Archive for the ‘Blog’ Category

“I only need to wear my hearing aids when I go out” is one of the worst things you can think or do for yourself once you have made the decision to wear hearing aids. The majority of our hearing is done in the brain and not with our ears. This is why it is so important to consistently expose the brain to sound through the use of hearing aids. The ears pick up sound and deliver it to the brain. When hearing loss is present the brain is deprived of sound at a normal level (auditory deprivation). This becomes “normal hearing” to the person with hearing loss but it is not normal hearing. The brain needs to be consistently exposed to sounds at normal levels to put them into different categories as it once did.

Some people with hearing loss feel that their hearing is fine while they are at home or that they do not need to hear while reading the paper or watching television. They feel it is not important to hear the furnace or air conditioning running, footsteps on the floor, people moving around in the house, etc. Actually, it is very important to hear these subtle sounds. As you hear more amplified sounds you build a tolerance to the louder volume levels of sound which helps the amplified sounds seem more natural. More exposure leads to optimal performance with hearing aids. This is all done by the brain automatically without people being aware that it is happening.

Hearing loss may be more noticeable when you are in more demanding listening environments but the loss is always there. If a hearing aid wearer only wears the hearing aids occasionally, the brain has no idea what to do with all of this newly introduced noise and stimuli. This can be overwhelming and cause people to reject their hearing aids saying, “All I hear is noise”. If sound is introduced on a regular basis by wearing the hearing aids consistently, it will be more acceptable when background noise is introduced.

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Last summer, an older relative of mine agreed to get her hearing checked.  She was accompanied by her sister, and after the appointment, I asked how it went.  I was expecting to hear all about her diagnosis and then recommendations for hearing help, but instead I got this report:

The audiologist asked the patient, “Who do you communicate most with?”  The patient replied with a nod toward her sister, “She and I have communicated nonstop for more than 80 years!” The audiologist laughed and told the sister, “Well, then you need to be part of this appointment.”

In addition to the usual testing methods, the audiologist asked the sister to say ordinary sentences and words while standing behind the patient, to simulate a typical communication challenge.  The patient struggled to repeat what she heard/didn’t hear and became a bit upset. The sister empathized: it’s been this way for awhile now. The patient might not have been very receptive to hearing help before, but her sister’s participation in the process made an impression: If hearing loss is interfering with “sister-ness,” then something needs to be done.

You may have already figured it out: the patient is my aunt, and her sister is my mother.  They live far away, so it meant the world to me to learn that their audiologist valued family input, and in fact actively applied it to her patient care.  It seems like such an obvious thing to do, but recent studies indicate that families are not always included in the conversation, much less the testing process.  More thoughts on this “growth opportunity,” and the evidence supporting it, can be found here.  If audiology care is not family-centered, then something needs to be done, yes?

Have you had a family member join you at your hearing appointments? How has it made a difference?

From April 7th, 2017

Today is World Health Day, a day each year in which the World Health Organization (WHO) brings awareness to a specific health topic. This year WHO is focusing on spreading awareness about depression and mental health.

You might be wondering, how is hearing loss related to depression?

There is a connection between depression and hearing loss that is important to be mindful of. 

More than 11 percent of those with hearing loss also suffered from depression, according to a study by the Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.

“More than 11 percent of those with hearing loss also suffered from depression”

Where does the depression stem from? There are many factors that could contribute to depression. When a person has hearing loss, they often have trouble communicating in social situations, which can lead to social isolation. I think most people with hearing loss can relate to that feeling when you just can’t hear a person speaking, but everyone else can. It can make you feel left out or defeated.

Hearing is a sense we often take for granted, so when we are deprived of it, we experience the effects physically and mentally.

By educating people on depression, WHO can encourage others to talk about what they feel and take action to work to overcome negative feelings. It is also a great time to shed light on the links between depression and hearing loss.

There are ways to defeat depression caused or linked to have hearing loss.

