Causes of Hearing Loss

There are a number of different causes of hearing loss. One cause involves damage to the inner ear and the structures within the ear. Trauma to the ear drum can also lead to hearing loss or poor hearing quality. If you suffer a severe ear infection, that can have a major impact on your hearing, and even just excess earwax can make the world sound muffled. A Gilbert hearing loss specialist will examine your ears carefully and figure out how best to improve your impaired hearing.

Most Notable Signs of Hearing Loss

Some of the most common symptoms of hearing loss are common sense, really. You may be suffering from hearing loss if you experience any of the following:

• Dull or muffled hearing
• Inability to understand words
• Poor comprehension of others during conversation
• Ringing in the ears

If you should notice any of these symptoms, be sure to bring them to the attention of an ear care expert or your physician.

Other Possible Signs of Hearing Loss

The sounds you hear may not be the only sign of hearing loss. If you notice persistent or acute ear pains, fluid leaking from your ears, or vertigo and poor equilibrium, all of these can be signs of hearing loss. Be sure to meet with your doctor or any health care specialists who offer audiology services if you notice any of these symptoms.

What You Can Do to Prevent Hearing Loss

In order to prevent hearing loss, it’s a good idea to avoid loud noises. When listening to music or watching television, consider a reasonable volume. This is especially important to consider when wearing earbuds and headphones. If you’re going to loud concerts or work in a field where loud noises are common, be sure to wear earplugs. Just these simple steps can go a long way to ensuring good hearing for years to come.

Treatments for Hearing Loss

If you are suffering from hearing loss, there are many different treatments out there to meet your needs. For severe or moderate hearing loss, Gilbert hearing aids may be a good option. Some less severe cases of hearing loss can be addressed through other therapies and treatment options. We can discuss all of your choices for ear care during a consultation at the practice.

Learn More About Hearing Loss Issues

If you would like to learn more about hearing loss, ear health, and other issues related to the overall quality of your hearing, be sure to contact our Gilbert audiology and hearing loss center today. Our entire team is eager to meet with you in person and discuss the best possible treatment options for your needs.

Wi Series App for the iPad

This application provides and introduction to the new Wi Series product line. It provides videos and interactive audio comparisons to engage and educate hearing care professionals and hearing loss sufferers about new methods for hearing in historically difficult situations.

Lifestyle Solutions App for the iPad

This application allows you to describe your individual hearing lifestyle to help select the hearing aid product(s) best suited to your needs. It includes overviews of the product features and functionality, along with descriptions of the available styles that are easy to view and compare.

Sound Check App for the iPhone

This is a hearing screening application that allows anyone to quickly evaluate your hearing to determine if it is within normal limits or approaching the range of potential hearing loss. Screening results are automatically saved to track changes over time or to discuss further with Dr. Jessee. Sound Check includes learning materials and links to websites with detailed information on hearing loss and how to get help.

T2 Remote for iPhone or iPad

This is the first mobile application that allows users to control their hearing aids with a simple touch on their iPhone or iPad, adjusting the hearing aid memory or volume to the desired setting.

Contact our office today at 480-497-0780 to schedule an appointment with Dr.Jessee to discuss these and other new useful tools for managing your hearing loss.

There are a few things to keep in mind when caring for your hearing aids.

1. Always make sure your hands and fingers are clean and dry when handling your hearing aids.

2. Water and solvent cleaning agents can damage the computer circuitry.  You can use a specific cleaning agent, like Audiologist’s Choice spray to help clean ear molds and ear buds.  When using the spray, make sure you spray a cloth first and then wipe the hearing aid.  Never spray your hearing aids directly when any liquid.

3. It’s important that you clean your hearing aids daily to help improve their performance and prevent repairs. It’s always best to use a soft, dry cloth to clean your hearing aid and/or a brush to remove wax buildup. You should brush your hearing aids morning and night to help maintain them.

4. Most repairs are due to wax or body oil buildup.  Hearing aid dryers are helpful at drying wax and oil so they can easily be removed with a brush.

5. Hearing aids, like most people, don’t like extreme temperatures.  Don’t leave your hearing aids in direct sunlight.

6. You should do your best to prevent moisture from getting into your hearing aids.  It’s best to avoid saunas, steam baths, vaporizers or showers when wearing your hearing aids. Do your best to protect your hearing aids during rain and snow, although most new models are water resistant.  If your hearing aids do get wet, remove the batteries, open the battery door and place them in a hearing aid dryer or leave them in the air to dry at room temperature.  Never use a hair dryer or oven to “dry” hearing aids.

7. If you see wax buildup inside an opening in your hearing aid or ear mold it’s best to bring it into the office for a professional cleaning.  Don’t risk damaging your hearing aid by sticking an object into your hearing aid.  Always use just a soft cloth or brush to remove debris.

8. Earmold tubing can harden and discolor with age.  When this occurs, the tubing can be changed in the office.  Please call us at 480-497-0780 to ensure the appropriate staff is available to assist you.

