Ear Safety This Guy Fawkes Night

The days and nights around Fireworks Night are extremely hazardous to your ears. Fireworks can cost you your hearing.

For the lucky ones, their hearing returns, but many must live with their hearing loss or tinnitus for the rest of their lives. There is no cure for noise induced hearing damage. But you can easily prevent it.

Two thousandth of a second is all it takes for an exploding firecracker to put out the noise intensity to put your hearing at risk for life. The burst of noise is so short that you may not sense its true intensity.

Perhaps you love the thrill of fireworks, but you better watch out and be aware that*:

• 1 in 10,000 people suffer permanent hearing damage because of fireworks
• Young adults under the age of 25 are three times more likely than other groups to suffer fireworks related hearing damage
• The loud sounds from fireworks can cause hearing loss if protection is not used. The noise levels produced by fireworks can reach 150-175dB. The recommendation from World Health Organisation is not to be exposed to more than 140dB of peak sound pressure for adults and 120dB for children.
• Infants generally experience the greatest sound pressure and should not be exposed to fireworks.

Take Precautions

Guy Fawkes Night will be celebrated but take care of yourself and each other. Use earplugs to protect your hearing. Simple off the shelf ear plugs would do the trick and for the little ones there are fantastic, inexpensive noise breaker ear defenders - which look pretty cool also.

Make sure that no one else is standing too close when you light the fuse of your fireworks. Most of those suffering hearing damage did not cause it themselves. They suffered the bad luck of being too close to the fireworks of others.

If dealing with fireworks of 170 dB, adults needs to be 15 to 20 meters away from the fireworks before they are at a safe distance, while children have to be 50 to 60 meters away from the same fireworks.

*These conclusions were based on a study of hearing injuries related to fireworks celebrations in Germany, 2000.

The Costs of Hearing Aids Explained

Last month I was asked by a new patient why hearing aids are more expensive than glasses and I realised that my answers to this question may help others too.  This subject has evolved into this feature, highlighting this topic and that hearing aids are 'a quality of life' purchase, an investment for the future.

To assist with understanding it's important to begin by saying that at a company such as my own we have over 300 different hearing aids that we can prescribe to the hearing impaired. A massive choice that many of you may not realise is available, ranging from £250-£2500. In a nutshell, there is something for everyone's pocket, and for the majority of hearing losses and lifestyles. The pricing is inclusive; in other words, the limitless aftercare programme is included for the entire warranty period of the instrument ranging from two years to five years.  Another way of explaining this is to say 'no hidden charges anywhere'!

If you split up the cost per day over a minimum of five years it becomes pennies per day and when comparing the cost of a cup of coffee it brings totally into focus the meaning of a worthwhile investment.

Hearing aid manufacturers spend millions of pounds every year developing major advances in hearing aid technology. For example, this year saw the introduction of the Resound Linx hearing aid used in conjunction with Apple iPhone and iPad smart devices. None of the research and development costs are met by the Government and therefore costs at some point fall onto the end user.

Buying online

A hearing instrument is a complex medically-prescribed device that needs to be fitted properly by a qualified audiology professional. Although it can be tempting to shop online for cheap hearing aids, I would discourage you from doing so.

Buying a device online and expecting your hearing problems to be solved is comparable to buying braces online and expecting them to straighten your teeth!

You could potentially waste your money on a device that doesn't meet your hearing needs, poorly fits the ear itself and comes with no way of adjusting to obtain the best results for you.

Furthermore you will miss out on the care, service and support of a professional audiologist!

It's important to accompany a loved one to their hearing test

Having to live with an untreated hearing loss can be very difficult and a lonely experience. On top of finding it hard to listen and communicate, those who are hearing impaired often have to deal with increasingly frustrated family members and friends who are tired of repeating themselves. Personal relationships are adversely affected by hearing loss. Hearing impaired couples are hardest hit, but relations with friends, family and colleagues suffer, as well.

A British study among 1,500 individuals, aged 55 years and older, with hearing loss seemed to confirm that the presence of hearing loss is likely to cause marital strain. Almost one in two said that relationships with their partner, friends or family had suffered because they could not hear properly. A third had lost touch with friends, and in some cases marriages fell apart as a direct result of a breakdown in communication.
If you have a loved one hearing loss, it is important for you to be positive, supportive and committed to helping them improve their hearing.

One simple way you can support a family member who has hearing difficulties is accompanying them to their hearing test (instead of just losing your patience and badgering them to book one!) Here are four reasons why it is better to tackle the first hearing appointment as a team.

1. Solidarity and comfort
Most hearing evaluations last around 60 minutes or longer. Although there is nothing painful about having the hearing test carried out, it can still be a nerve-wracking experience – especially anticipating the results. Having a loved one there can ease anxiety and help the person with hearing loss feel less alone.

