Hearing loss in one ear can stem from congenital abnormalities in the ear, head trauma, or infections. The condition, which may go undetected, may be mistaken for the child’s lack of attention or selective hearing; even children with recognized monaural hearing loss often aren’t fitted with hearing aids and often don’t receive accommodations, researchers say. The researchers studied 74 six-to 12-year-old children with hearing loss in one ear. Each was matched with a sibling with normal hearing to minimize the possible effects of environmental and genetic factors on the children’s language skills.

The children were tested with the Oral and Written Language Scales (OWLS), a widely used tool to assess language comprehension and expression.  An average OWLS score is 100; hearing loss in one ear caused about a 10-point drop in scores. The strongest effect from hearing loss in one ear was found in children living below the poverty level or with mothers who have little education.

The researchers say that the study results should raise awareness among parents, educators, and pediatricians who assume that having hearing in one ear means children won’t need additional assistance. The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, appears in the June issue of Pediatrics.

This article was taken from the ASHA Leader, June 2010 publication.

The post Unilateral Hearing Loss Affects Language Ability appeared first on Triangle Hearing Services, P. A..

• Face the person who has a hearing loss so that he or she can see your face when you speak.
• Be sure the lighting is in front of you when you speak. This allows a person with a hearing impairment to observe facial expressions, gestures and lip and body movements that provide communication clues.
• During conversations, turn off the radio or television.
• Avoid speaking while chewing food or covering your mouth with your hands.
• Speak slightly louder than normal rate, but don’t shout. Shouting may distort your speech.
• Speak at your normal rate and do not exaggerate sounds.
• Clue the person with the hearing loss about the topic of the conversation whenever possible.
• Rephrase your statement into shorter, simpler sentences if it appears you are not being understood.
• In restaurants and social gatherings, choose seats or conversations away from crowded or noisy areas.

Information provided by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

The post Communication Tips appeared first on Triangle Hearing Services, P. A..

The vestibular labyrinth lies within your inner ear and is the sensory system that makes you aware of head rotation and movement, also detecting the pull of gravity. This system is important because it allows you to keep your eyes looking straight ahead and have stable vision as you move your head and your body.

Within the vestibular labyrinth are structures called otolith organs that monitor the movement and position of your head. Otolith organs contain tiny calcium carbonate crystals that lie embedded in a membrane attached to nerve cells. If, for example, you roll over in bed, the crystals stimulate the nerve cells, sending impulses to your brain telling you that that your head is moving.  BPPV most commonly occurs when you move your head in a certain direction, lie down, roll over in bed or sit up. Moving your head to look up or down also can cause BPPV symptoms. Usually, the symptoms last for 20-30 seconds and disappear after you stop moving because they settle down.

When BPPV occurs, the crystals dislodge from the otolith organs and float into another area of the vestibular labyrinth called the semicircular canals. These loop-shaped structures contain fluid and hair-like sensors that monitor the rotation of your head. The crystals incorrectly stimulate the semicircular canals when you move your head in certain positions. That stimulation sends signals to your brain that indicate your head is rotating in ways that it is not. These signals also generate eye movements called nystagmus.  The crystals moving around in the semicircular canals causes you to experience an internal sensation of spinning, and because your eyes are jerking back and forth (nystagmus) you feel the world is spinning around you.  BPPV results in vertigo, dizziness and balance problems.

BPPV occurs most often in people age 60 and older, suggesting that aging may be a factor in BPPV development. BPPV may occur after a blow to the head.  In many people, no specific cause for BPPV can be found.

The post What is BPPV???????????? appeared first on Triangle Hearing Services, P. A..

Many sounds which are almost exactly alike when heard with one ear can be more easily differentiated when heard with two ears. Wearing two hearing aids helps you to separate individual voices from background noise, making it easier to understand conversation. While one hearing instrument may be helpful in a quiet environment, it may not be helpful in noisy situations. With two hearing instruments it is possible to maximize understanding in noise.

Hearing Equally From Both Ears

As nature intended, hearing with two ears allows you to enjoy a more normal social life. Wearing two hearing instruments gives the best opportunity to respond accurately and confidently, whether the conversation comes from the right or the left. Hearing with one ear is like trying to see with one eye closed. It is possible, but not very effective.

Safety

When a person hears with only one ear, the difficulty in locating the sound can be dangerous. Imagine crossing the street and hearing a car horn. Good Localization allows us to tell where the sound is coming from and to react to avoid danger

Hearing with Less Volume

Wearing two hearing aids means that you need less overall volume, resulting in more pleasant hearing and less amplification for distracting background noises.

Less Stressful Listening

Listening with only one ear is both stressful and physically tiring.

Wider Hearing Range

Sounds that can be heard at 10 feet with one ear can be heard up to 40 feet away with two ears.

Cushions Loud Sounds

Sudden loud sounds are not so “abrupt” when divided between two ears.

