Good Sound Audiology

Your Ears and Traveling Passport? Check. Luggage? Check. Ear Plugs..? With the holidays quickly approaching, many are traveling to be with family. There is a lot to remember when traveling, but something commonly forgotten is protecting their ears.

When flying in an airplane, the change in pressure can cause travelers to develop “airplane ears”, also known as barotitis media. Airplane ears can cause partial hearing loss and can be extremely painful for people to experience if not properly taken care of. Even though no serious affects usually result from airplane ears, such as hearing loss, it is still important to take care of your ears so that this discomfort and potential damage does not occur.

How to Avoid Airplane Ears:

• To help keep the Eustachian tube open, it is important to do simple techniques such as swallowing several times or blowing your nose before your plane begins to prepare for descent.
• Chewing gum is very helpful when attempting to open the Eustachian tube, so make sure to keep gum with you at all times while flying.
• Flying can be very exhausting, so it may be a natural reaction to yawn. Yawning also activates the muscles by the Eustachian tube to decrease air pressure. Even if you aren’t tired, sit by someone who is – yawns are contagious!
• Earplugs are a great way to equalize the air pressure in your ears, so make sure to purchase a pair before getting on your flight.

Our ears are very sensitive and the pressure from the airplane can greatly impact them.

If you are having trouble hearing and want to enjoy your trip by clearly hearing those around you, don’t hesitate – contact us today! Perhaps custom earplugs will be the perfect accessory for your next vacation.

The Consumer Handbook on Hearing Loss and Hearing Aids: A bridge to healing; Edited by Clinical Audiologist Richard E. Carmen, Au.D., Fourth Edition 2014

The Consumer Handbook will educate you to all things regarding hearing loss. Every chapter is written by an expert in the field. From the emotions involved with hearing loss to improving your listening skills, this handbook has it all. I especially enjoyed reading the chapter titled, “What do the experts say, Ten Questions and Answers”. Dr. James Hall states when asked about poor speech intelligibility, “…if the brain is not processing sound well, then even a person with normal hearing sensitivity for faint sounds may experience serious problems with speech perception and understanding.” We hear with our brains, not our ears. If you are having difficulty hearing or know someone who is having difficulty hearing, read this book.

I recommend this handbook to anyone thinking about hearing aids, hearing loss, and other hearing related issues. The more information you know prior to purchasing hearing aids, the better consumer you will be in the end.

To learn more about the classes, call 480-883-2842 or email Dr. Karg at info@goodsoundaudiology.com

Dr. Carmen’s Handbook

To purchase the handbook, visit http://amzn.to/1P2s1Rz

A review of Frustrated by Hearing Loss? 5 Keys to Communication Success by Dusty Ann Jessen, Au.D.

This is a must read for our patients! I love this handbook for those with hearing loss!

And it is just that, a handbook. A tool for better hearing. You will be able to read it from front to back with great ease. Later, you may go back and review specific sections, as needed. This handbook was designed for you and anyone that communicates with you on a regular basis. Dr. Jessen dissects typical communication breakdowns (i.e. on the telephone) into easy-to-understand sections. She effectively communicates to the reader the reasons for the breakdown and offers the best strategies to help overcome these issues.  Most importantly, there is an added emphasis on the responsibility of the readers to practice, practice, practice the strategies offered in the handbook.

Hearing aids are not a cure for hearing loss, they are aids! They are only one part of the road on the way to better hearing. This handbook is another piece of that road and is a great addition to the classes that I teach in the Sun Lakes office, CHAMP. To become a CHAMP, each person learns how to effectively communicate in different environments, with different speakers, and with the necessary technology. This handbook will reinforce these strategies once you are home!