2. Better understanding of the results
It can often be confusing to understand the results of medical tests and their implications – especially when you can’t hear well or have other things on your mind. That’s why it’s nice to have a trusted friend or family member along who can take notes and ask appropriate questions while the audiologist interprets the findings.

3. Another view point
It’s not uncommon for family members to notice hearing loss in a loved one before they notice it themselves. It is very possible that a person with untreated hearing loss does not even realise how much they are missing. Bringing a family member to the initial hearing test will give the hearing clinician access to a different point of view, helping them to formulate the most accurate result possible.

4. Shared responsibility
Sometimes it is hard to make an important medical decision by yourself. When it comes to investing in a pair of hearing aids it’s a good idea to tackle key decisions, such as what type to purchase, what features would compliment their lifestyle and how much to spend, together.

It is also important that a family member is at the first appointment so they can be informed of their importance to their loved one’s hearing rehabilitation process. Persistent encouragement, a positive attitude and the implementation of communication strategies by family members will ultimately result in greater satisfaction for everyone. It really requires a family effort to get the most out of hearing aids.

ReSound Linx: The Patient's View

Back in February I announced details on this blog about the new 'made for iPhone' hearing aid, ReSound Linx. We have tremendous feedback from our patients regarding this product, and as a hearing care professional it is a dream to work with.

Rather than me keep telling you about what our patients think, I thought I would let one of our patients talk about it themselves.

Written by Hearing Care Centre patient Mr Parkinson...

I have resisted buying a hearing aid for nearly 10 years as I thought it probably wouldn't make much difference to my hearing and be far more faff than benefit. I also wasn't keen on the hearing aid  'look' either as I'm still only 41! But when I temporarily lost the hearing in my other 'good' ear at Easter, I started researching the options fast. 

I initially chose the Resound LiNX 9 because it reportedly had great sound quality and it looked small and discreet. And as a bit of a techie geek, I also liked the idea I could integrate it with my iPhone to hear calls, music and audio books - directly in my ear.

I was nervous about paying so much for a hearing aid as a 'first timer' and probably only committed because of the money-back guarantee. However, the product is awesome. 

Why do I like it so much? Well, I can now hear much better for a start! In particular, I find I no longer struggle to hear colleagues at work - even during large meetings. And whilst other hearing aid users I know complain of feedback and issues with background noise, I haven't experienced these with the LiNX. Most of the time I forget I’m even wearing it as the ‘softswitch’ mode manages the sound levels so well that the result is natural with no unexpected surprises.
And I do like its style and compactness. I chose a black one and no-one notices I'm wearing it, especially as I don't need to touch it once it's in my ear because all the settings are controlled from my iPhone.

I've put the ‘Resound Smart’ app on the bottom bar of my iPhone so I can access it quickly from any screen. This makes it easy and discreet to change the volume or switch between different modes such as 'restaurant' or 'traffic' or 'music' etc. I don’t do this very often but sometimes if there is a lot of ambient noise behind me, a quick switch to restaurant mode can help me hear the person who's talking to me more clearly.

I have a couple of little niggles with the app. The battery-life indicator could be better. After 3 weeks of showing full power, it suddenly went from full to flat in a day. A problem if you forget to carry spare batteries. The other issue is that when the iPhone first connects with the LiNX via Bluetooth, the app shows a spinning indicator that implies it's taking a while to make a connection. In fact it is connected, it is just synchronising and updating the data from the hearing aid to the iPhone - maybe a ‘connected and updating’ message would communicate this better as I certainly found the Bluetooth connection to be fast, reliable and consistent.

In short, because of its cost and the promise of technical excellence I had extremely high hopes for the LiNX, and I certainly haven't been disappointed. The irony is, despite it's small size and discreet management my colleagues and friends do know that I’m wearing it as I can’t help but show the thing off.

 

For more information on ReSound Linx, please visit www.hearingcarecentre.co.uk/linx

Over 172,000 People in Suffolk Will Have Hearing Loss by 2031

This week you may have seen on BBC News and local radio, a new report that suggests one in five of the population will have a hearing loss by 2031.

The study was commissioned by the International Longevity Centre, and if we look at the figures at a more local level, this will account for more than 172,000 in Suffolk alone.

Currently the figure stands at one in six, however with an ever-growing population, currently 8.7% over ten years here in Suffolk, this is set to dramatically rise.

The number of people with hearing loss has been on the increase for many years now. It was one in seven, now it’s one in six and before long it will be one in five. As age increases to 75-85 that figure becomes one in three!

For me the problem isn’t the rise in the number of people with hearing loss, but more that people wait too long to have their hearing checked. Unlike with sight or teeth checks, it takes people around 10 years to book a hearing test! That’s 10 years of not being able to hear your family properly, struggling in group social situations, hearing music or not hearing the birds sing.

This report builds on the evidence that highlights the profound individual, family and societal consequences of hearing loss. We know hearing loss compounds social isolation and loneliness, particularly for older people and can act as a barrier for socialising with family and friends, employment and other recreational activities.

