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FACING THE CHALLENGE Compiled by Hearing Loss Association of Oregon
This little booklet is filled with wisdom, humor, understanding and love. We hope it makes your hearing loss easier to handle and promotes understanding with your family and friends. The front cover depicts a mountain climber,
struggling to reach his goal and giving all he’s got
to reach the top, and when he’s climbed this mountain,
he’ll find another to climb because of the challenge
of accomplishing a difficult task and the view as he climbs
is breathtaking. We hard of hearing people are survivors.
Each day we climb a mountain of emotions —depression,
bewilderment, sadness, frustration, anger and grief and the
next day we climb it all over again—day after day. Some
days the climb is doable and others times it is overpowering
but we keep climbing because the climb matters and develops
strength and character. We survive because we have the essential
tools for survival - knowledge and determination.
The challenge is there every day and the trip is indeed breathtaking.
STATISTICS AND INFORMATION ON HEARING LOSS DID YOU KNOW… • 1 out of 10 people in the U.S. has a
hearing loss.
You may have a hearing loss if you often ask people to repeat what they’ve said, give inappropriate responses, find that you can’t hear in restaurants and other noisy situations, turn up the volume on your radio and TV, or find it harder and harder to understand telephone conversations. Similarly, you may have a hearing loss if you don’t hear your alarm clock, frequently mispronounce words, or don’t hear or understand people who are not facing you. You may feel embarrassed or avoid meeting new people because you may not know what they are saying, or feel frustrated because people are mumbling or not speaking up. Even a mild hearing loss causes communication problems, making conversation difficult. You may experience headaches, fatigue or irritability and isolate yourself from social situations. Not only will you be frustrated, but those around you may be angry or frustrated at trying to make you understand. Your ability to deal with your loss won’t get better by itself – You must take action.
CAUSES AND RELATED PROBLEMS OF HEARING LOSS Hereditary Hearing Loss: Hereditary Hearing Loss is passed down from parents to their children and may be inherited from one or both parents who may or may not have a loss of hearing themselves. There are about 200 different types of genetic deafness. MEDICAL CONDITIONS RELATED TO HEARING LOSS Acoustic Neuroma: A non-cancerous, but dangerous, tumor developing on nerve strands that are very close to the inner ear. The size of the tumor can create pressure on other organs and can impact the ability to hear, leading to more profound hearing loss. There are different types of surgeries to remove this type of tumor, but all usually result in substantial hearing loss or deafness in the impacted ear. Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease (AIIED) or Autoimmune Sensorineural Hearing Loss (ASHL): A fluctuating hearing loss, usually on both sides, which is the result of an autoimmune disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or polyarthritis. The patient’s own immune system produces antibodies, which destroy inner ear cells and structures, leading to hearing loss. Can also be referred to as Immune-Mediated Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL). Balance Difficulties: If your inner ear or the brain are damaged by disease or injury, the vestibular system that helps control balance and eye movements may be impacted. The most commonly diagnosed vestibular disorders include Meniere’s disease, infections of the inner ear, injury caused by head blows, endolymphatic hydrops and perilymph fistula. Other disorders include acoustic neuromas and allergic or autoimmune disorders. There are many different symptoms and many degrees of severity. Hyperacusis: A painful sensitivity to sound, often a result of excessive noise, head injury, a side effect of some medication or head surgery. Although the person has normal hearing, the tolerance level for some hearing frequencies (low or high) is reduced. See “Recruitment”. Meniere’s Disease: A broad term covering a variety of symptoms caused by excessive fluid in the inner ear which impact the balance and sometimes also the hearing system. The cause of Meniere’s is not known, but is thought to involve viruses, allergies, circulation problems, or physical trauma. It can affect hearing in one or both ears. Nerve Deafness: See “Sensorineural Hearing Loss” Otitis Media (OM): Infection of the middle ear, which causes pressure on the eardrum due to fluid buildup. This causes temporary hearing loss. At times, the pressure builds up sufficiently to rupture the ear drum.Otosclerosis: Caused by excessive bone-like tissue growing in the middle ear which prevents sound waves from entering the inner ear thus causing hearing loss. May be corrected with surgery. Ototoxic Drugs: These drugs have the potential to damage the inner ear structure and result in temporary or permanent hearing loss. The degree of loss and the possibility for recovery depend on the medication, as well as dosage and duration of use. Existing Sensorineural Hearing Loss (see below) can be aggravated by the use of ototoxic drugs. Ototoxic drugs include antibiotics such as streptomycin, erythromycin, and vancomycin when given intravenously; some chemotherapeutic agents such as cisplatin, nitrogen mustard, and vincristine. Presbycusis: This hearing loss is caused by the decline of working hair cells in the inner ear due to aging, exposure to loud noise or a genetic reason. Recruitment: Involves hyperacusis, a painful sensitivity to sound (see above), even though a hearing loss is present. Sound can be distorted and uncomfortable. Sensorineural Hearing Loss (Nerve Deafness): This most common form of hearing impairment is due to an abnormality of the inner ear, the auditory nerve, or both. Tinnitus: With tinnitus one hears sounds that aren’t present. People experience it as head noises or ringing in the ears. It may come and go or remain constant, and it may vary in pitch. Tinnitus has many causes and is often associated with hearing loss. Several forms of treatment are currently available.
