A new study recently conducted by the Better Hearing Institute (BHI) has found that nearly thirty million Americans – or ten percent of our population – suffer from chronic tinnitus, or "ringing in the ears." In fact, tinnitus was recently indicated to be the number one service-connected disability of military personnel returning from service in Afghanistan or Iraq. Sufferers of tinnitus generally describe the noise as a ringing, a humming, or a buzzing. The sound can be constant or intermittent, and in one or in both ears. "Persistent, chronic tinnitus is a highly intrusive, increasingly common condition that can interfere with a person's cognition, ability to interact with family and friends, and basic life functions," stated Jennifer Born, study co-author and the Director of Public Affairs at the American Tinnitus Association. The leading cause of tinnitus is extreme exposure to noise. Those suffering from the condition almost always have hearing loss in conjunction with tinnitus. Yet, the researchers involved the study were surprised by the number of respondents who initially reported that they had tinnitus, but no hearing loss. After testing them, however, the study authors discovered that the majority of the respondents did, indeed, have hearing loss. "It's very likely that these individuals were aware of their tinnitus but not their hearing loss – which would indicate that the population with hearing loss is much larger than previously believed," noted study co-author Dr. Sergei Kochkin. "People suffering with tinnitus should seek the counsel of an audiologist so that appropriate remedies are explored," said Dr. Mary Bohr, Director of Audiology at McGuire's Hearing Aids and Audiological Services. "It's quite possible that a patient's tinnitus can be helped by hearing devices."
This story appeared originally on CNN.com on this web page.
Gradual hearing loss is a common symptom of aging, but in some people it may also be an early sign of Alzheimer's disease or other types of de
mentia, a new study suggests. The risk of dementia appears to rise as hearing declines. Older people with mild hearing impairment -- those who have difficulty following a conversation in a crowded restaurant, say -- were nearly twice as likely as those with normal hearing to develop dementia, the study found. Severe hearing loss nearly quintupled the risk of dementia. It's unclear why the loss of hearing and mental function might go hand in hand. Brain abnormalities may contribute independently to both conditions, but it's also possible that hearing problems can help bring on dementia, the researchers say. Hearing loss may lead to social isolation (which itself has been linked to dementia), for instance, or it may interfere with the brain's division of labor. "The brain might have to reallocate resources to help with hearing at the expense of cognition," says the lead researcher, Frank R. Lin, M.D., an ear surgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. That may explain in part why straining to hear conversations over background noise in a loud restaurant can be mentally exhausting for anyone, hard of hearing or not, he adds. The findings suggest that poor hearing is a "harbinger of impending dementia," says George Gates, M.D., a hearing expert at the University of Washington in Seattle, who was not involved in the new study but whose own research has demonstrated a link between the two conditions. "We listen with our ears but hear with our brains," Gates says. "It is simply not possible to separate audition and cognition." In the study, which appears in the Archives of Neurology, Lin and his colleagues followed more than 600 dementia-free adults between the ages of 36 and 90 for an average of 12 years. A little less than 30 percent of the study participants had some hearing loss at the start of the study. Overall, 9 percent of the participants went on to develop Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia. Mild, moderate, and severe hearing loss were associated with a two-fold, three-fold, and five-fold higher risk of later dementia, respectively, in comparison to normal hearing. People with moderate hearing loss generally struggle to communicate even in quiet settings, and those with severe hearing loss are near deaf. Lin says that hearing loss has an enormous impact on the lives of his patients and their family members. "Yet because it is such a slow and insidious process, it is often left ignored and untreated." Whether hearing aids or other treatments (such as cochlear implants) can help stave off dementia is the "50 billion dollar question," Lin adds. Thirty million Americans currently have impaired hearing and 1 in 30 are predicted to suffer from dementia by 2050, so if those treatments prove to be helpful, their impact would be felt widely. There is no cure for dementia, and there are no surefire ways of preventing it. Gates isn't optimistic that restoring hearing can affect the course of dementia. However, if treatments and prevention strategies for dementia do become available in the future, he says, hearing loss could play an important role in early detection. Lin and his colleagues have begun researching the effect of hearing aids on the risk of dementia. "Whether or not it can help dementia, we don't know yet," he says. "But in the meantime, there's no reason not to take your hearing loss seriously and pursue some type of treatment."
For many people, hearing loss occurs with age. This is manifested in two ways: first, we begin to lose sensitivity to sound; second, our ability to clearly understand speech declines, even when the speech is loud enough to hear comfortably. Statistically speaking, hearing loss is the third most prevalent chronic health condition, after arthritis and cardiovascular disease. It's even more prevalent that vision problems. Most people know that hearing loss can occur due to noise exposure and aging. However, other factors, such as disease, medications, genetics, anoxia, and even cardiovascular disease can contribute to hearing loss, and a number of studies back this assertion. The ear requires a rich blood supply in order to function well. When the blood supply is interrupted, as in chronic cardiovascular disease, for instance, or even in the course of some cardiovascular procedures, it causes changes to the structures of the ear including the stria vascularis, the Organ of Corti and the internal auditory artery. Subsequently, hearing is affected. Studies have shown that adults 65-85, with a history of cardiovascular disease had significantly poorer hearing than people without cardiovascular disease. Interestingly, when studies look at myocardial infarctions, women seem to be affected more than men. Some clinicians have even suggested that hearing loss may be an early marker for cardiovascular disease because hearing loss seems to precede heart disease. Other studies have evaluated subjects who did not have cardiovascular disease, and the results indicate that these heart-healthy individuals with excellent muscle tone have better hearing as well. It has been suggested that good muscle strength and excellent cardiovascular health may, in fact stave off hearing loss and maintain good hearing sensitivity longer because of increased flow of oxygen, and increased glucose supply to all the organs and structures of the auditory system. There is also evidence that regular exercise may play a role in hearing conservation through improvements in circulation. Though a number of studies have investigated the interconnection between cardiovascular health and hearing sensitivity, there is no consensus on the topic. This evidence to date prompts us to examine more closely the relationship of cardiovascular fitness level and hearing. Hearing health notwithstanding, cardiovascular fitness has its own rewards through greater overall physical and mental health.
