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!

How can I tell if I'm losing my hearing?

One morning, you're sitting in a small office, having a very nice conversation with a co-worker. You're functioning fine. You have no problems hearing or understanding Dan tell you about his son's first soccer game and his mom's recent health problems.

That evening, you're in a busy restaurant with your entire family celebrating Grandma's 83rd birthday. Someone at the table tells a joke. Well, you assume it's a joke because everyone else is laughing, but truthfully you didn't hear everything that was said so you just laugh anyway.

So what's going on?

----

This experience is typical of someone whose hearing is starting to decline. Hearing loss most often happens so slowly, so gradually, that we don't actually realize it is happening. And it's very hard to really know if you aren't hearing as well as you used to.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Are you asking friends and family to repeat themselves?
• Do you have difficulty understanding people on the telephone or on TV?
• Is it hard to follow conversations in noisy places like restaurants?
• Do you feel like people often mumble or just don't speak as clearly as they used to?
• Are loved ones getting frustrated because they feel you do not understand them?

Hearing loss is not "all-or-none." We often think that if someone has hearing loss, they have trouble hearing everything. Very commonly, people lose the hearing of higher-frequencies (pitches) first, while their low-frequency hearing might still be fine. This makes people feel like they can hear fine, but people are just mumbling.

The first step for anyone who even just thinks they might be experiencing some hearing loss is to have a hearing evaluation.  Having a full diagnostic test by an audiologist will help you determine why you are experiencing the problems you have been more aware of recently.  Your audiologist will then make recommendations to you - from annual hearing tests to monitor your loss, to a referral to a physician and maybe even hearing aids. But don't be afraid, we don't know what you need (if anything) until we know what is going on.

Why all the maintenance?

Q: My hearing aids seem to require more maintenance and repair than other electronic devices around my home. Is this normal? Is there anything that I can do to reduce these problems?


A: It is very common for hearing aids to require more care and attention that other electronic devices, such as your television, radio, or microwave, for example.  There are a few reasons for this. First, hearing aids are very complex miniaturized devices. Especially today's style hearing aids, which contain at least a microphone, battery, amplifier, microchip and a speaker, all within a thin, lightweight, custom-made, polyurethane shell.


Secondly, most people use their hearing aids for longer periods of time each day than other electronic devices. For instance, compared to a radio or TV that may only be in use for 2-4 hours each day, you wear your hearing aids for 14-16 hours at a time. During that time, the hearing aids are working very hard, continuously analyzing the sounds in your environment and making millions of calculations every second to help you hear as clearly as possible.

The third, and most important reason that hearing aids often require more attention and repair is related to the environment. In contrast to an electronic device such as your TV, which remains in a relatively controlled temperature, hearing aids work in one of the harshest environments - the ear canal. In the ear canal, the hearing aid experiences shell pressure from jaw movement, wax buildup moisture and perspiration, dust and dirt, all of which can be extremely damaging to the intricate components of the instrument.


What you can do to reduce the potential for repairs and minimize problems is check and clean your hearing aids once a day. Consult your user's manual or contact your audiologist for proper cleaning, care and maintenance tips.  Additionally, we recommend that you let us professionally clean your hearing aids at least once a year.

Why do hearing aids cost so much?

Q: Why do hearing aids cost so much?


A: Hearing aids, like other custom medical devices such as dentures, artificial limbs and individually manufactured wheel chair seats, are major health issues.  However, hearing aids - unlike many other devices - are typically not covered by insurance, including Medicare.  Consequently, the cost is of major concern when purchasing hearing aids.

The cost typically includes both professional services and the product. The hearing aid itself reflects the research and development needed to produce the ever improving hearing aids of today. There are regulatory costs in the manufacturing of a safe and effective medical device. There are costs to the generous repair and return privileges offered, and there is the cost of shipping impressions and the product.

Another factor in the cost of hearing aids is the number sold, or maybe we should say, the numbers not sold. There are 31 million Americans with hearing loss, but less than 20% of them wear hearing aids.  Hearing aids are this nations most underutilized medical product.

Therefore, the cost of research and development is spread out over fewer hearing aids. If we could convince the vast majority of people with hearing loss that today's hearing aids really do make a difference, the cost of hearing aids would be reduced dramatically.  The untreated hearing impaired population need to know that the cost of not treating hearing loss can be far more devastating in human emotions and relationships than in dollars.

Audiologist VS Hearing Aid Specialist/Dealer

Q: What is the difference between an Audiologist and a Hearing Aid Specialist or Hearing Aid Dealer?

A: Many people are confused by these terms, and some hearing aid specialists create new terms such as audioprostologist, to further confuse the public.

According to the Ohio Revised Code 4747.01(B), a Hearing Aid Dealer is defined by the following; "Practice of dealing in" or "fitting of" hearing aids. This means the sale of a hearing aid and the measurement of and testing of human hearing by means of an audiometer or by any other means for the purpose of selecting, adapting and selling a hearing aid to any person and includes the making of impressions for earmolds. According to the Ohio Revised Code, the requirements to become a Hearing Aid Dealer are: you must be 18 years old, of good moral character, free of contagious or infectious disease, have a high school diploma or equivalent and must pass the qualifying test.

The Ohio Revised Code 4753.01(G) defines the practice of Audiology as the planning, directing, supervising and conducting of habilitative or rehabilitative counseling programs for individuals or groups of individuals who have or are suspected of having disorders of hearing; any service in audiology, including prevention, identification, evaluation, consulting, habilitation or rehabilitation, instruction and research; participation in hearing conservation, hearing aid and assistive listening device evaluation, selection, preparation, dispensing, and orientations; fabrication of ear molds; auditory training and speech reading, and administering tests of vestibular function and tests for tinnitus. The educational requirements to become and Audiologist are now a 4-year Doctoral degree in Audiology after completion of a 4 year undergraduate degree.  Audiologists must also pass state licensing boards.

To summarize, the difference between an Audiologist and a Hearing Aid Dealer is education. When choosing a facility to have your hearing tested, ask that all important question, "Do you have Audiologists on staff?" The Audiological staff at Kenwood Hearing Center has called "Dealers" and asked if they have and Audiologist on staff and have been told by several office that they did not, but that the dealers can do the same thing as an Audiologist.  not only is this not true, but it is also illegal for dealer to imply that they are the same as an Audiologist.

Your hearing is your most precious sense, trust it to an Audiologist.

Radiation and Hearing Loss?

Q: Can radiation to the head or neck lead to hearing loss?

A: Radiation is commonly used to treat patients with brain tumors or cancers on the head or neck. Because of the location of the ear, it and all of its components are often in the radiation field. Damage can occur to the outer ear, the ear canal, the ear drum and the space behind the ear drum, the cochlea, the auditory nerve and the auditory pathways.

Radiation induced hearing loss can be conductive, mixed or nerve in nature. A recent report stated that 40% of patients receiving head or neck radiation will experience acute complications to the middle ear system typically resulting in middle ear infection and Eustachian tube dysfunction. I would suggest that you have your hearing evaluated to determine if loss is due to an infection or nerve damage.

Denial of Hearing Loss

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


Gradual: A loss of hearing can develop so slowly that you're not aware of any change from year to year.


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."


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.


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 mind that because of theses characteristics, it is 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 to have an audiological evaluation.  We've never heard anyone complain if the result indicate normal hearing!