3 tips to deal with hearing loss and depression

Visit a Hearing Care Professional

If a close friend or family member is impacted, try suggesting they visit their hearing care professional. You may even offer to go with them. If you have a hearing loss, set up an appointment with your hearing care professional and ask someone you trust to go with you. Sharing the experience of going to the audiologist with a person you trust may help you feel more comfortable and supported when communicating with your hearing care professional about your hearing health. Your hearing care professional can then offer guidance on how to improve your or your family member’s situation.

Read more: Why you should bring family or a friend to your audiology appointment

Explore Different Modes of Communication

When you have hearing loss, there are different options for modes of communication. If you wear hearing technology, there is more that you can do than just wearing it and entering different hearing environments. There is also hearing rehab. Whether you have worn hearing technology for years or are new to it, hearing rehab can help train your brain to use your hearing technology and improve upon problem hearing areas.

Sign language is another mode of communication. Sign language is a beautiful language and there are many opportunities to learn sign language. People use sign language as their primary language, but sign language can also be used in addition to English or another language.

Be a part of the community

The deaf and hard of hearing community is strong and full of support. There are plenty opportunities to be a part of this community whether it is online or a local community. Being a part of a community opens up the door for conversation and bonding that is truly unique for anyone who has hearing loss. Examples of an online community are the HearingLikeMe.com form, the monthly Twitter chat called #hearinglosshour, and any of Phonak’s social media communities – including Instagram and Facebook. I recently have joined both the Hearing Like Me and Twitter communities and have been able to connect with many people like me around the world and learn more about hearing loss to help me navigate through obstacles.

Finding other community events can be as simple as doing a quick Google search. You never know what you may stumble across!

Living with hearing loss doesn’t have to limit you in any way. If you are feeling down or discouraged, remember that you’re not alone. There is plenty of support out there for you.

In honor of World Health Day, join me in taking time today to spread awareness about the connection between hearing loss and depression. I also encourage you to support others as they go through their hearing journey.

Imagine your car breaking down on the side of a busy road in the dark, when your phone is low on battery and texting is your only means of communication due to hearing loss…

That’s exactly what happened with me a few months ago!

As you may know, I’m a fairly new driver and passed my driving test back in October, and I brought myself a lovely, little, used Fiat 500, which I call, ‘Bella.’

The breakdown

I was driving home one day from the city – along a busy, single carriageway on a dark, winter’s night – when something just didn’t feel right with Bella. I pulled over on the side of the road, in a layby, and thought I’d forgotten how to drive! When I started Bella up again I ensured I got the clutch and gears right, but it still felt really bumpy. I kept driving about a mile or so, but Bella gradually got slower and slower…. until eventually I had to stop.

This all happened during rush hour, so I had to figure out how to safely exit the car. I kept all eyes on the road and leapt onto the grass verge. Then I saw the problem. A lovely flat tire with a missing wheel trim! I grumbled as I thought to myself how I could not realize it! Guess that’s something they don’t prepare you for in driving lessons…

Communication difficulties

It was freezing, so I quickly texted my Mum. I was trying to text her the car breakdown number that I was given, when I realized I had 30% battery left. My Dad was working an hour away, and luckily my Mum was at home. She was concerned because of the time it takes for texts to get through, and in a situation like that, every minute counts.

She was able to contact a friend to drive out to fix Bella’s tire. In the meantime, my Mum was trying to get hold of the Breakdown company on my behalf, who weren’t replying to either of the numbers. All the wile, she was trying to reassure and comfort me over text message. Eventually, my Mum’s friend managed to replace the flat tire with the spare one and I was able to drive home.

I wasn’t even covered!

When I got home, I explained all the frustrations to my Dad as to why the breakdown company didn’t reply to me, then my Mum relayed that the insurance company said the policy was out of date and I wasn’t even covered! She tried to contact the garage, but they were about to close for the day. The next day, the garage explained it all and revealed that my breakdown cover wasn’t due to start until a year or so later, which it was the first we’d heard of it. Ridiculous!