To learn more about the classes, call 480-883-2842 or email Dr. Karg at info@goodsoundaudiology.com

Dr. Jessen’s Handbook

To purchase the handbook, visit http://cuttothechasecommunication.com/5keys/communication-handbook/

Hunting and shooting are one of the most popular past-times in America. But, shooting any type of firearm without the proper protection can result in severe damage to your hearing, whether temporary or permanent.  A study by the University of Wisconsin found that men aged 48 to 92 who hunted regularly were more likely to experience high-frequency hearing loss, a risk that increased seven percent for every five years a man had been hunting.   But what’s really alarming is that of the 3,753 study participants (83 percent of whom were eligible), “38 percent of the target shooters and 95 percent of the hunters reported never wearing hearing protection while shooting in the past year.”

One shot from a gun can range from 140 to 190 decibels, and can cause immediate damage to one’s hearing. Avid hunter and writer for Outdoor News, Kristen Monroe, can attest to just how damaging a single shot can be; she’s ruptured her ear drum a couple of times!!

“I don’t think they all know that it really only takes one shot at the right angle to ruin your hearing and cause permanent ringing,” Monroe said of why hunters often overlook hearing protection.

Monroe herself used to avoid using hearing protection because it got in the way while shooting, but said that since using SoundGear, she’s not only been able to protect her hearing but also not worry about the devices getting in the way while shooting.  So beyond the obvious use of hearing protection (a must if shooting any time of firearm), what are some tips to help protect your hearing while out hunting or shooting?

Silence That Shot!

Unless it’s illegal in your state, consider using a gun suppressor—or silencer—to help reduce the volume of a gunshot. Silencers offer some relief for your ears by helping to stabilize the loud propellant gases firearms produce when fired. It should be noted, however, that not all states allow silencers and that silencers don’t mean hearing protection can be avoided.

Take A Break

Even with the best hearing protection, long-term exposure to firearms can cause temporary or permanent damage. It may not be obvious at first, but any exposure to dangerous sounds can result in hearing damage. Over time, as the damage builds up, your hearing will decline. Consider taking breaks between rounds to help give  your ears a chance to decompress. SoundGear helps reduce sounds above 95dB while enhancing conversational and natural sounds, so even when you take a break from shooting, you don’t have to take your hearing protection out. This ensures that if someone else decides to keep shooting nearby your ears don’t get hurt in the process!

Keep Them On or In!

Just because you aren’t shooting, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be wearing hearing protection. If you are out hunting with a group or standing to wait  your turn at a shooting range, keep your hearing protection on or in your ears. You may not be shooting but your ears are still being exposed to harmful levels of sound.

But I’m Using a Bow…

If you’re out hunting with a bow hearing protection may still be necessary. Often times, you aren’t the only one out hunting, and if someone close by is using a firearm, your ears are still susceptible to damage. This is one of the reasons why SoundGear is so great. Unlike other hearing protection products that muffle all sound, SoundGear only reduces sound 95dB and over. And because it amplifies other natural sounds, not only are you protecting your ears from nearby shots, you’re also giving yourself a better chance at hearing approaching game.

To best protect your hearing while hunting or shooting, check out SoundGear, digital hearing protection that enhances environmental sounds and decreases the dangerous high-decibel sounds. Learn more about SoundGear here.

Hearing Loss Information is Beautiful

I recently came across a tidbit of information on Facebook, aptly named Common MythConceptions. As I was reading some the common myths and misconceptions. It made me think of the common mythconceptions of hearing loss and hearing aids that I address in the office and in CHAMP sessions.

As educated consumers, I hope that you do your research regarding hearing loss and hearing aids. Start by having your hearing evaluated by a licensed Audiologist.

1. Hearing aids restore hearing to normal: Hearing aids will not give you normal hearing. They are an aid to help provide better hearing. Most people of nerve damage that cannot be corrected medically. Hearing aids will provide you with better hearing than without them!

2. People with hearing loss are older adults: While hearing loss is more commonly noted in older adults, 65% of those with hearing loss in the U.S. are under the age of 65!

3. Increasing the sound volume will enable a person with hearing loss to understand what is said: Yes, hearing loss is a loss of audibility. However, hearing is a very complex sense and the ability to discriminate speech sounds is processed by the BRAIN. Yelling or increasing the volume can distort the signal for the person with hearing loss. There are other communication strategies to help with the clarity of speech (e.g. getting the person’s attention, looking at them while talking to them, decrease the background noise, etc.)

