How can noise cause hearing loss?

We hear sounds everyday, sounds like those of traffic, television, radio and other surroundings. Usually we hear these sounds at very controlled volumes so that it’s comfortable for our ears to receive it. But when the sound is too loud or a loud sound is played for too long, sensitive parts of our ears are exposed to these sounds, which damage them, thus causing Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL), one of the more common types of hearing loss found in the modern world.

These harmful sounds, which are called noise, harm hair cells present in our ears. Hair cells are responsible for converting sound
energy into electrical energy, which is then sent to the brain. These hair cells are very sensitive and once damaged cannot grow back again.
The cause can be exposure to either a very impulsive sound such as an explosion, which has hard-hitting effect, or continuous exposure to loud sounds over a period of time, such as noise generated in mining and woodworking areas. To understand the nature of the sounds, which cause NIHL, we need to understand the nature of sound. Sound is measured in decibels. The noise from a refrigerator is about 45 decibels, an average conversation is about 60 decibels and heavy traffic noise can go up to 90 decibels. According to a study, sound of more than 75 decibels can cause NIHL. Sound such as that of a lawnmower, motorcycle or hedge cutter / trimmer, which come in the range of 120 – 150 decibels, are known to cause NIHL. Sounds which are less than 75 decibels, even after a long exposure does not hold a threat.
Exposure to such sounds not only cause damage to the hair cells but also damages auditory organs of the ear. The subtlest effect of

NIHL is the occurrence of tinnitus – a ringing, buzzing or roaring in the ears – which might become sever with time. And this may occur in one or both ears together.

Another side effect of NIHL is temporary occurrence of hearing loss. If a person regains hearing after a certain time, it is called a temporary threshold shift, which means in most cases disappears within 12-38 hours of occurrence.
The symptoms are not very clear and one has to observe with time as they increase gradually. With time the person starts hearing distorted and muffled sounds and might find it hard to interpret speech. In some cases the affected might not even realize. The best method is to conduct a hearing test.
As this is a hearing loss disorder there is no specific age of the affected people. Sports and recreational activities such as shooting,
hunting, woodworking or other activities such as standing too close to speakers in a concert or performing in a live band might also cause NIHL.

NIHL’s prevention and cure are sorely dependent upon how careful an individual is. People should have good hearing habits in their everyday life so as to have a healthy live. Some of the precautions that can be taken are:

• One should know which noises cause it
• One should be alert to such noises
• One should wear earplugs and other safety equipment while visiting areas with higher noise exposure risks
• Spread the awareness to others

If you have any questions about Noise Induced Hearing Loss or any aspect of hearing loss, CALL US (850)553-4327)

What a wonderful month!  Beautiful weather and working with so many patients to help them reconnect with their family and friends through better hearing.  Audiology is very rewarding work.  Thank you to all of my wonderful patients!

Finding the right Audiologist as important as finding the right hearing aid.

I've received quite a few emails from people asking what the best hearing aid is, and it’s a great question to ask. But just as important – and maybe even more important – is finding the best audiologist to fit that hearing aid.

When you purchase a new hearing aid you’re not only buying the device itself, but you’re also paying for the audiologist’s time as well. You’re paying for the audiologist to test your hearing and fit your new device as well as for follow-up visits in order to make adjustments to the new sounds that you’re hearing. With some devices (mainly entry level) the audiologist’s time may be more expensive than the actual piece of plastic that you’re putting into your ear.

You can buy the most expensive hearing aid in the world and get little benefit from it if you don’t have an audiologist who is prepared to take the time – and who has the knowledge – to properly adjust it to your own personal needs. All modern digital hearing aids have a vast array of settings and can be programmed to sound completely different for each person. Of course, your audiologist needs to program it to compensate for your loss, but most hearing aids have several programs which can be set for different types of listening environments, such as being in a noisy restaurant, listening to music or on a telephone.

Once you’ve been fit with your new hearing aids, don’t be afraid to go back for additional follow-up visits. You might get lucky and walk out after the first visit and be quite pleased with your purchase. However, getting used to wearing new hearing aids can be tough and if this is your first pair of hearing aids, getting used to them can take several weeks to months – not a few hours or days.

A few guidelines for choosing the right audiologist:

Convenience – Look for an audiologist who is conveniently located. The last thing you want to do when you need help is to drive a long distance just for an appointment.

Trust – You’re investing a lot of time and money into your new purchase so you want to make sure that you trust the audiologist who you’ll be working with.

