Happy Fourth of July

Holiday Hours

You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kdis throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy and the flies die from happiness.  You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.  ~ Erma Bombeck

We hope your potato salad doesn't get iffy!
Have a great day off America!

All offices will be closed all day on Thursday, July 4.

The Toledo office will resume normal business hours on Friday, July 5.

Ask the Audiologist

Q:     I've heard that there is a link between hearing loss and dementia - is that true?

A:   For years researchers have suspected a connection between hearing loss and dementia, but just this year a study funded by the National Institute of Health determined that a mild hearing loss of 25 decibels can increase the development of cognitive problems by 30-40%.

When asked for an explanation of the cognitive decline, Frank Lin, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine otologist and assistant professor, and the study's lead author, offered as possible contributing factors the combination of social isolation and the extra mental effort it takes to understand sounds.

Dementia is on the rise in the US with over four million affected by the malady, and recent estimates place the cost on families and society at $157 billion to $215 billion a year, making it more expensive than cancer and heath disease.

While hearing aids aren't a cure for the effects of dementia, appropriately fit hearing technology is designed to alleviate the energy required to understand sounds and to decrease feelings of isolation by reengaging people with the world around them through better hearing.

Our staff of AudigyCertified audiologists are here to provide comprehensive evaluations, life-style-specific technology recommendations, and fine-tuning of hearing devices to ensure a better hearing experience for as long as you are in our care.

Please call us today at 419-534-3111 to book a complete diagnostic hearing evaluation for yourself or a loved one.

Shouting Won't Help

Do you know someone with hearing loss?  Shouting doesn't help.

• Look at them when you speak - almost all hearing-impaired people read lips. Don't lean into their ear when you talk. They need to see your lips.
• Speak in a normal voice and articulate as clearly as possible. Shouting won't help.
• If you are asked, "what?" or "sorry?" don't just repeat what you've said. Say it in another way - rephrase.
• If they don't hear what you have said after you have repeated it two or three times, don't say, "Never mind, it doesn't mater." To a person who cant hear, it dose matter. Write it down i all else fails.
• Always have the person with the hearing loss sit with their back to a window or bright lights, this makes it easier for them to read lips.
• People with hearing loss have a hard time hearing or understanding speech when it is noisy. Try to keep background noise to a minimum when trying to have a conversation.
• Don't talk to a hearing impaired person unless you have their full attention. Get the person's attention before starting a conversation.
• When in a group, try to avoid overlapping conversations; have just one general conversation.
• Give the hearing impaired person a chance to readjust their hearing aids after a performance, meeting or when changing situations. Sometimes they may need to change the listening program in the hearing aids.

Community Seminar

JOIN US on June 25 and June 26

Our very own Dr. Alison Friend will be giving a community seminar on connectivity with hearing aids with in-office demonstrations to follow.

Learn how you can better connect with your phone, your television and your friends and family.

Refreshments will be served - morning and afternoon times available.

Call for reservations! Spots are limited.

419-534-3111

A Simple Life Reminder

Sometimes our perspective needs to be adjusted.  Just remember, someone always has a bigger struggle than you do.

What Makes a Dad

     God took the strength of a mountain,

    The majesty of a tree,

     The warmth of a summer sun,

     The calm of a quiet sea,

     The generous soul of nature,

     The comforting arm of night,

     The wisdom of the ages,

     The power of the eagle's flight,

     The joy of a morning in spring,

     The faith of a mustard seed,

     The patience of eternity,

     The depth of a family need.

     Then God combined this qualities,

     When there was nothing more to add,

     He knew his masterpiece was complete,

     And so he called it

     DAD.

     ~Author Unknown

      HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

National Men's Health Week

This week - today through Father's Day - is National Men's Health Week.

Hearing? You think.  Health Week and hearing?

Absolutely.

We've told you before, but we'll tell you again. Untreated hearing loss can wreck havoc on numerous aspects of our life. Hearing well is part of our overall health.

