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Pediatric Ear Infections (Otitis Media)

Many children, at some point, experience ear infections. Ear infections have been well-recorded through history, with early mentions in the writing of Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician. In the 1850s, researcher Adam Politzer suggested that the cause of middle ear infections, or otitis media (OM), is due to blockage in the Eustachian tube.Because the Eustachian tube is much smaller in younger children, 75% of otitis media cases occur before the age of 10. In 1938, researcher A.E. Schlanser proposed that genetics was “the greatest single factor in the causation of otitis media.” Now, many decades later, new studies have linked genetics to middle ear infections.

New information on ear infections

In a study from Baylor College, a team of international researchers found that individuals with a variant in the gene A2ML1 were more likely to suffer from ear infections of the middle ear. Dr. Regie Lyn Santos-Cortez, lead researcher on this study, was trained as an otolaryngologist in her native Philippines. During a medical trip to an indigenous area of the Philippines, Dr. Santos-Cortez was astonished to find that a large number of inhabitants of this area suffered from middle ear infections.With this foundation, Dr. Santos-Cortez focused the Baylor study on a group of 175 indigenous Filipino subjects who were native to the same vicinity and experienced high levels of middle ear infections. With environmental factors and lifestyles reduced as a major influence, researchers were able to hone in on the genetics. They found that 80% of people with a variance in the A2ML1 gene had suffered from otitis media at some point in their lives.Ear infections occur when there is mucus of fluid buildup in the Eustachian tube of the ear, due to colds or infections. Known commonly as “glue ear,” ear infections may cause mild to moderate hearing loss in children. In most occurrences of otitis media, middle ear surgery is required to drain the fluids. With this new genetic link identified, researchers are hopeful that that there will be other options to treat OM than surgery.The key to understanding the A2ML1 gene is studying the role it plays. This particular gene controls the production of a protein which blocks proteases, an enzyme which could cause damage to the middle ear. Researchers found that subjects in this study had a variance on the A2ML1 gene, which causes a deviation from this normal protein production process, thus leading to a higher occurrence of middle ear infections.Interestingly, researchers found similar cases of genetic variance in children of Hispanic and European heritage in Galveston, Texas, with no apparent relation to the 175 Filipino test subjects. This discovery creates a fuller picture of genetic inheritance through the lens of colonialism. They surmised a potential link between Spanish colonists in the Philippines to connect subjects of Filipino and Hispanic-European heritages.As Dr. Santos-Cortez and her colleagues continue their research on the role of the A2ML1 gene and susceptibility to middle ear infection, they hope to develop new solutions to treating otitis media to avoid the evasiveness of surgery in young children and simultaneously, to prevent early childhood hearing loss.

TIPS FOR TRAVELING WITH HEARING AIDS AND HEARING LOSSIf variety is the spice of life, than travel makes things especially tasty. From summer vacations to winter wonderlands and romantic getaways, your traveling days do not have to be hindered by hearing loss. Modern hearing aids can make travel especially exciting. Never again will you miss a flight delay announcement or the pitter patter of tiny feet again. Here’s how to get the most out of your vacation with hearing aids:

Several Days Before You Depart

While you’re out picking up last minute travel items and having your newspaper delivery paused, be sure to have your hearing aids checked. Your audiologist can give your device a thorough cleaning as well as change the batteries and fine-tune the programming. Now is the time to mention any issues you may have been experiencing with the fit or function of your hearing aids. This quick stop will help to ensure you get the most performance out of your hearing aids while you’re away.

Packing

You’ve read all the latest travel “hacks” in your Facebook news feed and now you’re ready to try them out. With all that extra space you have created in your suitcase by rolling your clothes like burritos instead of stacking them, you’re certain to find a spot for a small travel case. You’ll want to invest in a new, or clean out an old hearing aid travel case. These can be purchased at any drugstore and are inexpensive. Your nightly routine will be different while in a hotel room or while staying with relatives and you’ll need to ensure safe storage. Bonus tip: be sure to throw extra batteries both in your suitcase as well as in your carry on bag.

The Friendly Skies

Traveling by air has gotten a whole lot easier for those with hearing loss. Many airports now have induction loops installed to assist you in hearing details in their busy and loud environment. If your hearing aid is equipped with a telecoil, this magnetic field will automatically be picked up by your hearing aid and the sound will be transmitted directly through your aid for easy listening. You’ll never miss a boarding call or flight delay update again. Look for the sign showing an ear next to the speakers for the PA system.*Tip: When passing through the security check-point, remove your hearing aids before passing through one of the new complete body scanners. You can place your aids with your personal belonging to be scanned separately. This will prevent any changes to the hearing aid programing which can be caused by the body scanners.&nbsp

Staying With Friends Or Relatives

Once you’ve reached your destination, it’s natural to want to spend as much quality time with those you’ve missed so much. If this includes staying in their home be sure to keep your hearing aids safe. Small children and pets are notoriously curious creatures. You wouldn’t want them to grab hold of your hearing aid and pose a choking hazard or potentially damage your aids. This is where that travel case will come in handy. While you shower, swim or sleep be certain to keep your hearing aids closed tightly in a case and stored up high where they are safe and out of reach.If you enjoyed traveling before treating your hearing loss, there is no reason to stop now. By following these tips, your time away from home can be just as fun and adventurous as it always has been. Savor the sweet sounds of an even sweeter life. You’ve earned it.

