One attempt to standardize the diagnosis and treatment is the implementation of degrees of hearing loss. Audiologists break hearing loss into five degrees: mild, moderate, moderately severe, severe and profound. Patients are categorized into a degree by the softest sound they are able to hear.

If the softest sound a patient can hear is above 71 decibels but below 90 decibels, he is categorized as having severe hearing loss. While this diagnosis might be helpful in fitting a hearing aid and combating the affects of hearing loss, the boundaries are clearly somewhat arbitrary. Rather than iron-clad prescriptions, these designations should be looked at more as guidelines. A sufferer of severe hearing loss might have hearing closer to a sufferer of “moderately severe hearing loss” than another person with severe hearing loss.

Other than in legal contexts, where severe hearing loss is converted into a percentage to ensure equal treatment in the eyes of the law, the degree to which hearing loss occurs is more of a suggestion than a fact. If you feel like you might be suffering from hearing loss, visit a hearing center to determine the best course of treatment.

But how do you know if you need a hearing aid?

The best way is to get a hearing test.

Hearing tests measure your sensitivity to a variety of sounds. These results are plotted on a graph called an audiogram. From left to right, the frequencies increase. From bottom to top, the volume of the sound decreases:

Your ability to hear is then plotted using a series of “x’s” and “o’s” which demarcate the left and right ears respectively. Hearing is measured on a logarithmic system known as “decibels.” For every 10 decibel increase, the volume you perceive doubles.

If the plotted “x’s and o’s” begin to dip below the 20 Db level as you move to the right on the graph (towards higher frequencies), you may have conditional hearing loss. Normal hearing for these frequencies is sensitive to sounds 20Db and below. If after taking the hearing aid test, you realize you have hearing loss, consult and audiologist as soon as possible.

The study used a species of mouse, the CBA, that gradually lost its ability to hear higher frequencies over time – like humans. While these mice were good for studying similar effects, they weren’t the best mice for breeding. To increase the yield, researcher Robert Frisina cross-bred them with a more virile sort of mouse, C57 Black 6 – known for their poor hearing.

The results were startling.

Researchers at the University of Rochester Hearing Center in New York were surprised when the hybrid offspring not only bred better than the CBA mice, but retained their hearing better as they got older.

Win-win.

Frisina and his New York hearing loss team had set out to study the effects of hearing loss in the ear, but instead hit on a potential neurological cause. Five percent of people over the age of 50 can hear the full range of frequencies – known colloquially as having a “golden ear.” This study essentially replicated this feat in the mice.

The hybrid mouse outperformed the CBA mice from birth, the researchers found (using essentially the same test as in humans). The difference was significant as the mice aged – good news for older sufferers of hearing loss.

There is still much research to be done, but these mice might be the “golden key” to unlock the connection between genetics and hearing loss.

Much of this hearing loss is sensorineural hearing loss than can’t be cured; however, hearing aids can greatly increase the quality of life for those afflicted with hearing loss. By hearing better, these people can be more active, more social, and generally more engaged in their lives. Unfortunately, hearing aids are expensive, sometimes prohibitively so, and are not covered under insurance plans.

So why is Congress taking so long to help?

There are actually  two bills currently in talks: The version in the House (H.R. 1646) would call for a provision for a tax credit of up to $500 for each aid, every five years. It would be available for those over 55 or purchasing an aid for a dependent. The Senate version is similar but is without age restriction.

Despite more bi-partisan support than the many similar bills have ever had (66 Democrats and 34 Republicans for the House bill), progress is still excruciatingly slow. You, however, can help: for more information about this important bill, visit the website. You can also write or email your Congressperson detailing why this bill is so important to you. The more people talk about it, the harder it is to ignore.

Be heard. Hear.

Common tips include focusing on one person at a time, choosing areas where background noise is minimized, and focusing on face of the person to whom you’re talking. The last tip is especially important for those skilled in reading lips.

The number of skilled lip-readers might soon be growing, thanks to research out of the eighth International Conference on Auditory-Visual Speech Processing. A study presented at the conference found that for the first time ever, computers are able to read lips better than their human counterparts. The computers were able to do so well by exploiting small but simple differences in images lip shapes, rather than the more complex full-video required by human lip-readers.

This technology has been used in a new series of videos to that were able to teach humans to read lips for one-syllable words: no easy task.

The study’s lead author, Sarah Hilder said, “With just four hours of training it helped them improve their lip-reading skills markedly. We hope this research will represent a real technological advance for the deaf community.”

Hopefully, this new lip-reading technology can seamlessly combine with the ever-changing hearing-aid technology to foster better, easier communication for the 36 million Americans suffering from hearing loss.

Wal-mart has long been synonymous with variety. You can buy clothes, shoes, games, food…if you can think it, there’s probably already a huge aisle dedicated to it.

But hearing aids??

Yup, now you can even buy hearing aids at your local Walmart.You heard that right hearing aids!

