An Australian study has shown that a patients hearing impairment is not always caught by the GP. This does not just have consequences for the individual, but for society as a whole.

Vitamin supplements can prevent hearing loss in laboratory animals, according to two studies, bringing investigators one step closer to the development of a pill that could stave off noise-induced and perhaps even age-related hearing loss in humans.

The findings will be reported Wednesday at the Association for Research in Otolaryngology’s annual conference in Baltimore by senior author Colleen Le Prell, Ph.D., a researcher at the University of Florida.

The supplements used in the research studies are composed of antioxidants – beta carotene and vitamins C and E – and the mineral magnesium. When administered prior to exposure to loud noise, the supplements prevented both temporary and permanent hearing loss in test animals.

“What is appealing about this vitamin ‘cocktail’ is that previous studies in humans, including those demonstrating successful use of these supplements in protecting eye health, have shown that supplements of these particular vitamins are safe for long-term use,” said Le Prell, an associate professor in the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions’ department of communicative disorders.

About 26 million Americans have noise-induced hearing loss, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, the agency that funded the studies.

In the first study, UF, University of Michigan and OtoMedicine scientists gave guinea pigs the vitamin supplements prior to a four-hour exposure to noise at 110 decibels, similar to levels reached at a loud concert. Researchers assessed the animals’ hearing by measuring sound-evoked neural activity and found that the treatment successfully prevented temporary hearing loss in the animals.

In humans, temporary noise-induced hearing loss, often accompanied by ringing in the ears, typically goes away after a few hours or days as the cells in the inner ear heal. Because repeated temporary hearing loss can lead to permanent hearing loss, the scientists speculate that prevention of temporary changes may ultimately prevent permanent changes.

In the second, related study in mice, UF, Washington University in St. Louis and OtoMedicine researchers showed that the supplements prevented permanent noise-induced hearing loss that occurs after a single loud sound exposure. The researchers found that the supplements prevented cell loss in an inner ear structure called the lateral wall, which is linked to age-related hearing loss, leading the scientists to believe these micronutrients may protect the ear against age-related changes in hearing.

“I am very encouraged by these results that we may be able to find a way to diminish permanent threshold shift with noise exposure,” said Debara Tucci, M.D., an associate professor of surgery in the otolaryngology division at Duke University Medical Center. “I look forward to hearing Dr. Le Prell’s work and reviewing her data.”

The research builds on previous studies that demonstrated hearing loss is not just caused by intense vibrations produced by loud noises that tear the delicate structures of the inner ear, as once thought, said Josef Miller, Ph.D., who has studied the mechanisms of hearing impairment for more than 20 years and is a frequent collaborator of Le Prell’s. Researchers now know noise-induced hearing loss is largely caused by the production of free radicals, which destroy healthy inner ear cells.

While there are many different causes and types of hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss is a common occurrence; it affects hearing in the high frequency range with the cause lying in the vestibulocohlear nerve. People suffering with high frequency hearing loss can hear vowels, but often what they can’t hear are the consonant sounds of S, F, T, and Z. This can lead to missing entire conversations or misinterpreting what has been said. Often the person will say “I can hear, but often I don’t understand what has been said.”

Exposure to loud noise, age, genetics, infections and otitis media (inflammation of the middle ear) are all factors that can contribute to high frequency hearing loss. If you are noticing warning signs of high frequency hearing loss such as not understanding what is being said to you, not hearing the doorbell / telephone/ alarm clock, you should consult a hearing care professional for a free evaluation of your needs.

Support for sufferers of high frequency hearing loss;

There are 600,000 people in Ireland with a hearing loss in Ireland, from mild to profound deafness. This figure accounts for 17% of the total population.

The range of technology is extensive for the young and older persons with a hearing loss.  Our telecare sensors can support those with varying levels of hearing loss in improving their quality of life and assisting them to live independently.

Sounder Beacon – Available in blue or red, it provides audio and visual confirmation of alarm call. Provides additional reassurance for hearing impaired people.

Smoke Detector (wireless) – Enhanced with new features such as auto low battery reporting, only one battery for ease of management and accreditation to the very latest standard for smoke detectors.

Pillow Alert Solution – Designed to support hearing impaired people, the pillow alert vibrates to provide a smoke alarm alert to a sleeping

Source: Emergency Response Ltd, Ryland Road, Bunclody, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.

Tel.  +1850 247999 Fax.  + 353 53 937 6943

www.emergencyresponse.ie

When the time comes for anyone with a hearing impairment to go for a hearing evaluation they will be taking the first step towards a better quality of life.  A hearing evaluation is a simple test that will diagnose the percentage of hearing loss you have in each ear. When you are equipped with that information you can then research the options available to you to suit your individual needs.

