Hearing Aids will Change Your Life

Excessive drinking can cause loss of hearing.

Excessive alcohol consumption may affect our hearing, new research has found. While many people are aware of the obvious risks associated with binge drinking, it is not commonly known that excessive drinking can cause loss of hearing.

The Hearing Professionals explain that high alcohol consumption over a long period of time can result in damage to the central auditory cortex of the brain and may lead to brain shrinkage. As the damage to the auditory nerves adds up, even moderate drinkers may risk nerve damage and hearing loss.

Researchers from the University of Ulm in Germany tested both heavy and social drinkers’ Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEP) levels, by testing the level of damage in the part of the brain that enables one to hear. The results indicated that drinking affects the ability to hear.

The research shows that alcohol can result in brain damage, but the quantity of alcohol and the length of time needed to accomplish this remains unknown. Although the ears may continue to function perfectly, the brain is no longer able to process the sounds.

The study also shows that people who suffer from alcoholism may suffer damage within their ears.

The high levels of alcohol in the bloodstream can create a toxic environment known as ototoxicity, which can damage the delicate hair cells in the cochlea. We all know that alcohol can cause nerve and brain damage. However, this new research suggesting the link between alcohol and hearing loss is very interesting and would warrant further investigation. As people’s ability to hear reduces, it can often lead to other problems, such as less social interaction, lack of confidence, depression and irritability.

A previous British study has shown that alcohol and noise can cause temporary hearing loss. All of the participants in one study were found to have temporary hearing loss.

Researchers also believe that a regular ingestion of alcohol may lead to permanent hearing loss in the long term.

Best place to get your hearing aid fixed

If you suspect your hearing aid needs repair, take it back to the hearing care center where you purchased it, or another reputable office. Many times, hearing aids will require programming after repair.

Due to the complex circuitry in today’s hearing aids, having them repaired by the original hearing aid manufacturer is the bestoption. If your hearing aids are under warranty from the manufacturer, this can be done at a minimal charge to you, the hearing aid user.

Online or mail-order repair services may not be able to program your hearing aid back to its original settings. This can cause many problems, including difficulty in hearing, whistling and even severe feedback. It is best to return to the local office where your records, including fitting notes and hearing aid settings, are available to the provider and they can restore the hearing aid to the optimal settings for your hearing loss.

If your hearing aid is not under warranty, most manufactures will offer a 6-month or 12-month warranty with the new repair. Contact your local hearing care provider for specific charges in your particular situation.

If you have any questions about hearing loss or hearing aids, contact Hearing & Balance Associates at (850) 553-4327 or (850) 298-8407

What exactly is Sudden hearing loss?

Sudden hearing loss or sudden sensorineural hearing loss is defined by a sudden loss of hearing within a 72 hour period, resulting in greater than a 30 dB drop in hearing for at least three consecutive test frequencies.

Sudden Hearing Loss Symptoms – Sudden hearing loss most typically occurs in one ear and varies in severity from patient to patient. For some, the onset of the sudden hearing loss is reported to have been noticed instantaneously, often in the morning. Others report the onset of hearing loss occurred over a period of hours or often days.

Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) typically accompanies sudden hearing loss. Vertigo (dizziness) has also been reported to be present in roughly 40% of sudden hearing loss cases.

Sudden Hearing Loss Causes – Although the exact cause of sudden hearing loss is unknown for most people, there are many potential causes of sudden hearing loss, including viral infections, neurologic issues, metabolic and immunologic disease, toxicity, trauma to the inner ear, circulatory problems of the inner ear such as Meniere’s Disease, idiopathic (unknown) and others.

Sudden Hearing Loss Diagnosis and Treatment – People who experience a sudden loss of hearing should seek medical attention immediately from a qualified health professional.

The diagnosis of sudden hearing loss begins with having a full hearing evaluation to assess the amount of hearing loss that has occurred. Based on the audiogram and a full evaluation by a physician, the sudden hearing loss is diagnosed.

The physician may suspect possible causes based on case history and the physical evaluation. Blood work and image tests are also recommended to rule out possible medical causes.

Treatment for sudden hearing loss has been controversial and inconsistent among physicians due to the fact the cause of sudden hearing loss is often unknown. According to research presented at theAmericanAcademyof Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery Foundation meeting in 2008, there are no official guidelines or position statements regarding the evaluation and treatment of sudden hearing loss (Friedland and Shemirani, 2008).

Currently the most common forms of treatment including oral steroids and anti-viral medication prescribed typically by either a family physician or an Otolaryngologist (ENT).