Repeated exposure to noise has caused at least 10 million Americans to lose part or all of their hearing. Such environmentally produced hearing loss has no medical or surgical treatment except for cochlear implants for the severely or profoundly impaired. But hearing aids and other assistive listening devices can be very helpful. We live in a noisy world. Note: Exposure to noise at hazardous levels may not result in an immediate loss; the loss (damage) is cumulative across time.
DECIBEL RATINGS/
HAZARDOUS TIME EXPOSURES OF COMMON NOISE 0 --- Softest sound audible to the human ear 30 --- Quiet library, soft whisper 40 --- Living room, quiet office, bedroom away from traffic 50 --- Light traffic at a distance, refrigerator, gentle breeze 60 --- Air conditioner at 20 feet, conversation, sewing machine 70 --- Busy traffic, noisy restaurant. Constant sound at this level may begin to harm your hearing. 80 --- Subway, heavy city traffic, alarm clock at two feet, factory noise These noises are dangerous if you are exposed to them for more than eight hours. 90 --- Truck traffic, noisy home appliances, shop tools, lawn mower As loudness increases, the “safe” time exposure decreases. Damage can occur in LESS than eight hours. 100 --- Chain
saw, stereo headphones, pneumatic drill Even two hours of
exposure can be dangerous at 100 dB; and with each 5dB increase,
the “safe time” is cut in half. 180 --- Rocket launching pad Without ear protection, noise at this level causes irreversible damage. Hearing loss is inevitable.
Bewildered by your audiogram? Do you wonder why some people express hearing loss in percentages, while others express them in decibels (dB)? What is a decibel anyway? For the answers to these and other questions, visit http://www.earinfo.com/howread5.html. The audiogram below shows two different scales to represent sound. One scale represents sound frequency or pitch measured in Hertz, and is the horizontal dimension. The vertical scale represents loudness measured in decibels (dB), and is recorded in 10 dB increments from 0 (which is the average of the faintest sound heard) to 110 dB, the pain threshold for the normal ear. Letters show the Hz and dB levels where individual speech sounds are heard.
1. Common
sounds are shown to illustrate these two dimensions. A person can lose an average of 1 dB a year in sensitivity due to our noisy world. Hearing loss is generally rated from minimal to profound While we tend to think that the only factor in hearing loss is loudness, there are actually two factors involved: loudness and clarity. Loss generally occurs first in the high pitch, quiet range. A mild loss can cause one to miss 25-40% of speech, depending on the noise level of the surroundings and distance from the speaker. When there is background noise it becomes difficult to hear well, the speech may be audible but may not be understandable.
Moderate (41 to 55 dB): Conversational speech can be understood at a distance of three to five feet; as much as 50% of discussions may be missed if the voices are faint or not in line of vision. Moderately Severe (56 to 70 dB): Speech must be loud in order to be understood; group discussions will be difficult to follow. Severe (71 to 90 dB): Voices may be heard from a distance of about 1 foot from the ear. Profound (more than 91 dB): Loud sounds may be heard, but vibrations will be felt more than tones heard. Vision rather than hearing, is the primary avenue for communication.
In order for you to hear, sound must pass through: The outer ear collects the sounds and directs it through the ear canal to the eardrum in the middle ear. The sound waves strike the eardrum causing it to vibrate and creating a chain reaction in the three tiny bones of the middle ear. The motion of these bones causes movement of the fluid within the snail-shaped cochlea. As the fluid moves, the tiny hair cells lining the cochlea move back and forth and generate an electrical current, which stimulates the hearing nerve to carry the signal to the brain. Here it is interpreted as sound.
