Fall Weather and Hearing Awareness

"Fall weather and hearing awareness." Sounds like a strange combination of words doesn't it? I'd like to tell you how these two things are related.

This past October I celebrated Protect Your Hearing Month. In particular I focused on hearing protection and provided seminars to my community about proper hearing protection techniques. Dangerous loudness levels affect more people than you may realize. Each year thousands of hunters and recreational shooters suffer hearing damage when they enter the forests and firing ranges. Many musicians unknowingly harm their hearing with long term exposure to loud music. Industrial workers, farmers, and even dentists find their occupations a hazard to their hearing health. Many things in our everyday environment have been shown to effect our hearing such as music earphones, lawn care equipment, and home improvement tools. The good news is this type of hearing loss can be prevented.

Hearing protection is relatively inexpensive and is proven to do the job. I've found the best protection is a pair of foam plugs under earmuffs; I call this "double protecting". This is especially important for shooters. Those that need special hearing protection to allow for music appreciation or communication can find custom earmolds with filters that will do the job. They cost more, but the investment in better hearing usually outweighs that initial expense. I like the custom molds made by Westone or Microsonic. (check their websites for more information http://www.westone.com/ or http://www.earmolds.com/) Musicians typically need more customization than any other occupation requiring hearing protection. Their hearing protection options are outlined nicely by Westone's Music Division (also found at http://www.westone.com/). As an audiologist part of my job is to identify my patients that are at risk for noise induced hearing loss and recommend hearing protection that will meet their needs. Unfortunately many people do not think about hearing protection until they already have hearing problems.

Hearing loss occurs in 1 of every 10 people. Many people do not realize they have hearing loss and need help recognizing the signs. Most hearing loss is treatable either medically or with technology. Although hearing is an important sense that keeps us feeling connected to the world most people do not have yearly screenings. Consider having your hearing checked this fall.

This month, November, I am celebrating Assistive Technology Month. My focus is on assistive devices for those with hearing loss and I have been scheduling demonstrations of the devices. My next demonstration is November 5, 2009 at the Three Rivers Center for Assistive Technology in Pittsburgh, PA. [the public is welcome please email me for more information at DrYoder@hearwellcenter.com]

Assistive devices can help bridge the gap for people who struggle with the phone, television, doorbells and more because of a deficit in their hearing. There are many choices in assistive technology and it is often difficult to know which is right for you. Some devices are designed to be used in conjunction with hearing aids or cochlear implants while others are meant for use without hearing aids. Proper selection of assistive devices can improve quality of life, increase job performance, improve confidence in communication, maintain independence, ensure safety and reconnected with family and friends.

I like this focus because I use assistive devices all the time. Being severely hard of hearing I need to have devices that will wake me when I'm sleeping for alarms, phone calls, doorbells and smoke detectors. I also need to have extra amplification for hearing on the phone and for listening to my shows on television. Although I have hearing aids that I am dearly grateful for, they cannot accomplish all the things that assistive devices can. The gap is bridged for me and because of this I am fully independent and well adjusted despite my lack of hearing.

So, now you know what Fall Weather and Hearing Awareness is all about. I encourage your comments so please email me at DrYoder@hearwellcenter.com.

Hearing Protection Resources:
NIOSH Safety and Health Topic: Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders: Noise-Induced Hearing Loss http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/noise.asp

American Academy of Audiology: Keeping the Sound Down: Educational Campaign Launched to Prevent Hearing Loss http://www.turnittotheleft.com/news/keymessagesandfacts.htm

Assistive Technology Resources:
U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP): Disability.gov http://www.disability.gov/education/assistive_technology

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA): Assistive Technology http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/treatment/assist_tech.htm

This blog posted by Suzanne Yoder, Au.D. Doctor of Audiology and owner of HearWell Center. Please visit our website for more information http://www.hearwellcenter.com/

Smoke Detectors and the Hard of Hearing

Recently there has been some coverage on how smoke detectors do not wake people who are hard of hearing. Although smoke detectors have very loud alarms and are "alarming" to most people... those with a hearing loss may not find that to be true. Depending on the degree of hearing loss, hard of hearing people may hear the alarm but it may not be loud enough to disrupt sleep; it may be soft or it may be completely inaudible.

I know hearing aid wearers who live alone in their homes and are concerned about taking their hearing aids off at night and for good reason. Hearing aids are the link to the audible world for many people and is often the only device people invest in to compensate for their loss. Alerting system can help fill the gap in accommodating for situations where hearing aids are not enough, when hearing aids can't be worn or are not an option.

Alerting systems are not new to the market... in fact strobe lights and vibrating alerts have been around for a long time. They are an everyday electronic in the homes of severe or profoundly hard of hearing or deaf/Deaf folks but they are not very common in the homes of the hard of hearing of lesser degree.

Unfortunately, many people with hearing loss deny themselves the protection of appropriate alerting devices because they do not believe their loss is great enough to justify the purchase or because they believe their family or friends or neighbors will help them if there is ever an emergency. This is truly troubling. Those who deny themselves the help are sacrificing their independence and possibly endangering their lives. It is not worth the risk. It is suspected that many casualties have resulted from this chosen isolation from the world.

Don't take the risk. Tell your family about it, too. Professional help is available and audiological care includes the assessment of your needs for alerting and assistive devices. Please call for more information. There is a solution for every household.