Your Cell Phone Can Save Your Hearing

By Murray Grossan, M.D.

As a ear, nose, and throat specialist I treat patients with hearing loss and tinnitus. Did you know that by simply by using your smartphone, you can help prevent these hearing conditions?

Loud noises damage the ear. But how loud is too loud? When a guest attends a wedding and sees children seated in front of eight-foot speakers, are the speakers too loud? Your phone knows.

When a parent yells to his teenagers to lower the volume of their music, is it truly too loud? Your phone knows.

There are many smartphone apps available to Apple and Android operating systems. A simple search for the terms “sound meters” or “decibel meters” will bring up  different apps, including many of which are free!

Hearing sounds at 115 decibels for more than 15 minutes can cause permanent hearing loss. With hearing loss you may also develop tinnitus. Chronic tinnitus can be so distracting that it can disrupt daily life, including the loss of sleep.

It is not essential to know all the ins and outs of sound measurement in order to protect your hearing. (For technical details, see the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s report.) A sound meter is all you need.

Why? It may be hard to realize how loud a sound really is, how close you are to it, and how long you are exposed to it. One person says the sound is too loud; another says it seems fine. A smartphone sound meter can measure the volume level. Recent research by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health scientists shows the apps’ accuracy is approaching that of professional sound meters. And once you know the danger, you can limit your exposure: Block, walk, and turn.

We know that many older people have hearing loss. But science is not sure if age causes the loss or if it is an accumulation of years of hearing loud noises, just as the cumulative effects of sun exposure are evident decades later. I have an 88-year-old patient with perfect hearing. She never used a noisy lawnmower.

If sound meter use becomes common, and we are all fully aware of the danger of noise exposure, you won’t see children seated in front of giant speakers at a wedding. And I sincerely hope that I will see fewer people at my office because they can’t hear and have tinnitus.

HHF Named Twice in Consumer Reports

Hearing Health Foundation is absolutely thrilled to be named—twice—in Consumer Reports’ “Best Charities for Your Donation,” published Dec. 14, 2016.

The article offers tips for finding a charity that, in its words, “really puts your money to work.” It reviewed the detailed process by which charity rating organizations Charity Watch, Charity Navigator, and BBB Wise Giving Alliance assess charities.

“Collectively, these groups evaluate thousands of nonprofit organizations based on how they collect and spend their money, how transparent they are to the public, and how well they’re governed,” the story says.

Using the watchdog reports, Consumer Reports listed up to five of the highest- and lowest-rated charities in 11 categories.

Hearing Health Foundation was cited as one of the nation’s five best charities—and the only one cited twice, in the categories “Blind and Impaired Hearing” and “Health.”

I like to say Hearing Health Foundation is “small yet mighty”—so it is very gratifying to get confirmation of our fiscal health from a respected publication like Consumer Reports.

During this season of giving, we are grateful for your gifts that enable us to further our mission of hearing protection, education, and research.

If you haven’t yet, and are able to give, please consider an end-of-year donation knowing that all of us at Hearing Health Foundation—staff, scientists, board members, and other advisers—are working tirelessly to make your dollars count.

HHF Named Twice in Consumer Reports

Hearing Health Foundation is absolutely thrilled to be named—twice—in Consumer Reports’ “Best Charities for Your Donation,” published Dec. 14, 2016.

The article offers tips for finding a charity that, in its words, “really puts your money to work.” It reviewed the detailed process by which charity rating organizations Charity Watch, Charity Navigator, and BBB Wise Giving Alliance assess charities.

“Collectively, these groups evaluate thousands of nonprofit organizations based on how they collect and spend their money, how transparent they are to the public, and how well they’re governed,” the story says.

Using the watchdog reports, Consumer Reports listed up to five of the highest- and lowest-rated charities in 11 categories.

Hearing Health Foundation was cited as one of the nation’s five best charities—and the only one cited twice, in the categories “Blind and Impaired Hearing” and “Health.”

I like to say Hearing Health Foundation is “small yet mighty”—so it is very gratifying to get confirmation of our fiscal health from a respected publication like Consumer Reports.