My Dad complained and tried to explain to both the garage and the breakdown company about how a complex situation like that needs to be easily accessible for me. Do you know how frightening it is for a young, deaf girl in a broken-down car on the side of a road at night to not know if someone is coming to the rescue? It could have unthinkable consequences.

“Do you know how frightening it is for a young, deaf girl in a broken-down car on the side of a road at night to not know if someone is coming to the rescue?”

My emergency roadside advice for deaf drivers

Obviously, being a new driver with a hearing loss, and as someone with little knowledge about car mechanics, it was quite a frightening experience for me. I don’t want any other deaf person to go through it. So, here is my advice for someone who may face a similar situation.

1. Plan ahead. When looking into breakdown insurance coverage, review how you can get in touch with them. Ensure there are different contact methods suitable for your hearing loss (i.e. text/email/Whatsapp or phone calls). Determine how you can contact the right personnel, and make sure that they will come to your assistance when needed.
2. Do a test. If your insurance or emergency roadside service provides contact information, test the numbers! Consider doing the test late at night, as you could breakdown at any time. Explain that you are deaf and you’re just trying the number out to see if they respond and how quickly.
3. Bring a backup phone charger. Always make sure your phone has a full battery. I’ve learnt my lesson on that!
4. “Listen” to your car. If you feel like your car is acting differently, pay attention. Don’t drive for a mile with a bumpy car as I did. Pull over safely straight away!

Hearing Like Me contributor Ellen Parfitt:

Ellie was born profoundly deaf, but it hasn’t prevented her from achieving major accomplishments in her life, such as finishing her education, working as a Marketing Executive for a Spa & Health Club company, Pool Lifeguard, Events and Promotions Staff and Girlguide leader.
She is passionate about deaf awareness, campaigning and writing for her personal blog as Deafie Blogger.

As a professional musician, I have been involved in many a discussion with friends and colleagues about the issue of noise induced hearing loss. 

For one, people simply don’t consider that it could happen to them. Another reason is the belief that earplugs distort sound, giving musicians a rather unpleasant experience.

But the big problem is that when noise-induced hearing loss occurs, it is often too late, irreversible and, if a significant loss, can be life-altering.

I believe this lack of education to be the biggest contributing factor in musicians’ seeming apathy towards their hearing health.

Read more: Rock Singer’s Hearing Loss is an Important Moment for Change

Another reason is the belief that earplugs distort sound, giving musicians a rather unpleasant experience. While such distortion occurs from standard foam or wax earplugs, a range of specialist attenuated musicians’ earplugs are available for a cheap price (sometimes as little as £10) online and in high street music shops. Of course, bespoke products can also be purchased from independent providers as well as places such as Specsavers. However, Help Musicians UK is currently offering the Musicians’ Hearing Health Scheme to encourage professionals in the occupation to take better care of their hearing. The scheme costs just £40 (or £30 for MU members), and comes with over £200 worth of benefits, including a specialist hearing assessment and, crucially, custom-made hearing protection. This is an excellent scheme and one which I encourage all UK-based professional musicians to join.

Disappointingly, during my three years at university, only one session was dedicated to this important topic, and I know that other universities and conservatoires aren’t much better despite many students being exposed to dangerously high noise levels – sometimes in excess of 100dB – for several hours a day.

Education is the most powerful tool, which is why I will continue to strive to improve awareness about sound levels and hearing protection in the profession.

Read more: 10 Tips to Protect Your Hearing

Will you join me?

Hearing aids aren’t something to hide. With the sleek designs and fun colors of today’s hearing aids, users are able to show off their personality through their hearing aids.

Decorated hearing aids and accessories are all the rage, but the hottest new trend: custom hearing aid ear molds. 

Mike Sonnenberg, a 27-year-old hearing care professional in Germany, is a master at making custom ear molds, which he shows off on his Instagram account.