4. Hearing loss isn’t a big deal when compared to other conditions: Actually untreated hearing loss is a big deal. Several studies have shown that untreated hearing loss negatively affects a person’s overall health! More importantly, the benefits of hearing aid use on a person’s quality of life are remarkable from improved relationships at home to increased social activities.

5. My friend’s hearing devices don’t work for him/her so they’re not going to work for me: Every person is an individual and so is their hearing loss. Due to the fact that we process speech and other sounds at the level of the brain, you can have a similar hearing loss as your friend but your processing ability could be better/worse. Having realistic expectations of the hearing aids based on your own individual hearing evaluation will help YOU to achieve better hearing.

If you crave more information about hearing loss and hearing aids, you can participate in Dr. Karg’s Summer Book Club, Attend CHAMP in August, or schedule your individual consult today!

Dr. Karg’s 2015 Summer Book Club

Hearing loss is a devastating, invisible disease.

I cannot say this enough. Hearing loss is a disease that negatively affects most of us at some point in our lives. Whether is a family member, friend or yourself that has hearing loss, this disease will impact how you interact with other people.

However, as with any disease, the more you are aware of how hearing loss can impact you; the better you are able to handle the consequences of hearing loss. I have listed my summer collection of books for reading and discussion. In order to take care of you, I would like to empower each one of you to educate yourself on hearing loss and how to start the road to better hearing.

As I finish each book, I will write my own review. I encourage any feedback from you, as well.

Click on the title to the right to view/print the list  Dr. Karg’s Summer Book Club List 2015

1. The consumer handbook on hearing loss and hearing aids: A bridge to healing; Edited by Clinical Audiologist Richard E. Carmen, Au.D., Fourth Edition 2014
2. The hearing loss guide: Useful information and advice for patients and families; John M. Burkey
3. Frustrated by hearing loss? 5 Keys to communication success; Dusty Ann Jessen
4. Shouting won’t help; Katherine Bouton
5. Living better with hearing loss: A guide to health, happiness, love, sex, work, friends….hearing aids; Katherine Bouton
6. Hearing loss tips: For those who have it and those who don’t; Linneae Mallette

In a world full of important (and often unimportant) sounds, anyone with normal or impaired hearing can stand to benefit from hearing life hacks. Do you think you have hearing loss? Do you struggle to hear in noisy situations? Do you strain to hear on a cellphone? If you answered yes to even one of these questions, here are several hearing tricks that may get you on your way to better hearing.

Check your hearing with a smartphone app:

Dangerous Noise Levels

If you think you may have hearing loss but you aren’t sure, download SoundCheck to quickly screen your hearing. Screening results are displayed in an easy-to-understand format with a detailed view of the results. The app also features a sound level meter that shows you the noise levels in your environment. Click on the image to the right to see if your listening environment is in the danger zone!

A quick trick to hear speech or music better:

Though two ears are always better than one, research from University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Arizona revealed that the right and left ear each have their own unique strengths! The right ear is superior at processing speech and the left excels in processing musical sounds and tones. So when you are having difficulty hearing what someone is saying, turn your right ear towards the conversation. When you find yourself straining to hear a song, turn your left ear towards the music source.

Get a better night of sleep:

A number of research studies and physicians report that the use of sound may assist in obtaining a good night of sleep. Soft background sound (e.g. white noise, relaxation sounds) can create a relaxing environment but also provide a constant ambient sound that can help mask activity from inside and outside the bedroom. The next time you struggle to fall asleep, try turning on fan or download a noise-generating app to your smartphone.

Improve your listening skills:

Play listening games to improve your hearing-in-noise skills. Research indicates that challenging and training the auditory system to listen to speech in the presence of background noise can improve an individual’s performance in those situations. Sign up for CHAMP sessions in our Sun Lakes office to learn more about HearCoach and ReadMyQuips, computer exercises that work out your hearing skill muscles.