Arizona Balance and Hearing Aids

333 W Thomas Rd. Suite 208a

Phoenix, AZ 85013

(602) 265-9000

info@arizonabalance.com

An introduction to the world of hearing aids

The sense of hearing in humans is far more complicated than just sound going in a small hole in your head. This is probably not well understood until you notice that you can’t hear as well anymore. Now sure, you can still hear the “big” sounds like a slamming car door, your boss’s boisterous laugh and fireworks, but some are not so obvious. Your audiologist can help you get the precise levels of hearing you need through personalized hearing aid technology. Read on to learn more about the basics of hearing loss and hearing aids.

Background Noise

Hearing well in a busy restaurant or other noisy environment is, perhaps, the ultimate test on your ears. Most people with some degree of high frequency hearing loss report difficulty hearing or understanding speech in these environments. Analog hearing aids of the past were unable to accurately fix this problem and provided a subpar experience for wearer. They simply amplified all incoming sound without being able to discern speech sounds from noise. Today’s digital hearing aids can help you enjoy your dinner with friends by differentiating normal speech levels from other background noises in an accurate and natural manner.

Mistaking One Word For Another

When you can’t hear some frequencies of sound as well as others, it can be frustrating to those around you because it can cause a lot of confusion during conversations. If you find yourself constantly mistaking one word for any other similar sounding word, it is definitely time to schedule a professional hearing evaluation. A hearing test will check your frequency threshold and verbal cues to see where you need the most assistance. A pair of digital hearing aid can then be custom fitted to provide you with the most comfortable listening experience possible given your level of loss.

Not Being Able To Hear Women And Children

Hearing loss does not typically occur at the same rate across all frequencies. Often times, the sound of women and children’s voices is the first to be lost. This is because of the higher frequency “hearing cells” being damaged by years of noise exposure. This specific problem can be alleviated by modern, digital hearing aids as they can be programmed according to your individual needs.

Ringing In Your Ears

For some people, hearing a ringing or buzzing sound in their ear occurs simultaneously with hearing loss. This ringing, also called Tinnitus, can be caused by overexposure to loud noises. Simply seeking treatment for your hearing loss may incur the added benefit of helping the tinnitus as well. Mention the issue to your Audiologist to learn more about options that best suit your lifestyle.

Muffled Sounds

Imagine yourself talking to your family doctor. You ask a question and it sounds like he’s talking back to you from underneath a pillow. When it sounds as though people are muffled or even like they are underwater when they talk to you, you may have some degree of hearing loss. A professional hearing test can confirm this suspicion and offer insight as to how best to treat it.The active lifestyle of today’s adults doesn’t allow time to be bothered with hearing loss. If you notice any of these signs, be sure to get evaluated by an experienced audiologist in your area. A thorough hearing evaluation and a wide variety of treatment options are just a phone call away. If you are located in the Phoenix, AZ area, we invite you to schedule a complete hearing evaluation with Dr. Dana Day. You'll be glad you did!

Arizona Balance and Hearing Aids

333 W Thomas Rd. Suite 208a

Phoenix, AZ 85013

(602) 265-9000

info@arizonabalance.com

You’ve seen Phoenix, but never like this. Once you experience Phoenix, Arizona the way we have, you’ll never forget it! Get your hearing aids in perfect tune, you won’t want to miss a beat. From the hiking trails that are open late at night for you nature lovers to the Arizona Science Center and the Chaos Comedy Club, get ready. With perpetual sunshine and hot weather it’s easy to sit in your resort room or sip mojitos by the pool all day long, don’t give in. Phoenix has so many wonderful things to see and hear. Get out and explore, you’ll be glad you did.
 

Arizona Night Hikes

Outdoor enthusiasts will be happy to learn that hiking never goes out of season. Bring a flashlight and plenty of water because the Phoenix preserve trails are open until 11pm. This is when the desert critters are far more active and it’s at least 20 degrees cooler after dark. For those of you not so keen on the idea of wildlife, the Maricopa county parks offer a guided hike or nighttime bike rides all summer long. Listening carefully will reveal the nocturnal world you’ve been taking for granted. Learn, exercise and bond with your family all at once and all after hours.

Arizona Science Center

If you’re here with the kids (or grandkids), you won’t want to miss the Arizona Science Center. Kids just love to be grossed out by bodily functions. Let them get their fill at The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body. This featured exhibit will have them talking and learning for weeks after this trip. A pinball journey from the mouth through the large intestine anyone? Take notice of every time the kids tell these stories. Things are larger than life when you see them through the eyes of a child. Good thing your hearing trouble is no longer an issue. While you’re there, check out the 5-story Imax theater. Movies come to life in 3D, on a panoramic screen right in front of your eyes. Experience the childlike wonder and amazement of the world around you all over again.For more information:www.azscience.org

Chaos Comedy Club

 
When you can’t hear very well social gatherings become excruciating. Not only is it far more difficult to follow conversations with all the background noise but you miss out on the funniest jokes. Not anymore. You’ll have your co workers in side stitches next time you’re around the water cooler after this date night activity. Chaos Comedy club is the premier place in Phoenix for good, clean fun. The improv entertainers take audience suggestions and participation to a whole new level. When you realize just how much fun this is, you might consider taking a comedy class. You can do that here too. Book a private event for inside jokes nobody will live down.