Did you know:

• people with untreated hearing loss suffer far more from depression and feelings of social isolation than people with normal hearing or treated hearing loss?
• people with untreated hearing loss earn less money when compared to their peers who choose to wear hearing aids?
• people with untreated hearing loss are much more likely to have memory problems and are at greater risk for different forms of dementia?  There have even been recent studies linking untreated hearing loss to Alzheimer's.
• older adults with hearing loss are more likely to suffer from hypertension, heart disease and stroke?

“Recognizing and preventing men’s health problems is not just a man’s issue. Because of its impact on wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters, men’s health is truly a family issue.” Congressman Bill Richardson

If you've never had your hearing checked or at all question your ability to hear, please give us a call. We have three locations to serve the men (and women!) of the greater Toledo area.

Kids and Noise Induced Hearing Loss

If you've been reading this blog or scanning the internet for hearing-related news over the past couple years, you already know what I'm about to say.  But, a reminder is necessary as the weather is finally warmer and more people are out running and walking and mowing their lawns while wearing their iPods.

Noise-induced hearing loss.  It's real folks.  Of course, we know if happens to people who work in factories and other places with really loud noise. But what about your habits? Do you use an iPod or other music player with headphones?  Do you pay attention to how loud you are setting your volume?

What about your kids?

"Hearing loss due to noise exposure is the only type of hearing loss we have any control over. As a pediatric audiologist, I treat the effect of loud music on an alarming number of younger patients. As a mother, I understand that music is a part of every generation and today's youth has more opportunities to directly expose their fragile ears to outputs that can cause hearing loss." says Jacqueline Scholl, Au.D., The Scholl Center for Communication Disorders

Results from a survey done by MTV showed that about half of the 2500 respondents listen to their music players at 75-100% of the maximum volume.  Nearly half also reported symptoms of hearing loss - ringing in the ears, trouble hearing, ear pain when in loud noise.  This is alarming. What's more alarming is that even fewer (about 30%) said they thought this might be a problem.

We NEED to teach our children.  YOU as a parent, need to tell your children to protect their ears...just like you tell them to wear sunscreen or to brush their teeth.

A good piece of advice:  if you can hear the music your child is listening too, it's too loud. Simple. Easy. Tell them to turn it down, or make them use volume-reducing earphone/earbuds.

More questions? Need those safe earbuds? Give us a call.

Rare footage of Helen Keller speaking

with the help of Anne Sullivan. Amazing. What an inspiration.

Why does my Voice Sound Funny with Hearing Aids?

Adapting to new hearing aids often requires adapting all over again to the sound of on'es own voice. hearing aid users sometimes describe their voices as sounding as if they are in a tunnel, a barrel, or talking through a microphone. The feeling is probably the most noticeable change for new users and the hardest thing to adapt to.  Your audiologist cannot make this sensation go away completely, but he or she can help alleviate some of the hollow feeling you may experience.

One of the principle sources of this funny sound is called occlusion. Occlusion is when there is a blocking or closing of the ear canal. Have you ever worn earplugs or put your fingers in your ears to block out sound? When you talk and your ears are plugged, your voice sounds much louder and a bit hollow. When you put hearing aids in your ears you do just that, plug them up. When we talk, the vibration of our vocal cords vibrates the bones in the head briefly, until it disperses out through the ear canals. When we plug up our ears, the sounds are no longer able to escape through the ear canals, but are redirected back to the eardrum, making the low tones louder. This causes us to experience that "echoey" or hollow tone in our voice.

So, if plugging up our ears causes occlusion, how do we get rid of it? Well, we do just the opposite; we unplug them, as much as possible anyway. Most hearing aids have a hole in the ear mold called a vent. This vent helps equalize pressure in the ear canal, lets air circulate and also helps alleviate some of the hollow feeling when we talk. So, as you can imagine, the larger we can make that vent, the more our internal sounds can disperse through the ear canal. Unfortunately, the size of the vent is sometimes limited by both the size of the hearing aid and the size of your ear canal, as well as the loudness of the hearing aid.

Occlusion is not the only factor causing this feeling of a loud, hollow sound. remember that we have hearing aids because we have a hearing loss. We are used to hearing our own voice at a level that reflects that of our hearing loss, but now we have turned that volume up using the hearing aid. So now our voice seems louder to us, even though it sounds the same to everyone else.