Nestled within certain Walmart supercenters are Amplifon Hearing Aid Centers. Not only do they offer the low prices Walmart has become nearly synonomous with, they offer a variety of services, including:

• Full service coverage

• Full damage coverage

• Full warranty

I’m not sure this is such a good idea as hearing aids should be customized to every patient and even though they are low-cost, in this industry you get what you pay for. They don’t offer diversity and choices between different manufacturers. The only positive out of it is that they are providing hearing aids for the 36 million individuals that have some sort of hearing loss.

Be forewarned with this piece of news.

Hearing aid technology can be intricate and complicated; this makes it all the more frustrating when something goes wrong. There are many places that specialize in hearing aid repair, but before you send yours off to be fixed, you might want to try a few simple possible solutions at home. Here a few tips for dealing with a few common problems:

If the volume on your hearing aid has become inadequate:

• Check the temperature of the aid and battery; a too-cold aid can lead to decreased volume.

• Check that there is nothing blocking the hearing aid or battery, such as dirt, debris, or wax.

• Make sure the battery is secure in the hearing aid and has not been jarred loose.

If the level of the volume is fine, but you are hearing a “whistling” noise.

• You might be experiencing hearing aid feedback. Make sure your mold is set properly and your volume is not up too high.

• Remove any caps or scarves that might be blocking the hearing aid, as sound can bounce off of objects and cause feedback.

• If you are still hearing a whistling noise, your hearing aid may no longer fit properly and you should see an audiologist.

If your hearing aid is not working at all:

• Start by making sure the on-switch is fully engaged.

• If the hearing aid is turned on, but is still not working properly, test the battery using a battery tester. Make sure it is properly installed into the hearing aid.

• If the aid is on and the battery is strong, the hearing aid may be blocked by wax or other debris: inspect the aid to be sure it is free of dietrus.

If you have used this troubleshooting tips and your hearing aid is still malfunctioning, a trip to a hearing aid professional may be in order.

First of all, wear your hearing aid! Between the hustle and bustle and (occasional, I’m sure) glass of sherry, it can be difficult enough to hear, even with the aid. Make sure your hearing aid is installed and functioning properly so you can get the most out of it.

Choose your environments well: If you have difficulty hearing, you should consider choosing a quiet venue. Hearing aids work best when they don’t have to compete with the loud bangs and squawks that can be only-too-common at certain places. Cut down on your personal hearing frustration by giving your aid a chance to work.

Don’t be afraid to speak up! This doesn’t just mean talking louder; you shouldn’t feel any shame about asking your host to lower the music slightly, or the person you’re talking to to move to a quieter corner. What’s the point in going to a party if you can’t hear a thing anyone is saying?

Try talking to one person at a time. By focusing on the nonverbal cues of the person to whom you’re talking, you can get a lot of context you might otherwise have missed. If you’re at the dinner table, try asking your relatives or friends to address you one at a time rather than randomly shrieking at you. Note: this is worthwhile advice even if you don’t have hearing loss.

‘Tis the season…: Hearing aids can be expensive, especially the more advanced models. If your family or friends have a tradition of gift-giving, it might be a good time to receive or give a custom hearing aid.

The holidays should be a fun, if busy time. Don’t let hearing loss impede on that good cheer!

If you need a hearing aid in New York, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Happy holidays from Dunshaw Hearing Centers.

Hearing aids help you connect to the world around you.

So do cell phones.

So why can’t they get along?

Unfortunately, phones emit radiofrequency waves. While it doesn’t happen for all cell phones, when it does it can lead to an irritating and invasive buzzing noise. At best, it’s intrusive; at worst, it renders your cell phone useless.

Quite the issue; many people are reliant on cell phones in their day-to-day lives, just as many people are reliant on hearing aids. What can you do to make sure those two crucial devices work in harmony?

Luckily, cell phone compatibility is improving, and the FCC has regulations in place to help you choose the right phone. These standards require cell phone manufacturers to test their product’s compatibility with hearing aids and clearly state it on the packaging. For microphone hearing aids, this rating is designated with an M. The higher the better — cell phones with a rating of M3 or M4 rate as “good” or “excellent” for usage with microphone hearing aids.

A similar rating system exists for usage with hearing aids with a “T-Coil“. A phone rating of T3 or T4 is most desirable if you have one of these sort of hearing aids.

In addition, hearing aids manufacturers use a similar system. By combining the ratings, you can get a rough estimate of how well the two devices will interact; again, the higher the better. Nonetheless, everybody’s hearing is different — try before you buy!

A tax credit legislation currently in discussions in the House and Senate would make hearing aids significantly more affordable. This is extremely promising news, considering that barely a quarter of the nearly 36 million Americans who could benefit from the use of hearing aids actually use them.

Senate measure 109 and House measure 1646 would both provide a tax credit of up to $500 every 5 years. The Senate measure is free of age restriction, while the House measure restricts the credit for those taxpayers older than 55 or purchasing hearing aids for a dependant.

Considering the high cost of hearing aid and lack of readily available insurance that covers them, this is promising news.