During this season of giving, we are grateful for your gifts that enable us to further our mission of hearing protection, education, and research.

If you haven’t yet, and are able to give, please consider an end-of-year donation knowing that all of us at Hearing Health Foundation—staff, scientists, board members, and other advisers—are working tirelessly to make your dollars count.

My Hearing Is Not Perfect

By Norman Molesko

MY HEARING IS NOT PERFECT

What did you say?
Face me!
Please say it again!
Clearly. Slower. Louder.
I want to understand you.
I know you said something to me.
It may not be what I heard.
May not be what I think you said.
My hearing is not perfect.
Not all sounds are clear to me.
Not all sounds can be heard by me.
Some sounds are difficult to hear.
Some cannot be heard at all.
I don’t want to be unsure of myself.
Please repeat what you said?
Clearly. Slower. Louder.
I need to understand you.
 

By: Norman Molesko, age 86, 

©2011, Ambassador For Seniors

'Tis the Season to Protect Your Hearing from Noisy Toys

By It's A Noisy Planet

The winter holidays are the time of year for giving and sharing! The holidays provide many opportunities to spend time with family and friends and enjoy some festive cheer. Perhaps you’ll see a local holiday musical or performance or participate in a holiday gift exchange. As you prepare to wrap (or unwrap) those gifts, it’s important to consider if that noisy toy could actually be a hazard. Ever thought about how those concerts and new toys and gadgets might affect your hearing?

The U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) has found toys on store shelves that produce sounds loud enough to contribute to hearing damage over time, including music players and toys that are intended to be held close to the ear. Read the full U.S. PIRG report. During the holidays, make sure to consider the noise levels of toys for children and follow these simple tips to help keep the noise down:

• Pack hearing protectors, such as earplugs or ear muffs, if you’re attending a local seasonal concert or other festivities. Musical events can register at or above 120 decibels—that’s roughly as loud as an ambulance siren.
  

• Did one of your children get a new noisy toy? If the racket is driving you crazy, it may be too loud. Consider putting masking or packing tape over the toy’s speaker. This should muffle the sound enough to make it safe for everyone. Some toys have volume controls to lower the volume or turn off the sound completely.
  

• Buy quiet gifts. Look for toys or gadgets with low-volume settings or ones that make no noise at all, such as books or puzzles.
  

• Test out toys in the store before buying them to check sound levels. Ask yourself, “Is this too loud?” If so, find another toy with a softer sound. Also ask, “Can I control the volume on the toy and maintain a lower level of noise output?”
  

• Limit “screen time” to cut back on noise. Televisions, tablet computers, and video games contribute to high sound levels in the home.
  

• Turn on only one toy at a time. Avoid competing noises in the same area.

From everyone at Hearing Health Foundation and It’s a Noisy Planet. Protect Their Hearing® we wish you a happy holidays and a healthy New Year! 

New Insights Into Age-Related Hearing Loss

By Ruili Xie, Ph.D.

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL), also known as presbycusis, is one of the most prevalent health conditions affecting older adults. The leading cause of ARHL is generally attributed to damage in the ear during aging, which include the loss of the inner ear’s sensory hair cells and spiral ganglion cells (SGCs).  

Hair cells act like antennae for the auditory system to receive sound information from the environment. SGCs are the nerve cells that connect the ear and the brain, with their peripheral branches receiving sound information from hair cells, and their central branches forming the auditory nerve to pass information to the brain. Recent studies showed that the terminals (endpoints) of SGC peripheral branches are vulnerable and can be damaged during aging, which are thought to be the primary cause of ARHL.    

However, the majority (over 70 percent) of SGC peripheral terminals survive normal aging. It is unclear whether, with age, sound information is reliably transmitted through the surviving SGCs to the brain; and if not, how this may contribute to ARHL.

One particular point of interest lies in the terminals of the SGC central branches (the auditory nerve synapses) that activate their target neurons in the brain. Deterioration in the information flow at these synapses with age would reduce sensory input to the brain and lead to ARHL.

