

Salus Hearing And Tinnitus Centre

Accredited Business BBB

Map of Salus Hearing and Tinnitus Centre

2200 Rutherford Rd #202, Concord, ON L4K 5V2