Even a mild hearing loss can cause communication problems as we go about our daily lives. A hearing loss makes it more difficult to learn new vocabulary and new language concepts and is a particularly difficult loss for children. A hearing loss makes it difficult to participate in meetings, hear on the phone and communicate with those with whom we work or live. It can cause stress and friction among family and friends, especially when the loss is undetected or untreated. It places a hardship on everyone. Many studies have been made regarding the impact of hearing loss. To quote a few: “The result (of acquired deafness) is limbo, a nowhere land, that few can feel as acutely as a recently deafened person who is not only suddenly ‘different’ but invisibly handicapped and prevented from easily communicating this feeling to others, deaf or hearing.” (Hunter, 1978 as cited in the SHHH Mental Health Committee Brochure) “The natural environment of the progressively hard of hearing is that of the hearing world. It is the threat of becoming cut off from this familiar environment that produces all the reactions common to the emotion of fear. It is, for example, the fear of failure in career and the subsequent effects on the family. The fear of meeting new people. The fear of losing friends. The fear of being thought stupid or being misunderstood, and worst of all, the fear of becoming isolated. These are a few of the contributing facts which can lead to a possible withdrawal from society by the progressively deaf person.” (Cornforth, Woods, 1972, as cited in the SHHH Mental Health Committee Brochure) DON'T HIDE YOUR HEARING LOSS. THE TRUTH MAY BE BETTER THAN WHAT THEY'RE THINKING! • People may think you’re stupid. ONCE A HEARING LOSS IS DETECTED, MUCH
CAN BE DONE. READ ON!
THE EMOTIONAL SIDE OF HEARING LOSS FRUSTRATIONS AND OTHER
EMOTIONS Hearing loss is difficult. We are constantly put in situations in which communication is difficult and we naturally become frustrated. We need to realize that the struggle to hear takes its toll. Each time we are faced with a situation that is difficult for us, we may feel any number of emotions: humiliation, anger, frustration, sadness, discouragement, or something else. Even though we may be assertive and up front about our hearing loss, these emotions remain. We need to recognize how much it takes out of us to be out there day in and day out, admitting our loss, making our communication needs known and facing obstacles. It isn’t easy! When we ask someone to repeat what was said and they roll their eyes or their tone of voice tells us we are bothering them, this is like being hit in the stomach, only it hits us in our self-esteem. When we want to attend an event and we request an assistive hearing device or computer assisted communication, and the person in charge decides what we have requested is not “appropriate” and that something else will be provided instead without asking our opinion — this is very emotionally difficult. Many things affect our ability to hear. Other people can’t begin to understand that if they refuse to listen to us or think they can tell us what we can or cannot hear, we feel devalued. When we ask people in meetings to take their hands down from their faces so we can lip read, or to have only one person talk at a time – and they remember for only a few minutes or until the next meeting—we need to deal with our feelings of frustration and discouragement about that. Some days we are stronger than we are on others.
We have the courage and strength to keep trying until the
situation is straightened out. Other days we may want to simply
crawl into bed and pull those covers up over our head. Those
are the days when we need to take care of ourselves and acknowledge
that being assertive takes energy and sometimes takes away
from other parts of our life. And then there are simply some people in the world who “just don’t get it”…yet. And they won’t unless we continue to try to teach them. The fact is that hearing loss is not an easily understood condition. We can learn how best to cope with it…and then teach the world. Perhaps we simply haven’t found the right words to explain it…yet. Courage doesn’t always roar—sometimes it says quietly, “I will try again tomorrow.”
Hearing loss is emotionally painful for many reasons. Our need to communicate is so constant, the situations and environments in which we need to hear are so varied, the support of others is so uneven, and technology, alas, can often break down so there is little respite from our loss. Thus, our hopes and expectations can be frustrated and we experience a myriad of emotions. How do we deal with those times, and those feelings? Unfortunately, just as the behavioral skills for coping with hearing loss are not automatic, so the skills for dealing with these emotions are not instinctive, and need to be learned. The process of dealing with our lost hearing is one of “going through” the natural stages of grieving. Mourning constitutes a deliberate set of behaviors and thoughts by which we can better move through those feelings of grief toward a will to adjust to the challenges of life. Denial appears as the first stage of grief and is the result of the deep fear that hearing loss evokes in us. The mourning that we must do here is to work toward acknowledging that fear, and know that all human life fears the loss of health and happiness. We are not as alone as we think. Anger occurs when we burst through the fear and demand of life that somehow, anyhow, we deserve happiness. The great Beethoven, in his response to his growing deafness, showed us to do the mourning that moves us through anger. He presented his anger to the whole world, but he did it in beautiful ways. We can’t all be geniuses, but we can all find constructive ways to assertively voice our commitment to life. Bargaining is the stage in which we acknowledge our disability in a halfhearted way, really still hiding, still in fear. We may, for example, buy and wear a hearing aid, but we hide it, and we don’t really help others communicate with us. Here we need to intelligently analyze our situation, and be sure that we aren’t doing ourselves a disservice, moving a step backward for every step forward. Depression may happen when we finally stop hiding, and allow ourselves to experience the sadness of our loss. Sadness is natural, and is a healthy response. Mourning nurtures, even cherishes this sadness - when you don’t fight it. It will gradually lessen on its own, allowing you to begin acting effectively again. Acceptance and Adjustment come when we consciously work to minimize the handicapping effects of the hearing impairment, and go forward doing what we must. After all, everyone is flawed, everyone is mortal, but life goes on.
