Moisture and humidity are problems for hearing aids. They can cause an aid to short in and out; have an internal static sound; or create corrosion of your battery and/or battery contacts. The solution is to get a DRI-AID KIT! It absorbs moisture from your hearing aid into a reusable container with silica crystals.

DID YOU KNOW? Noise exposure is the most common cause of hearing loss. Lawnmowers, radios, traffic noise, concerts, race cars, and so on are our ears worst enemies. Protect your hearing today or you might not have all of it in the future!

 

Question #1: I believe that I am suffering from a hearing loss. I want to go to an Audiologist but I heard somewhere that there is really no test that can prove there is hearing loss. Is that true?

Answer: It is a good idea that you decided to question this piece of advice because it is quite wrong. Hearing evaluations have been quite accurate and valid for decades. If a disease exists, an Otologist will know from the hearing tests the nature of the pathology; if the hearing loss is a consequence of aging or other non-disease origin, the Audiologist will possibly recommend amplification to best use your remaining hearing. When the Audiologist measures your hearing, there is not one, but a battery of tests done, and he or she will explain it to you at that time.

Question #2 What exactly is the range of "normal" hearing for an 82 year old? I know that hearing loss occurs as a person grows older, but on an average, if you were looking at an audiogram what would be an acceptable range of hearing loss for this age?

Answer: For a person this age, almost any degree of hearing loss can be seen. The question is not what is an acceptable range of age-related hearing loss, but how does the hearing loss affect the individual and their quality of life. An 82 year old may have an impairment from a hearing loss that is evident to the family, but is denied by the individual. Until a person is ready to accept and get treatment for a hearing impairment, there is not much an Audiologist can do. If a hearing loss is interfering with communication, then no amount of hearing loss can be considered acceptable.

Question #3 What educational requirements are needed to be an Audiologist? Exactly what is an Audiologist? What personal qualities are needed to be an Audiologist?

Answer: An Audiologist has a graduate degree, so education continues after graduation from college for another 2 years. the profession is involved with hearing health from many angles. Testing hearing is the beginning, from there, we are prepared to help people adjust to the hearing loss we've identified. This usually involves fitting people with hearing aids and other devices that will help them communicate with their family and friends. We provide counseling and rehab to help people make the most of their residual hearing. We evaluate the hearing of newborns to the elderly. Audiologists can work in various settings such as hospitals, clinic, private practices, and schools. People who become Audiologists are interested in both science and people. The two cannot be separated. The bulk of our learning is science-oriented, but its application is toward enhancing the quality of people’s lives.

Question #4 I am trying to buy a hearing aid for my mother, and I am confused about where to begin. What is the difference between an Audiologist and a hearing aid specialist?

Answer: The laws vary from state to state, but in general most hearing aid specialists have at least a high school diploma and have passed some form of state licensing exam in order to fit hearing aids. An Audiologist has at least a masters degree in the field of Audiology. They are extensively trained in the assessment and rehabilitation of individuals with a hearing impairment. Audiologists are also trained to identify those hearing losses which may be medically correctable. Although Audiologists are trained in balance disorders, hearing conservation, and many other things, the primary focus of most Audiology careers is hearing rehabilitation which include fitting and selling hearing aids. Both groups are capable of fitting hearing aids, and you are wise to educate yourself about the differences and the different levels of training. The important thing is to find an individual you feel confident has the right combination of education, training , and personal care that you desire.

Question #5 I have been told I have a sensorineural hearing loss and that this loss is "permanent" and "incurable". I have been told that I could be helped by a hearing aid, but I don't quite understand how if this loss is permanent. I do notice that I am always asking people to repeat themselves, some things I don't understand and some things I do miss altogether. Will a hearing aid help me?

Answer: What is important is that you seem to be missing a lot of speech which is critical to your ability to communicate. Your report of being able to hear but not understand is a common complaint of people with sensorineural hearing loss. It is true that a sensorineural hearing loss is permanent, but the good news is that it is very possible you can be helped by a hearing aid. Make an appointment to see an audiologist, who is best suited to explain your hearing loss to you and can help you find the right solution.

