hearing loss | clermont fl
DESCRIPTION
HOW WE HEARREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS OF HEARING AIDSINTERPRETING HEARING LOSSADJUSTING TO HEARING AIDSDO’s/DON’Ts OF HEARING AIDS & BATTERIESTROUBLESHOOTING TIPSTRANSCRIPT
HEARING AID 101Session 1
www.fixmyhearing.com
Welcome to…
Introductions…
Any new hearing aid users??
Reasons for getting hearing aids??
Outline for Session 1:
• HOW WE HEAR
• REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS OF HEARING AIDS
• INTERPRETING HEARING LOSS
• ADJUSTING TO HEARING AIDS
• DO’s/DON’Ts OF HEARING AIDS & BATTERIES
• TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS
HOW WE HEAR…
How we Hear…• We have 3 major parts to the ear that
work together to send sound to the brain where it is interpreted
Outer Ear
• Job is to collect sound waves and funnel them along the ear canal to the eardrum
Middle Ear• When the sound waves hit the eardrum,
they cause the eardrum to vibrate
• The vibration causes the 3 bones of the middle ear to move
The middle ear space is a sealed, air-filled
cavity. The Eustachian Tube
connects the middle ear to the back of the nose.
This tube equalizes pressure changes to
the outside air.
Inner Ear• The movement of the 3 middle ear bones sets the
fluid of the inner ear into motion• Fluid movement shears thousands of microscopic
hair cells• Shearing of a hair cell stimulates the auditory nerve• The auditory nerve sends
an impulse to the brain
where the signal is
interpreted
The inner ear also houses the balance organs!
In a nutshell…
1. Fluid movement shears
hair cells…
2. The sheared hair cells activate the auditory nerve – telling it to send a signal…
3. The signal reaches the auditory center in the brain where it is interpreted!
CochleaAuditory Nerve
Brain
A view from the front…
How DOES hearing loss occur?
• A hearing loss can result from disruption of normal function
ANYWHERE along the auditory system
3 types of hearing loss can occur…1. CONDUCTIVE HEARING LOSS: A
hearing loss resulting from disorders of the OUTER &/or MIDDLE EARS
– Sound is prevented from entering a normal functioning inner ear
Conductive Hearing Loss What causes this “blockage” of sound?
• Middle ear infection• Fluid in the middle ear (with no infection)• Ruptured eardrum• Unhinging of the middle ear bones• Stiffening of the middle ear bones
(otosclerosis)• Tumor in the middle ear space• Wax build-up
Some examples of conductive losses…
Can usually be treated medically or surgically
Types of loss (continued)…2. SENSORINEURAL HEARING LOSS: A
hearing loss resulting from disorders or damage to the inner ear (cochlea) &/or the auditory nerve. Commonly referred to as “nerve loss”.
What causes a sensorineural hearing loss??
• Noise exposure• Advancing Age• Hereditary• Ototoxic medications• Syndromes/Disorders• Infections• Head Trauma• Tumor on auditory nerve
…or a COMBINATION of the above
Characteristics of Sensorineural Hearing Loss:
• Usually permanent
• Can continue to deteriorate
• Usually NOT treatable by medication/surgery
• Hearing aids are the solution!
Types of loss (continued)…
3. MIXED HEARING LOSS: A hearing loss that consists of BOTH a conductive and a sensorineural component
Example: A sensorineural hearing loss from noise exposure + a conductive
hearing loss from a perforated eardrum = MIXED HEARING LOSS
“I can hear but I can’t understand”
• If the problem is with DETECTING sounds, making the sounds louder will make them clear… this is true for the person with a Conductive hearing loss (remember, they have a normal inner ear)
LOUDNESS
LOUDNESS
LOUDNESS
LOUDNESS
LOUDNESS
“I can hear but I can’t understand”
• If the problem is with understanding, however, then making sounds louder will NOT provide normal, clear speech. This is the case with Sensorineural hearing loss.
CLEARNESS
CLEARNESS
CLEARNESS
CLEARNESS
WHY?
• Damage to the inner ear/nerve (i.e. loss of hair cells) creates a DISTORTED signal that is sent to the brain.
• This is why individuals with sensorineural hearing loss need to know that hearing aids do not restore normal hearing
• Having REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS of hearing aids is important!
Realistic Expectations…• Your voice & the voices of others may sound
different• Background noise will inevitably get amplified in
addition to speech, therefore speech may be difficult to understand in noise
• You may have difficulty understanding speech (in general) depending on the severity of your hearing loss, the speaker, and the environment
Realistic Expectations…(continued)• It will still be difficult to understand people
talking from another room• Hearing aids are less helpful in rooms with
hard floors & walls & no carpet or drapes• Hearing aids should be a comfortable fit• No feedback at a comfortable volume setting• Hearing aids should make soft sounds
audible, normal sounds comfortable, and loud sounds tolerable
• Even people with normal hearing find many listening situations difficult!