He says his goal is to make ear molds as beautiful and fashionable as possible so people are proud to show them off – whether they have hearing loss or not.

“It will be great once this negative perception regarding hearing aids no longer exists.”

“A super-designed hearing aid simply needs a super-designed ear mold that fits,” says Sonnenberg. “Eyeglasses are available in all possible colors and shapes, so why not the ear pieces? It will be great once this negative perception regarding hearing aids no longer exists. People can even wear these ear molds as jewelry, even if they do not need hearing aids.”

Sonnenberg says he creates the ear molds by sculpting them based on a person’s individual ear, personality and needs.

“I tend to deviate from the standard,” he says. “Traditional earmolds that are still manufactured how they were 50 years ago just don’t fit with the sleek designs of today’s hearing technology.”

Read more: Why I decorate my hearing aids

Glitter ear molds and ones swirled with multiple colors have also been popular recently, among adults and children.

If you’d like a custom ear mold for your hearing aids, Sonnenberg suggests talking to your audiologist or hearing care professional. Even if they can’t provide something similar to his unique designs, they should be able to provide color or glitter options.

“If you need hearing aids, why not use it as an opportunity to show off your individuality and pride,” he says. “Besides, not everyone can pull off such a great look.”

A new study on the epidemiology of firearm and other noise exposures in the United States shows lawnmowers and guns are putting Americans at an increased risk for hearing loss.

Firearms and lawnmowers, specifically, produce deafening levels of noise, and very few users are wearing hearing protection while using these items.

“When exposed to recreational “loud/very loud” noise, only 11.4 percent always used hearing protection, whereas 62.3 percent, or 6.3 million people never used any protection,” according to the study, which was published in “The Laryngoscope,” a medical journal in the field of otolaryngology.

Lawnmowers produce a sound level of around 90dBA, but are often used over a longer period of time. A shotgun can measure in at over 160 dBA in a quick burst of deafening sound.

Any sound above 85dB can cause hearing loss after approximately eight hours of continuous exposure. However, if the noise level is 100dB, one’s hearing could be damaged in as little as 15 minutes, according to the Hear the World Foundation.

Hearing Loss and Gun Use

In January, the Hearing Protection Act, was introduced on Capitol Hill to make purchasing a suppressor – a device attached to the barrel of a firearm that reduces the noise generated by firing  – as easy as buying a rifle.

The bill would amend the federal criminal code to preempt state or local laws that tax or regulate firearm silencers.

According to  the study, 7.4 million people say they never used hearing protection when using firearms.

“Lifetime exposure to firearm noise was reported by 36.6 percent of adults, 11.5 percent of whom had used firearms in the prior 12 months.  Of those, only 58.5 percent always used hearing protection, whereas 21.4 percent never used hearing protection.”

Noise related hearing loss for military personnel is also an issue, as more than 1.9 million American veterans a service-related hearing disability, according to the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

Read more: An Invisible Injury: Hearing Loss among US Veterans

Protecting your hearing

To protect your hearing while mowing the lawn, or at the gun range, it’s a good idea to get some form of ear protection such as ear defenders or ear plugs. Additionally, it is recommended to take acoustic breaks and switch off all sources of noise after being in loud environments or using loud machinery.

“It is not only our hearing that suffers from noise,” according to Hear the World.  “Even low noise levels can trigger the release of stress hormones, leading to increased blood pressure. This in turn can lead to aggressive behavior and tensions in interactions with other people, as well as an increased risk of stroke, heart attack and tinnitus. Unwanted sources of noise also prevent relaxation, recovery and sleep and impair concentration and performance, particularly in children.”

If we want to enjoy the sounds of life it’s time we be more active to protect our ears. Make these 10 Small Changes  to Save Your Hearing.

Are you hearing? If yes, have you ever imagined what it’s like to have a hearing loss?

As you may know, I’ve been learning British Sign Language  and during one session, the teacher and I wanted to raise some deaf awareness, by showing the hearing people in our group an insight into what it’s like to have a hearing loss.

