About Hearing Loss ...

"What?" Did he say, "Healing Moss?"

The problem is 'loss of hearing' which afflicts over 30 million Americans of all ages. Hearing loss can range from being very mild in nature, resulting in not hearing faint, high-pitched sounds or voices, to impairment that is so severe, very loud noises may not be detected.

Early Detection and Intervention

"What? Who is Earl and why is he defecting to the convention?"

As with most other health problems, early detection allows for more effective intervention. In some cases, hearing loss is medically treatable and may be improved. In cases where the hearing loss is permanent, hearing aids are a form of treatment that allow for compensation of the hearing loss. Early detection and intervention also offers a means of support for both the hearing impaired person and their family with the social and mental burdens often associated with hearing loss.

Hearing Loss differs from most other afflictions in at least one important way. It is not usually characterized by pain or physical discomfort. If it were, hearing loss would be obvious. But because it is usually a gradual, stealthy process, it can easily develop into a significant handicap before it commands attention. Unless, that is, one is aware of its other warning signs.

Take this Simple Test

Test Your Hearing (this link opens in a new window)

Questions to Ask Yourself:

If you answer “yes or agree" with at least two of the following statements, you may have a hearing loss and need to have your hearing tested by a professional you can trust. 

1. You can hear, but you can’t understand. Among the first sounds that “disappear” are high-pitched sounds like: women’s and children’s voices, confusion among words such as “dime” and “time,” or “take” and “bake.”

2. You have difficulty in understanding what’s being said, unless you are facing the speaker.

3. You find yourself complaining that people are mumbling or slurring their words.

4. You are continually asking people to repeat words or phrases, though they feel they are speaking loud enough.

5. You prefer the TV or radio louder than others do.

6. You have difficulty understanding conversation within a group of people.

7. You avoid group meetings, social occasions, public facilities or family gatherings where listening may be difficult.

8. You have trouble hearing at the movies, concert halls, houses of worship or other public gatherings – especially where sound sources are at a distance from the listener.

9. You have ringing in your ears or other head noises (hissing, buzzing, crickets, etc.). Tinnitus often accompanies hearing loss, but not always ... and may be the ear’s way of saying, “Ouch”!

What are forms of hearing loss?

Hearing loss, or deafness, can be present at birth (congenital), or become evident later in life (acquired). The distinction between acquired and congenital deafness specifies only the time that the deafness appears. It does not specify whether the cause of the deafness is genetic (inherited).

Acquired deafness may or may not be genetic. For example, it may be a manifestation of a delayed-onset form of genetic deafness. Alternatively, acquired deafness may be due to damage to the ear from noise.

Congenital deafness similarly may or may not be genetic. For example, it may be associated with a white forelock, and be caused by a genetic disease called Waardenburg syndrome. In fact, more than half of congenital hearing loss is inherited. Alternatively, congenital deafness may be due to a condition or infection to which the mother was exposed during pregnancy, such as the rubella virus.

What are other classifications of hearing loss?

Hearing loss can also be classified based on which portions of the hearing system (auditory system) are affected. When the nervous system is affected, it is referred to as sensorineural hearing loss. When the portions of the ear that are responsible for transmitting the sound to the nerves are affected, it is referred to as conductive hearing loss.

Conditions affecting the cochlea, eighth cranial nerve, spinal cord, or brain cause sensorineural hearing loss. Examples include: Meniere’s disease -- hearing loss of aging (presbycusis) -- nerve injury from syphilis -- hearing loss of unknown cause (idiopathic hearing loss) -- nerve tumors - drug toxicity from drugs like aspirin and aminoglycosides.

Conditions that affect the ear canal, eardrum (tympanic membrane), and middle ear lead to conductive hearing loss. Examples of conductive hearing loss include: ear wax blocking the ear canal -- otitis media and otosclerosis.

What is the treatment for hearing loss?

The treatment of hearing loss depends on its cause. For example: ear wax can be removed -- ear infection can be treated with medications -- occasionally surgical procedures are necessary -- purchasing a hearing aid restores many or most sounds.

Glossary of Terms ...

