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New technologies improve life for those with hearing loss
Hearing trouble affects 17 percent of adults or roughly 51 million people, according to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey. In comparison, vision problems occur in 10 percent of adults. Most people lose their hearing slowly - over 15-20 years. "Their whole world 'tunes down.' To them, their world hasn't changed. People are mumbling or don't speak up. They don't recognize that it's their hearing," describes Teresa Robinson, hearing aid specialist for Audibel. "Usually they go about 10 years longer than they should. Most of the time it's the family members urging them to come in because they're tired of repeating themselves, or it's causing a personal safety issue - they can't hear a car coming or the doorbell," continues Robinson. People with hearing loss have trouble discriminating speech, says Dr. Nick Tarasidis, an otolaryngologist and partner in Virginia Ear, Nose and Throat Associates. "They will describe having trouble - particularly hearing women's and children's voices because they are in the high frequency range," explains Tarasidis. Tinnitus or ringing in the ears is also a first sign. A hearing test may indicate high-frequency hearing loss. Repeated exposure to noise levels over 85 decibels (dB) can cause hearing loss, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Noises over that level include power lawnmowers, chain saws, ambulance sirens and gunshots. A whisper usually comes in at 30 dB while normal conversation is around 60 dB. Raised on rock 'n roll Like former President Bill Clinton, who started wearing hearing aids at age 51, more Americans are suffering from hearing loss at an earlier age. Hearing loss is becoming more of an issue as baby boomers come of age. "When we were young, we were listening to rock 'n roll music, mowing the lawns and exposing ourselves to loud noises. No one really thought about protecting their ears," admits Tarasidis. Vanity is the primary reason many adults do not get hearing aids, he believes. A baby boomer herself, Robinson believes they are sensitive to looking older. She adds, "Baby boomers are totally different than our depression-era customers. Baby boomers are Internet shoppers. They come in with a lot of information, have a lot of questions and are more interested in digital technology." Fear factor "Pursuing an audiologist is foreign to most people. They don't know where to go. Our field is one in which people seek referrals from friends or physicians rather than shopping around," explains Jean Couchman, audiologist/hearing aid specialist and owner of Hearing Solutions. Start with having your hearing evaluated. For most people, the test is covered under health insurance. Once you discover your results and needs, gather information about what type of amplification is appropriate. "The process is daunting to many people because of the numbers on the graph and the latest technology," adds Couchman. She encourages patients to ask questions and learn about what is available. "There are so many different models and features." Robinson agrees, "We encourage people to bring family members with them to review the test results, options and benefits of the different products." Tarasidis says most adults get their diagnosis and protest, 'My hearing is not that big of a problem,' and they don't do anything about it. "That is my opportunity to educate. I explain to them that the loss is noise-induced and to please protect their hearing. I explain what noise is - most folks don't realize that using a weed-eater or leaf blower is significant noise." After the initial evaluation, Tarasidis recommends rechecking adults on an annual basis to see if there are any changes. "I'm often asked, 'Is my hearing going to deteriorate?' It is hard to answer. I respond that if you continue to expose yourself to noisy environments, that you will lose your hearing." Digital is in, analog is out Much like the switch from analog to digital television, hearing aids have gone digital while analog has become obsolete. The most popular style of digital hearing aid is called open ear or slim fit. The actual device sits behind the ear, but it is not the old-fashioned hearing aid that your grandfather wore, says Valerie Moore, clinical audiologist with Virginia Ear, Nose and Throat Associates. "It has cosmetic appeal and is a lot smaller and discrete," she adds. Not one hearing aid fits all. Most hearing aid distributors represent more than one manufacturer, even those companies that carry their own line. "All the manufacturers have good hearing aids. We all have access to the same components and chips. The differences in the products are in the features and software," Robinson explains. Hearing aid fitting is an art, she adds. "Everybody does the same test and can select the same products. The difference is in the way the specialist programs the products." Couchman emphasizes, "Service is key. Your fitting, follow-up and maintenance are considerations that will help you reap the benefits." The goal of the hearing aid is not to eliminate the noise, but to keep the speech louder than the noise, meaning the speech will be audible even in the presence of noise. The limiting factor in current hearing aid design is battery drainage. The cost of hearing aids can also drain your budget. Digital hearing aids have dropped in price; now you can buy a digital set for essentially the same cost as analog, says Couchman. They range in price from $800 to $2,800 per ear, depending on the brand. Most have a limited warranty, and the majority of practices do not charge for cleaning, checking and adjusting their hearing aid products. First Bluetooth, next Blueear? The next generation of hearing aids couples wireless technology and amplification. Using Bluetooth technology, the hearing aids act as wireless "headphones" for your cell phone or music player. Couchman details, "The sound goes directly into the hearing aids. Instead of hearing through one ear, like a hands-free earpiece, you hear binaurally or through both ears." The design is more natural - the hearing aids talk to each other like our ears do. They adjust by taking your head into consideration and give you a surround sound-type of listening. Nanotechnology is also on the threshold. "Some manufacturers take 2-5 years to develop a chip. They have miniaturized the technology so now the chips are as big as a pin head. They layer them so they can put more technology on a smaller space. It makes it more expensive to develop," says Couchman. She adds, "We have patients who believe their hearing aids are failing because they can't hear in a certain situation. With enhancements in technology, we are able to address a vast majority of hearing problems that previously could not be helped." Couchman's assistant, Alison Swaney, describes an elderly patient who had been told 20 years ago that nothing could help his hearing. "After we fit him with some hearing aids, he sat and cried because he hadn't heard like that in 20 years. It was very emotional. It amazed me that for 20 years this man did nothing and within two weeks, he was like a child getting the best toy ever." For more information on hearing loss: |
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Fall & Winter Guide 2008-09
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