The challenge

At the start of the session, the tutor told the group that all hearing people will have to wear headphones for the whole two hours. They had to wear not only one set of inner earplugs, but big, sound cancelling headphones on top of them too!

There were mixed feelings and reactions from the group. Some were petrified, others were intrigued and up for the challenge. Of course, us deafies in the group were ecstatic! We were interested in seeing how they would cope if they had a hearing loss.

Learning in silence

While we were learning sign language, it was surprisingly quiet throughout the whole session, which made us realise they probably talk a lot during the sessions when they’re not supposed to! Everyone had such concentrated faces and eyes like owls! It was also motivating to see them focusing on their sign language more so they could understand and communicate with each other. It really brought to light how much we have to concentrate every day, 24/7!

The break

Usually in the break, everyone takes the opportunity to chat about their lives and work, but when they realised they had to keep their headphones on, it felt like an awkward atmosphere! Try attempting to sign whilst holding a cup of tea and a biscuit! When I meet my deaf friends for drinks, we always end up holding each other’s drinks whilst the other signs!

The verdict

At the end of the two hour session, they were allowed to remove their headphones. The amount of sighs of relief that I could hear was astonishing! They seemed to find it very difficult to cope with. Here is what some of them thought:

• “It was very isolating even though we were in the same room”
• “There was no background noise which we are so used to hearing, it made me realise how alone I felt”
• “At the break there was no chatter or laughing, as usual you are alone with your own thoughts taking over”
• “It made me feel paranoid and self-conscious, almost like the first session when we didn’t know each other”
• “It made it easier to focus and concentrate on the session”
• “I felt a bit panicky and kept looking round at everyone else, who all seemed to be coping very well”
• “It took a lot more concentration to keep up with the conversations in the room!”
• “Using the headphones and ‘hearing’ from a deaf persons perspective gives a whole new insight”

These are some of the sounds they said they would miss if they lost their hearing:

• Music
• Birds singing
• People laughing
• Radio
• Voices
• The ocean
• Phone calls
• Cats purring

Interesting! It’s so important to raise awareness about deafness, as it’s an invisible disability. People don’t often think about the emotional and psychological impact that hearing loss can have on individuals.

To experience more about what it’s like to have hearing loss, listen  to the Hearing Loss Simulator. 

Or try one of these Deaf & Hard of Hearing Challenges for people without hearing loss, by Phonak hEARo Jessica Flores

No matter how great hearing aids are, they can’t help anyone when gathering dust in a drawer not being used. Here’s a look at three situations where people have tried – but given up on – their hearing aids, and how those frustrations could have been avoided.

Wary At Work

George is in his late 50s and has finally purchased a pair of hearing aids, something his wife has been trying to get him to do for almost three years. His first week at work wearing his aids ends with George completely frustrated — and his hearing aids in the drawer! When George’s wife asks what happened, he gets defensive and describes his experience. Sounds were too loud; the hearing aids were uncomfortable to wear; they didn’t help him hear in meetings; and he’s sure that people were staring and talking about him behind his back. Worst of all, he’s afraid he’ll be seen as “over the hill,” and never receive another raise.

Avoiding “Awkward”

Cassie is a typical teenager. She spends her days (and nights) with her cell phone wedged in her hand, texting about everything from boys to bands. Texting is her preferred method of communication, since most of the time at school her friends are all talking so fast (and at the same time) that she misses what people are saying. She’s so afraid of being “different” that she finds herself staying out of crowds and hectic social situations to avoid “awkward.”

Even though Cassie has moderate-to-severe hearing loss in one ear, and a hearing aid to compensate, the teen won’t be caught dead wearing it – despite the hair-thin tube that is almost invisible. She’s sure everyone will notice, resulting in the “end of her social life.”

Too Much Fuss

For Rick, the issue with his hearing aids isn’t cosmetic; it’s technical. He spends time fidgeting and fussing with them, and notices almost no difference in his hearing. “It’s just more trouble than it’s worth,” he explains, “Besides I get along fine without them.”