For the first time, Dr. Paul B. Manis and I have found that the transmission of information from SGCs to their target neurons in the cochlear nucleus (the first auditory station in the brain) is compromised in aged mice with ARHL. The transmission process deteriorates due to abnormal calcium signaling at the central terminals of the SGCs. The study not only proposes a novel brain mechanism that underlies ARHL, but also provides new strategies in developing future clinical treatments.

Ruili Xie, Ph.D., a 2009 and 2010 Emerging Research Grants recipient, is an assistant professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Toledo, in Ohio.The study “Synaptic Transmission at the Endbulb of Held Deteriorates During Age-Related Hearing Loss” appeared in The Journal of Physiology on Sept. 13, 2016.

We need your help supporting innovative hearing and balance science through our Emerging Research Grants program. Please make a contribution today.

House Hunting Tips for the Hard of Hearing

By Erin Vaughan

Finding the perfect home is a stressful enough process for anyone, but when you’re struggling with your hearing, it comes with special challenges. You'll need to make sure your health, safety, and the quality of your hearing aren't compromised by your new abode, and that may require a bit of extra research or planning. Here’s how to simplify your house hunting process so you can be in your new dream home in no time.

Look for Doctors and Health Providers Ahead of Time
If you’re relocating, rather than just moving across town, you can give yourself some peace of mind by looking for health professionals and services in your area ahead of time. The American Academy of Audiologists has a great provider locator tool where you can search for professionals by city and state, zip code, or even by country if you’re going really far. You can also connect with your local chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of American for recommendations.

Make Sure Your Realtor Knows About Your Hearing Loss
Your realtor works for you, not the other way around. Therefore, they should be happy to accommodate special provisions you need in your search—whether that’s making sure they show you a home that meet your requests, or simply repeat information if necessary. Talk to your realtor before you start looking, and express your concerns. He or she should help you come up with a plan to get the information you need to make an informed decision.

Look for Acoustically Friendly Surroundings
If you’re thoughtful in your home search, you may even be able to locate a space that helps facilitate your hearing. Look for homes with triple pane or laminated acoustic glass that will block noise interference from the outdoors. Additionally, softer surfaces tend to focus sound waves to improve room acoustics—so keep an eye out for carpeted or wood floors instead of tile, and large windows that will allow for tall, noise-cushioning drapes.

Check If Local Authorities Offer Free Accessible Safety Equipment
If you have a registered disability, your local government, fire, or police department may offer accessible safety equipment for free or at low cost. This includes flashing smoke alarms, home security systems, and doorbell systems, which can keep you safer in your home. In fact, your fire department may even come install this equipment for free. Additionally, amenities like these are a good indication of what kind of neighborhood you’re headed for—generally, the better and more thorough the services offered, the happier and safer the area.

Take Advantage of Online Listings
Realtors understand that everyone has less time to go door-to-door house hunting weekend after weekend. Because of this, online listings are becoming much more thorough, with long lists of home features and multiple expert photos. While nothing can replace the experience of seeing your soon-to-be-home in person, online listings can help you wade through homes and areas that won’t work—and help you find a space with the features you need.

Get a Feel for Your Future Neighbors
Good fences make good neighbors—but when you are hard of hearing, you may need to rely on friendly neighbors to work with you to limit outdoor noise. Be on high alert for signs of derelict neighbors: unkempt yards and exteriors, vacant or foreclosed homes, and pets chained up outside are all signs of neighbor trouble down the line. When you do zero in on a property, be sure to introduce yourself as soon as possible so you can meet the neighbors on your terms.

Most of all, don't be intimidated. House hunting can be overwhelming, but it will all be worth it once you've finally signed on your dream home that’s not only beautiful, but comfortable and accommodating for you, too. Until then, happy hunting!

Erin Vaughan is a blogger, gardener and aspiring homeowner.  She currently resides in Austin, TX where she writes full time for Modernize, with the goal of empowering homeowners with the expert guidance and educational tools they need to take on big home projects with confidence.

Give Thanks and Then Give Back

By Pallavi Bharadwaj

Black Friday, the Friday after Thanksgiving, is the official kickoff to the holiday buying season. Cyber Monday has become synonymous with online-only shopping deals on the Monday after the Thanksgiving weekend.