For more information: https://chaoscomedy.com/

Great Phoenix Restaurants

 
A common complaint from those with a hearing loss are noisy restaurants. With the competing background noise of music, it can be very difficult to understand your friends and family while out to eat. Phoenix offers a growing number of new and delicious restaurant options. New hearing aid technology is particularly great at targeting and minimizing background noise so that you can understand the conversations happening around you. Here is a short list of some great spots near our Central Phoenix practice that you should consider for your next restaurant outing!

Joyride Taco Shop:

 
Joyride offer a great upbeat atmosphere with colorful decor and fun drinks. They have a variety of modern and fresh Mexican cuisines including tacos, healthy salads, burritos and even homemade horchata! The service is great and the servers are all really enthusiastic and friendly. If you are in the east valley, check out their location in Downtown Gilbert!
 

5202 N Central AvePhoenix, AZ 85012Phone number(602) 274-8226

On Yelp:https://www.yelp.com/biz/joyride-taco-house-phoenix-2

Barrio Cafe: 

 
This Phoenix gem offers exquisite Mexican food by Phoenix Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza and her partner Wendy Gruber. Since 2002, Phoenicians have been raving about their house made guacamole with pomegranate seeds, Enchilada Suiza, Mole and their decadent desserts. The spot doesn't look particularly noteworthy on the inside... but the food is absolutely worth the visit.
 

2814 N 16th StPhoenix, AZ 85006Phone number(602) 636-0240‍

www.barriocafe.com

‍Check out their reviews on Yelp:https://www.yelp.com/biz/barrio-café-phoenix-2?

Postino Central: 

 
This restaurant has an elegant yet cozy lounge feel to it where you can enjoy a full meal, or just a glass of wine and some amazing bruschetta. They even have a deal Mondays and Tuesdays after 8pm you can get a house bottle of wine and bruschetta for $20.
 

5144 N Central AvePhoenix, AZ 85012Phone number(602) 274-5144

‍www.postinowinecafe.com

‍On Yelp:https://www.yelp.com/biz/postino-central-phoenix

Let’s face it, life with a hearing loss is not fun and can make you feel a bit anti-social. Now that you've treated your hearing loss with advanced digital hearing aids, it is time to experience all that Phoenix has to offer. Get those hearing aids in proper working order and enjoy all the entertainment and recreation that the beautiful city of Phoenix has to offer. Contact Dr. Dana Day at Arizona Balance & Hearing Aids at (602) 965-9000 to schedule an appointment today!

Arizona Balance and Hearing Aids

333 W Thomas Rd. Suite 208a

Phoenix, AZ 85013

(602) 265-9000

info@arizonabalance.com

Understanding Balance Disorders

The sensation of balance is complicated but most of it has to do with your inner ear and the structures therein. Balance problems can usually be fixed by addressing the source of the problem; the inner ear. Your ears work in conjunction with many other body parts to help you stay balanced and to help you perceive the outside world. There are times when a balance disturbance is what you are looking for, such as riding a rollercoaster. If this disturbance happens during normal activities it would be helpful for you to figure out the root cause and how best to treat it. Finding the cause is possible with several painless, non-invasive tests that Dr. Day can perform for you at her Central Phoenix practice.

Balance Impairment

Feeling dizzy is the most common complaint with a balance impairment but did you know there are actually several symptoms that are all related to dizziness? It’s true. Dizziness can be described as light-headedness or disorientation. You might also feel like the room is spinning, that’s called vertigo. The most common cause for all of these is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). If you’ve even gotten dizzy rolling from your left to your right side or felt sick when searching for something on a high shelf then you’ve probably experienced BPPV. This is caused by calcium.

I Thought Calcium Was Good For The Body?

As a mineral necessary for proper bone growth, calcium is an important part of any diet. The calcium that causes your dizziness is a little different. We’re talking about the calcium crystals located in the inner ear called otoconia. Usually, these crystals stay in the bony tubes of the inner ear like they’re supposed to. Sometimes they can become dislodged and find their way into the semicircular canals and cause a mismatch of information about your actual head movement and the signals your ear sends to your brain. That’s why rolling over in bed can cause you to feel dizzy. If your doctor or Audiologist decide that you do in fact have BPPV, they will likely suggest a few of the following treatment options.

