Undercover Noise Cop

By Kathi Mestayer

New Year, New You? If you’re planning to hit the gym as part of a New Year’s resolution, don’t forget that being healthy includes protecting your hearing. Look for “No Pain, No Gain?” this January in Hearing Health magazine.

To write my story, I had to do some sleuthing. I’ve been doing undercover noise data collection for a few months. My instruments range from two virtually invisible smartphone apps (SoundMeter+ and AudioTools) to a very visible, unwieldy, professional sound meter. Everyone can see it, but nobody knows what it is.

Picture me in my bathing suit (be kind), walking around a huge, cavernous, swimming pool area at a community recreation center. I’m cradling the professional sound meter like a baby in my arms, its 3-inch-diameter sponge microphone cover sticking out like a huge Tootsie Roll. In my other hand is my smartphone, its decibel app meter flying back and forth at a rate so fast I can barely see it.  

The folks in the aquatics class at my end of the pool are working out, following the instructor’s movements. The boom box is barely audible due to the extremely resonant sound bouncing off of the glass and steel.

The teacher, who knows me from classes I’ve taken, gives me a “what on earth are you doing?” look, and then quickly goes back to her teaching. The lifeguard, on the other hand, is taking the liberty of really staring at me. I’m feeling pretty conspicuous.  

I take a few readings with both meters, and get a range of 74 to 78 dBA (the unit dBA measures sound levels as perceived by humans). Then, I skulk along the side of the pool to the aquatics boom box, to see how much it is adding to the din. It adds about 4 dBA, which is a significant jump in decibel terms.

As I note in my story on noisy gyms (coming up in the Winter 2014 issue of Hearing Health, out in January):

“Remember that decibel increases are magnified: 80 dBA is twice as loud as 77 dBA—the sound energy doubles with each 3 dBA increase. So while 4 dBA doesn’t seem like much on a linear scale, it’s a big difference in dBA terms.”

On my way out, I slink over to the lifeguard and tell her what I’m doing. She doesn’t ask what readings I’m getting but luckily for her, it’s within Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) limits for her as a worker. Fortunately, she doesn’t have to worry about hearing damage, at least at this sound level.

LEARN MORE:

• Be sure to read our guide to hearing aids for an active lifestyle in “Get Active” by staff writer and audiologist Barbara Jenkins, Au.D.

• If you have a hearing loss, here’s how you can hear better in the workplace in “Office Space.”

• See what steps one busy Northern California restaurant is taking so its patrons can hear one another while dining.

Hearing Health magazine staff writer Kathi Mestayer serves on advisory boards for the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Greater Richmond, Va., chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America.

Cue the Music

By Yishane Lee

Along with wrapping up holiday gifts, we are also busy wrapping up the Winter 2014 issue of Hearing Health, available in January.

Our cover story is about legendary guitar great Les Paul, and the launch of the Les Paul Ambassadors. The Les Paul Ambassadors are an exciting partnership between HHF and the Les Paul Foundation to support our search for a cure for hearing loss and tinnitus as well as educate consumers about this topic. We’re thrilled that Lou Pallo, a longtime friend of Les Paul and a talented musician in his own right, is our first Ambassador helping to spread the word.

Les Paul, who had a hearing loss and tinnitus, is the inspiration for our special music issue. Enjoying music can be a challenge for people who have a hearing loss, partly because hearing aids favor the voice of one speaker above background noise, and what is music if not many speakers and a lot of so-called noise?

As staff writer and audiologist Barbara Jenkins more eloquently explains:

“Hearing aids have been developed to maximize clarity of speech understanding, but to do this they must reduce non-speech sounds—which are the very elements that enhance musical or environmental sounds. Even though you may hear music better with your hearing aids than without them, most speech enhancement programs by necessity end up distorting music.”

Jenkins has plenty of helpful tips for optimizing your hearing aids to enjoy listening to music, and beyond merely engaging the music program in your hearing aid. Look for “The Sounds of Music” in our Winter issue.