Between 32% and 65% of patients who experience sudden sensorineural hearing loss will recover. Recovery is more likely to occur if the time between onset of symptoms and treatment is a short interval, vertigo is absent, a mild to moderate hearing loss, a mid-frequency / upsloping audiometric pattern, and the patient’s age is of 15-40 years old. Because the chance of recovery is greater if the hearing loss is treated early – and because a significant percentage of patients do not recover their hearing – evaluation of treatment option is critical.

What is an Acoustic Neuroma?

What is an Acoustic Neuroma? An acoustic neuroma is a tumor of the cells surrounding the nerve that transmits balance information from the inner ear to the brain. It is not malignant; that is it does not produce cells that travel to other places in the body and start additional tumors. Nonetheless, an acoustic neuroma is a problem because it slowly grows toward the brain’s hearing, breathing, and blood pressure centers and compresses them. Untreated, acoustic neuromas can create serious neurological problems and even become life-threatening.

Normal healthy nerves are covered by a layer of cells called Schwann cells which function the same way that rubber or plastic coating on electrical wires work, providing insulation and support for nerve impulses. When these cells begin to grow and multiply at an abnormal rate, an acoustic neuroma occurs. Acoustic neuromas occur in only 1 out of 100,000 people per year and they generally happen in people who are between the ages of 30 and 60.

What Causes An Acoustic Neuroma? There are no well-defined causes for an acoustic neuroma. Some studiesperformed in the past have linked the tumor with prolonged exposure to loud noise, but this has not been confirmed. Other studies have indicated there maybe a link to radiation, but again this has not been confirmed. The vast majority of tumors are sporadic, meaning there is no genetic inheritance pattern.

What Are The Symptoms Of An Acoustic Neuroma? A symptom is something the patient senses and describes, while a sign is something other people, such as a doctor, notice. For example, drowsiness may be a symptom while dilated pupils may be a sign.

The first symptoms of an acoustic neuroma include gradual hearing loss in one ear with near normal hearing in the other ear, decrease in sound discrimination, especially when talking on the telephone and ringing in the affected ear, called tinnitus. More than 80% of patients have reported tinnitus, most often a unilateral high-pitched ringing like a steam kettle.

How Are Acoustic Neuromas Diagnosed? The gold standard for diagnosing an acoustic neuroma is an MRI scan of the brain. This is often performed with the contrast material, gadolinium, which helps to define the tumor precisely. An audiogram should be performed along with the MRI to test hearing function in both ears. Finally, some patients may undergo an auditory brainstem response test. This test measures the conduction of the electrical impulses along the nerve to the brain. A defect in conduction through this nerve may suggests the presence of a tumor.

What Are The Treatment Options? There are currently three man treatment options and physicians can choose from 1) observation; 2) surgery; or 3) radiation. Left untreated, an acoustic neuroma may cause neurological problems, including facial paralysis which can lead to blindness and brain damage severe enough to cause death. An acoustic neuroma always requires specialized and prompt treatment.

Conclusion. An acoustic neuroma is a complex medical problem requiring skilled care at all stages from diagnosis to rehabilitation. The audiologists and staff at The Hearing Professionals are not medical doctors and we do not give medical advice. We are, however, in a unique position because of the large amount of testing that we do for hearing loss and we are often the first people who will notice the possibility of a medical condition or possible acoustic neuroma.

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How often should i buy hearing aids?

Patients often ask me, “Is there anything available that will work better than my current hearing aids?” Since hearing aid circuits are miniature computers and their changes parallel the advancements in computer technology, you will see marked improvements every two to three years. The leading manufacturers are focusing their research and development in the following areas:Better Fidelity – Widened bandwidth results in a cleaner, more realistic sound quality due to refinements in microphone and receiver development.

Better Understanding in Background Noise – New directional microphones have a narrowed width of focus that shuts out noises from the sides and rear.
Improved Control of Acoustic Feedback – High-resolution phase cancellation techniques create a negative waveform to eliminate the feedback immediately.
Computer Circuitry Enhancements – Faster, more intelligent microprocessors and more efficient software identify and amplify the speech you want to hear and reduce the noises you don’t need to hear.
Cosmetic Advantages – Miniaturization allows for packaging more technology into smaller hearing aids.

Connectivity – Hearing aids can connect effortlessly and wirelessly to other audio sources you use daily, such as cell phones, televisions, iPods, etc.
You’ll never know how much improvement you can experience from new technology without taking a “test drive.” I suggest you reflect on listening situations that you experience routinely and honestly assess how well you perform. Would you like to hear more clearly on the phone? Is background noise interfering with your understanding in restaurants? Does music sound as rich and full as you would like? The newest hearing aids are designed to overcome many of the obstacles that older technology could not address. Together, we should evaluate how the benefits of new hearing instruments can optimize every listening situation you encounter.