Today is the next chapter in our Quick Questions series!

Question: What do grommets look like?

Answer: Surgically inserted into the eardrum, grommets are small flanged plastic tubes which aim to ventilate the middle ear until the body's natural breathing tube (Eustachian Tube) starts to function normally again. This means that any fluid build up in the middle ear can be drained away. They come in a variety of different sizes, colours and shapes, typically falling out after around 6-12 months. Often you won't know if they have fallen out, however sometimes you can be lucky and find it on your pillow or just on the edge of your ear. I typically describe them as looking a bit like if you sliced a small tip off the ink reservoir from a BIC ballpoint pen. 

Question: Why can't older people always hear those mosquito ringtones?

Answer: Several years ago, novel ringtones which emit very high frequency sounds similar to those made by mosquitoes were 'doing the rounds'. Often described as "secret ringtones" of around 17000 Hertz (17kHz), they were aimed at younger listeners who were able to hear it and took advantage of the natural loss of hearing sensitivity as people age.

The cochlea is our permanent hearing organ which is shaped like a tiny snail shell. How we hear is that sound travels down the ear canal, through the middle ear and into the basal end (base) of the cochlea first. The resulting movement within the cochlea results in electrical signals being sent up to the brain (and that's how we hear). Based on it's shape and tonotopic organization, lower frequencies stimulate the further end (apex) of the cochlea while higher frequency sounds effect the base of the cochlea. Through natural wear and tear as sounds regularly pass through the base of the cochlea, we can get some decreased sensitivity to higher frequencies as we age. This therefore impacts our high pitch hearing more so than the lower frequencies. 

Question: What are exostoses?

Answer: Exostoses is often described as a benign growth of new bone on the surface of existing bone. It can range in size, shape and location on the body. Exostoses in the ear is sometimes known as "surfer's ear" and typically caused by irritation to the ear canal from ongoing exposure to water and wind. While exostoses typically doesn't cause pain, ongoing growth can result in hearing loss. It is recommended for those who swim, surf or dive regularly consider using a set of protective earplugs as this may reduce the speed of exostoses growth.

Think you may need a set of protective plugs? Contact our clinic today to have a set of custom plugs made by one of our friendly audiologists!

Today’s post will be a bit different then my usual write-ups. Rather than focusing on a main topic, I thought I’d answer a couple of questions recently asked by my clients.
 
Question: How often should I have my hearing tested?

Answer: It is typically recommended for adults to have their hearing tested every 3-5 years up until the age of 50 when it drops to every 2 years. After the age of 60, it’s advised that your hearing be checked as part of your annual overall health check-up.

​For children born in Australia, their hearing will be screened shortly after birth (in NSW, it’s known as the Statewide Infant Screening of Hearing or SWISH program) and should be monitored throughout their school years. As a general rule of thumb, it is recommended children have their hearing tested prior to starting kindergarten and Year 7, and before beginning tertiary education to establish their baselines of hearing. In the case of infants who have certain medical conditions, speech/language concerns or a family history of hearing loss, more frequent hearing tests may be required.

If you think yourself or a family member is due for a hearing assessment, feel free to contact the clinic to see one of our audiologists and have your hearing checked today. 
​
Question: Is it bad for me to listen to music through my headphones?

Answer: While listening to music/podcasts/audio itself isn’t bad, the bigger concern is how loud and for how long are you listening. Generally speaking, the louder the volume you are listening to, the shorter the period of time you can spend listening to it before it starts causing damage. The overall amount of daily exposure to noise is also important to be aware of as these levels take into account our exposure from both occupational and recreational settings. For example, listening to a personal audio device at a volume of 85 decibels may allow you to be exposed to it for 8 hours before it starts causing damage. Should you then decide to use some equipment with a volume around 100 decibels, then you can be exposed for only around 15 minutes.