You have probably heard of the cochlear implant (CI), but what about the hybrid CI? It can also help users enjoy music. The hybrid makes use of—and aims to preserve—residual hearing. Particularly in age-related hearing loss, residual hearing is usually in the low frequencies. So by combining this residual, low frequency hearing with high frequency hearing that has been amplified by the implant, the hybrid CI user has a fuller, rounder hearing experience.

Look for our story about hybrid CIs, written by Lina Reiss, Ph.D., a 2013 Second-Year HHF Emerging Research Grant (ERG) recipient, along with an ERG alumnus, Christopher Turner, Ph.D., who has published more than 20 papers on the topic. In addition, researchers at the University of Washington recently announced a new harmonic algorithm that allows CI users to better hear music, which we will detail in “Hearing Headlines.”

Finally, we have contributions from musicians who have hearing loss. Wendy Cheng started an association of amateur musicians with hearing loss, now 10 years old, and Nancy Williams is a member of HHF’s board and a pianist who has performed at New York City’s Carnegie Hall. Underscoring all these stories is the work our Hearing Restoration Project, which is working toward a cure for hearing loss and tinnitus—and the ability to once again enjoy music to its fullest.

Don’t miss out on all this and more - subscribe  to Hearing Health magazine for free today!

Support a Cure for Hearing Loss and Get Your Tax Deduction Before 2013 Ends!

By Tara Guastella

What’s a better way to take part in the season of giving than by making a tax deductible donation and showing your support for a cure for hearing loss and tinnitus? I can’t think of any!

This time of year, charities always see an influx in gifts with many donors waiting until the last minute to write their check or go online to donate. Last year, we broke records in the amount of charitable gifts that came in during the fourth quarter and this year we hope to do so yet again!  Will you help us break records by making a year end, tax deductible gift?

Why should you donate to HHF this year? Kille, a mother of three sons (two have hearing loss), recently shared: "When I stumbled upon HHF's free magazine, Hearing Health, I said to myself 'Thank goodness there is an organization out there working on offering a cure for hearing loss for those who want it. And I want to be part of making that a reality.'"

We hope you will join Kille. There are many ways you can support HHF and a cure for hearing loss and tinnitus this giving season:

• Make an online donation (before December 31).

• Mail in a donation (remember it must be postmarked and the check date must be no later than Dec. 31); see our mailing address in the footer below.

• Contribute to an item on our Wish List and give our researchers the tools they need to conduct their studies.

• Create a giving page or fundraising event where you can raise funds from family and friends.

• Make a donation in honor of or in memory of someone special to you.

• Give a gift of appreciated stock from an IRA or a gift of life insurance.

Which way will you show your support? Share in the comments!

The Perfect (Powerful) Stocking Stuffer

By Yishane Lee

Hearing aid batteries are the perfect little stocking stuffer for the hearing aid wearers on your list—or if you’re a hearing aid wearer yourself, you should request from Santa!

Hearing aids use miniature zinc air button cells, which represent a huge improvement over their mercury predecessors—not least because the mercury ones were toxic! They also last twice as long, are environmentally friendly, and are less expensive.

The battery is activated when the sticker tab is removed, and exposing the cell to air oxidizes the zinc and powers the battery. Wait 30 to 60 seconds for the cell to become fully activated before placing the new battery into the hearing aid. This helps maximize the battery’s life.

The size of these button cells are universally standardized and the sizes are color coded for convenience, whether they are disposable or rechargeable. Common sizes are size 10 (yellow) and size 312 (brown). How long they last depends on use, but generally size 10s last three to five days, and size 312 about 10 to 15 days.

The key is making sure the seal that activates the battery remains intact. If it becomes damaged and air reaches the cell, activating the zinc, the battery will eventually drain. (And then you may find yourself in a foreign country looking for a pharmacy that sells hearing aid batteries—always bring spares when traveling!) Besides pharmacies, your hearing healthcare provider, warehouse stores, and online retailers all sell batteries.