Do you know how to read your hearing loss??
• Sound is made up of pitch & loudness
Unwanted sound is
referred to as “NOISE”
A moderate high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss…
NORMAL HEARING
= RIGHT EAR= LEFT EAR
Degrees of Hearing Loss:
Mild loss: Difficulty with faint speech & speech in “less than ideal” situations
Moderate loss: Frequent difficulty with normal speech (even in “ideal” situations”); repetition is often necessary; listening is a strain
Severe loss: May hear loud voice approximately 1 ft. from ear; may identify environmental sounds; may distinguish vowels of speech
Profound loss: Usually cannot understand amplified speech; hearing is not typically the primary mode of communication
Adjusting to your Hearing Aids…
1. Quiet living room. One person talks about familiar things at different places in the room.
2. Go to kitchen. Run the water.3. Radio/TV in a quiet room. Have a person with normal
hearing adjust the volume. Begin with the news.4. Wear aids at quiet dinner table. 5. Conversation in quiet room with 2…3…4 other people.6. Outside (quiet place). Listen to wind noise.7. Walk along street (quiet neighborhood).8. Church, lectures, play. Sit close to speakers first.
Later, try listening from a distance.9. Driving. Listen to background noises. Open the
window.10. Shopping trip.11. Party or room where several people are talking.
Easier
Harder
Above all…BE PATIENT!
• Through time, noise and meaning will begin to sort themselves out
• The more often you wear your hearing aids, the quicker this “sorting out” process will occur
THE BRAIN HAS TO HEAR WHAT THE BRAIN DOESN’T WANT TO HEAR IN ORDER TO KNOW IT DOESN’T WANT TO HEAR IT!!
Care & Maintenance of your Hearing Aids:
DO:Clean your hearing aids everyday using
clean, dry hands!Store your hearing aids in a cool, dry place!Remove your hearing aids when heavily
perspiring from exercise/work!Open your battery doors when not in use!Keep your hearing aids away from pets &
small children!
Care & Maintenance of your Hearing Aids:
DON’T:Take your hearing aids out/change the battery while
standing on a hard surface (i.e. tile floor)! Bathe, shower, swim with hearing aids in!Use hairspray or a hairdryer with the hearing aids
in!Wear your hearing aid if it is causing soreness!Wear hearing aids around loud noises/heavy
machinery. Ear protection should be worn!
Care & Maintenance of your Batteries:
DO:Carry spare batteries!Keep tabs ON batteries until ready to use!Keep track of batteries by placing the tab on the
calendar day you changed it!Throw away old batteries after use!Use fresh, new batteries each time!Check medications before swallowing…batteries
have been mistaken for pills!Keep away from pets!
Care & Maintenance of your Batteries:
DON’T:Force the battery compartment shut –
check the direction of the battery!Carry loose batteries in a pocket/purse!Change batteries in front of small
children or those of mental incapacity!
Batteries are toxic if accidentally swallowed: Contact the National Button Battery Hotline at (202) 625- 3333 for accidental ingestion.
Troubleshooting Tips:
THE PROBLEM: DEAD HEARING AID
Some Causes…
Battery is weakBattery is in hearing aid incorrectlyWrong type of batteryBattery contacts are corrodedHearing aid is shut offHearing aid is plugged with waxFor behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids:
Tubing is twisted/kinked/plugged/disconnectedMoisture in tubing
What would you do?
Troubleshooting Tips:
THE PROBLEM: DISTORTED SOUND
Some Causes…
Battery is almost deadBattery contacts are corrodedExcessive wax in hearing aidMicrophone opening is dirty or coveredVolume control is too high or full-on
For behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids:Twisted/collapsed tubingMoisture in tubing
What would you do?
Troubleshooting Tips:
THE PROBLEM: INTERMITTENT SOUND
Some Causes…
Battery is almost deadBattery contacts are corrodedBad volume control switchMoisture in hearing aid (or tubing for BTE
aids)
What would you do?
Troubleshooting Tips:
THE PROBLEM: FEEDBACK (WHISTLING)
Some Causes…
Hearing aid (or earmold) is not put in the ear correctly
Hearing aid (or earmold) does not fit properly in the ear (too big/small)
Volume control is turned too highInternal feedback inside the hearing aid
(defect in aid)For behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids:
Aid not firmly attached to earmold tubingTubing is cracked/has hole in it
What would you do?
That concludes Session 1!Thank you for your attention. Do you have
any questions?
Preview of Session 2:
Communication Strategies• Informing others of your hearing loss
• Speechreading• Strategies to Improve Communication
• Approaches to Communication• Hearing Protection Devices• Assistive Listening Devices
Another reason we have ears…
Questions?
www.fixmyhearing.com