Experience – This may be one of the most important items to look for. Common sense tells you to find professionals who are experienced in their field and finding an experienced audiologist is just as important. Fine tuning a hearing aid to can be just as much of an art as it is a science. Look for someone who has at least 5-10 years of experience dispensing.

Knowledge of Product – You can choose the best product on the market, but unless your audiologist has a good working knowledge of the product, you’re going to be out of luck. Don’t be afraid to ask the audiologist how many of the devices that you’re looking at have they dispensed.

Product Mix – Look for an audiologist who offers hearing aids from several manufacturers. Yes, most manufacturers offer a broad range of hearing instruments to fit most everyone’s needs. But there isn’t one manufacturer who has the right hearing aids for everyone. You wouldn’t go to a grocery store that only sells one brand of food, right? So why go to an audiologist who only sells one brand of hearing aids?

Before you find the “right” hearing aid, you need to find the “right” audiologist. Remember our tips and you shouldn’t have any problems. But always remember, if you ever have any questions, CALL US (850) 553-4327 or EMAIL US tallhba@yahoo.com. We’re always here to help!

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How Does My Hearing Aid Work?

On a basic level, all hearing aids are small amplifiers. With today’s digital technology, this amplification can be finely manipulated to suit a patient’s hearing loss and needs. There are 3 main parts to every analog and digital aid: a microphone, receiver (small loudspeaker), and battery.

Sound first enters the aid through the microphone on the outer casing. On in-the-ear styles, the microphones are typically located beside the battery door. On behind-the-ear styles, the microphones are typically located above the battery door. The acoustic input is converted into an electric signal, amplified, and then converted back to an acoustic signal. The receiver then plays the amplified sound back to your ear. A very small button like zinc-air battery will power the aid, allowing the parts to function to perform this process. Digital aids also have a computer chip that converts the incoming signal into digital codes that can be very specifically manipulated to allow complete user customization.

While these aids are becoming more and more sophisticated, they are still a form of amplifier and cannot restore hearing to normal. Patients may need time to adjust to the “new” sounds they are hearing. Many people lose their hearing so gradually; they do not realize all of the daily everyday sounds they have lost. Ice clinking in a glass, the hum of a computer, or the noise of the road as you drive may seem suddenly loud or bothersome. Over time with consistent wearing, the brain will acclimate to these sounds and perception of benefit should increase! Most people will notice instant benefit with one-on-one communication and increased ease of daily listening. 

It is also very important to note that aids will probably improve large group listening situations, but that in larger, noisier situations listening may still be difficult. It is good to remember that when a large amount of background noise is occurring, even persons with normal hearing will have greater difficulty communicating. Modern digital aids do help to reduce the amplification of background noise, but cannot remove them entirely. Digital hearing instruments understand what is speech-like and noise-like, but cannot determine definitely the difference in speech and noise. Noise tends to be more steady, static, and unchanging (e.g., a fan running). Speech tends to be more varied and changing over time. More static sounds will be recognized as noise and amplification will be reduced for those sounds. However, when you are at an event where many people are talking in the background, the aid may not be able to pick up the difference in speech and noise and will reduce the background much less. When this occurs, other adjustments may be necessary to improve your listening experience. Speak with your hearing healthcare professional about how your hearing aids can help you!  

Digital hearing aids – Hearing Your future!

Digital hearing aids can be the key to hearing your future! Digital technologies have taken the world and the field of hearing aids by storm. Gone are the days of analog equipment, and in are they days of computer programmability. With today’s technology, very specific individual programming can be completed to customize your hearing to best suit your hearing impairment, desires, and lifestyle needs. Digital options are also easily made smaller and sleeker than older analog equipment.

Analog hearing aids once were the only available option to those with hearing loss. In very simple terms, analog aids are amplifiers. Taking in the sound, and outputting it louder. Over time, some adjustments were made available to do some general custom changes to loudness and pitch, but very specific, precise adjustments were nearly impossible. With analog aids, what you put in (for the most part)…is what you got out, only louder. That meant that background noise and feedback (whistling) were big issues.

Digital hearing instruments have vastly improved the hearing experience. Using modern computer processing, digital aids convert sound into coded signals that are readily altered to fit the needs of the user. Algorithms have also been created to process the incoming sound to amplify less noise and to prevent bothersome feedback issues. A pleasant listening experience can be achieved through this improved sound quality.

If you are currently a user of analog aids or you have yet to purchase hearing aids, consider your digital options. Your hearing future is at stake! Ask your hearing healthcare provider about purchasing digital hearing aids today!