To alleviate this problem, your audiologist may try to turn the low-frequency volume down on your hearing aids, but this really only reduces the low-frequencies in everything you hear. Turning down everything we hear contradicts the goal of the audiologist to help you hear the best you possibly can. Needless to say, it is not the best solution. the best solution is to try to get used to your new voice. Try reading out loud to your spouse, kids, grand-kids, or yourself for 15 minutes 2-3 times a day. Reading out loud will force you to listen to your voice constantly. This is how we really sound to the rest of the world. They have gotten used to our voice; we have to try, too.

I know this process sometimes seems long and challenging, but stick with it. Your audiologist will be there for support.

Happy Memorial Day

Today we remember, with gratitude and pride, all those who

served and died for our country and our freedom.

May your day be filled with memories and peace.

God Bless America.

Your Pets can have Ear Problems Too

Why does your cat rush in to the kitchen at the first faint sound of the can opener? Why does your dog alert you to the mail carrier who is still a half a block away?  Our pets have brilliantly designed ears that allow them to raise, rotate and tun in to the faintest sounds.  That's something to be envious of.

However, this heightened sensitivity can come at a price for our pets.  Just as ours can, cat and dog ears can be sensitive to health problems.  We need to be proactive and regularly check their ears and practice preventive maintenance.  Mites, bacterial or yeast infections, allergic reactions, excess water and dirt can all wreak havoc in those amazing ears.  You might see them scratch their ears, shake their head, nip if you get too close to their ears, lose their balance, and even lose hearing.

Dogs seem to be even more at risk that cats, especially those with floppy ears, because those ear flaps can trap dirt and debris and cause a decreased amount of air ventilation which can become a breeding ground for yeast and bacteria to grow.

Don't let it go.  Contact your veterinarian at the first signs of ear problems. It's going to be hard for you to make a diagnosis yourself, so leave that to the professionals.  Inflammation of that outer ear can be a symptom of several things like parasites, allergies, a simple ear infection, tumors or other medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism.

Six reasons to see your vet:

1. your pet constantly scratches her ears.

2. you can smell a foul odor coming from the ears.

3. your pet's ears are tender to the touch.

4. your pet has trouble with balance.

5. the ears are bleeding or swollen.

6. your pet seems to have trouble hearing.

Ain't it the truth?

Ask the Audiologist

Q: My husband has difficulty hearing but he refuses to admit it or have his hearing tested. He says that his hearing is fine, but our friends and family members are getting very frustrated with always having to repeat themselves. How could he not realize how much he is missing?

A: Although hearing loss is one of the most common health problems in this country, it often goes unnoticed and the person with the hearing problem is usually the last one to become aware of it.

Described below are some of the early characteristics of hearing loss.
Understanding these may help explain why hearing loss can "sneak up" on someone, even when family and friends are well aware of the problem:

1. Gradual: a loss of hearing typically develops so slowly that you're not aware of any change from year to year.

2. Partial: you can develop a loss of hearing in the speech clarity range, but still have normal hearing sensitivity for background noises and for the loudness of speech. That's why someone with early onset hearing loss may say, "I can hear people talking, I just can't understand them."

3. Painless: although tinnitus (a ringing or buzzing sound in the ear) may accompany hearing loss, usually there is no feeling or sensation that alerts you to a change in hearing.

4. Invisible: the person with a hearing loss doesn't look any different and you can't detect hearing loss by looking into someone's ears. Only a hearing test can determine whether a hearing loss is present.

Keep in mine that because of these characteristics, it's easy for the person with early onset hearing loss to believe there is no problem. It's also very easy for them to blame others, because to them, it really sounds like people are mumbling. If you know of someone who may have an undetected hearing loss, please ask him or her to read this. And remember, the first step is not to get hearing aids, but simply have an audiologic evaluation. We've never heard anyone complain if the results indicate normal hearing!

Listen UP America Week

Despite the fact that more than 31 million Americans report some type of hearing problem, only about 13 percent of U.S. physicians routinely screen their patients for hearing loss during physical exams. In order to make qualified hearing testing available to the general public, we have partnered with the Audiology Awareness Campaign (AAC) to bring free hearing screenings to our community so that people can have their hearing checked by trained audiologists who specialize in evaluating and treating people with hearing loss.