Treat The Inner Ear To Treat the Dizziness

There are a variety of positional maneuvers that can be performed in the office. Most of the maneuvers focus on moving the crystals back to a place in the inner ear where they won’t cause you to feel dizzy. The Epley maneuver uses gravity to help coax the calcium crystals into a better position. This can be taught in the office and then practiced at home for maximum relief. Then there’s the Semont maneuver which is reported to have a cure rate of 90.3%. Semont is performed in the office by having a patient sit on the exam table with their legs hanging off and going through a series of quick head movements. Each move is held for 3 minutes and when they have all been completed the dizziness or vertigo is decreased or gone altogether. The professionals at ABHA are well-trained and highly experienced to ensure your safety.While feeling dizzy at an amusement park may be great, you probably don’t want to risk falling in your daily life. Talking to Dr. Dana Day and completing the painless and non-invasive balance testing can help you deal with your dizziness before it becomes dangerous. Call us to schedule your balance test at 602-265-9000 today!

Arizona Balance and Hearing Aids

333 W Thomas Rd. Suite 208a

Phoenix, AZ 85013

(602) 265-9000

info@arizonabalance.com

DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?

Can you please put your phone on vibrate? I love your new windchimes! If you’ve said these things and gotten funny looks, it might be in your head. Literally, the ringing is in your head, or your ear more specifically. Ringing in your ears, whether constant or not, is called Tinnitus. And while tinnitus is most often experienced as a ringing sound, it can also include buzzing, whistling or any other sounds that are not caused by an external source. If you suspect you may have this condition, you need to make your Audiologist aware. She will will guide you in the next step which will likely include figuring out what is causing your tinnitus, some commonly used home remedies, and medical treatments that are available.

What Is Causing Your Ears To Ring?

Tinnitus has many possible causes. Yours might be caused by more than one so it helps to understand them all. If the ringing has occurred gradually it stands to reason that the culprit is exposure to loud noises. Over time, loud noises cause both tinnitus as well as hearing impairment. These can occur in one or both ears and there is no known cure, only coping mechanisms. Other possible causes are certain medications, high blood pressure, heart related conditions and diabetes. If you and your doctor decide together that your tinnitus is caused by one of these, it can be possible through medical care to get the ringing to stop. A change in medication and lifestyle modifications to better control the symptoms of high blood pressure may be all you need to end your tinnitus for good. Ask your doctor or Audiologist how to best improve living conditions to reduce the severity of your tinnitus.

Home Remedies for Tinnitus

Home remedies have come a long way since your grandma first started rubbing butter on your burns. Modern day home remedies can actually be quite effective in managing tinnitus and can help increase your quality of life. Listening to music or using a white noise machine in your home or office may be the key for you to drown out the ringing sound. Using a homemade solution to safely clean your ears (not a cotton tipped swab!) can remove excess wax buildup that can make tinnitus worse. Physical activity will improve blood flow to the ears to help alleviate symptoms and relaxation techniques such as yoga can also help relieve the ringing as well as help you sleep. Tinnitus is often far worse when you’re exhausted so don’t skimp on the shut eye. Be sure to stay away from, or at least severely limit, your exposure to loud noise to keep tinnitus from becoming worse. Investing in a well fitting set of earplugs or headphones is also advised. If home remedies are not enough or your symptoms seem to be getting worse you and your doctor may need to try medically prescribed treatment options.

How Can My Doctor Or Audiologist Help My Tinnitus?

For those experiencing tinnitus without any hearing loss, something called Acoustic Therapy may help mask the irritating buzzing you are perceiving. This is essentially a sound generator housed in a hearing aid case that produces a very soft and pleasant sound which can help mask the sounds of your tinnitus.Given that tinnitus and hearing loss usually go hand in hand, your doctor will likely direct you to an Audiologist. Here you will receive a formal hearing test and discuss how a hearing device in one or both ears may solve both the tinnitus and hearing loss together. Tinnitus and hearing difficulties often occur together and most commonly in the 65 or better age category. Amplifying speech and other environmental sounds can help to stimulate the Auditory nerve and your brain and possibly “trick” you into thinking the ringing has stopped.The combination of home remedies and medically prescribed treatment options can dramatically reduce the frustrating ringing in your ears. If you or a loved one are experiencing tinnitus, we invite you to schedule a hearing test at our Central Phoenix location. Our friendly and experienced audiologist Dr. Dana Day is dedicated to helping Phoenicians with all of their hearing and balance problems, including tinnitus.

Hearing aid manufacturers are outdoing themselves by engineering hearing aids for those who have active lifestyles, without sacrificing advanced features. You can participate in sports without a concern and even go swimming! Helmets can be put on with ease and wind noise almost eliminated. You can choose a hearing aid that will allow you to participate in all of the activities that you did before. The difference may be that you will enjoy them more.The goal is to find a hearing aid that will enhance your life. No matter your age, whether your loss is mild, moderate or severe, or whether you spend your free time hiking, biking, weight-lifting at the gym or swimming, there is a hearing aid that will work for you. Tell your audiologist what activities you regularly participate in and your audiologist will help you choose the hearing aid model that is just right for you and meets your needs.