Battery shelf life is several years, provided you store them at room temperature and keep them away from heat and humidity, which can affect the seal. Always store and transport in their original packaging. Carrying batteries around in your pocket or handbag can also damage the seal, and your keys or other metal objects can inadvertently short-circuit them.

Open up the battery compartment when you remove them and shut them off (newer models do this automatically for you), so they are aired out overnight. Exposure to moisture is another risk for zinc air batteries.

Remember: All batteries pose a serious health risk for children and pets if swallowed. Keep them out of reach and contact poison control immediately at (202) 625-3333 if they are ingested. Get more safety tips from the National Capital Poison Center.

And a note about recycling: Zinc is hazardous to the environment. So while many states do not require that hearing aid batteries be recycled, if you throw the batteries out with the trash, over time the harmful chemicals will be released. Look for battery recycling bins at large grocery stores and drugstores. Hearing aid retailers and hearing providers also may accept used batteries as well. The Big Green Box and Battery Solutions will recycle your batteries (and other electronics) for a fee. See Earth911 and Call2Recycle for battery dropoff locations and other resources.

Read more about batteries, including rechargeable and proprietary options, as well as choices for cochlear implants.

Are You Wireless Enabled?

By Paul Harrison, Guest Author

This is the first in a two part series on wireless technology and hearing aids.

With the introduction of wireless technology, hearing aids are now able to do more than ever before. Just making things louder is a thing of the past with new devices containing more and more advanced features with each new generation of hearing aid.

Wireless technology in hearing aids means that they are able to connect both with each other and with a number of different devices using a signal that is similar to the Bluetooth in mobile phones. When the hearing aids work together it is known as binaural technology. With this feature, they can communicate with each other and work together to improve your hearing. There are some binaural features that will analyze your environment, detect which hearing aid is receiving the clearer signal and then transmit this superior signal to the other side. This ensures that you are always getting the best sound available, whatever your environment may be. Binaural microphone applications work in the same way to ensure you hear sounds from all directions clearly but can give priority to speech over background noises.

When most people mention wireless technology in hearing aids, they are referring to their ability to connect to other things. This signal allows the hearing aids to be paired with different accessories that in turn can be connected to your various audio devices.

Each manufacturer has their own range of accessories which can only be used with their own hearing aids. Some require a device called a streamer to be used in addition to the other accessories. This streamer is used to relay the signal from each device into the hearing aids and is often the point of control as well. Some manufacturers use a different or more powerful signal which can send the sounds directly without the need for this additional device.

So what can you connect to?

Television

Many manufacturers now have a device that can be easily connected to most televisions. It is usually a discreet little box that sits by the TV and picks up the sound coming from it. It then transmits the sound into the hearing aids, either directly or through the additional streamer. This can give you the effect of wearing headphones without the inconvenience of actually wearing them. It also allows you to control the volume by adjusting the hearing aids rather than the television. This can be particularly useful if you are not the only person watching, as it means you can watch at your own level without affecting the listening comfort of others. In most cases, if an additional streamer is required, this unit will also act as a charger for it.

Telephone

Many hearing aid users struggle when using their home telephone for several reasons. Some people find that the conversation sounds muffled and some even report that they often don’t hear it ring. There are now wireless accessories that can help with this by connecting you directly to the telephone. An alert will sound in your hearing aids when the phone rings so you never miss a call and then you don’t even have to get up to answer it. You can answer the call by simply pressing a button on your device and you will then hear the conversation through your hearing aids. This gives you the benefit of a clearer sound and also means that you hear the conversation in both of your ears at the same time. The built in microphone in the device then allows you to enjoy your conversation without having to go to the phone.

Mobile Phone

These work in a very similar way to the home phone accessories. They allow you to receive alerts when calls come through and then answer the phone without having to remove it from your pocket or bag.

According to YourHearing Wireless, technology is advancing all the time, making it easier for hearing aid users to enjoy things that they previously found difficult or frustrating. Each manufacturer has a different range of accessories so you would need to check to see what is available for your particular hearing aids. There are so many options available today it is possible for everyone to get themselves and their hearing aids wireless enabled.