CONFRONTING YOUR HEARING LOSS CRITICAL STEPS
CHOOSING A HEARING CARE PROFESSIONAL Make sure you have confidence and trust in the hearing care professional you choose. They should spend time to help you find the right hearing aid or other device and schedule several visits to work with you for adjustments and to teach you how to use and maintain your hearing aids. They should also be available to provide warranty or other service for the life of the aid.
Good hearing aid dispensers have a lot of creative solutions available: venting the earmold, making it from different materials, changing the diameter of the eartube or earhook, and making adjustments to the way the hearing aid amplifies sound. They will spend the time to teach you how to maximize your use of the aids - including the proper use of the telecoil. Fitting a hearing aid is both art and science, so be prepared to work with your dispenser to get the proper fit.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a Federal civil rights law for persons with disabilities. The basic purpose of the ADA is to prohibit discrimination in employment (Title I), ensure equal access to services of state and local governments (Title II), and ensure equal access to places of public accommodation (Title III). One of the major areas of equal access is “effective communication” for persons who are hard of hearing, late deafened, or deaf. In general, the concept of “effective communication” for persons who are hard of hearing, late deafened or deaf, refers to the assurance of equal access to any aurally delivered communication that is part of a service, activity, or event of a covered organization. This is usually accomplished with auxiliary aids and services. In general, the ADA requires that covered organizations provide the auxiliary aids or services, at their own expense, that are necessary to ensure effective communication, unless doing so creates an undue burden. Usually, the auxiliary aid or service that the client, customer or participant is requesting is likely the one that is required for effective communication under the ADA. There are many kinds of auxiliary aids and services. The most common ones, which ensure effective communication in many interactive settings, are assistive listening devices, real-time captioning and qualified interpreters including sign language, oral, cued speech and tactile. If you have questions about the ADA and how it can impact your situation, contact the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Access Program at 1257 SE Ferry Street, Salem, OR 97310, phone 1(800) 358-3117 voice/TTY. Or, you can contact SHHH National, 7910 Woodmont Avenue Suite 1200, Bethesda, MD 20814, phone (301) 657-2248 voice or (301) 657-2249 TTY or e-mail: national@shhh.org
GENERAL COPING SKILLS HOW WE CAN HELP OURSELVES, AND HELP OTHERS HELP US Those of us with hearing loss sometimes forget how difficult it is for others to understand our limitations or how hard it is for them to always remember how best to communicate with us. But it’s self-defeating to think others don’t care. Even our family and our best friends will forget from time to time – sometimes just because they’re so excited and interested in what they’re saying that they don’t think about how it’s coming across to us. We think they’re mumbling; they think we’re not paying attention. We think they’re talking too fast; they think we’re really slow on the uptake. We notice they are walking away before finishing their statement; they think we can still hear them talking. We must try to remember that the hearing world really does not know that, unlike glasses, hearing aids don’t correct, they merely AID. And that most people don’t understand that hearings aids or a cochlear implant do not restore normal auditory function. We must keep in mind that others may not comprehend the importance of maintaining visual contact with the speaker. Other people, even those with whom we live, may not understand that our ability to hear can depend on the time of day, how we’re feeling, or our surroundings. Friends may mistake our lack of instant response for indifference, not comprehending that it takes time for our brains to sort and process into recognizable speech patterns the somewhat muddled sound we receive. All this means that we must educate our friends, family and co-workers – and enlist their help – but in such a manner that we don’t alienate them. That calls for considerable finesse, a good sense of humor, and patience, patience, patience!! Following are some strategies which should make life a little easier.