If you or a loved one are struggling to hear, I urge you to book a hearing test. Help can be provided privately or on the NHS by way of hearing aids, which nowadays are so small and discreet that nobody need know you are wearing them.

For more general information on hearing loss visit www.hearingcarecentre.co.uk or www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk 

Looking after your hearing aid this summer

Summer appears to be finally here. Many people look forward to this time of year because it gives them the opportunity to indulge in activities requiring warm, sunny days, like swimming, walking, cycling, and travelling.

Wearing hearing aids shouldn’t keep you from enjoying yourself, but it is important to remember exposure to high heat can damage their outer casings and interior components. Therefore, whether you plan to spend your days basking in the sun by the beach or pool, or visiting exotic destinations, you should prepare to keep your hearing aids safe and functioning.

Avoid extreme temperature changes. The plastic outer shells of hearing aids can melt if exposed directly to intense sunlight for long periods or in extreme heat, such as inside a car parked in a sweltering outdoor lot. Conversely, your hearing aids’ inner workings are more at risk from significant changes in temperature rather than heat or sun exposure specifically. This is because moisture condenses within the hearing aid as you go from a cool, air-conditioned environment into the hot outdoors, especially if you go back and forth repeatedly. As for hearing aid batteries, they are likely to fail if exposed to high heat for more than a short amount of time.

Here are two “dont’s” and one “do” for protecting your hearing aids from excessive heat:

• Don’t leave hearing aids lying out in direct sunlight
• Don’t leave hearing aids locked in a glove box or sitting on the dashboard
• Do store hearing aid batteries in a cool, dry place

Sun cream: good for you, not so much for your hearing aids. While it is important to protect your skin from the sun’s rays, you could inadvertently damage your hearing aids by doing so. Sun creams and sprays can clog vents and damage other components. It is advisable to put on sunscreen before you put in your hearing aids.

The difference between “waterproof” and “water-resistance” matters. You may have water-resistant hearing aids but understand this does not mean they can be submerged in the ocean or a pool. Water-resistant hearing aids help if you’re perspiring in the summer sun. However, if you jump into a lake wearing them, water will get inside through the microphone or other vents and they will be ruined.

Keep in mind:

• Don’t wear non-waterproof hearing aids if you’re going swimming, or anywhere else where it is likely they will get drenched
• Do make sure you know whether your hearing aids are waterproof or water-resistant
• Do invest in a dehumidifier pot to remove moisture from your hearing aids [link takes you to an external website]

This summer enjoy listening to the sound of the BBQ sizzling, children playing in the garden, and the birds singing in the trees. Just follow these simple do’s and dont’s to make sure your hearing aids keep up with your summertime lifestyle.

 

 

Hearing loss – helping a loved one

If you are reading this column it is because you suspect that someone you care about might have a hearing loss. And you want to help. Hearing is an easy thing to take for granted.

Initially, you may have a giggle at their misunderstanding of words or the bizarre interpretations they come up with, but after a while the daily miscommunication will lead to concern and frustration of having to repeat yourself. Age-related hearing loss generally occurs gradually. As a result, it is often family and friends who are the first to notice the problem.

Things are not nearly as easy with a hearing loss. It is difficult to converse in a crowded room or over the phone. It is not that things are not always loud enough, but that they are not clear enough. People often claim that there would not be a problem if others would just stop mumbling. Sounds fade so gradually that they can disappear unnoticed, for example when the birds stop chirping.

Left untreated, hearing loss can affect relationships between the person affected and their family and friends, quietly eroding their quality of life. That is why it is important to motivate your loved one to get their hearing tested and to take the necessary action, and to learn how you can help with any communication difficulties.

In my practice in Ipswich we often have children contacting us who are concerned about their parents or, as they’ve been trying to call them on the telephone all day and they don’t answer, or others who have broken into their parents’ house after repeatedly knocking on the door, only to find them blissfully unaware in the back garden.

Quite often, because of the stigma attached to hearing loss, elderly parents don’t respond to initial prompts from their children to have their hearing tested.

Why is there so much resistance?

The main reason is denial. Many older adults just don’t think they have a problem.

We know from research that it takes people with hearing loss 5 to 10 years before they have their hearing tested, and more than four million people in the UK who would benefit from wearing hearing aids, don’t have one.

Tips to convince loved ones to have their hearing checked

• Talk to them about the benefits of seeking help and the things they are missing out on, such as social occasions or physical activities.
• Reassure them that modern devices are small, discreet and the technology is simple and automatic.
• Discuss the dangers of undiagnosed hearing loss—for instance, not being able to hear properly while driving, or the simple fact that leaving it untreated will only make it worsen quicker.

For more information on hearing loss or to book a hearing test, either visit www.hearingcarecentre.co.uk or call 01473 230330.