Water-proof aids: Siemens Aquaris

Siemens Hearing designs hearing aids with the whole person in mind. Just because you have lost some (or a lot) of your hearing does not mean you have to give up on activities that you love and enjoy. You can still be as active as you desire. The Siemens Aquaris is an amazing product that is sturdy, fits securely and is also completely waterproof.You can wear your Aquaris in the swimming pool or at the gym. It is built to be water-proof, shock-proof, dust-proof, sweat and water resistant. Some of its features include:

• The housing and battery door are completely sealed so it is waterproof and resists rusting.
• It can be worn while swimming.
• It is impervious to sweating.
• It is made of a material that repels dust and dirt.
• There is a microphone cover that is used to reduce wind noise.

Siemens makes other different types of hearing aids for you to choose from. They fit all ages and all lifestyles, and work for those with hearing loss ranging from mild to severe.

Invisible-in-canal (IIC): For reduction in wind noise

An IIC hearing aid fits entirely in the ear canal. You can put on a helmet for bike riding or motorcycling without fear of dislodging your aid. Slide on your sunglasses with no worries of your hearing aid interfering. Slip a sweatband over your forehead with ease.Since the device is in the ear canal, it does not pick-up wind noise as much as other types of aids. Noises enter the ear in the same natural way as it does when there is no hearing aid, so the sound is not processed.The device is essentially invisible, so none of your fellow riders and friends will even know you are wearing a hearing aid. You can sit in a hot tub or jump in the shower without needing to remove your hearing device.

“Made for iPhone” hearing aids: Starkey Halo

A fairly new and somewhat remarkable breakthrough is a “Made for iPhone” hearing aid that has multiple features. The Starkey Halo connects directly to your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch allowing you to easily adjust the sound of your hearing aid. When you get a phone call, you can even hear the voice of the caller directly through your aid. According to Starkey, you can select music and videos to be “streamed directly into your ears with pristine sound quality.” Background buzzing or whistling are non-existent.

If you are experiencing a hearing loss and have been recommended a hearing aid, it is natural to have concerns about how it will look. Most digital hearing aids are available in different levels of technology, but also allow you the choice of many different wearing styles. Understanding your options of hearing aid styles can help you decide which will work best for your lifestyle and level of discretion you are seeking. Depending on your hearing loss, the following options are likely available to you:

Behind-the-ear (BTE):

The traditional type of aid that most people think of when they hear the phrase “hearing aid.” A small plastic case fits behind the ear. A custom-made piece called an earmoid fits into the ear canal. The earmold is connected by a tube to the BTE part. The advantages are that sounds can be amplified greater than with some other models, but it may pick up more wind noise. This is a good device for hearing loss from mild to severe.

Receiver in the canal (RIC):

This is very similar to the BTE, but is generally smaller and has a wire connecting the BTE piece with the earmold instead of a tube. It is not as visible as the BTE, but earwax clogging the receiver may interfere with its functioning. Works for all ranges of loss.

In the ear (ITE):

This is a shell that fits into the outer bowl-shaped part of the ear. It may take up the entire space, or only the lower half. Its advantages are that it is easier to adjust and the batteries are larger and easier to handle. On the other hand, wind noise and earwax clogging may present problems. It is more visible that some of the other smaller hearing aids. This works well for most ranges of hearing loss, up to severe.

In the canal (ITC):

It is more visible than the CIC but less visible than some of the other types. It is custom-molded and fits only partially in the ear canal. Due to its small size, it may be difficult for some people to adjust. Works best for those with mild to moderate loss.

Completely in the canal (CIC):

This type is also molded and custom-made to fit completely inside the ear canal. It is quite small and hardly visible. It does not pick up wind noise as easily as some of the others. The batteries are very small, which may make them difficult to handle. There typically is no volume control or ability to change the direction of the microphone. It also gets easily clogged with earwax. It works well for those with mild to moderate hearing loss.

Invisible in the canal (IIC):

This is a small custom-molded device that fits deep inside the ear canal and, as the name suggests, is almost completely invisible. This may be an excellent choice for someone with mild to moderate hearing loss, but not for those with a severe or profound loss. Since the hearing aid so small, the battery is also very small and may be difficult to handle for some people. The battery life is shorter than batteries for some other devices.

Hearing loss takes several forms—and each is affected by the ears several pathways. If you’re experiencing hearing loss, a little knowledge can go a long way. Being able to classify different types of hearing loss is important, and understanding different causes can assist treatment methods.Take a look at the following types of hearing loss. While each is caused by different factors, each should be noted by yourself and an audiologist to maintain your hearing health.

Conductive Hearing Loss

When your middle and inner ear face obstructions, your hearing may suffer. Conductive hearing loss occurs when a condition interferes with your ear’s basic transmissions. In short: Your ear can’t carry sound waves well.Fortunately, conductive hearing loss is incredibly treatable. When sound waves can’t be transmitted effectively, medical or surgical assistance can benefit you. Additionally, if these methods aren’t working, a hearing aid is entirely useful for amplifying dulled sound waves.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

When sensorineural hearing loss occurs, the inner ear may be damaged. Additionally the acoustic nerve may be suffering damage. When “nerve deafness” occurs, the ear’s cochlea—responsible for relaying noise vibrations to your inner-ear’s main nerve—have difficulty transmitting sounds.Sensorineural hearing loss can occur from a variety of impairments. While sensorineural hearing restoration is difficult, several cases may be remedied. A lot of research pertaining to sensorineural hearing loss is still needed, though new, innovative treatments are likely.