Stay tuned for part two to be posted in early 2014 which will highlight other types of devices that can connect to your hearing aid and help you hear better.

Author Bio:

Paul Harrison has been in the Hearing aid industry for 20 years and in that time has worked at both manufacturer and retailer level before managing his own online hearing aid business www.yourhearing.co.uk which is a national network of local hearing aid audiologists who offer the main hearing aid brands at less than the high street but with the same quality aftercare and warranty.

"Listen to Me, Right Now!"

By Yishane Lee

As a parent, I constantly think that my children aren’t listening. The number of times I repeat myself endlessly (usually accompanied by an escalation in volume) before I get an answer is enough to drive me bonkers. But a child who isn’t listening to you can be a sign of something more than a clash of wills.

If you find that your child doesn’t respond to repeated entreaties—especially when you’re not facing her—it could be a sign of a hearing loss.

It is one sign that Hearing Health magazine staff writer Barbara Jenkins, Au.D., BCABA, includes in her list of the most common signs of hearing loss in children of different ages, from infants to teenagers.

Despite universal newborn hearing screening in hospitals—an effort that HHF spearheaded in the 1990s that has been critical for early intervention treatment—hearing loss can be progressive and appear in children after you go home from the hospital and into the school years.

For instance, a baby who doesn’t react to a sudden noise, such as a toy dropping to the floor, may have a hearing loss. Evolutionarily speaking, humans (and all animals) make sounds in reaction to hearing sounds, so a hearing loss can be indicated when a baby does not make word-like sounds, such as “gaga” or “dada” by 10 months of age.

In fact, speech milestones are critical for making sure your child’s development—and hearing—are on track. (Also important is talking directly to your toddler, too, according to a new Stanford University study.) Talk to your pediatrician if you have any concerns, no matter how slight. A study in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery found that parental concern and school hearing screens helped diagnose hearing loss after passing the newborn hearing screening.

As your child ages, there’s more opportunity for social interaction as well as picking up illnesses. Ear infections (otitis media, or infection of the middle ear) are one of the most common childhood infectious diseases requiring antibiotics. In young children the Eustachian tube has not fully developed, leaving the middle ear more likely to retain fluid that in the ears of older children gravity flushes out.

Since infections can last one to three months, with fluid blocking the ear, during that time hearing and speech both become impaired.

This can delay language acquisition and lead to learning issues. Left untreated, children who are prone to chronic ear infections are at risk of permanent hearing loss. Some of our 2013 Emerging Research Grant recipients (Ravinder Kaur, Ph.D.; Ani Manichaikul, Ph.D.; and Merri J. Rosen, Ph.D.) are working on developing a vaccine, identifying genetic predispositions, or otherwise mitigating the effects of this serious health issue in children.

Placing ear tubes in the ear are a common remedy for children with chronic ear infections. It’s a simple surgery, but requires general anesthesia, and repeated surgeries may be required if the tubes fall out. Our otolaryngologist recommended that my son, then just over a year old, get tubes to help with chronic fluid in the ear (without infections). But I couldn’t bring myself to do surgery when the ailment was something he would eventually grow out of. That said, it is a common, safe surgery that many children have benefited from.

Ear infections can be an obvious sign of potential hearing loss. So can needing the TV or stereo volume turned up, tilting the head forward, or having difficulty at school. Your child may even tell you straight out that he can’t hear you. As Jenkins writes, “This may seem obvious, but many parents assume that their children are not paying attention when in fact there may be an unidentified hearing loss.”

Review the signs your child may have a hearing loss here, and share your experience parenting a child with hearing loss below.

"Hear Today, Gone Tomorrow," says the NYC Department of Health

By Tara Guastella

Last week, the New York City Department of Health announced the launch of a new public health awareness campaign. Rather than targeting oversize soft drinks or styrofoam containers, this ad campaign focuses on a very important issue: noise-induced hearing loss. The campaign warns that listening to headphones at a high volume can lead to both hearing loss and tinnitus.