Did you hear the one about the woman who gently patted her husband's hand and said, "Dear, I've been suggesting for some time that you have your hearing checked, and you've simply ignored me. I know it isn't easy..." Her husband looked at her and shouted, "WHAT?!?" For some people, acknowledging a hearing loss is a difficult admission. But there are some suggested guidelines. It's time to see a licensed hearing professional when...
You experience muffled hearing.
You can't distinguish specific words when someone is speaking, especially when there are competing voices or noises in the background.
A higher volume is required on the television, radio or MP3 player than in the past.
You avoid conversation and social interaction for fear of lack of hearing.
You experience vertigo in conjunction with hearing loss.
People get annoyed with you because you misunderstand conversations.
You are concerned about missing a phone call or doorbell.
You get confused about where sounds come from.
"It's not always easy for patients to admit that they have a hearing loss," noted Dr. Mary Bohr, Director of Audiology for McGuire's Hearing Services. "Some patients feel that they can compensate for this limitation without hearing devices, but it's not really possible. Hearing loss simply gets worse with time," she added. "The bright side is that we now have access to dozens of hearing aid styles, sizes and colors. This assortment allows self-conscious patients to wear hearing devices that can barely be detected, and are customized based on a patient's specific needs," she observed. The technology of hearing devices has improved significantly in the past few years, and manufacturers report the use of digital devices and components that are approaching nano-sized elements. "Once patients realize the advanced technology and the variety of devices suited to their lifestyles, they are much better about wearing a hearing instrument," Dr. Bohr concluded.
Secondhand smoke has been linked to an increased risk in hearing loss among persons aged 12 - 19, according to a study that was conducted in 2005 – 2006. Although the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) was conducted several years ago, interviews with participants have just been completed, allowing researchers to better understand secondhand smoke and its impact on young adults. The study evaluated 1,533 teens. Those who had exposure to secondhand smoke exhibited notably higher rates of low and high frequency hearing loss, as compared with those who had no exposure to secondhand smoke. In fact, nearly 82% of the afflicted teens did not recognize their hearing difficulties. The study participants also underwent a battery of physical tests, including blood testing for cotinine, a by-product of nicotine exposure. Researchers noted that the rate of hearing loss appeared to be cumulative, and appeared to increase with the level of serum cotinine found in the blood of study participants. "Secondhand smoke has been a suspect in hearing loss among young adults for quite some time," noted Dr. Mary Bohr, Director of Audiology at McGuire's Hearing Aids and Audiological Services. "The study confirms the detrimental effects of secondhand smoke among this population, and reinforces the belief that smoking is dangerous for people other than the smoker," she added. "Adolescents exposed to (secondhand smoke) may need to be closely monitored for early hearing loss with periodic audiologic testing," study researchers cautioned.
This time of year, it's easy to join the millions of people shopping online to save time and money. However, there's at least one thing you should never purchase on line: hearing devices. "To get a hearing device that is customized for your particular hearing needs, you should visit a hearing specialist with an audiologist on staff," said Dr. Mary Bohr, Director of Audiology at McGuire's Hearing Aids and Audiological Services. "Purchasing a device without the guidance of a trained, licensed professional means the hearing device you purchase may be ineffective, and it's possible it can even damage your hearing even further," she warned. Dr. Bohr added that hearing devices require programming from a professional. "Programming involves two-way communication: hearing professionals adjust devices based on what a patient indicates they hear," she explained. "If a patient buys a hearing device on line, who programs it, and how is this accomplished without patient feedback? And if there's a problem that occurs, who resolves that problem, or services the device?" Under U.S. Food and Drug Administration rules, an online hearing aid retailer must receive a statement signed by an audiologist indicating that a prospective buyer has had a medical evaluation for hearing loss within the past six months. Hearing aid retailers may sell hearing aids directly to adults with a medical evaluation waiver. Legal requirements for a medical evaluation waiver are explained in FDA regulations. The Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Section 801.421 requires that these three conditions must be satisfied: The potential customer must be informed that doing a waiver is NOT in the customer's best interest The retailer does NOT encourage the customer to submit a medical evaluation waiver The retailer provides the customer a statement to sign indicating that that they are aware that a medical evaluation is in their best health interest and they waive the requirement to have a medical evaluation. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association cautions consumers that they should not buy hearing aids by mail order or online because doing so may mean bypassing crucial parts of the audiological evaluation process such as testing and fitting that is needed in order to maximize the benefit from the hearing aid. "Reputable hearing device manufacturers work closely with distributors to ensure that the devices are programmed and maintained correctly," Dr. Toback stated. "Hearing devices are classified as medical products in the U.S., not as 'off-the-shelf, one-size-fits-all' solutions for people with hearing loss." Lastly, Dr. Bohr cautioned that she has some patients who had purchased devices online prior to coming to McGuire's. "One of my best source for referrals is online hearing aid retailers. I have several patients who have come to me for help because the online hearing providers haven't been effective," she concluded.