Central Hearing Loss

Central hearing loss occurs when the central nervous system has difficulty interpreting sounds. Not entirely connected to the ear’s main functions, central hearing loss is closely related to one’s ability to perceive speech, understand cues and decode audible information.If you have difficulty hearing during multiple conversations—or, if you’ve experienced difficulty studying with surrounding noise, minor central hearing loss may be at play. Fortunately, routine hearing tests are available, and maintaining daily functions is possible if you encounter central hearing loss.

Functional Hearing Loss

Psychological and emotional problems underline functional hearing loss. When functional hearing loss occurs, the individual actually perceives surrounding noises—though they may appear oblivious. Functional hearing loss occurs for a variety of reasons, and physician discussion is urged if you suspect functional hearing loss.Unfortunately, functional hearing loss is rarely recognized, as cognitive and emotional elements may be blocking one’s ability to understand their impairment. Functional hearing loss normally requires hearing therapy, and it may not be discovered until a full hearing exam is administered

Mixed Hearing Loss

The world isn’t black and white, and hearing loss isn’t either! If you’re experiencing several hearing loss symptoms, you may be experiencing more than one type of hearing loss. When this occurs, mixed hearing loss is responsible for both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss.While mixed hearing loss is, as implied, mixed, your potential treatments needn’t be overly complex. Mixed hearing loss is simply a collection of “cause and effect” relationships, and figuring out one type of hearing loss may reveal information about other symptoms.

Can hearing loss be coded into your genes? Quite simply, the answer is “Yes.” In fact, industry professionals agree that most hearing loss is caused by some kind of genetic abnormality. Additionally, developmental experts consider genetic hearing loss to be the most frequently occurring birth defect in developed countries.Genes, DNA & families. Genes are basically bits of code that make up our DNA and tell our bodies how to function and how to look. Researchers have discovered over 100 genes that can negatively affect hearing. Hearing loss can result from any one of these genes being absent or modified. Parent genes are passed to children, so any abnormal gene sequences which cause hearing loss are handed down.Categories of genetic hearing loss. Inherited hearing loss can affect the outer ear, inner ear or both. The hearing loss can be sensorineural, conductive or mixed. Besides that, some genes result in hearing loss before a child learns to talk (prelingual hearing loss), and other genes cause hearing problems that appear after speech is learned (postlingual hearing loss). One of the more common conditions to affect hearing is Usher syndrome, a condition that is believed to affect over half of deaf-blind individuals as reported by the National Institutes of Health. Waardenburg syndrome is another common disorder that affects hearing in the inner ear but also causes pale skin, a streak of white hair, and light or multi-colored eyes.What’s the good news? Fortunately, hearing loss is not automatically passed from parent to child. The genes that contribute to hearing loss are typically recessive and therefore often don’t lead to any outward symptoms because the child has received a normal copy from the other parent. It is not unusual for the children of hearing impaired parents to have normal hearing. Since there are hundreds of genes associated with hearing, it is much more likely than not that the parental hearing losses don’t share the same cause. Individuals concerned with hereditary hearing loss can see a doctor for genetic testing that can help identify risks.

The term “hearing loss” is wide, varied and sometimes vague. Many people experience hearing loss, and not all hearing loss completely removes one’s ability to perceive sound. Adult hearing loss can result from inheritance, or, it may occur due to an illness. Loud noise, chemical exposure and simple aging all promote hearing loss, though understanding different causes is important.If you or a loved one is experiencing ringing or reduced hearing, contacting an Audiologist is important. Understanding the causes of hearing loss can help you determine preventative measures. More importantly, it’s the first step to acquiring adequate assistance. Take a look at the following causes for hearing loss. While different in many ways, they’re all relevant to your—and your loved ones’—hearing health:

Physical Injury

Sometimes, basic damage can reduce one’s hearing ability. Fractures, eardrum damage, ear damage and interior ear injuries result in hearing loss. If you’ve noticed lapsed hearing following a head injury, resulting hearing loss may occur.

Drugs and other Chemicals

If you’ve used over-the-counter drugs and other medications, your hearing loss may be attributed to chemical consumption. If a drug is “ototoxic”, it’s dangerous to one’s hearing. The following drugs are considered to be ototoxic, and they may be responsible for your reduced hearing ability:

• Asiprin
• Chemotherapy medication, including carboplatin, cisplatin and nitrogen mustard
• Aminoglycoside antibiotics, including neomycin, streptomycin and kanamycin

Age

Sometimes, one’s hearing “just goes” with age. “Presbycusis”, or age-related hearing loss, results from your inner ear’s reduction in nerves. Age-related hearing loss can be subtle. It can also be severe. In all cases, age-related hearing loss is permanent—though options do exist, so don’t worry! Hearing aids are a common remedy for age-related hearing loss.