• Make use wherever possible, of a communications access symbol sticker. The sticker is an immediate, easily recognizable indication of your hearing loss and is available in various sizes from the SHHH national office. Possible uses are medical files where it will be readily visible, veterinarian records and dental charts. • Let people know that you have a hearing loss and ask them to help by speaking a little more slowly, by moving hands away from their faces, and by not smoking or chewing gum. Ask them not to shout and to get your attention before speaking to you. Ask them to be patient, and maybe to state the topic of conversation, if there’s been a change from Aunt Hattie’s big toe to the football scores. • Face the person with whom you’re
conversing so you can see his lips and facial expression and
observe gestures. Even if you’re not an accomplished
speech reader, this technique will help. It’s estimated
that people with normal hearing receive 25% of their information
visually, and it’s even more important to us, the hard-of-hearing. • Move away from, or turn off, background noises such as a fan, TV, radio, washing machine, dishwasher, or air conditioner. These make it more difficult to hear because you can’t separate those sounds from the speech patterns you want to hear. • Remember that you won’t always understand everything that’s said. Don’t bluff and do watch for visual clues. Repeat what you think you heard to confirm that you got the message correctly. Ask questions that are specific if you miss something. Don’t just say, “What?” Ask, “Who were you talking about?” or “When did you say we would meet?” The speaker may become frustrated if constant repetition is needed, so try to keep your requests for repetition verification in the context of a conversational exchange. • Use a pencil and paper if needed to confirm a date or verify a name. This may seem embarrassing, but it’s better than missing necessary information. • Don’t forget that there’s a slight delay while the brain processes sound and tries to make sense of it. We’ll often ask, “What?” just a second before we actually understand what has just been said. Wait a bit before responding so the brain can process the information received. • Also remember that listening requires a great deal of energy. Try to accomplish the most important things that require listening earlier in the day. Arrange for breaks in a long conversation. • Thank speakers for helping you. If you always complain that they don’t remember your needs (and they won’t) they’ll avoid talking to you. • Use humor. Lighten up. If the other person had the hearing loss and you did not, would you always remember to help him? Be patient with others and with yourself. If you take things personally, everyone loses. • Wear your hearing aid!! It does no good in your jewelry box or sock drawer. • Use Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs). Keep batteries handy so you can replace one that goes dead. • Use e-mail, a fax, answering machine, and/or caller ID. All of these are great helps and can be used in lieu of or in conjunction with a telephone. But when you do use the telephone, especially when you use it for business purposes, be sure to state that you’re hard of hearing and how the other person can help you hear. Often, though certainly not always, those on the other end of the line will try to help by speaking more distinctly or turning up the volume on their handsets. • And be sure to explain to family and friends that this is not just YOUR hearing loss, it is OUR hearing loss because they have to deal with it too. Everyone needs to work together to make it easier for the hard of hearing person to understand.
HANDLING DIFFICULT SITUATIONS WHEN EATING OUT
All the feelings and difficulties hard of hearing people face are accentuated in the workplace. This is not surprising since our jobs, or our accomplishments at work, provide us with both an income and a sense of competence and self-worth. If there is an element of competition in the workplace, performance (or threats to our performance), can become an even more crucial measure to us of our value. Because of the importance of performance in
the workplace, denial can be extra strong. A hard of hearing
person might avoid wearing hearing aids in order to hide a “flaw”
which we fear could be interpreted as weakness or incompetence.
We might be afraid that hearing aids make us look older than
we’d like, and age discrimination does occur in the workplace.
Yet, the mistakes and misunderstandings that occur when we don’t
acknowledge our hearing loss really do threaten our ability
to perform effectively and therefore to hold a job.
Even with hearing aids, it is important for you, and those you work with, to know that your “corrected” hearing is not “normal.” You may not be able to understand banter and rapid-fire discussion because you can’t follow the conversation from one person to another fast enough. Without seeing each speaker’s face as they speak, you lose your ability to speech-read. Even noise from a heater, air-conditioning duct or copier may mask the speech you need to hear. Unless you let your co-workers know your needs, they may think you are aloof, unmotivated or even slow or easily confused. As in all situations where you can make a difference, it is important that you take the initiative by letting your co-workers know about your needs and how they can support your efforts to participate. Here are some of the things you can do.
Regardless of the amount of your hearing loss,
your positive and pro-active attitude will go a long way toward
having others see you as the effective and dynamic person you
are. Not a bad way for co-workers to see you!
Whether you are a patient, visitor or employee in a medical setting, you can request an amplified phone, captioned TV, TDD, visual alerts for the phone ring, door knock and smoke alarm, and computer assisted communication or sign language interpreters - without additional cost to you. You can also ask that reasonable changes in policies, practices and procedures be made that will help you communicate. These are all covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). To improve communication in medical settings:
Be sure your doctor, anesthesiologist and surgeon
are aware of your hearing loss; inquire about any procedure
or medication that might negatively affect your hearing. Ask
them to give you instructions before they put on their masks
as you will not be able to understand anyone wearing a surgical
mask.