Each day during this week (May 13-17) we have set aside time in our schedule for free hearing screenings.  Appointments are necessary, so call 419-534-3111 to grab one before they get filled!

What is a hearing screening?  First, let me say what it is not:  It is not a complete hearing evaluation. The purpose of a screening is to identify the need for a complete hearing test.  A hearing screening will basically tell us if you have normal hearing, of if there is some hearing loss that needs to be further evaluated. A screening is a pass/fail test.  If you have a hearing loss it does not tell us the degree or nature of the loss.  It simply tells us that further, complete evaluation is necessary.

Bigfoot...in Toledo?

Have you seen him?  He's running around here somewhere, and we want you to find him!

Kenwood is excited to have a billboard up in Toledo.

Find us on our Facebook page HERE, like our page and then send us a private message with Bigfoot's our billboard's location. Be the first and we'll reward you with a special treat!

Better Hearing with Both Ears

Being able to hear with both ears is just as important as being able to see with both eyes. if you have difficulty hearing with both ears, you will almost certainly benefit from a binaural fitting - that is, wearing a hearing instrument in each ear.

What are the benefits of wearing two hearing instruments?

• Your ability to localize sounds will improve
• It will be easier to understand speech in noisy surroundings
• The risk of "auditory deprivation" is considerably reduced
• You will experience a fuller, more comfortable sound picture

Why do we have two ears?  Because our brain uses and needs input from both ears to figure out which direction sounds are coming from. Within seconds, our brain compares the information received from both ears - like the volume and timing differences - and is instantly able to tell us which direction a sound is coming from, and how far away it is.

Background noise makes it difficult for anyone to follow what people are saying. But add in any amount of hearing loss, and suddenly it becomes much more difficult to separate individual voices from background noise.  The brain needs input from both ears to be able to separate sounds effectively.

When an ear with hearing loss is not aided, the brain gradually loses some of its ability to process information from that ear because of a continued lack of sound stimulation.

If you hear equally well with both ears, sounds are more comfortable to listen to. You don't have to strain to hear, the sounds have the kind of clarity and depth which give you a sense of space and volume. 

Hearing Loss: Increases Risks of Depression & Isolation

"When left untreated, hearing loss often lads to isolation, depression and other emotional conditions that can affect both mental health and quality of life," says Sergei Kochkin, PhD, executive director of The Better Hearing Institute. "Yes, hearing loss remains one f the most commonly unaddressed health conditions in America today."

Even people with mild hearing loss begin to experience increasing levels of isolation  As the world fades to a muffle, those with more severe egress of hearing loss experience even greater degrees of isolation according to a 2010 Australian report.  Once-engaged individuals withdraw. The stigma of hearing loss and the choice to not use hearing aids prevents these social people from getting out, seeing friends or even enjoying a nice dinner.

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I can recall, specifically, a patient in his late 50's who thought he might be experiencing hearing loss.  His wife had been bugging him for years to have his hearing checked.  On a cross-country drive in early 2011, it hit him like a ton of bricks.  On that 3 day drive, he realized he and his wife had not had one single conversation.  Not one word to each other, except maybe "are you hungry?"

Know aware that maybe his wife was right, he started thinking about other aspects of his life.  He realized he had been avoiding a weekly dinner out with friends. He thought he just didn't enjoy it anymore, but now thought it was probably because he wasn't hearing well.

He was fit with hearing aids and will tell any of you that they have changed his life, his relationships and his happiness.

Do You Have Hearing Loss?

Answering "YES" to any of the following questions should be reason enough to have your hearing evaluated by an audiologist:

Do you have trouble understanding conversation in noisy environments?

Do you notice that you can "hear" but cannot always "understand" what others are saying?

Do you remain quiet in conversations for fear of responding improperly?

Do you often ask others to repeat themselves?

Do you avoid certain social activities because you cannot hear well?

Do you strain to hear soft-sounding voices such as those of women and children?

Do your friends and family members complain that the television volume is too loud?

Do you have a problem hearing on the telephone?