1 - What should I do if I suspect that I have a hearing problem?
You should consult with an Audiologist. They are university trained specialists in hearing. No referral is necessary and most appointments can be arranged within a very short period of time. A hearing assessment normally takes less than an hour and is completely painless. Your results will be explained to you in terms that will be easy to understand and if further testing is necessary the Audiologist will arrange this for you. No two people are exactly alike, so specific recommendations that are appropriate for you, will be discussed. If hearing aids are indicated, several options are usually discussed to best meet your needs and circumstances.
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2 - What are some warning signs of hearing loss?
• Speaking louder than necessary in a conversation
• Constantly asking for words to be repeated
• Straining to hear
• Misunderstanding conversations
• Favouring one ear
• Thinking that people always mumble
• Turning the television or radio up louder than usual
• Having difficulty hearing on the telephone
• Withdrawing from social contact
• Ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Appearing dull and disinterested and being slow to respond
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3 - Will I be able to hear normally with hearing aids?
Hearing “normally” is a very subjective term. You must remember that we are still dealing with a damaged hearing system; we haven’t “cured” anything. Having realistic expectations about what hearing aids will do for your particular hearing loss is very important to discuss with your audiologist. Today there are many different types of hearing aid technologies and styles to choose from and each will have a different benefit for certain hearing losses. It is important that you investigate these choices and, with the help of your audiologist, find the right hearing aid for you.
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4 - I am a muscian and am suffering from hearing loss. Are there hearing aids available that will allow me to listen to music without the loudness?
Most hearing aids available these days have some kind of circuitry to control how loud they get. Often, the maximum output is adjustable. A consideration for listening to music is digital circuity. The newer digital circuits reproduce a greater frequency range (they go to higher frequencies) than analogue circuits, an improvement that is appreciated by the music listener. Some hearing aids are available with multiple programs so that you can switch back and forth between settings for speech and settings for music.
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5 - What causes noise induced hearing loss?
Some examples of what can cause noise-induced hearing loss are, repeated exposure to musical concerts, dances, nightclubs, excessive noise in the workplace, and personal listening devices such as iPods or MP3 players. Noise-induced hearing loss occurs gradually over time and can go unnoticed until it is too late. Noise is one of the leading causes of hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent and irreversible; nothing can restore your hearing. It can be prevented and if you have experienced some noise-induced hearing loss, further damage to your hearing can be avoided by taking the proper precautions to protect your ears.
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6 - I have a hearing loss in both ears. Do I have to wear two hearing aids or is one hearing aid enough?
When there is a hearing loss in both ears you will do better with two hearing aids. We were born with two ears and the brain is set up to receive sound equally from both sides. If one ear hears better, the brain will still assume that both ears are functioning normally and this results in a reduction in localization abilities. Your ability to accurately tell where sounds are coming from will be compromised, for the brain assumes that the first ear to hear it is the side the sound is coming from. You need direction of sound to hear and understand better in background noise. People who wear two hearing aids have also reported a better sound quality than with just one and they do not need to use as much volume. Science and technological research also points convincingly that most people with hearing loss in two ears greatly benefit from hearing aids on both sides.
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7 - What is a Cochlear Implant?
A cochlear implant is a hearing system that enables people with severe and profound hearing loss, or those who are completely deaf, and who would derive little or no benefit from a hearing aid, to hear. Children and adults are candidates. The great majority of cochlear implant wearers achieve a high level of speech comprehension. It is not possible to predict the advantages of a CI for a particular patient. A cochlear implant consists of two parts, the internal implant and the external speech processing unit. The speech processor is worn inconspicuously behind the ear. The speech processor converts signals into an electrical pulse patterns which are transmitted through the skin to the implant. The auditory nerve is stimulated by these electrical impulses. The brain receives the stimuli from the auditory nerve and interprets them as an acoustic event such as noise, sound, and speech.
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8 - What does the degree of hearing impairment mean?
Mild hearing loss
Unable to hear soft sounds and difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments
Moderate hearing loss
Unable to hear soft and moderately loud sounds, considerable difficulty in understanding speech, particularly with background noise.
Severe hearing loss
Unable to hear most sounds. Speakers must raise their voice to be heard. Group conversation is possible only with considerable effort.
Profound hearing loss
Some very loud sounds are audible but communication without a hearing instrument is very difficult.
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9. What causes sudden hearing loss?
Sudden hearing loss is hearing loss that occurs abruptly or over a period of several days. It usually affects only one ear. Sometimes, this type of hearing loss is accompanied by a ringing in the ear (tinnitus) or dizziness. Sudden hearing loss requires immediate medical attention. Although the cause can't always be determined, known causes of sudden hearing loss include:
• Viral infection of the inner ear, such as due to the mumps, measles or chickenpox
• Disruption of blood flow to the cochlea, such as due to a head injury
• Torn membrane within a part of the inner ear (cochlea)
• Noncancerous tumor (acoustic neuroma) of the acoustic nerve.
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10 - Why do people have two ears?