Learn the policies concerning retaining your hearing aids during surgery. You may be able to keep them if you explain their importance. You may be asked to sign a waiver absolving the hospital in case of loss. If the aids are to be removed, determine where they will be kept, and when you will regain use of them. Make it clear if you prefer to have your aids on at all times. Place your aids in a zippered plastic bag that is attached to your medical records. These medical records follow you around from surgery to recovery until you can wear them again. Advise nurses and other hospital staff at the nurses’ station that you will not understand public address announcements or comments over the intercom. Ask them to place a sticker on their intercom to remind them. Since you’ll be dealing with many different nurses and aides, you’ll need to keep reminding them of your hearing loss and telling them how to best communicate with you. A sticker on your medical chart will be a good visual reminder. Be sure you clearly understand any medication instructions given you, including dosage, purpose and special procedures, if any. Repeat instructions to make sure you have them straight. Don’t hesitate to ask for written instructions. Listening is hard work and will be an even greater drain on your energy when you are in the hospital or not feeling well. Inform visitors that you and your ears are tired and need a rest. Be cooperative and pleasant but assertive and persistent concerning your needs while in the hospital. If you run into problems in having your needs met, ask to speak with the patient liaison, patient advocate or patient care coordinator for help in solving your problems. In other medical situations:
Most importantly, don’t just nod and pretend to understand the doctor’s orders when you don’t. It’s far better to repeat a question two or three times than to land in the emergency room because you misunderstood an instruction. Repeat the doctor’s instructions to be certain you understood them. As a final precaution, ask the doctor to write down important instructions. Being a patient can be scary and stressful without hearing loss. Hearing loss can make the experience even harder. Making our needs known is a key to making life easier. SHHH National has a wonderful Hospital Access Program with a video to train hospital staff on how best to communicate with hard of hearing people. Many hospitals have incorporated this program. Contact SHHH for more information. Going to court is stressful for anyone, but
it is often traumatic for a person who has a hearing loss. If
you need some special aids or services when appearing in court
as a litigant, witness, or called to jury duty you should make
a written request to the court administrator as early as possible.
You can ask for an assistive listening system, interpreter or
realtime captioning to be available on the day, time and place
that you need these services.
Appropriate accommodations are your lawful right and a must. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination based on mental or physical disability in gaining access to public services. Compliance is inconsistent due to:
Obtaining justice is no accident. To deal with your communication needs in court you should:
To obtain the best possible outcomes, plan ahead, be assertive about your needs and exercise your rights.
HEARING AIDS / COCHLEAR IMPLANTS AND YOU With selection of the appropriate hearing devices and with practice, hearing aids and cochlear implants will help you to get the best hearing acuity and speech discrimination possible for your hearing loss. However, unlike what corrective lenses do for vision, these devices do not restore normal hearing. While your ability to hear and understand should improve noticeably, speech discrimination may still be difficult, especially in noisy situations. It takes time and patience to adjust to your hearing aids or cochlear implants. Getting the best results with either device takes time and learning. With cochlear implants this may take several months of use and periodic readjustments to achieve optimal results. As frustrating as the process may be, don’t give up too quickly and put your hearing aids in the drawer. Wear them as often as possible and try different settings in different situations to get the best results. Completely in the Canal (CIC): CIC hearing aids are the least visible of all types because they fit deep into the ear canal. However, due to their small size they cannot house a T-coil, and are not suited for the severe hearing loss range. Because of their placement, wind noise can be reduced and, depending on the loss, telephone use may be possible. Most CIC hearing aids do not have enough room for user controls. This style uses the smallest batteries, limiting the battery lifetime to less than a week. In the Canal (ITC): These aids have the capacity of more power than the CIC style due to the use of a larger battery and receiver (loudspeaker). However, they are still not recommended for the severe hearing loss range. This style offers some user controls such as volume, program buttons etc. Depending on the size of the users ear, a T-coil may be possible. They may be difficult to insert if dexterity is an issue. In the Ear (ITE): This style fills the complete bowl of the ear, providing the most space for larger batteries and more powerful components. The ITE aids can be fitted with T-coils and will provide enough gain to compensate for losses into the severe range. Behind the Ear (BTE): The BTE aid has greatest flexibility for fitting all losses, from mild to profound. Most BTE aids will be equipped with T-coils and be compatible with other Assistive Devices, making them an attractive choice for many listening situations. BTE aids usually have a stronger telecoil. The mold can be easily changed, and changing batteries and inserting and removing the aid may be easier. Programmable technology: This technology allows the dispenser to modify the sound of the hearing aid to better match the needs of the user, by programming a