Pure Sound Hearing Aids Blog & News | Pure Sound Hearing Aids

Why is it Important to Wear Your Hearing Aids Each Day?

5/26/2020

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Even though you are staying home more often these days, it’s crucial to keep an active brain in order to continue processing sound. A study from John Hopkins indicated that having mild hearing loss doubled the risks of dementia. Individuals who suffered from severe hearing loss were five times more likely to be diagnosed with dementia if they did not get treatment for their hearing loss.

Your brain is activated when you can hear

Hearing incidental sounds, even if there is no direct communication, is crucial to keeping the brain engaged and processing sound waves. Studies on children have shown that incidental sounds and incidental learning are important in their early development. Noise management features are switched off in order to provide children with an introduction to as many sounds as possible.

Due to the pandemic, even though you may not currently be using your hearing aids as a means of direct communication with other people, it’s vital for your brain to hear incidental sounds.

Hearing aids alert you of surrounding danger or other important signals

To keep yourself and others safe, wearing hearing aids will allow you to hear any alarms or sirens that may go off close by. If you are new to wearing hearing aids, you’re going to hear lots of sounds that you haven’t heard in years. You may not realize how loud the refrigerator hum is or that there’s a strange sound coming from your car that needs to be fixed. It’s necessary to hear sounds throughout your day in order to acclimate your brain, so that you can feel more secure in your health and safety.

Hearing aids connect you to others

Today’s hearing aids help you stay connected to the people in your life. These devices can be hooked up to your smartphone, tablet and TV, which allow users to remain informed about the news and other information that is important to you.

Hearing aids with Bluetooth®, like Starkey’s Livio AI, can engage in FaceTime calls, regular phone calls and Zoom video chats.

Being away from family and friends during this time may be difficult, but being able to hear incidental sounds can make you more aware of your surroundings and safer, in addition to staying connected to loved ones.

If you, or a loved one, are in need of hearing aids, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing Aids for a free hearing test and consultation. We offer a variety of hearing aids from name brands including HANSATON, Oticon, Phonak, ReSound, Rexton, Signia, Starkey, Unitron and Widex.

Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings and new hearing aid fittings. If you are having any problems with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.

Allergies and Hearing Loss

5/26/2020

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Feelings of a stuffy nose combined with sneezing can raise a problem for those with hearing loss. On the worst days of your allergy season, you may feel as though you are roaming through fog. Sounds may seem muffled and your ears may be popping more frequently in order to clear out the additional pressure.

When your head moves, you might experience the feeling of fluid moving in your ears. This may induce dizziness or vertigo. Symptoms of tinnitus may occur more regularly. Generally, allergies are irritating. If you have hearing loss, they can affect how you communicate.

Why is your hearing affected by seasonal allergies?

Seasonal allergies may create fluid that builds up in your middle ear. As a result, you might feel pressure and sounds may be obstructed from traveling to your eardrum. This makes it more difficult for you to hear. This is known as conductive hearing loss. It is the result of “conducting” the sound from its source to where it is heard. This can almost be compared to what those with hearing loss experience when they have a head cold.

It’s important to note that hearing loss that is caused by seasonal allergies is typically short-lived. Getting the right medication and treatment can diminish its impact.

How to take care of your allergies

Get a prescription. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist and ask if any medications will help relieve your symptoms and allergies. There are decongestants that can help reduce inflammation in your nose and can dry out the excess fluid. Using a nasal saline spray can also be used as treatment.
Prepare ahead of time. If these are recurring allergies, you can probably predict around what time of year your symptoms will start to appear. Start taking your allergy medication a week or two before you usually experience the symptoms in order to prevent symptom onset. You may begin with a smaller than usually dosage and once you feel the symptoms begin, take your full dosage.
Medication consistency. Take your medication each day throughout your allergy season. The levels of pollen in the air may fluctuate, but a regular intake will help to maintain a healthy feeling when there are unavoidable surges down the road.
Be persistent. There’s another reason to frequently wash your hands, especially if you have been outside. Washing your hands will get rid of allergens that come in contact with your skin, where they can be transmitted through your nasal passages or mouth. During peak season, it is advised that you change out of your clothes and clean them if you spent a great deal of time outdoors. This will clear off any pollen that was accumulated on the clothes.
Be smart. Try to stay indoors whenever there is a high pollen count. There are pollen forecasts available online through The Weather Channel.
Be candid. Tell others who you interact with that due to your allergies, you cannot hear very well.