The health department collected data on levels of hearing loss and found that nearly one out of four adults ages 18 to 44 who report heavy headphone use say they have hearing problems. This group was also more than twice as likely to report hearing problems than those who report light-to-moderate use or no use of headphones.

“Listening to headphones at a high volume for too long can damage your hearing,” says Health Commissioner Thomas Farley, M.D. “If you want to continue to enjoy music in the future, you’ll turn down the volume today.”

The hearing loss is permanent. Unlike birds, fish, and reptiles, humans and all mammals cannot restore their own hearing because we don’t have the ability regenerate inner ear hair cells. So when those hair cells are damaged by chronic exposure to loud sounds, our ability to hear is irreversibly compromised.

HHF’s Hearing Restoration Project (HRP) is working toward a cure for hearing loss and tinnitus. Our HRP consortium members are working collaboratively and sharing data on their findings in bird, zebrafish, and mouse studies. By doing so, they are able to assess how birds and zebrafish show regeneration while a mouse does not, after a very early developmental time. Other HRP research examines which cell types we are likely to need to target in damaged human ears to induce regeneration.  

As our HRP researchers work toward a cure, it is important to take precautionary steps to prevent further loss of hearing. Follow this advice from the NYC Department of Health:

• Reduce the volume, limit listening time, and take regular breaks.

• Never listen at maximum volume and do not turn the volume up to drown out external noise.

• Use volume limiting features of personal listening devices.

• Know the early signs of hearing loss and ask a doctor for a hearing test if you have trouble hearing conversation, need to turn up the volumes on TV, radio, or personal music players or experience ringing in the ear.

Safe listening!

#GivingTuesday Shines in Its Second Year

By Tara Guastella

Yesterday was Giving Tuesday, the official kickoff to the holiday giving season.  After Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, I am glad to finally see a day in honor of charitable giving!

In its second year, Giving Tuesday seemed much larger and more diverse than last year with a wide range of charities devising unique ways to raise funds. According to one report, donations nearly doubled compared with last year.

I have been looking forward to Giving Tuesday since July. Yet over the past week or so, I began to worry as I started to receive countless emails and updates in my Facebook and Twitter feeds about Giving Tuesday from every charity I have ever heard of. I wondered if HHF would get drowned out by larger, more well-known charities like American Cancer Society or The Boys and Girls Club.  

People always tell me that I worry too much. And, in this case, they were right. I am proud to report that yesterday HHF received the largest amount of individual donations in one day ever (with the exception of December 31)! Since this was HHF’s first year as an official partner of Giving Tuesday, we are thrilled at the support our community has shown in support of a cure for hearing loss and tinnitus.  

HHF’s National Junior Board celebrated Giving Tuesday by hosting the second annual “Hear, Hear for Holiday Cheer” benefit at Connolly’s Pub in NYC last night. Over 100 attendees enjoyed free beer and wine, fun conversation, and great raffle prizes. Raffle items included a DASHA wellness package, tickets to a New York Giants football game, a photography session with a top NYC photographer, and multiple trip packages to Antigua, Barbados, Panama, and much more.

Now that Giving Tuesday is over, I can look forward to making next year even better and more successful for HHF!

Give the Gift of Healthy Hearing

By Yishane Lee

As soon as the holidays roll around every year, I try to think of ways to give and receive gifts that are truly valuable, and not merely the season’s hot toy or other things that, when it comes down to it, you don’t really, really need. (I have used last year’s immersion blender exactly once. Yipes!)

As I try to remind my kids, the season is about gift giving, not receiving, and this year, I’ll talk to my family about giving the gift of healthy hearing. An annual hearing test taken every year around the holidays is the perfect way to show your family you care, and for them to show you they care.

