Archive for March, 2014

Hearing loss is about twice as common in people with diabetes, so the Better Hearing Institute (BHI) is urging those with diabetes to get their hearing checked and to make it a routine part of the their diabetes care and management—all in recognition of American Diabetes Association (ADA) Alert Day® on March 25. Columbia Hearing Center will also extend free hearing screenings unit Friday March 28 and we invite those who wish to participate to call and reserve their appointment.
Studies have shown that people with diabetes have a higher rate of hearing loss than people without diabetes. Although the relationship between diabetes and hearing loss is still being investigated, researchers theorize that, over time, high blood glucose levels can damage the small blood vessels and nerves of the inner ear, diminishing the ability to hear.

In a meta-analysis published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, researchers found that people with diabetes were 2.15 times as likely to have hearing loss. Surprisingly, when broken down by age, the younger group was at greater risk. The results showed that those 60 and younger with diabetes were 2.61 times more likely to have hearing loss, while the risk for those older than 60 was 1.58 times higher.

Unlike eye exams, hearing exams are often overlooked for people with diabetes, despite the reality that the vast majority of those with hearing loss can benefit from hearing aids. In fact, almost all of the 400 people who underwent hearing tests at the 2012 ADA EXPO in Portland, Oregon said they had never had a physician’s recommendation for a hearing test, yet more than half of these 400 individuals were found to have hearing loss. In addition, nearly all of them said they did not know that hearing loss is associated with diabetes.

Content provided by BHI

The predecessor to zinc air batteries for use in hearing aids were mercuric oxide batteries. These batteries contained relatively high amounts of mercury (greater than 50% by cell weight). When zinc air batteries came on the scene in the late 1970s, their superior performance and reliability quickly replaced mercuric oxide as the battery chemistry of choice.

Today, unless the package says “Mercury Free”, standard zinc air batteries still contain added mercury, about 1% by cell weight. Mercury is a good electrical conductor and its properties help suppress internal gassing. Without it, battery cells are prone to leakage or swelling

It is a common misconception that all hearing aid batteries are mercury free. This stems from the 1996 legislation that banned mercury from household alkaline batteries. At this time button cells such as hearing aid and watch batteries were exempt because technology to create a mercury free design was not available.

When mercury containing hearing aid batteries are thrown away, they decay in the landfills. Over time, the battery will start gassing and the mercury inside has a potential of leaking out. This mercury can seep into the ground contaminating drinking water and streams. People are exposed to mercury most commonly when they eat food contaminated with mercury such as fish. Over 66,000 children are born each year with risk of neuro-development issues due to mercury exposure as a fetus.

Content provided by Rayovac

In the event that you don’t already have a regular hearing aid maintenance program set up with your hearing professional, we encourage hearing aid wearers this season to learn how to clean hearing aids at home. As perhaps the smallest, yet pertinent, piece of technology used on a daily basis, hearing aids should be regularly cleaned and handled so that they can last for years.

ITE (in the ear) model

You will want to concentrate on cleaning the holes in the device. With the use of a soft-bristle hearing aid brush (a tool normally included with hearing aids when you purchase them), hold the device and brush gently over the openings. Angle the rush downward so any particles will fall on the ground instead of inside the holes. Then, use a short wax loop (a tool also included with your hearing aids) to gently scoop out any remaining wax in the holes. Finish by wiping the device with a clean, dry tissue.

BTE (behind the ear) model

Cleaning this type of device is similar, but there are more components to be aware of. The earmold should be removed and cleaned in soapy water, and the battery should be taken out of its compartment. Then, you can use the same cleaning techniques as you would for the ITE model with a short hearing aid brush and wax loop to clean the rest of the instrument.

Avoid contact with harsh products

You should avoid using any hair products while a hearing aid is in use, as this can create a sticky surface and increase accumulation of dust and debris buildup over the faceplate as well as over the delicate microphones. These products can also cause damage to the plastic, volume control or program control of the hearing aids. Before using any body products, including face washes and creams, it’s best to remove your hearing aids and place them in a safe, dry location.

Content provided by Healthy Hearing