Question #6 Everything I hear with my left ear seems to be of a different pitch than my right ear. Also, sounds in my left ear sound more fuzzy and not very clear. What could be causing this?

Answer: Have you had a history of hearing loss or surgery or disease in your ears before, or is this a recent occurrence? Your age, occupation and noise exposure histories are important parts of an explanation. Have you had dizziness or felt the room to be spinning? The symptoms you describe suggest there is a difference between your ears that could be related to a fullness in your ears as part of any number of diseases that require additional study. You should see an Otologist and have your hearing evaluated as soon as possible by an Audiologist who can look for signs of any of these disease processes. The possibilities are too numerous to mention here, but do require some investigation. Good luck.

Question #7 My 92 year old grandmother is constantly complaining that nobody talks loud enough that she can hear them (especially when she is involved in a group discussion or family gathering). She has been refusing a hearing aid, but is there anything else available that could help her out?

Answer: If your grandmother is refusing hearing aids, there are other devices called Assistive Listening Devices that can be used for problems with specific situations. While Assistive Devices cannot be programmed for your grandmothers exact amount of hearing loss like a hearing aid can, they can provide a boost for sounds so that she can hear better. If she has not a least tried hearing aids, I would encourage you or someone in your family to go with her to at least talk to an Audiologist about hearing aids. At a minimum, the Audiologist can evaluate her hearing and suggest appropriate Assistive Devices if your grandmother does not want hearing aids.

Question #8 I am concerned with hearing protection. I hate loud noises. I have been using foam earplugs when I am around noisy situations, but these become uncomfortable to wear after awhile. Is it possible to get custom made earplugs? Are these expensive?

Answer: It is possible to get custom made earplugs, they will last longer than the foam earplugs and are more comfortable to wear. To get the custom earplugs, an Audiologist has to take an ear mold impression, because these are custom fit to your ears. Ears are like fingerprints, no two are alike. Also, the cost is usually around $50-$70 for a pair, which is not a lot if you can protect your ears from further hearing loss caused by noise exposure. Ear molds can be made special for musicians also, these contain a special filter to attenuate all sounds equally. This can preserve the quality of the sound while making if softer.

Question #9 I have a granddaughter diagnosed with a mild-to-moderate hearing loss. She’ s 6 years old and currently having problems with her reading and spelling skills. Where does she go for a further evaluation treatment and follow up?

Answer: I do not know who diagnosed her hearing loss, but she should probably see an Audiologist and Otologist for further evaluation and treatment. The options for treatment will depend upon what type of hearing loss your granddaughter has. Some hearing losses result from things that can be treated medically, while for other types of hearing loss the recommendation might be for a hearing aid, or possibly an assistive device that would help her in school. An Audiologist can make recommendations to here teachers for things they can do to try and minimize problems in school. The important thing is that the sooner she can get some treatment, the better.

Question #10 I have a child who is having problems with repeated ear infections, this is causing some temporary hearing loss, and she is starting to have problems with school, and hearing at home. Please share any suggestions you have in helping us as well as her teachers deal with temporary hearing losses due to ear infections and fluid in the middle ear.

Answer: The simplest solution is to make sure that the teacher has the full and undivided attention of the child. The teacher can also provide written as well as oral instructions to the child. At home, it would be helpful to mute the TV or stereo when trying to have a conversations. The key to success is to have the child’s attention and to reduce the background noise. There are also devices call FM systems that can also be used in the classroom. These devices work very well at reducing the effect of background noise on communication. Any Audiologist could show you how these can best be utilized.

Question #11 What is the frequency of occurrence of permanent hearing loss in children with recurrent ear infections?

Answer: There is no clear cut answer to that question. There is some evidence in certain studies that children with histories of middle ear fluid can develop ultra high frequency hearing loss (above 8000 Hz). The frequencies critical for understanding speech are 500-4000 Hz. However, this does not mean that all children with middle ear fluid will develop such a loss. What is clear, though, is that it will be important for your child to have routine audiologic care so that if a permanent hearing loss does develop you will be able to begin remediation as quickly as possible.

COMPILED AND ANSWERED BY: KELLY CHASTAIN, M.A. CCC-A, AUDIOLOGIST.