Both Ears Stay Active

When a person has hearing loss in both ears but chooses to wear a hearing aid in only one ear, the unaided ear tends to lose its ability to understand over time. This occurs because the brain gradually loses some of its ability to process information from the unaided ear because of a continued lack of sound stimulation. The earlier you consider wearing two hearing aids, the better your chances are of minimizing this occurrence.

Possible Advantage

Some people who have tinnitus (ringing in the ears) are often less bothered while wearing two hearing aids.

The post Binaural Advantage appeared first on Triangle Hearing Services, P. A..

Whatever you want to call it is okay with us as long as you pick up the phone and make an appointment.

But all of that doesn’t really answer your question.  And more importantly you shouldn’t be getting the answer to that question online.

The real question should be…”How Do I Know if I Should Get my Hearing Checked?”  Here are ten ways to tell (signs of hearing loss) if you need to have your hearing checked (sounds better than test too!)

Top Ten Signs of a Hearing Loss

1. You want the volume to be turned up louder than everyone else in the room.
2. You ask others to repeat what they said more than a few times a day, especially when you are in noisy room.
3. You hear a ringing sound (tinnitus) in one or both ears.
4. You are positive that people are mumbling, especially women and small children.
5. You find yourself avoiding social situations because you know you’re going to struggle to hear what people are saying.
6. You hear better out of one ear than the other.
7. You dread answering the telephone because you know you’re going to have a problem understanding the person on the other end.
8. You have a harder time hearing later in the day than early in the morning.
9. You have a history of working in or around noise.
10.  And finally, everyone in the family is begging you to get your hearing checked!

For most people hearing loss starts out slowly.  The average person waits 5 – 7 YEARS before they decide to do something about a hearing loss.  Most importantly, a hearing loss is always more noticeable to other people than it is to you.  So listen to your friends and family (see reason #10).  Remember they love you or they wouldn’t bother nagging.  We only nag the ones we love.

The post How Do I Know if I Need a Hearing Aid? appeared first on Triangle Hearing Services, P. A..

Water is a serious enemy of hearing aids. Moisture can destroy the microphone and the receiver of the hearing aid, clog the sound opening or earmold tubing, and cause corrosion in the aid. Moisture in the hearing aid can cause a static sound or can cause the hearing aid to operate intermittently or not at all. Moisture comes from a variety of sources, including perspiration, high humidity, and direct submersion in water. To avoid the damaging effects of moisture, follow these tips:

Be particularly careful when wearing a hearing aid outdoors in extreme cold or wet and rainy weather. Use an umbrella or hat when it is raining.

• Never wear the aid while taking a bath, shower, swimming, or in a sauna.
• Make sure that your hair and ears are dry before you put on your hearing aid.
• Remove the hearing aid when at the hairdresser or barber.
• If perspiration is excessive, avoid wearing the hearing aid during strenuous activity and in hot, humid weather. A protective wrapping material is available for behind-the-ear hearing aids.
• If the hearing aid gets wet, it is important to remove the battery promptly and let the hearing aid dry out for several hours. Use a Dri-Aid kit to facilitate drying of the hearing aid. Do not use a hot air dryer, oven, clothes dryer, microwave, or other source of heat to dry the hearing aid.
• For best results in prolonging the life of a hearing aid, store the instrument overnight in a tightly closed container with a silica gel packet to absorb moisture. When storing the hearing aid with silica gel crystals, be sure to remove the battery and leave it outside of the container.

Temperature

Excessive heat and cold may also damage the hearing aid. Avoid storing your hearing aid near sources of heat or cold, such as a radiator, near a window, or in the car.

Dropping Your Hearing Aid

Hearing aids can suffer internal and/or external damage if dropped on a hard surface. This possibility can be avoided in the following ways:

• Change the battery in your hearing aid over the counter or bed. Place a towel over a hard surface while you’re changing the battery just in case.
• Avoid inserting or removing your hearing aid while you’re moving around.
• Store your hearing aid in a cushioned case.
• Avoid storing your hearing aid outside of your case in your pocket or purse.

Cosmetics

Hair spray, perfume, cologne, bath powder, aftershave, and shaving cream can clog the microphone opening and build up debris in and on your hearing aid. Be sure to take off your hearing aids or cover them before applying these products.

Animals

Dogs and cats (as well as other animals) love hearing aids! Two things cause animals to be attracted to hearing aids: 1) the high-pitched squealing sound of feedback, and 2) the smell of your skin oils.

Be sure to safely store your hearing aid in a case or Dri-aid kit that is out of reach of any pets, and remember to do this as well when you are a guest in homes with pets.

Batteries

IMPORTANT: Hearing aid batteries are toxic.

Keep them away from children and pets.  They are harmful if swallowed.