computer chip that controls the amplifier. This process ensures that the hearing aid can provide adequate amplification, especially as the amplification needs of the user change. The amplification of the sound however is still done by a conventional, electronic amplifier. Digital hearing aids do not use the same amplification circuitry as other hearing aids, but instead use a computer chip. By making changes in a digital form the hearing aid can amplify more frequency ranges. Some benefits attributed to digital technology include noise reduction methods, feedback suppression, automatic volume adjustment, and automatically adjusted directional microphones. Directional microphone technology has provided hearing aids with a method of amplifying sounds to the front of the wearer with more gain than the sounds to the rear. This is especially useful for improving audibility in background noise situations such as restaurants or large groups. There are several different types of directional microphone designs, however the concept remains the same. If recruitment is a problem, look for a hearing aid with good compression. The hearing aid will amplify louder sounds much less than quieter sounds. CHOOSING YOUR HEARING AIDS As described above, there are many recent improvements and developments in hearing aid technology. However, it is important for you to get the aid that is best for your hearing loss and your lifestyle. This may or may not require the “newest technologically advance” hearing aids. A smaller aid is not necessarily better. You may need more power than the smaller aid can provide, and you’ll definitely want to consider a telecoil to help you use the telephone and assistive listening devices. Your dispenser will help you decide what’s right for you based on your audiogram, but everyone is different. Be ready to try more than one model of hearing aid to find the best one for you. Buy hearing aids only if there is at least a 30-day return policy so you can try different models. Be sure to get a contract and written warranty. Ask if your dispenser offers classes in coping to help you adjust. For many people, it is beneficial to wear two hearing aids. Consider:
For many people, it is beneficial to wear two hearing aids. Binaural amplification is crucial to the development of speech and language skills in children who have a loss in both ears. Two ears really are better than one. Wearing two hearing aids doesn’t make sounds twice as loud, but with two the brain has more information that will help you hear and understand. A telecoil (T-coil) is the best means of communicating on the telephone and it also allows you to use an assistive listening device (ALD) such as an induction loop used in some public meeting rooms and theaters. These ALDs and telephones use electromagnetic energy to transmit sound. When you switch your hearing aid to the “T” setting, you activate an induction coil that causes your hearing aid to pick up the electromagnetic field produced by the telephone or ALD. With a T-coil, only the transmitted sound is amplified and background noise is reduced or eliminated. Without T-coils, your hearing aids cannot take advantage of the above options. Be sure you talk to your dispenser about the need to have them on each of your new hearing aids or having your current aids retrofitted. A telecoil may add a small amount to the price, but the benefits far outweigh the cost. They are available in behind-the ear and in-the-ear hearing aids but, due to space limitations, often are not available for the tiny in-the-canal hearing aids. Some adjustment may be needed to get used to the telecoil. Experiment; ask your hearing care professional for advice on how to use the telecoil in your hearing aid most effectively, and then practice! For example, you may need to determine the best angle to hold the handset of the telephone with respect to your hearing aid, and you may need to increase the volume on your hearing aid when using it. If you hear buzzing or humming when your hearing aid is on the “T” it could be caused by fluorescent lights, power lines or the computer monitor. Try moving your head to see if you can reduce the noise.
Adjusting to a new hearing aid takes time, determination and patience. Different people react differently. Your age, the severity of your hearing loss and your acceptance of the need for a hearing aid may strongly influence your reaction to hearing with amplified sound. Adjusting also requires practice and an application of common sense. Do not expect perfection. People often think they can put on the aids, walk out of the office, and hear perfectly again. The reality is that once you’ve gotten your aids, your work has just begun. Here are some tips for adjusting:
Hearing aid costs vary because of design and power, but none are inexpensive. Your dispenser will work with you to find the one that works best for you. The greater your loss and the more diverse the situations in which you need to hear, the more expensive your hearing aids are likely to be. Even though your hearing aids may be expensive, our advice is to get the best hearing aids for your loss that you can afford. What about the cost? Medicare doesn’t cover hearing aids and few insurance plans cover them, although some plans will pay for the audiologist exam. However, the Blanche Fischer Foundation and the State of Oregon Department of Vocational Rehabilitation may provide financial support based on need and on ability to pay. In addition, some employers will include hearing aid coverage if requested, particularly by a number of employees, or as part of a “cafeteria plan.” Medicaid may pay for one aid. You might also contact the Lions Club, Seretoma International or Hear Now at (800)-648-HEAR for help with the cost of hearing aids.
My Aid Whistles
My Aid Sounds “Tinny”
I’m Talking in a Barrel 1. There may be too many low frequencies amplified. There’s Too Much Background Noise Background noise makes hearing difficult for most people. It is one of the most difficult problems for people who are hard of hearing.