9. It’s also best to avoid contact with hair spray or make up.  The fine particles and easily cause debris to build up and cause the hearing aid to malfunction.  Try to remove your hearing aids before using any personal care items.

Your hearing aids should be professionally cleaned and your programming checked every 3 to 6 months to ensure optimal performance.  If you’re interested in purchasing a hearing aid dryer, they retail for $49 and are available during normal business hours.  Audiologist’s Choice spray retails for $8 a bottle.

If the volume drops and you’ve changed the batteries, make sure you contact our office for a professional cleaning and an appointment with Dr. Jessee, if needed.  Your hearing is important and we want you to hearing as well as you can with your hearing aids.

I’ve pulled together a few quotes from our satisfied patients as to why they love their hearing aids.  Schedule an appointment today so that you can be included in our Love Club….those Good Sound Audiology patients that love their hearing aids!

“Good Sound Audiology was a very good thing for me. Since my first visit I was able to hear so much better. I work with the public and missed so much of what was said. I now do not nod and smile like I understand. The very best thing is now I can talk with my grandchildren and actually hear what they are telling me.”

“I did not want a hearing aid because of problems people I know that have hearing that do not wear them. Mine work very well and I am glad I got them. I wear all day at work and at home also. Thank you Doctor Jessee.”

“I was amazed when I went to see Fiddler on the Roof.  I was able to hear everything and it was wonderful.  My hearing isn’t as good as it was when I was young, but it’s definitely better than it’s been in a long time.”  -Spencer H., Mesa, AZ

If you’d like to visit our Success Stories link, then you can check out all of the great comments and photos from those patients that love their hearing aids!

I’ve compiled a list of resources I found online as well as information provided to me from the NIDCD or the National Institute of Deafness and other Communication Disorders.  The NIDCD is one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).   NIH—the nation’s medical research agency—includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov

Unfortunately, there aren’t a ton of resources, but there are a few.  Don’t forget to ask about financing plans and interest free payment plans that might also help.  The good news is that most insurance companies, including Medicare usually pay for your complete hearing evaluation once per year.

ARIZONA:

Community Hearing Aid Program

http://communityhearingaidprogram.org/index.html

623-748-8814

Children’s Rehabilitative Services (only for children ages 0-21)

602-542-1860

Sertoma Club

http://www.sertoma.org/Page.aspx?pid=335

FEDERAL: Department of Veterans Affairs (202-745-8578).  If you are a veteran, go to your local VA hospital since most hearing loss can be attributed to your time in the service even if it wasn’t documented when you were discharged. For the Phoenix Metro area:

Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center 602-222-6550 or 1-888-214-7264

NATIONAL: Hear Now (800-648-4327)

Internet: www.sotheworldmayhear.org OR

http://www.starkeyhearingfoundation.org/hear-now.php

Lions Affordable Hearing Aid Project

www.lionsear.org Type “Affordable Hearing Aid” in the search box  OR:

http://www.lcif.org/EN/our-programs/humanitarian-efforts/hearing/index.php

You need to apply for the AHA program through a specific lions club, but the application and information is available at the above link.

Audient Alliance (1-877-283-4368)

Internet: www.audientalliance.org

STATE RESOURCES:

Community Information and Referral Network

602-263-8856

Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

1400 West Washington Street

Room 126

Phoenix, AZ  85007

Exec. Director: Sherri L. Collins

602-364-0990 T

602-542-3323 V

800-352-8161 T/V in AZ

602-542-3380 FAX

Email: acdhh@acdhh.state.az.us

Website: www.acdhh.org

One month follow up.  Tom has been wearing his new hearing aid for the last month.

GSA: Have you been able to get your Surflink box to connect to your TV and how is the sound?

Tom: It took us a little more time and effort than just “connecting it to our TV”, as when we had our house built, we had a Home Theater System (the 7 speakers and all wiring) installed as an option. After moving in and getting settled, we contracted for the construction of a Media Center, which placed all of the various audio/video devices in a consolidated area out-of-sight and provided a nicely backlit display area behind and around our TV. We tried many things to get Surflink to work, to no avail. The final connection that worked was almost too simple. The Surflink streams straight from the audio output of our DirecTV receiver box with the RCA cable that is supplied with the Surflink.

GSA: How are you doing and are you happy with your hearing aid?

Tom: Overall things are going well. It appears that I will be a learning mode for a while as I reeducate myself to ‘listen’. . . . something that seems to have atrophied with the time spent with my hearing loss being unassisted. I am now active as a member of my local HOA Board of Directors, and I need to be able to clearly understand what is being discussed at our monthly meetings. It feels good to be part of what is going on around me once again. I doubt I have the words to clearly express just how happy I am with my hearing aid.

GSA: What were your expectations and how well did we meet them?