In the case that you have hearing loss in both ears the obvious recommendation is to wear two hearing aids. A loss that affects one ear is called a unilateral loss. A loss that affects both ears is called a bilateral loss. When there has been a diagnosis of bilateral loss some people opt to wear just one hearing aid when they really should be wearing two. The deciding factor behind this is usually cost, but if you compare the benefits enjoyed from binaural hearing it outweighs the cost. Hearing in both ears gives a natural, more satisfying listening experience, and it is as nature intended us to hear. Not wearing a hearing aid when it is necessary can lead to the decline of word understanding in that ear. Other benefits from using two hearing aids include:

• Using both ears can aid preservation of hearing ability in both ears
• More natural sound quality (listening in ‘stereo’ as opposed to ‘mono’)
• A wider hearing range and sense of balance
• Not having to strain the hear in conversations
• Improved ability to detect where sounds are coming from, to do this requires equal input from both ears
• Better hearing with background noise, two hearing aids will help you to focus on sounds you want to hear

Regardless of cost you will want the best hearing ability you can get. With few exceptions wearing two hearing aids will award a more natural hearing experience. Confident participation in every day conversation will once again be part of everyday life. Before making a final decision even if your hearing loss is moderate ask your healthcare professional for the option of bilateral hearing assistance. Just as the use of both eyes, hands and legs has advantages the same applies to your hearing, two ears are better than one. If you think that you or someone you care about may have a hearing loss, call Hidden Hearing today for a free hearing assessment.

New MRBI research in Ireland indicates that 41% of Irish adults aged 15 plus wear earphones regularly and a massive 82% in the 15 to 24 age bracket wearing earphones more than once week. To mark Hearing Awareness Week, Hidden Hearing is to make a special donation to the Irish Deaf Society for every person tested through Hidden Hearing’s Waterford Clinic, as a result of awareness week to help raise much needed funds. Hidden Hearing is also making a special public information leaflet called Have You Heard? available, which outlines the basic facts that you need to know about your hearing featuring a simple self test on noise levels which can damage hearing. The Have You Heard? leaflet is available by calling freephone 1800 370 000, emailing hearingaware(at)hiddenhearing.ie and through local GPs, or Hidden Hearing’s Clinic on Arundel Square. The special hearing care line will open throughout the week by calling 1800 370 000 and the 60 Hidden Hearing centres throughout Ireland will be open to take queries and test people with concerns. TV3’s Mark Cagney had noticed a change in his hearing over the past number of years and decided to take matters in hand and have a check up. Mark comments “As I make my living through communication, my hearing is of particular importance to me. Over the past few years I noticed I’d been missing things … as a presenter I’ve an earpiece in my right ear all morning on Ireland AM, so I need to be able to hear clearly what my producers are saying to me. Being a DJ in my former radio life, I’m well aware of the damage that earphones and loud noise can do, however, I’d a sneaking suspicion that I’d already done damage. In July last year I decided to put my mind to rest and have a check up only to discover I was right … my hearing had dropped significantly in one ear and a little in the other. I decided to go the full monty and have new age style hearing aids fitted …I was delighted … they are so tiny, you can’t even see them!” Bill Somers is an Audiologist with Hidden Hearing Waterford – he advises, “These new figures are extremely alarming considering that the majority of people will have the sound level too high – It might be 10 years before these 18 to 24 year olds discover the irreparable damage. Beware of public transport – this can also do the damage. Most people listen to their MP3s on public transport, or in noisy places, so they’ll tend to turn them up even louder to drown out the surrounding noise. Don’t be tempted! Noise-induced hearing loss is cumulative; it happens gradually over time so a young person listening to loud music will not know that they are doing damage. It’s key that volume is kept relatively low ensuring they can still hear the sounds outside when wearing their earphones. We recently had one girl in to be tested and although she was just 25, she had the hearing of an 85 year old lady … she had no idea what damage she had done”. Hearing difficulties can have serious quality of life implications where untreated hearing loss can result in social isolation and withdrawl for people. People who opt for late retirement need to be sure that their hearing function is good, otherwise it can affect their performance in work. Bill continues, “A massive one in three people over the age of 60 suffers from hearing loss and it can often take an average of ten years for an individual to do something about it. There appears to be a stigma attached to having a loss of hearing and aids with many people leaving their hearing deteriorate significantly before they have it checked. Hearing devices have come a long way – many of the models are so small they can barely be seen, come in vibrant colours and even feature artificial intelligence”. Kevin Stanley, Irish Deaf Society, comments “The Irish Deaf Society stresses the importance for members of the public to be careful of exposure to loud noise that can damage the hearing and affect their lives. The IDS is the national representative organisation of Irish Deaf community with over 40,000 members. Many of our members have been born deaf, or became deaf at young age and hence are used to this loss – they tend to develop their own identity with sign language and the deaf community’s culture. However, those people who become deaf at later age, or even suddenly, can find this to be highly traumatic to their health and social well-being. The IDS has lots of members who went through this life-changing experience. It is important for people who work in noisy environments, go to loud discos, or concerts to be aware of damage they can do.

