Archive for August, 2011

If you have hearing loss in both ears, then you are most likely a candidate for two hearing aids. Similar to the way refractory problems in both eyes are treated with a pair of glasses, it makes sense that bilateral hearing loss should be treated with two hearing aids.  Here are just a few reasons why.

• Better understanding of speech. By wearing two hearing aids rather than one, your brain can more easily focus on the conversation you want to hear.  This is particularly true in noisy situations.
• Wider hearing range. A person can hear sounds from a further distance with two ears, rather than one. A voice that’s barely heard at 10 feet with one ear can be heard up to 40 feet with two ears.
• Better localization. With binaural hearing, you will better detect where sounds are coming from in every situation.
• Similar to having a lazy eye, you can develop a lazy ear. Research has shown that when only one hearing aid is worn, the unaided ear tends to lose its speech understanding ability. This is clinically called the auditory deprivation effect. Wearing two hearing aids keeps both ears active.
• Tinnitus Masking. About 50% of people with ringing in their ears report improvement when wearing hearing aids. If a person with tinnitus wears a hearing aid in only one ear, there will still be ringing in the ear that does not have a hearing aid.

Content provided by BHI

If you have hearing loss in both ears, then you are most likely a candidate for two hearing aids. Similar to the way refractory problems in both eyes are treated with a pair of glasses, it makes sense that bilateral hearing loss should be treated with two hearing aids. Here are just a few reasons why.
•Better understanding of speech. By wearing two hearing aids rather than one, your brain can more easily focus on the conversation you want to hear. This is particularly true in noisy situations.
•Wider hearing range. A person can hear sounds from a further distance with two ears, rather than one. A voice that’s barely heard at 10 feet with one ear can be heard up to 40 feet with two ears.
•Better localization. With binaural hearing, you will better detect where sounds are coming from in every situation.
•Similar to having a lazy eye, you can develop a lazy ear. Research has shown that when only one hearing aid is worn, the unaided ear tends to lose its speech understanding ability. This is clinically called the auditory deprivation effect. Wearing two hearing aids keeps both ears active.
•Tinnitus Masking. About 50% of people with ringing in their ears report improvement when wearing hearing aids. If a person with tinnitus wears a hearing aid in only one ear, there will still be ringing in the ear that does not have a hearing aid.

Buffalo, NY – State University of New York at Buffalo (UB) researchers are highlighting a new drug therapy that eliminates tinnitus with a single dose in animal models, as well as other advances, at the Fifth Tinnitus Research Initiative Conference.

Sponsored in part by UB’s Center for Hearing and Deafness, the reportedly sold-out conference is titled “The Neuroscience of Tinnitus,” and is being held August 19-21 in Grand Island, NY.

A UB press release stated that top tinnitus researchers and clinicians from the United States, Europe, Canada, and Asia will attend the conference, which is co-sponsored by the Tinnitus Research Initiative at the University of Regensburg, Germany.

Edward Lobarinas, PhD, assistant research professor of communicative disorders and sciences, will present work showing that two potassium ion channel modulators, called Maxipost and R-Maxipost, completely eliminated behavioral evidence of tinnitus in animals with drug-induced tinnitus. However, further research is needed to determine if these compounds suppress other forms of tinnitus.

Content provided by HearingReview

There is strong evidence that hearing impairment contributes to the progression of cognitive dysfunction in older adults. Unmanaged hearing loss can interrupt the cognitive processing of spoken language and sound, regardless of other coexisting conditions. But when an individual has both Alzheimer’s and hearing loss, many of the symptoms of hearing loss can interact with those common to Alzheimer’s, making the disease more difficult than it might be if the hearing loss had been addressed.

Numerous studies have linked untreated hearing loss to a wide range of physical and emotional conditions, including impaired memory and ability to learn new tasks, reduced alertness, increased risk to personal safety, irritability, negativism, anger, fatigue, tension, stress, depression, and diminished psychological and overall health.

Studies also have shown that although a significantly higher percentage of patients with Alzheimer’s disease may have more hearing loss than their normally aging peers, they are much less likely to receive attention for their hearing needs.

Executive director of Better Hearing Institute Sergei Kochkin states, “A comprehensive hearing assessment should be part of any Alzheimer’s diagnosis.  Most hearing loss can be managed with hearing aids. By addressing hearing loss, we can help improve quality-of-life for people with Alzheimer’s so they can live as fully as possible.”

Content provided by BHI

People with untreated hearing loss lose as much as $30,000 in income annually, depending on their degree of hearing loss. The cost to society is estimated at $26 billion each year in unrealized federal taxes. To those with unaided hearing loss, the yearly cost is estimated at $176 billion. However, in a recent study, the use of hearing aids was shown to reduce the risk of income loss by 90 to 100 percent for those with milder hearing loss, and from 65 to 77 percent for those with severe to moderate hearing loss. What’s more, hearing aid use was shown to reduce unemployment among hearing aid users.

Did you know that 34 million people in the US suffer from hearing loss? And those who seek hearing amplification after learning that they have a loss waited on average seven years before getting help. If you or someone you know suffers from hearing loss, then please give us a call for a free hearing consultation.

Make your voice heard. Go to www.hearingaidtaxcredit.org to support legislation that provides up to a $1000 tax credit for two hearing aids

Content provided by BHI

There is strong evidence that hearing impairment contributes to the progression of cognitive dysfunction in older adults. Unmanaged hearing loss can interrupt the cognitive processing of spoken language and sound, regardless of other coexisting conditions. But when an individual has both Alzheimer’s and hearing loss, many of the symptoms of hearing loss can interact with those common to Alzheimer’s, making the disease more difficult than it might be if the hearing loss had been addressed.

Numerous studies have linked untreated hearing loss to a wide range of physical and emotional conditions, including impaired memory and ability to learn new tasks, reduced alertness, increased risk to personal safety, irritability, negativism, anger, fatigue, tension, stress, depression, and diminished psychological and overall health.

Studies also have shown that although a significantly higher percentage of patients with Alzheimer’s disease may have more hearing loss than their normally aging peers, they are much less likely to receive attention for their hearing needs.

Executive director of Better Hearing Institute Sergei Kochkin states, “A comprehensive hearing assessment should be part of any Alzheimer’s diagnosis.  Most hearing loss can be managed with hearing aids. By addressing hearing loss, we can help improve quality-of-life for people with Alzheimer’s so they can live as fully as possible.”

Content provided by BHI

Moisture is a natural enemy to electronic devices. A useful tool in keeping moisture from being a problem is regular use of a dehumidifier. Commercial versions are available and very reasonably priced. The device is simply a container for your hearing aids with built-in, moisture-absorbing chemical beads. The hearing aids are placed in the container anytime they’re not being worn. The beads absorb accumulated moisture and leave the hearing aids dry. The beads eventually become saturated with moisture and many types can be recharged by heating them in a warm oven. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Did you know that 34 million people in the US suffer from hearing loss?  And those who seek hearing amplification after learning that they have a loss waited on average seven years before getting help.  If you or someone you know suffers from hearing loss, then please give us a call for a free hearing consultation.

Make your voice heard.  Go to www.hearingaidtaxcredit.org to support legislation that provides up to a $1000 tax credit for two hearing aids

Content provided by Better Hearing Institute