Why? Undiagnosed and untreated hearing loss has been shown to detrimentally affect personal relationships, as the Better Hearing Institute reports. “Research demonstrates the considerable negative social, psychological, cognitive, and health effects of untreated hearing loss with far-reaching implications that go well beyond hearing alone. In fact, those who have difficulty hearing can experience such distorted and incomplete communication that it seriously impacts their professional and personal lives, at times leading to isolation and withdrawal.”

And it’s well known that social isolation is a risk factor for dementia and other cognitive disorders. The social isolation that can come with untreated hearing loss may be one reason why hearing loss has been linked to dementia, according to a 2011 study led by Frank Lin, M.D., Ph.D., at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. It is also possible that whatever leads to dementia may also cause hearing loss. Or, the brain’s constant efforts to understand and interpret sounds eventually taxes the brain, leading to dementia.

I don’t mean to be such a downer in a time of holiday cheer. But since having a hearing loss can be even more challenging during the holidays, when family and friends gather and when the noise level can be even louder, you owe it to yourself and your family—and vice versa—to get your hearing checked by a hearing professional this holiday season.

If you’re really looking to give a gift that will impact a cure for hearing loss and tinnitus, consider a gift to HHF.  You can make a gift in memory or in honor of a loved one, contribute to an item on our wish list, or fundraise for a cure and ask your family and friends to donate to HHF in lieu of holiday gifts to you.

While you are doing some online shopping, consider using Amazon Smile where a portion of your proceeds will be automatically donated to HHF at no cost to you! Just register (or sign in to your Amazon account) and choose HHF as your charity of choice. Also, be sure to avoid these toxic toys—including noisy toys that have the potential to cause hearing damage over time.

Here’s hoping you and yours enjoy a happy, healthy holiday season!

Stuffed After Thanksgiving? Don't Be a Turkey - Get Active!

By Tara Guastella

Over Thanksgiving this week, many of us will spend time giving thanks with family and friends. Thanksgiving is also unique in that it’s a holiday specifically about food (and not, say, gift-giving or something religious). I can’t wait to devour many traditional Thanksgiving foods (cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie!) because I wait for them all year long. Yet each year I always find myself overeating, including on Thanksgiving leftovers. I can’t resist a cold turkey sandwich with stuffing and mashed sweet potatoes.

After the long Thanksgiving weekend, I force myself back to the gym to burn off those excess calories. But participating in sports and other physical activities can be a challenge for those with hearing loss who use hearing aids or cochlear implants. The potential for moisture damage, losing the device, and sacrificing sound quality can cause many to (happily) skip a good workout.  

You can’t use these reasons as excuses, though. Hearing aid manufacturers have boosted technology, styles, and accessories to allow you to take part in your favorite activities.

Waterproof hearing aids (such as the Siemens Aquaris) and cochlear implants (such as the Advanced Bionics Neptune processor) eliminate worry about water damage. Ask your hearing healthcare professional for details. And in case your hearing device is not fully water-resistant, follow these tips for emergency care of water-damaged devices.

If you enjoy an outdoor run or bike ride in the park, wind noise can pose a problem for hearing aid users. The next time you are considering an upgrade, remember that completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids sit deep enough in the ear canal that wind won’t affect it. All hearing aids also have “wind noise reduction” settings which can help reduce noise from wind as well.  

There are also accessories that can help keep your hearing aid in place while you are in motion. The waterproof Neoprene Ear Band-It is worn like a traditional sweatband and helps keep any style of hearing aid in place. (It’s also useful for limiting water exposure to the ears—reducing the risk of ear infection, if you or your child is prone to them in water.) You can also choose brightly colored safety cords or clips that attach hearing aids to a piece of clothing and/or to each other or eyeglasses for added security.

Before trying a new activity, always be sure to speak with your hearing healthcare provider so you can make sure your hearing device is up to the task (or learn about one that is). Be sure to ask about the warranty or insurance in case something does happen to your hearing device.

Learn more ways to protect your hearing gear from Hearing Health magazine’s “Get Active.”  

Happy Thanksgiving!