Reprinted From Waterford-Today 2008

http://www.waterford-today.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2106&Itemid=10323&ed=197

It is commonly known that untreated hearing loss may have negative social and psychological effects on a hearing impaired person.

Reactions differ from person to person, but most hearing impaired people suffer from some social and psychological problems as a result of their hearing loss. Some hearing-impaired people even experience physical problems because of their hearing loss.

According to a survey carried out in the US, hearing impairment among baby boomers adversely affects their relationships with their adult children. Almost half of the adult children believed that their parents’ hearing loss had affected their relationships. One in three of the younger generation stated that their hearing impaired parents miss out on important things in their lives.

An Australian study found that hearing aids improve social relations, including the users’ love life, and make intimate conversations easier. More than half of the respondents stated that their hearing aids improved their social lives. Two in every three said that their hearing aids helped them overcome difficulties in connecting with family and friends.

Finally, a Dutch survey has found that young people with hearing loss are more prone to a decline in psychosocial health than older hearing impaired people.

Hidden Hearing Audiologist Keith Ross Discusses the effects of MP3 players on our hearing. Excerpt from Radio Interview on Country Mix 106.8

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

In today’s competitive online environment bargains and special offers galore are available at the click of a button from the global market. The percentages of people with hearing loss are on the rise in all generations thus making the hearing aid market fair game to companies and individuals selling often discontinued / out of warranty hearing aids to the general public. Consumers often believe that buying online will offer wider price comparison and will save them time and money. This may be the case most of the time; however it can differ entirely when it comes to buying a medical device that needs to be correctly prescribed and fitted by a healthcare professional. When you buy your hearing aid on line you do so at your peril and it’s unlikely that you will receive any of the following

• A physical ear exam to determine if you have a wax build up or infection
• A physical ear exam to determine the correct make and fit of hearing aid to suit your hearing loss and your life style
• Complimentary aftercare
• Programme and repair service
• Warranty or money back guarantee

Wearing an ill fitting hearing aid can cause soreness and the aid will not function properly.  You also run the risk of getting a hearing aid that is not programmed to suit your individual hearing loss; this will cause further damage to your hearing. The programming of a hearing aid is a two way process that involves the hearing care professional relying on feedback from the client and adjusting the settings accordingly, the same principle would apply to auditory rehabilitation. Neither of the two can be done from a distance.

So, if you are considering purchasing a hearing aid it is important to do your research. Go to a reputable company with training, knowledge and experience. Ask about the benefits and aftercare service available to you. Expect to establish a long-term friendship with your hearing aid professional as you will be paying them follow-up visits to ensure ongoing care for your hearing aids.

Jackie Murray

Hidden Hearing

Hidden Hearing Audiologist Warns that Trumpets Reach Noise Levels of Jet Plane

Monday, 14^th June, 2010: A leading Irish audiologist today warned of a proliferation of vuvuzela trumpets at Premiership, Airtricity League and GAA matches following their infamous popularity at the 2010 World Cup. With a reported 2 million vuvuzela trumpets sold to date in South Africa for the World Cup, the non-stop buzzing chorus from the trumpets is filling the stadiums, emitting from TVs and radios around the world and attracting complaints from football fans, commentators and players – Cristiano Ronaldo has even said the trumpets disturb players’ concentration.

According to hearing aid audiologist Keith Ross of Hidden Hearing there is real cause for complaint as the vuvuzela trumpets can reach decibel levels of 127dB, the equivalent noise exposure of a jet plane taking off. “For football fans attending the World Cup they are in danger of having permanent hearing damage within just 15 minutes of being exposed to the sound levels that the vuvuzela trumpets reach.   With tens of thousands of vuvuzela trumpets being blown in the stadiums, fans are warned to wear earplugs to protect their hearing or risk a permanent buzzing sound in their ears and irreversible hearing damage.”

A study published in the South African Medical Journal in April 2010 concluded that the vuvuzela trumpets exposed spectators

While millions of fans switched on their televisions to tune in to the start of the world cup this week, within minutes complaints were logged as the noise of vuvuzela horns threatened to drown out the World Cup match commentary. Commentators have described the sound as “annoying” and “satanic “and compared it with “a stampede  of noisy elephants “. The plastic trumpets, known as vuvuzelas, used by the South African football fans to liven up a football match up in the stadium reach dangerous levels in terms of noise, shows a recent study
The sound level of the instrument has been measured at 127 decibels according to a South African survey. This is well above the level of 85 decibels at which workers require noise protection by law. Sounds at such high levels are catastrophic to a person’s hearing. The 15,000 hair cells in the inner ear are destroyed and are non renewable. When attending such events wearing good quality earplugs is advised to avoid permanent hearing damage. Once the damage is done it is irreversible so prevention is the key.

Jackie Murray
Hidden Hearing