Sounds Seem Distorted
Your hearing aid is an electronic appliance like a radio, tape player or watch. It needs a battery to work and requires regular maintenance and cleaning. Treat this costly investment carefully, with respect. The two most common causes of hearing aid problems are earwax and moisture. The worst of these is earwax, which can obstruct tubing from the microphone or the vent. Use the tools you received with your aid to clean it daily and get tools if they weren’t supplied. For an in-the-ear aid you need to clean the aid and the ear daily. Use an old dry toothbrush to clean the aid. The morning after the aid has cooled down and the wax has hardened is the best time. Moisture is the second greatest cause of problems and can result in damage to the mechanical and electronic components or obstruct sound from passing through the tubing. Whenever possible, do not expose your hearing aids to moisture, including perspiration, the shower, heavy rain, hot tubs or the lake. When you are not wearing your hearing aids, store them in an airtight container that contains desiccant (a number of types are sold by audiologists and dispensers). Remove the battery to avoid possible corrosion of the battery contacts. To clean the battery contacts use a cotton swab with a little rubbing alcohol. Battery doors break now and then and are easily installed by your dispenser. Hair spray clogs microphone openings and discolors the shell casings. Turn the instrument off when it is not being used. Batteries need to be replaced fairly frequently because they function constantly and must power a mini amplifier, microphones and speaker. You can use a battery checker, available from most hearing aid dispensers, to see if you need to change the battery. Always open the battery cover at night to allow moisture to evaporate and prevent battery power drain. Most people replace their aids every 3 to 5 years, but it is handy to keep your old pair as spares to use when your primary hearing aids stop functioning and need service or repair. If you have extra hearing aids that you don’t want, contact your local Lions Club or HEAR NOW, a non-profit organization founded to collect hearing aids and distribute them to those who can’t afford them. You or your dispenser can send them to 4001 S. Magnolia Way, Suite 100, Denver, Colorado 80237. They accept all hearing aids, including non-working aids, which can be salvaged and used to repair other aids. If you have a severe to profound hearing loss and receive minimal benefit from your hearing aids because of the severity of your hearing loss, you might want to explore the benefits of a cochlear implant. A cochlear implant is an electronic device that changes sound into electrical impulses and uses these electrical impulses to stimulate the hearing nerve. The brain interprets this stimulation as sound. A cochlear implant contains several parts. There is a microphone that picks up sound and sends it to a sound processor. The sound processor is a small box worn on the body or behind the ear. There is also an internal receiver that is implanted under the skin behind the ear. The internal “receiver” takes these electrical signals from the processor and sends them down a thin wire containing electrodes. This wire with electrodes is implanted into the inner part of the ear, the cochlea. Cochlear implant candidacy is determined by information gathered by an implant team at an implant center. The FDA and the implant center determine the criteria for implant candidacy. First, an audiologist will administer several tests to obtain information about auditory performance both with and without hearing aids. If the person meets the audiological criteria, he or she is sent to the surgeon to see if he/she meets medical criteria. The person will then undergo medical tests including an MRI and CAT Scan. During that time, you will receive counseling about the risks and benefits of an implant. This is an important step. Cochlear implants are generally covered by health insurance, Medicare, Oregon Medical Assistance Program, and the Veteran’s Administration. Your implant center will assist you in obtaining preauthorization from your insurance company. Once the surgery is performed and healing is completed (usually about one month), you will receive the external speech processor and related accessories. It takes a period of time for people to learn how to use the new sound from their implant. You will need to return to the implant center several times the first year and occasionally in future years to update the settings in the processor, as your auditory system becomes accustomed to the implant. Most recipients find the implant helps them hear environmental sounds, improves speech reading, helps them understand voices without looking at the speaker, and helps them monitor their own voice. Some cochlear implant users are able to enjoy music again and many are able to have full use of the telephone. Each person’s results with the cochlear implant are unique and depend on a variety of factors. The criteria for cochlear implants has changed over the years and will continue to change as improvements are made in the implants. The criteria at press time is: Children (12 months to 2 years) Children (2 years to 17 years) For adults (18 years or older) If you have been or are found not to be an implant candidate, you may want to check back with the implant center each year to see whether the criteria, or your hearing has changed. In California, there are currently twelve cochlear implant centers. California Ear Institute Children's Hospital San Diego Ear Specialty Center Hearing Institute for Children & Adults |
Damaged
hair cells cannot send electrical impulses to the auditory
nerve, and the message to the brain becomes unclear, or may
not be sent at all. Hearing aids often may help those who
still have some healthy hair cells but for those with a severe
to profound hearing loss who are unable to understand speech
with conventional hearing aids, a cochlear implant may help.
The cochlear implant bypasses damaged parts of the ear and
stimulates the hearing nerve, allowing those who are profoundly
hearing impaired to receive sound.
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Try to be no more than 3-6 feet away from the speaker. That
is about as far as most hearing aids can pick up sound. Keep
your head turned toward the speaker because most aids pick
up sound best from the front. Tap your ear as a cue for others
to speak up.