Click here to learn how the healthy hearing process works.

AFI : Active Feedback Intercept - The most effective feedback erasure system every developed. AFI uses an entirely new patent-pending method that actually moves nuisance signals in time, so not only does the feedback virtually disappear, there are no irritating sound artifacts left behind.

Acquired Deafness - The loss of hearing that occurs or develops some time during a person's life but was not present at birth.

Autocoil - Offers instantaneous selection of telephone listening mode, without the need for manual switching.

AGC : Automatic Gain Control - A digital circuit used to control the gain, or the increase in the amplitude of an electrical signal from the original input to the amplified output, automatically.

BTE - Behind the Ear. This model lost popularity for a time but has come back strong because they are now smaller and lighter in many colors that can blend in with your hair color, and often it's the best choice for profound hearing loss.

CIC - Completely in the Ear. Some of the advantages of this model are: there is less wind noise when outside, better sound utilization, and great while on the telephone.

Cochlea - The cochlea is the part of the inner ear that converts mechanical energy (vibrations) into nerve impulses sent to the brain. It is also known as the organ of hearing.

Congenital - Present at birth. A condition that is congenital is one that is present at birth. Example: Congenital deafness - Loss of hearing present at birth.

Compression - Allows a digital aid to pass either low frequencies or high frequencies depending on the use and environment. Since many channels can be used with a digital device, many frequencies can be set to work with the device.

Deafness - Deafness is defined by partial or complete hearing loss. Levels of hearing impairment vary from a mild but important loss of sensitivity to a total loss of hearing.

Directional Microphone - This capability is also available in analog hearing aids, however, in digital aids it is easier to use and provides better functionality. You can easily turn on the directional microphone if you want to hear only those sounds which are directly in front of you. Background sounds are faded away and the wearer can concentrate on what is being said.

DSD : Directional Speech Detector - Standard on behind-the-ear styles and optional on all others – with the quietest directional mode in hearing aid history. DSD continuously monitors the decibel levels in noisy environments and adjusts its reception area.

Dual Microphones - Modern digital hearing aids have a great new feature of using two microphones. One microphone is capable of amplifying what is really in front of the user, while the other microphone is able to pick up sounds from all around. The different microphones can be selected, which makes it ideal for reducing any background noise, allowing you to listen to the person in front of you.

Eardrum - The tympanic membrane of the ear, or tympanum, the membrane that separates the middle ear from the external ear.

Endolymphatic Hydrops - See Menier's Disease below.

Environmental Adaptation - A state-of-the-art system with noise suppression that automatically manages and classifies different sound environments so you can move seamlessly from one listening experience to another.

EQ : Equaliser - Most people start to notice hearing loss affecting only certain frequencies, this is normally only the higher frequencies. They may start to be unable to hear high pitch sounds, you can buy a specific hearing aid to boost whichever specific frequency the patient is having a trouble with. Digital hearing aids have the advantage of having an EQ (equaliser) function much like your home stereo.

Feedback Reduction - One of the drawbacks with the early generations of digital hearing aids is that they caused feedback in received sound because of jaw movement or swallowing activity. However, modern technology, superior circuitry, programming and adjustments virtually eliminates all feedback.

Genetic Disease - A disease caused by an abnormality in an individual's genome.

Idiopathic - Of unknown cause. Any disease that is of uncertain or unknown origin may be termed idiopathic.

ITE - In the Ear. This model works with most types of hearing loss.

ITC - In the Canal. This is one of the more popular sytles of recent years because it's a great style for those with mild to moderate hearing loss.

LSP : Loud Sound Protection - Loud sounds damage the auditory receptor organ called the cochlea. When the cochlea is damaged it reduces hearing sensitivity. Some digital hearing aids incorporate the circuitry needed to "not allow" loud sounds to pass into the ear canal.

Membrane - A very thin layer of tissue that covers a surface.

Meniere's Disease - Meniere disease (idiopathic endolymphatic hydrops) is an inner ear disorder with symptoms that include vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, and the sensation of ear fullness. Diuretics, anti-vertigo, anti-nausea and low salt diets are the primary treatment for Meniere disease. Surgery may be recommended if the vertigo cannot be controlled with medication. More info.