Because the brain needs input from both ears to tell us which direction sounds are coming from. Think about a car honking its horn, for example. Your ears alert you to the danger, sending sound signals to your brain. Within a split second, your brain compares the information received from both ears - such as the power and intensity of the sound wave, and how long it took to reach each ear. This tells you instantly which direction the car is coming from, and how far away it is. This process is called sound localizing. The reason we can localize sounds is because of the physical distance between our ears. For instance, the sound of a car horn on your left hand side reaches your left ear a fraction of a second before it reaches your right ear, and with greater power. This is why you know immediately that the car is rapidly approaching from the left. It is nature's way of keeping us in tune with our environment.
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11 - How can I assist co-workers with hearing impairments?
• Speak in a clear, normal tone; do not over-enunciate or exaggerate words.
• Speak directly to the individual, even if there is a sign language interpreter present.
• Face into the light when speaking and do not cover or turn your face away.
• Flick the light on and off when entering a room to draw attention to your presence.
• While writing a message, do not talk; a hearing-impaired person cannot read a note and your lips at the same time.
• In situations where lights may be inadequate, provide the individual with a flashlight to help the hearing-impaired person lip-read in the dark.
• Use a microphone when speaking to a group.
• A presenter should repeat a question raised by the audience into the microphone before answering the question.
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12 - What problems might I experience while adjusting to my hearing aids?
Become familiar with your hearing aid.
Your audiologist will teach you to use and care for your hearing aids. Also, be sure to practice putting in and taking out the aids, adjusting volume control, cleaning, identifying right and left aids, and replacing the batteries with the audiologist present.
The hearing aids may be uncomfortable
Ask your professional how long you should wear your hearing aids during the adjustment period. Any problems with fit and comfort should be resolved quickly, so that you can wear your hearing aids comfortably for all of your waking hours. Also, ask how to adjust the volume and/or program for sounds that are too loud or too soft.
Your hearing aid may “whistle”
When this happens, you are experiencing feedback, which is caused by the fit of the hearing aid or by the buildup of earwax or fluid, be sure to report this to your hearing aid provider. Today’s hearing aids have sophisticated feedback management programs.
You may hear background noise.
Keep in mind that a hearing aid does not completely separate the sounds you want to hear from the ones you do not want to hear. Wearing the hearing aid consistently will help the wearer to learn to ignore the unwanted sounds and focus on the things you want to hear.
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13 - What are some tips for taking care of my hearing aids?
• Keep hearing aids away from heat and moisture.
• Replace dead batteries immediately.
• Clean hearing aids as instructed.
• Do not use hairspray or other hair care products while wearing hearing aids.
• Turn off hearing aids when they are not in use.
• Keep replacement batteries and small aids away from children and pets.
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14 - How loud is too loud?
We measure sound in units called decibels or dB’s. While there are laws guiding the amount of noise a person can be exposed to in the workplace, noise is considered to be too loud if the sound is over 85 dB and hearing protection should be warn. To give you a reference, the wind in the trees can be 20 db; a person when talking can be 55 dB. A chainsaw can be measured at 95 dB and a single handgun blast can be as much as 160 dB! As a rule of thumb, if you have to raise your voice over the noise, you should be wearing hearing protection. No person should be exposed to sounds over 120 dB for even very short periods of time without hearing protection. Levels over 120 dB can cause permanent damage even after one brief exposure.
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15 - Can Toys Be Too Loud?
Children are especially at risk to noise because their bodies are still developing. When children play they generally hold toys close to their ears and while this practice may be safe for the majority of toys, certain toys can pose a danger to your child’s hearing. Generally, the risk depends on the noise level at the child’s ear and how long the child is exposed to the noise. Toys are regulated under the Hazardous Products Act by Health Canada. Toys that emit levels exceeding 100 decibel levels (dB) are banned and though Health Canada follows very strict guidelines, some toys still have the potential to harm hearing. Whistles or toy cap guns for example can reach levels of 110 to 135 dB, a level of noise similar to a rock concert or jet flyover!
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16 - How can I lower the risk of hearing loss in my child?
• Purchase toys that have on/off switches.
• Purchase toys with a volume control
• Check for noise level labels on toys.
• Listen to the toy yourself before making a purchase.
• Teach your children about the potential danger to their ears from noisy toys & noisy activities.
• Reduce the time your child spends playing with noisy toys.
• Remove the batteries of noisy toys
• Supervise young children when they play with toys that emit sounds.
• Turn down the volume of toys with headsets (personal stereos, etc.).
• Purchase alternate toys such as books & puzzles that target language & literacy skills.
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17 - What is noise?
Noise can be defined as any unwanted sound and when loud enough, can damage your hearing permanently. Noise can range from a shotgun blast to recreational music that you would listen to at home or in your car. The louder the sound, the shorter the time you should be around that noise before it causes damage. Aside from damaging your hearing, noise can be a source of annoyance, stress and interference with communication. It is important to wear hearing protection while using equipment such as lawn mowers, driving a motorcycle, or using a firearm.
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18 - Can I wear someone else's hearing aid?
A hearing aid is a prescriptive device that is digitally programmed for your unique hearing loss, which has been determined following your hearing assessment. Wearing a hearing aid that has not been prescribed for you may actually cause further harm, as it may provide too much amplification and possibly cause more hearing loss.
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