Tom: As much as I dislike making your job sound easy (which I know it is NOT), my expectations were easy for you to surpass. I came to GSA in the mindset of what I knew about hearing assists from 25 years ago, and thought that I knew the severity of my hearing loss meant that not much could be done. Besides having hearing loss, I also have a genetic inheritance of early hearing loss in one ear, so I am now ‘monaural’. Dr. Jessee explained my audiology results clearly, and made me aware that even though what hearing capability that I do have is basically only in one ear, that too would diminish further if nothing was done to save it. Needless to say, that got my attention. We talked about the Starkey Wi system, and when I tried it in the office I was amazed! This was the technology I had always hoped for. Following the demonstration, I quite honestly forgot the device was even in my ear canal.

GSA: What would you say to a friend who was thinking of investing in the Wi but wasn’t sure?

Tom: I need to be careful not to make this sound too much like an orchestrated commercial, but I would (and have) told a few friends about the Wi system, and have offered to let them hear the clarity and improvement to their hearing through my hearing aid if that is what they need to give them a push. Should that not be to their liking, I am certainly going to recommend them to make an appointment at GSA and “hear for themselves”. Hopefully they too can be as amazed and satisfied as I am.

We’ll post again with my conversation with Mr. Ferber at his 6 month follow up appointment.  If you have any questions for Mr. Ferber, ask away.  We’ll make sure he answers them.  Stay tuned.  If you’d like to learn more about the Wi series, you can find it at www.goodsoundaudiology.com/wi-series

Download Spring 2011 Newsletter

Living successfully with hearing loss depends on good communication.  And communicating effectively does not usually include bluffing, or does it? Bluffing is oftentimes a necessary coping strategy for those living with hearing loss as it is for people with normal hearing.  I’ve read numerous articles and blogs on the topic of bluffing and how detrimental it can be for those dealing with hearing loss.  But I’d like to argue that bluffing is sometimes a necessary tool in your arsenal of strategies used to communicate effectively.  In addition to speech reading, positioning yourself in front of the speaker, and advocating for your hearing needs, bluffing can be helpful as long as it isn’t the only tool you rely on.  Bluffing continuously and lacking the assertiveness to explain your need for slower, clearer speech or for someone to repeat himself isn’t all that helpful if it causes you to miss out on the conversation, and missing out too often leads to social isolation.  Bluffing because we lack the skills necessary to communicate effectively is never a good idea.  However, we all bluff occasionally to appear socially normal and to avoid interrupting others and asking them to repeat themselves.  The key here is not to rely on bluffing as the only means of communicating with others.

For help, Kathy Allen from Hands & Voices has come up with some great Communication Strategies.  I’ve listed them here as well as included the link for your review.  http://www.handsandvoices.org/articles/SocEmot/V9-4_comStrategies.htm

1.      Replace non-specific strategies, such as “Excuse me, What did you say? Pardon? And Huh? with specific strategies:

• Please repeat more slowly
• What is the topic we are discussing

2.      Experiment with new strategies:

• Can you say that another way?
• Can you write down that word?
• Can you spell that slowly?
• I heard you say “——-“, but I did not understand the rest
• Does that begin with a “b” as in baseball?

3.      Manage your environment by saying:

• Let’s move away from the music
• I’ll need to switch seat so the window is behind me
• I need the lights turned up more
• I need to move closer to the speaker

4.      Explain your needs:

• I can understand/hear you/lipread better if you….
• I do much better if you speak slower.
• It is difficult for me to lipread/speechread when your hand covers your mouth

It’s much better to be upfront about your hearing loss and tell people what they need to do in order to communicate with you.  But when all else fails, using a bluffing technique now and then might also be helpful in getting you through some potentially awkward situations.  Just don’t do it too often.

First week follow up.  Tom has been wearing his new hearing aid and increasing his wearing time daily.

GSA:      How has your week been with your new hearing aid?

Tom:      It’s been great, although more difficult than I thought getting used to all the new sounds.  Simple things like hearing my keys jingle from my pocket is a new sound to me.  I didn’t realize how noisy the world could be.  My wife and I were at Target and the PA system came on and it was incredibly loud and annoying….things I didn’t even realize that could be loud are.  The hearing aids are really comfortable and I’m not having any problems wearing them.  My wife and I had friends over the other night and I used that as my 6 hr day [on the wearing schedule] and I was great following along with the conversation and not feeling as quiet as I had been before when it was hard to hear everything that was going on.  It’s been great and my wife seems pleased.

GSA:      How has the SurfLink box worked out and the streaming from your TV?

Tom:      I’m still having problems trying to connect my SurfLink box to my entertainment center.  I keep trying different cables, but so far it hasn’t been easy because of my setup.  I’m going to try again this afternoon and see if I can’t get it to work.  I’m looking forward to hearing the TV again clearly.

We’ll post again with my conversation with Mr. Ferber’s at his two week follow up appointment.   Stay tuned.  If you’d like to learn more about the Wi series, you can find it at www.goodsoundaudiology.com/wi-series