Being a no-nonsense guy, Rick went to the first fitter that he found. He didn’t ask about the fitter’s experience, provide detailed information about his own specific hearing challenges, or research the different brands and features available on the market. Basically, he didn’t fully participate in the fitting process, which can lead to an unhappy ending.

References

1, 2 – Hearing Well in a Noisy World. ConsumerReports.org. July 2009.

3 – Listening Up in a Down Economy: Better Hearing Institute Launches Public Service Campaign for Better Hearing and Speech Month. Better Hearing Institute. 2005.

4, 5, 6 – Hearing Aids Improve Quality of Life, Empower People with Hearing Loss to Stay Socially Active. Better Hearing Institute. 2011.

Ask Anna is a weekly advice column for the hearing loss community. Her column is found at Hearing Like Me   

Dear Anna,

My Grandfather is in his 80’s and has severe, age-related hearing loss in both ears. My aunt got him a hearing aid but it wasn’t the expensive one the Audiologist recommended (still pretty expensive, though) and frankly the results have been disappointing. There seems to be too much interference and he’s been unwilling to use them.

I’ve been quite upset too because it was done against my advice – the next most expensive one was actually on offer and not that much more expensive, and we may have just bought a white elephant. But on the other hand I also don’t know for sure that he would have done any better – hearing aids work well for those with moderate hearing loss, but as far as I can tell once it reaches severe they can’t help all that much either.

I’m at a loss. These days I can’t hold anything but the simplest of conversations as each sentence has to be repeated about 3-4 times even with my mouth in his ear. It’s a real pity because otherwise for his age he is very well and almost completely cognitively intact. He is completely independent functioning. But with this hearing loss getting worse he can’t talk to anyone and I feel like his cognitive functioning might go down with it. I also think that it would make him prone to depression.

I just want to know, is there anything solid I can do to make significant improvements to cope with his hearing loss? Aside from putting down another five to ten grand to try a better hearing aid which we might not be able to afford now.  Thank you – Worried Grandchild

Dear Worried GrandChild,

I am so sorry to read this letter. It appears that even with the best intentions of all involved the end solution is not satisfactory. Without knowing the type of hearing aid and the exact level of your grandfathers hearing loss it is very difficult to know if the hearing aid that has been purchased is suitable for him. On a positive note however, if he has digital power hearing aids, even if not the most expensive, they should provide benefit to him.

I would first suggest that you and someone else close to your grandfather sits down and talks with him to find out why he isn’t wearing the hearing aids.

I would also try to find out what his expectations of the hearings aids, are and what goals he would like to achieve.

Take it in small steps

Depending on how long your grandfather had a hearing loss before he tried hearing aids amplification can be pretty overwhelming, as he will be hearing things he hasn’t heard for a long time and he might not like the sound initially. Over time, usually over the period of a few months, he will adapt to amplified sound. So, reassure him that if he tries to wear them again things will get easier.

Read more: When the Hearing Aids is in the Drawer

If the hearing aids don’t seem to be doing what they should it could be that they need to be fine-tuned or adjusted. If you decide to go back to the Audiologist make sure that you or another family member attends the appointment with him. We promote this family centered care because evidence shows that a person will be much more successful with their hearing aids with engaging support.

Prior to the appointment let the receptionist know you would like to be present to support your grandfather.

If he is adamant that he does not want to wear the hearing aids then it may not be wise to spend more money on different hearing aids. I fear that these may end up not being worn as well. There are communication techniques that can help but the person with the hearing loss and the significant other need to be willing to work on these together.

I hope that your grandfather is on the road to a more positive experience with his hearing aids! With your support he can’t go wrong.

– Anna

Do you have a question for Anna? Email: feedback@hearinglikeme.com or in the comments below. 

***The information provided through this website should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, you should consult your health care provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Hearing Like Me website. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency medical services immediately.