 Care and use of batteries:

• Always carry extra batteries for your hearing aid as batteries tend to die quickly, sometimes unexpectedly
• Do not keep extra batteries loose in your pocket or purse with other coins or metal objects
• Store batteries in a drawer, not in the refrigerator
• For longer battery life, open the battery compartment or remove the battery from your hearing aid every night
• Do not remove the tab on the hearing aid battery until you plan to use the battery
• Watch for corrosion on the battery, if you notice a white powdery substance on the battery replace it immediately. Also, check the battery contacts within the hearing aid to assure they are free of corrosion
• Battery contacts may be dried with a dry cotton swab in cases of humid weather or heavy perspiration.

Cleaning Your Hearing Aids

Debris and earwax can cause a multitude of problems for hearing aids resulting in a distorted or dead hearing aid. Inspect the hearing aid after removing it from your ear and clean it as often as necessary.

Hearing Aids Worn in the Ear

Keep the receiver tubing (the sound opening at the end of the hearing aid) and vent opening free of wax by using a wax brush, usually provided with the hearing aid.

Gently brush across the receiver opening to loosen and brush away debris and wax. The opening to the microphone port also needs to be kept free of debris. You can brush across this opening but never stick anything sharp (pins, toothpicks, etc.) down in the microphone port or you may damage the microphone.

Some custom hearing aids today have wax guards that need to be changed periodically. Follow the instructions given by your hearing healthcare professional in changing this guard. If the wax guard inadvertently is removed while the aid is being cleaned it will not affect the function of the hearing aid itself.

To clean the outer surface of the hearing aid, wipe it with a soft, dry cloth.

Hearing Aids Word Behind the Ear

The hearing aid itself can be cleaned with a soft, dry cloth or tissue.

To clean the earmold, first remove it from the earhook of the hearing aid and place the hearing aid in a dry protected place. Gently wash the earmold in warm soapy water and rinse thoroughly. Shake out excess moisture and allow the earmold to dry overnight or use a tubing air blower to remove water from the tubing. Be sure that the earmold and tubing are dry before reattaching the earmold to the hearing aid.

Tubing will shrink and harden with time. It is very important in order to maintain sound quality and performance to replace the tubing when this occurs. Your hearing healthcare professional can replace the tubing for you.

Always remember that we are here to help.  If you need us for any reason, have a question or just want to say hi, please don’t hesitate to give us a call!

The post Tips on Hearing Aid Care appeared first on Triangle Hearing Services, P. A..

Often, the loss develops so gradually it goes unnoticed until it becomes severe.  As the percentage of elderly in the population increases, so does the incidence of hearing loss and its unfortunate accompaniment, progressive isolation from others.  “It’s sad and frustrating,” “to see a loved one smile and nod pretending to understand what’s been said.  Yet, when relatives and friends suggest professional help, this reasonable advice is often ignored.”

Those with hearing loss, may find it easier to recognize their problem by seeing how many of the following signs of hearing loss apply to them:

• Playing the TV too loudly.
• Difficulty understanding someone speaking from another room.
• Answering questions incorrectly or responding inappropriately.
• Ringing in one or both ears.
• Insisting that people don’t speak clearly enough.
• Speaking too loudly.

Having a problem hearing isn’t a tragedy.  Pretending you don’t have a problem that you can do something about is a tragedy.

The post Hearing Loss Affects 1 in 5 Americans appeared first on Triangle Hearing Services, P. A..

Dizziness: The great majority of patients reports unsteadiness. This imbalance increases with activity and is relieved by rest. That’s why people often feel fine in the morning, but as the day passes, their balance gets progressively worse. Besides these balance problems, some patients also report a ringing in the ears. Other patients experience problems only when coughing, sneezing, or blowing their noses. This form of disease is tentatively named “valsalva-induced dizziness”.

Pressure sensitivity: It is quite normal for a person to feel altered pressure sensations when moving from a high-pressure area to a low-pressure one. Such sensations are usually felt in airplanes or after diving. The changes in air pressure that occur in the middle ear normally do not affect the inner ear. However, in the case of dehiscence syndrome, changes in the middle ear pressure will directly affect the inner ear, stimulating the balance and causing typical symptoms.

Sound sensitivity: Most patients also report a special kind of sound sensitivity. It is not unusual for patients with this syndrome to notice that the use of one’s own voice or a musical instrument will cause dizziness.

The post Superior Canal Dehiscence Syndrome appeared first on Triangle Hearing Services, P. A..

The post Realistic Expectations appeared first on Triangle Hearing Services, P. A..

Hearing loss can develop with age or can be caused by noise exposure. But, whatever the cause, it is a big life inconvenience in dealing with everyday activities. A great way to gain confidence and feel good about yourself is to have your hearing restored with new technologies available. It is a wonderful thing to have the quality of life back.

The post Impact of Hearing Loss appeared first on Triangle Hearing Services, P. A..