Nanotechnology - The science and technology of devices and materials, such as electronic circuits, constructed on extremely small scales, as small as individual atoms and molecules. More info.

Nerve - A bundle of fibers that uses chemical and electrical signals to transmit sensory and motor information from one body part to another.

Noise Reduction - New hearing aids have a noise reduction feature which is similar to the one on your stereo. These have a computer chip built into the hearing aid which is designed to analyze the sound and cut out certain frequencies of sound. For example, early generations of digital hearing aids caused feedback that often sounded like buzzing, or whistling. When you heard feedback, you would have to turn down the volume until the feedback is reduced. However, the noise reduction chip is able to remove feedback without having to turn down the volume.

Otitis - Inflammation of the ear. Depending upon which part of the ear is inflammed, there is otitis externa, otitis media, and otitis interna.

Otitis Media - Inflammation of the middle ear characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the middle ear, bulging of the eardrum, pain in the ear and, if eardrum is perforated, drainage of purulent material (pus) into the ear canal. It can occur in one or both ears. Otitis media is the most frequently diagnosis recorded for children who visit physicians for illness. It is also the most common cause of hearing loss in children. It affects adults occasionally usually in the winter and early spring.

Otosclerosis - The abnormal formation of new bone in the middle ear that gradually immobilizes the stapes (stirrup bone) and prevents it from vibrating in response to sound, causing progressive loss of hearing. Otosclerosis usually affects both ears. It is a common disorder, especially among young women. Pregnancy may trigger it.

Perceptive Deafness - Failure of the auditive nerve. In general, the person who suffers from perceptive deafness talks loudly because they cannot hear themselves. The utilization of auditive devices control this deafness.

Presbycusis - Age-related hearing loss with gradually progressive inability to hear, especially high frequency sounds. Presbycusis most often occurs in both ears. Because the loss of hearing is so gradual, people with presbycusis may not realize that their hearing is diminishing. They may have trouble distinguishing and understanding conversation in a noisy setting. Environmental exposures (such as to guns, power tools, industrial machinery, or very loud music) contribute significantly to presbycusis, but up to half of presbycusis is genetically determined. Presbycusis is common, affecting a third of people between 65 and 75 years and up to a half of people 75 and over. The hearing loss can usually be corrected with a hearing aid.

RIC - Receiver-In-The-Canal. A small, discreet, and incredibly quick to fit; perfect for many first-time wearers.

Syndrome - A set of signs and symptoms that tend to occur together and which reflect the presence of a particular disease or an increased chance of developing a particular disease.

Telecoils - Designed to make phone conversations for people with hearing difficulties much easier. Switching a switch changes the device to use the telecoil, this cuts out the background noise completely so you can concentrate completely on the telephone. This feature doesn't work with all telephones. It's important to check whether or not yours is compatible before considering purchasing a telecoil hearing aid.

Tinnitus - A sound in one ear or both ears, such as buzzing, ringing, or whistling, occurring without an external stimulus and usually caused by a specific condition, such as the use of certain drugs, a blocked auditory tube or canal, a head injury, an ear infection or diseases such as Meniere's Disease.

Transmissive Deafness - occurs when earwax or other type of liquid blocks the ear. This kind of deafness could be the cause of other diseases such as otitis, mastoiditis and obstruction of the ear. People who suffer from transmissive deafness talk quietly because internally, they hear themselves very loud.

Tympanic - A: Pertaining to the tympanum (the eardrum). B: Pertaining to the tympanic cavity. C: Bell-like or resonant.

Tympanic Membrane - Just the ear drum.

Vertigo - not only is Vertigo an award winning, 1958 Hitchcok thriller starring Kim Novak as Madeleine Elster and James (Jimmy) Stewart as Detective John 'Scottie' Ferguson, it's also a real condition that plaqued the detective.
Vertigo - dizziness characterized by a sensation of whirling motion, either of oneself or of external objects. It's caused by damage or disease in the inner ear and / or a fear of heights.

Waardenburg Syndrome - A genetic disorder that causes deafness.