Consider headphones which are either active and/or passive noise cancelling to reduce the volume of background noise and thus the need to increase volumes. Click here to check out our previous blog post on headphones. Being more aware of how loud noise and music can get is important too (information can be found here ). At the end of the day, if you look after your ears now and you’ll be listening to those sweet tunes for many years to come.

NB - Be environmentally aware when you are wearing headphones! Watch out for your surroundings. 

Several years back when I was returning from an overseas holiday, I had the most excruciating pain in my ears and head as we descended back into Sydney. Days earlier, I had developed a cold and didn't think much of it at the time. It wasn't until the pain struck me that I realized how bad flying can be when you are congested. Sometimes people develop pain in their ears during air travel because of an unequal pressure build up on either side of the eardrums. This is noticed most during takeoff and landing.
 
What is happening?
The middle ear (space behind the eardrum) is filled with air and connected to the nose through a channel called the Eustachian Tube. During flight, the air pressure in the sinuses and middle ear need to be equal with the cabin pressure inside the plane. As the plane ascends and descends, the pressure changes within the ear. If you have an ear infection or anything which causes a blockage in your Eustachian Tube, this restricts the ability for the middle ear to reach equilibrium, resulting in pain. 

Things such as colds, allergies, ear or sinus infections can result in an inability to equalize the ears. 

Symptoms
Although pain is the main symptom experienced, sometimes pressure change can cause tinnitus (“ringing” or “buzzing” sounds in the ears), vertigo (dizziness/imbalance) or hearing loss. In very severe cases, perforation of the eardrum may even occur. 

What to do?
Typically, most medical professionals would recommend avoiding flying while you have any active infection to reduce your chances of complications and pain.

If flying is unavoidable, then there are several tips that may help:
⦁ Sucking on lollies: swallowing, yawning or chewing can assist in allowing air to flow up the Eustachian Tube more easily. Chewing gum can also help. For younger children and babies, feeding, drinking or giving them a dummy will encourage them to swallow. 
⦁ Valsalva Manoeuvre: this technique can assist in equalizing the ears. Breathe in, then breathe out gently with your mouth closed and pinching your nose. By not allowing the air to escape, it’ll be pushed into the Eustachian Tube and you’ll feel your ears “pop” as air rushes in. This technique can be repeated whenever you feel any ear discomfort. 
⦁ Saline nasal sprays: can assist in keeping the nasal passages clear of mucus. By keeping the nasal passages clear, this may assist in keeping the Eustachian Tube clear. 
⦁ Air pressure-regulating earplugs: can be purchased from pharmacies and at the airport. These slow the rate of air pressure change on the eardrums, reducing the chances of a build up in pressure. 
⦁ Nasal balloons: these balloons can be blown up with your nose (blocking one nostril at a time and blowing through the other) and have been found to help relieve pain during flights and unblock ears. These can also be purchased from chemists.
⦁ Antihistamines: can be taken ahead of time to reduce the amount of mucus you make.
⦁ Decongestants: can assist in relieving the blockage by drying up the nose. Both oral medication and nasal sprays can assist.
⦁ Over-the-counter pain relievers: can help control discomfort.

For me, I think I'll have to pack some chewing gum next time I fly. 

This information is strictly to be used as a guide only; please consult for doctor or other professional health care provider for specific medical advice regarding your situation. 

Getting used to new hearing devices is challenging, even for experienced users. One of the biggest factors which influence your ability to succeed with new devices is your attitude and expectations towards them - start with realistic expectations about how your devices can help you in different situations and have a proactive attitude towards wearing them. This post will provide you with some tips and tricks that my previous clients have said worked for them.
 
Acclimatization
It takes some time to adjust to wearing hearing devices and listening to new sounds. How long this adjustment takes varies from person to person. With practice and patience, you’ll be hearing clearly sounds which you may not have heard at that level for years.
 
Over the first few days, start off wearing it as much as you can in environments you are comfortable with (eg at home, quiet places). Once you are more confident, start wearing them for longer periods in a wider variety of situations (eg shopping centers, social gatherings, cafes). If wearing your hearing devices makes you tired, remove them and have a rest. You’ll soon be able to wear them for longer periods and ultimately all day comfortably.
 