Experience better hearing in a restaurant:

There are a number of things you can do to have a more pleasurable listening experience while dining:

• Request a table that is in a quieter spot. Sitting near the kitchen or the bar can introduce a great deal of unwanted background noise. Sitting on the peripheries of the restaurant away from these areas is a quick and easy way to improve your listening environment.
• Request a booth. A booth helps to dampen background/surrounding sounds, providing a more favorable listening situation.
• Request a round table instead of square. This will help you see everyone’s face and follow conversations easier.
• Consider the time of day. Going to a restaurant when it is less busy and more likely to be favorably lit can greatly improve your restaurant experience.
• If you struggle to hear someone because they are a soft talker or they mumble, make sure to sit next to them. Also, if you have a better hearing ear make sure to sit with the better ear towards the speaker.
• Sit with your back to the wall.

Better cellphone conversations:

There are a number of helpful tips to hear better with your cellphone!

• If you don’t wear hearing aids, try using headphones that have a microphone. Headphones not only help block out unwanted environmental sounds but also give you access to the phone call in stereo. This can reduce the strain required to listen on the phone and may improve your understanding.
• When possible, take phones calls using the speakerphone feature on your phone. Again, two ears are better than one!
• Take advantage of technology and make video phone calls using Skype or FaceTime. Research has consistently shown that the combination of visual and audio information greatly improves speech understanding.
• If you wear wireless hearing aids, get a streaming accessory or Made for iPhone hearing aids to directly stream, in stereo sound quality, phone calls directly to your hearing aids.

We can all stand to hear better in our day-to-day lives so go ahead and give some of these hearing tricks a try! However, if you are struggling to hear, I highly recommend you have a baseline hearing evaluation today. Call our office 480-497-0780 today!

May is Better Hearing Month, and this year, we are all about hearing protection. Losing your hearing isn’t the same as breaking a bone, which often can be broken and repaired multiple times. Hearing loss can’t be repaired. It’s permanent. Once you have lost even a fraction of your hearing, there is no going back. In order to preserve your hearing, it is important to take preventative steps early on and to always protect your ears whenever they are exposed to loud noises over long periods of time.

Below are some tips for keeping your hearing healthy:

1. Wear earplugs at musical concerts inside and outside.

2. Wear earplugs at sporting events such as football, baseball or hockey games.

3. Don’t listen to music through MP3 devices and earbuds at high volumes or for long periods of time.

4. Limit your exposure to loud noises without hearing protection such as power tools, fireworks and airplanes.

5. Get a hearing test every year to monitor on your hearing. Hearing aids can help preserve hearing and limit continued loss, so the earlier you catch a hearing loss the better.

6. Bars and clubs can be very loud, so consider wearing earplugs or limiting your exposure to loud music and crowds.

7. Wear earplugs when flying, as noise levels inside an airplane can harm your hearing.

8. 

   Soundgear

   Wear hearing protection if you are hunting or shooting.

9. If you are exposed to noise for long periods of time, take breaks and step away for some quiet. This will help your ears relax and give them a break from trying to handle all the noise.

10. Use noise-cancelling headphones.

11. Check medications for the possible side effect of hearing loss. There are about 200 medications that are potentially ototoxic, or damaging to your hearing.

12. Do your best to keep your blood pressure under control, as changes can affect the delicate inner structures of your ears.

13. Smoking can increase the risk of hearing loss. Stay away from those who are smoking, or if you do smoke, do your best to quit or at least cut back as much as possible.

14. Do Not use cotton swabs to remove earwax from your ears as they can actually push the wax or debris further in. Instead, consider an at-home irrigation kit to help soften wax so that it may be gently washed out. Excessive buildup may require removal by an Audiologist.

Keeping your hearing healthy is an important part of your physical and mental well-being. Many people take their hearing for granted until it’s too late, so take these preventive tips to heart for better hearing.

Call our office 480-497-0780 to schedule a hearing test today.