Ear Wax

A benign cause of hearing loss, accumulated ear wax is easily removable with help of a physician. If you’ve been around exposed grease, high-debris areas and other pollutants, your ear’s wax may have thickened. It may have been overproduced, too.When this happens, your ear’s wax cuts off your inner ear’s ability to perceive sound. Often, hearing loss attributed to ear wax build-up happens within a short span of time. If you haven’t had an infection, and if you haven’t been injured, ear wax overproduction is a likely culprit.

Loud Noises

You’ve probably heard the iconic, “Don’t listen to loud music, or you’ll lose your hearing!” Cliché statements are cliché for a reason, and hearing loss attributed to loud noises is fairly common. If you’re having difficulty hearing, and if you’ve been exposed to loud music, construction areas, vehicles and other catalysts, your difficulties may be a product of noise-induced hearing loss.Noised-induced hearing loss damages your inner ear’s hair cells—reducing your overall hearing abilities. Normally, this hearing loss develops gradually, though sudden, loud noises may immediately damage your hearing. In later cases, “acoustic trauma” results. Immediate medical attention is necessary.In all cases, however, medical assistance is urged. Hearing loss can happen at any time for many reasons. In many cases, the best cure rests within preventative methods. Remember to take care of your ears, your environment and your hearing health.

Hearing loss is caused by a variety of factors. Some are blatant, and others are subtle. Aging, exposure to loud noises and other factors contribute to hearing loss, and even genetics may play an integral role in auditory degradation. If you’re wondering about your ear health, be sure to check for the following symptoms of hearing loss:

You Ask Others to Repeat Themselves Frequently

Of course, asking for repeated sentences, phrases and technical information shouldn’t cause concern. But, if you frequently need repeated sentences for clarity, a hearing check-up is advised. Needing repeated words is a primary hearing loss symptom, and reading lips should never be a substitute for medical inquiry.

You’re Missing Phone Calls and Door Knocks

Hearing loss begins with acute isolation, and small noises may go first. If you’re having difficulty noticing the phone, the doorbell, knocks and small noises, your hearing may be in trouble. While the phone can be set on vibrate, and, while visitors can be encouraged to “just come in”, lapses in hearing shouldn’t control your day-to-day visits.

You’re Talking Louder

Everyone has different temperaments, but if your friends and family are saying, “You’re talking louder than normal,” you may need a hearing exam. When people suffer hearing loss, they instinctively talk louder to accommodate for their lost head voice. In short: If you can’t hear yourself talk, you may accidentally be talking louder to compensate.

You Have Difficulty Hearing Women and Children

Women and children speak in higher tones, and these tones are often lost first when one’s hearing degrades. Again, hearing loss begins with higher frequencies. If your age is causing hearing problems, hearing high-toned voices may become an issue. You’re likely to hear deep, booming voices, however, and this may increase considerations of healthy hearing. Don’t mistake this for precise hearing, as healthy hearing expands to all vocal ranges—not just lower frequencies.

You Have Pain, Itching or Irritation

Hearing loss isn’t exclusive to age. Sometimes, inner ear infections and damage can directly cause hearing issues. If you’re experiencing pain, itching or other irritations, contact a medical provider immediately. Similarly, if you’re experiencing tinnitus—a ringing in the ears—you may have ear damage. Injuries and infections are serious, and medical intervention is always urged in such cases.

You’re having Trouble Hearing Specific Words

In the same way all voices have pitches, certain words may be lower-pitched than others. In-between articles, like an, but, nor, for, it and others may slip beneath your hearing range. Similarly, raised questions, and otherwise higher-pitched words, may elude your hearing if it’s impaired. If you’re needing vocal reassurance, and if you’re only hearing parts of sentences, your hearing may be at risk.

You’re Having Trouble Hearing in Loud Environments

Sensory overload aside, damaged hearing faces great difficulty in noisy environments. Loud noises can drown out subtle tones, and background noise may sweep away important words if your hearing is damaged. If ambient noise reduces your hearing ability, you may be having difficulty picking up smaller noises, and you may need a hearing examination.Your hearing experience is incredibly important. Unfortunately, many individuals ignore subtle cues indicating hearing loss. In most cases, the best solution for hearing loss is prevention. If you’re experiencing one or more hearing loss symptoms, contact us today for testing, preventative methods and more information.

About 20 percent of all American adults report some degree of hearing loss. That means there are approximately 48 million people who can no longer enjoy everyday sounds, including music, conversations with a friend, or the sound of a child’s voice. Sometimes the hearing loss is predictable, including cases where the individual had a severe illness or accident that involved hearing. The causes of some hearing loss, however, are quite surprising.Here are some surprising ways you might be damaging your ability to hear well.

Growing older

One out of three people have some degree of hearing loss the age of 65. Much of this hearing loss is cumulative damage from years of loud sounds and other factors. While this may not be surprising to some, the simple unavoidable act of growing older can cause hearing loss for many people.