Giving Tuesday is a movement to create a national day of giving during the holiday season that will inspire philanthropy and encourage bigger, better, and smarter charitable giving.

HHF is thrilled to participate in Giving Tuesday this year on November 29th. 

This Giving Tuesday, please join HHF and support groundbreaking research to cure hearing loss and tinnitus. You can donate directly, or fundraise for a cure.

If you’re looking for some ideas to contribute to HHF on Giving Tuesday:

• Post on Facebook and Twitter (and other social networks that you belong to) encouraging each of your friends to donate $1 to HHF. The average individual has 300 friends on Facebook which means that if each of your friends donates just $1 on Giving Tuesday, you can raise $300 in one day—it’s that easy!

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

• Host a potluck dinner party and invite your family and friends to join you by bringing a dish and making a donation to HHF.

• Hold a bake sale at your workplace or your child’s school and advertise that the proceeds will be donated to HHF.

• If you play a musical instrument, ask for donations for your music practice that day.

• Take some time to burn those excess Thanksgiving calories and go for a run, swim (indoors of course!), or bike ride fundraising for every mile accomplished.

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

• You can make gifts of appreciated stocks too.
  
  Do you have other ideas to fundraise for a cure? Please share with us in the comments!

Give to HHF this #GivingTuesday

By Laura Friedman

#GivingTuesday is an international day of giving that kicks off the holiday giving season, is November 29th!

Hearing Health Foundation (HHF) wants to thank you for your support of our research programs, such as the Hearing Restoration Project (HRP) and Emerging Research Grants (ERG). Your support enhances the lives of millions of Americans. Thank you!

Here are some of our successes, dating back to our founding in 1958:

• HHF is the largest non-profit funder of hearing research in the U.S.

• HHF-funded research has led to the development of cochlear implants and treatments for otosclerosis (abnormal bone growth in the ear) and ear infections.

• n 1987, HHF-funded researchers discovered that chickens regenerate their inner ear hair cells after damage and mammals do not. This led to the development of the HRP in 2011.

• In the 1990s HHF advocated for Universal Newborn Hearing Screening legislation, to detect hearing loss at birth. Today, 97% of newborns are tested, up from 4% in 1994!  

The question of finding a cure for hearing loss is not if, but when. 

You can change the course of hearing and balance science and
helps us find better therapies and cures by giving today.

Here are some ways you can #HearTheHope this holiday season:

• Make a donation to HHF in honor or in memory of someone close to you. You can even make gifts of appreciated stocks or a planned gift!   

Post that you gave to HHF on social media, such as Facebook or Twitter, and encourage your friends to give as well.

• Post that you gave to HHF on social media, such as Facebook or Twitter, and encourage your friends to give as well.

  • The average person has 300 friends on Facebook which means that if each of your friends donates just $1 on Giving Tuesday, you can raise $300 in one day—it’s that easy!

• Let your talents and interests lead you to your own fundraiser for HHF through our website! No event is too large or small. Here are some ideas for inspiration:

  • Host a potluck and ask your guest bring a dish and make a charitable contribution to HHF.

  • Organize a bake sale or golf outing with the proceeds will be donated to HHF.

  • Burn excess Thanksgiving calories and go for a run, swim (indoors of course!), or bike ride, fundraising for every mile accomplished.

Have other ideas or questions for us? E-mail us at Development@hhf.org.

Educators Must Address Diabetes-Related Hearing Loss

By Susan Weiner, MS, RDN, CDE, CDN and Joanne Rinker, MS, RD, CDE, LDN

Hearing loss may not be commonly thought of as a complication of diabetes. How did you become interested in the condition?

As a diabetes educator, when I think of diabetes complications, I think of kidney, eye, heart and nerve damage. What I don’t think about is hearing loss. In 2012, a colleague asked me what screenings I do for my patients to determine if they have hearing loss. I realized I did nothing because hearing loss really was never on my radar. Then she asked me to think about how a patient who has diabetes might feel if they also had trouble hearing. I started to think about how hearing loss can not only make life more difficult, but could also lead to depression. For a diabetes patient who is already dealing with the pressures of a complicated disease, adding hearing impairment to the list of stressors would be devastating. So, I decided that this was something worth discussing with other diabetes educators.