Listen to the various noises in your environment and try to identify them, remembering that some sounds will seem different then you’re used to. After the first few weeks, common voices and sounds will be familiar again as your brain adapts to the new sounds and your understanding improves.
 
Tips when talking to people

• Ensure you are able to see the speakers face to get any visual cues, facial expressions and gestures.
• Be aware of what the topic of conversation is (eg using meeting agenda). Context will allow you to fill in any gaps which you may miss during the conversation.
• If you start to become tired or anxious, have a break.
• If the person is speaking too quickly or not directly facing you, tell them that you have a hearing impairment and how they can help (eg speaking a little slower, not shouting, facing you when talking).
• When stuck, ask for rephrasing and confirmation about what you thought you heard. Getting feedback will allow you to ensure you are still following the conversation correctly. Confirm details and information to ensure you heard them right.
• Recognize that if you are with a large group of people, it would be best to try converse with those closest to you.

 
Being aware of your environment

• Reduce as much noise around you if possible
• Be aware of where you are sitting. Relocate yourself in a good position to see and hear the sound source (eg person speaking, TV). Try to put as much of the background noise behind you. 
• Ensure there is adequate lighting to see the speaker’s face for visual cues
• Remove any distractions if possible (eg turn down the radio, close the car window)
• Visit restaurants/cafes that are quiet and reserve a table in a quieter area with good lighting away from any band or kitchen.
• Some theaters, movies and even train stations have Telecoil Audio Loop systems which allow some hearing devices to tap into the sound system. This gives the user a much clearer sound signal.
• If at meetings where microphones are used, ask for questions to be repeated using the mic.
• When environments are very noisy, consider writing or having a screen visible (eg at a bank, when paying for things).

 
Undoubtedly, getting used to anything new takes time and energy but with a little perseverance and practise, you'll be able to continue enjoying the sounds of your life for many years to come. If you feel you are not hearing adequately through your devices or are still struggling to acclimatize even after several weeks of adjustments, feel free to contact our clinicians for assistance or advice. 

Phones are ever-present these days, playing an important part of our lives by allowing us to stay connected with family and friends, and even allowing for the continued independence of some individuals. Hearing losses can impact our ability to maintain conversations over the phone but there are increasing numbers of hearing devices which are compatible with today's phones with an aim of reducing background noise and improving signal clarity.
 
If you already have a hearing device, there are some things you can do to get the best performance out of your devices.

1. Positioning of the handset: by placing the phone directly up to the hearing device's microphone, you allow the signal to be processed through the hearing aid, improving the sound signal. If you experience "whistling" (feedback) when on the phone, angling the handset upwards and moving it slightly away from the device may reduce this.
 
2. Activating additional features: most phones today come with vibration alerts and sometimes even flashing lights to inform you of a call/notification if you don't hear your phone ring. Sometimes these can be customized and adjusted depending on the mobile phone brand. Many hearing devices also have inbuilt telecoils which allow devices to directly connect with the phones and hear the conversations better (sometimes an additional induction neck-loop is required for this feature to be activated). 

3. Smartphone compatible devices: new advances in technology mean some hearing devices are designed to wirelessly connect to smart phones via Bluetooth, allowing for direct streaming of music and phone calls. Some hearing device manufacturers also produce apps which can allow for the smartphone to act as a remote control for your hearing aids. When considering to invest in a new smartphone, consider what their Hearing Aid Compatibility rating (HAC) is. NB - The higher the numerical number (min -max:1- 4), the better (Eg: A device with a M3T3 HAC rating is quite good)

​“M” – the microphone mode (how well the internal microphone can pick up sounds and amplify them)
“T” – the telecoil mode (whether telecoil technology is available)
 
Still struggling to hear? It may be time to review your hearing and/or your hearing devices. Feel free to contact our clinicians for a hearing assessment today.