Overdoing the Decibels

Decibels (dB) are a scientific way to measure and describe the volume of a sound with numbers. Complete silence produces zero decibels while a jet engine produces 140 dB. Not surprisingly, standing next to a jet engine could damage hearing because loud sounds damage the microscopic hair cells found inside the cochlea, the part of the ear responsible for hearing.Different groups of hair cells work to “hear” different sound vibrations, known as frequencies. The healthy human ear can hear a wide range of frequencies, from 20Hz to 20,000 Hz, with 20Hz creating very low tones and 20,000 Hz is a very high pitch. When groups of the hair cells die, you will lose your ability to hear certain frequencies.A sudden, extremely loud noise – like an explosion – can damage or break these hairs but repeated and prolonged exposure to loud noise can damage or break these tiny hairs too. Damage enough of these hairs and you start to lose your hearing.

Blow-drying your hair

Your hair dryer may be doing more than styling your locks – it may be blowing out your hearing too. A blow dryer produces 80 to 90 decibels.

Mowing the lawn

Now you have one more reason to dislike mowing the lawn – it can harm your hearing! The sound a power lawnmower produces measures about 100 decibels, which is about eight times as loud as the typical vacuum cleaner. At that volume, serious hearing damage is possible during prolonged exposure lasting eight hours or more.

Using earbuds

Earbuds are those tiny speakers that connect to your iPod or MP3 player and plug into your ears. While they are fine at low volume, listening to loud music can damage your ears.

Sticking your finger or other foreign objects into your ear

While sticking foreign objects in your ear does not generally cause hearing loss, forcefully inserting something into your ear certain can. As a rule, put nothing smaller than your elbow into your ear canal. This includes cotton swabs – you can use the swab on every part of your ear except for the little hole that leads to your ear canal. You can stick a pencil in your ear only if it is larger than your elbow.

Medications

More than 200 medications can cause hearing loss, a condition doctors call “ototoxicity.” These ototoxic medications include drugs to treat infections, cancer, and heart disease. Hearing often returns after you quit taking the drug, but the damage may be permanent in a few cases. Always ask the doctor prescribing you medication if it could possibly cause hearing loss. If so, request an alternate medication when possible.

Smoking

Studies show that smokers are more likely to suffer hearing loss than are non-smokers. People exposed to second-hand smoke are also at greater risk for hearing problems. Scientists have not yet determined how smoking damages hearing, but it is possible that the heart disease associated with smoking may play a role in hearing loss as heart disease would decrease the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the hair cells of the ear.

To some listeners, the words to the National Anthem of Canada make no sense. They wonder why a Canadian lyricist would begin the patriotic song with the words, “Oh Canada, we stand on cars and freeze.” Sure, everyone knows it gets cold in Canada in the winter, but the country does have some some nice warm days in the summer.But, wait! The song actually says, “Oh Canada, we stand on guard for thee.” If that is not what you heard, and you heard instead that “we stand on cars and freeze,” you may have a certain type of hearing loss. A hearing loss can result in certain sounds being garbled. Often times, you may hear some frequencies but not others. You may even have a constant or intermittent ringing in your ears, called tinnitus. It is possible that you just don’t hear anything at all.

Types of hearing loss & how they might sound

There are three basic types of hearing loss:

1. Conductive hearing loss: A conductive loss occurs when the sound does not travel appropriately from the outer ear, through the bones of the middle ear, and to the eardrum. There are many causes of this and most can be corrected medically, surgically or with hearing aids. If you suffer from this type of loss, sounds are faint or distant or you may not be able to hear them at all.
2. Sensorineural hearing loss: This is caused by damage to the nerve pathways that connect the inner ear to the brain. In this type of loss, certain frequencies or pitches cannot be heard. You may hear the vowels but not the consonants, which are higher pitched than the vowels. You can hear that someone is speaking, but you cannot make sense of what they are saying because you do not hear all of the sounds. This is what happens with the Canadian Anthem misinterpretation. The words are not understandable. This is a difficult, or impossible, hearing loss to correct.
3. Mixed hearing loss: This is a loss that is a combination of conductive and sensory hearing loss.

Tinnitus

If you are constantly bombarded with a ringing sound in your ear, or occasionally look around the room to see who just activated the oven timer, you probably have tinnitus. Tinnitus is an absolutely irritating, and in some cases debilitating, condition. The noise can sound like a buzzing, hissing or clicking. The sound may be continuous or intermittent and you may hear the noise in one or both of your ears. Some people are so annoyed by the sound that they cannot concentrate or even work.

Just a few of the possible causes of tinnitus include:

• Aging. It is more common in people over the age of 60.
• Build-up of ear wax.
• Problems with bone growth in the middle ear.
• High blood pressure.
• Side effects from some medications.

People who suffer from tinnitus often have trouble sleeping due to the noise. This results in a constant feeling of fatigue, memory problems and depression.

Schedule a hearing test with a professional

A visit to an experienced audiologist will assist you in identifying the type of hearing loss you have. There are several types of hearing tests that can be conducted that can identify the exact type of hearing loss you are experiencing. Discussing any symptoms of tinnitus with your audiologist is also advisable, as there are many tinnitus solutions available.Although hearing aids cannot solve every hearing loss problem, new technology has made incredible advances to help those with hearing loss improve their quality of life. To schedule a hearing test in the Phoenix, AZ area – give our friendly audiologists a call at 602-281-4095. We look forward to hearing from you!