How common is hearing loss among people with diabetes?

I did some research, and it turns out that nearly 26 million people in the United States have diabetes, and an estimated 36 million people have some type of hearing loss (17%). NIH has found that hearing loss is twice as common among people with diabetes as among those who don’t have the disease. Also, of the 79 million adults thought to have prediabetes, the rate of hearing loss is 30% higher than in those with normal blood sugar levels.

Research suggests that diabetes may lead to hearing loss by damaging the nerves and blood vessels of the inner ear. Autopsy studies of patients with diabetes have shown evidence of such damage.

A recent study from Handzo and colleagues found that women between the ages of 60 and 75 years with well-controlled diabetes had better hearing than women with poorly controlled diabetes, with hearing levels similar to those of women of the same age without diabetes. The study also showed significantly worse hearing in all women younger than 60 years with diabetes, even when the disease is well controlled.

Additionally, a study by Bainbridge and colleagues showed that 54% of people with diabetes had at least mild hearing loss in their ability to hear high-frequency tones, compared with 32% of those with no history of diabetes. And 21% of participants with diabetes had at least mild hearing loss in their ability to hear low- to mid-frequency tones, compared with 9% of those without diabetes.

People with diabetes are 2.3 times more likely to have mild hearing loss, defined as having trouble hearing words spoken in a normal voice from more than 3 feet away. But the effects of hearing loss go beyond the ability to detect sound. Hearing loss is shown to lead to sadness and depression increasing with severity of hearing loss; worry and anxiety, including periods of a month or longer when the patient reports feeling worried, tense or anxious; paranoia (“people get angry at me for no reason”); less social activity; and emotional turmoil and insecurity.

What can diabetes educators do to help patients with hearing loss?

Encourage diabetes patients to be screened routinely for hearing loss, just as they are for eye and kidney problems. Those with mild to severe impairment should be referred to an audiologist for more intense screening and treatment.

Treatment for hearing loss will typically start with a hearing aid. Often this will alleviate the problem. In about 10% of the population, medication may also be necessary, but most hearing loss is corrected with the introduction of a hearing aid. With improved hearing, patients will also likely experience increased alertness; improved job performance, memory and mood; less loneliness, fatigue, tension, stress, negativism and anger; better relationships and feelings about themselves; and greater independence and security — improved overall quality of life.

The bottom line is that diabetes educators must remember to add this to their diabetes education curriculum. They should know the resources in their area and have a process for referring patients to an audiologist who can do more extensive screenings as well as order and fit patients for hearing aids. Lastly, they should follow up with patients with hearing loss about overall quality of life. I am sure they will surprised how much adding this one aspect of care can benefit the lives of their patients.

References:

• Bainbridge KE, et al. Ann Intern Med. 2008;149(1):1-10.

• Handzo D, et al. Effect of diabetes on hearing loss. Presented at: Triological Society 2012 Combined Sections Meeting. Miami Beach, Fla.; Jan. 26-28, 2012.

• National Academy on an Aging Society. Hearing loss: a growing problem that affects quality of life. 1999. Available at: http://ihcrp.georgetown.edu/agingsociety/pdfs/hearing.pdf

This blog post orginally appeared on Healio.com on March 1, 2016. 

Joanne Rinker, MS, RD, CDE, LDN, is Senior Director for Community Health Improvement at Population Health Improvement Partners and the 2013 American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) Diabetes Educator of the Year. She has been elected to the AADE Board of Directors 2015-2018. She can be reached at jorinker@gmail.com.

Susan Weiner, MS, RDN, CDE, CDN, is the 2015 AADE Diabetes Educator of the Year and author of The Complete Diabetes Organizer and Diabetes 365 Tips For Living Well. She is the owner of Susan Weiner Nutrition PLLC and is the Endocrine Today Diabetes in Real Life column editor. She can be reached at susan@susanweinernutrition.com.