If you notice that you are still experiencing hearing loss, after your allergy season is over, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing Aids for a free hearing test and consultation.

Please be aware that Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings and new hearing aid fittings. If you are having any problems with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.

20+ Ways to Handle Communication Challenges and Wearing a Face Mask with Your Hearing Aids

5/22/2020

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To aid in the prevention of the coronavirus, it is now a requirement for everyone to wear a face mask in public. This can be complicated for anyone with hearing loss.

Face Masks make Communication more Challenging for People who are Hard of Hearing

People's voices are muffled - making it very difficult to understand them, and their faces are covered - making it impossible to read facial expressions or lip read. For hearing aid users, the ear loops on your face mask could pull on your hearing aids and cause some issues.

3 Tips for Hearing Aid Users when Wearing and Removing Your Face Mask:

Carefully remove your mask without accidentally pulling out your hearing aids.
Wear a mask with fabric ties that go around your head. Fabric ties can be loosened and adjusted so that they don’t get caught in your hearing aids.
Wear a mask holder. These are worn near the back of the head. They can hold the ear loops of your mask, instead of placing the loops on your ears. This will reduce the ear loops from getting tangled with your hearing aids and/or eyeglasses.

8 ways to Communicate while Wearing a Face Mask:

Be sure that hearing aid users are wearing their hearing aids and that the devices are switched on.
Clearly speak at a slower rate and normal volume. If your communication partner has a clear face mask, ask them to speak at a normal rate so that you can accurately read their lips and observe their facial expressions.
Rephrase anything that was stated, if it was not immediately understood.
Try to communicate in an area that doesn’t have a lot of background noise.
Only allow one person to speak at a time.
Face each other at a safe distance.
Use your body language, make eye contact, use hand gestures to reflect your facial reactions (use a thumbs up for a friendly smile) and speak a little slower.
Use a pen and notepad, or piece of paper, to write a message and show it to the person. Use a caption app on your smartphone.

How to Wear Your Face Mask with Hearing Aids

For anyone who wears behind-the-ear hearing aids, you will probably come across some issues when donning a standard face mask that has elastic ear loops. These ear loops could pull at the tubing that connects the hearing aid and the domes that rest in your ears. You may accidentally yank your hearing aids out and drop them while taking your mask off.

If you happen to be looking for new hearing aids, now would be a good time to ask your hearing instrument specialist for a trial of in-the-ear (ITE) or receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) hearing aids. These hearing aids do not rest behind your ears. Instead, they rest inside your ear canal.

Alternative Face Mask Options:

Instead of elastic, wear a mask that has soft fabric ties. This will relieve pressure on your ears.
Use a special mask extender. These have buttons or other types of holders that fasten the mask loops onto the back of the head, rather than looping them onto the ears. Most medical practitioners use these, because they have to wear tight-fitted masks throughout the day.
Use plastic s-hooks to loop the mask on your head, instead of looping them onto your ears.

Many who are hard of hearing have been advocating for the public to wear clear face shields, but this has not been adopted yet.

How to Speak to those with Hearing Loss when Wearing a Face Mask

Anyone with hearing loss can tell you the new set of challenges they face when interacting with a person who is wearing a face mask. This is especially true in medical settings, where there is high stress, and communication is almost equally as frustrating for both the healthcare provider and patient.

There are two evident dilemmas. The patient cannot gain any facial or lip reading cues, and the healthcare provider’s voice is distorted and muffled.

9 Ways to make Your Office, or Exam Room, more welcoming for those with Hearing Loss:

Be sure that hearing aid wearers are using their devices.
If necessary, consider having them use a portable hearing aid amplifier.
Decrease background noise in order to hold the patient’s attention.
Discuss how the patient would prefer to communicate.
Speak clearly, repeat or rephrase things if necessary.
Do not shout (this can actually be painful for anyone who suffers from hyperacusis - when normal sounds are heard at a louder volume, to the point where it hurts your ears when you hear them).
Only allow one person to speak at a time.
Do not speak while walking, or turning your face out of the patient’s view.
If possible, get masks with clear plastic in order to make lip reading easier.

Speakers may try to communicate with the hard of hearing by projecting their voice, but it’s actually more effective to speak clearly, at a normal volume and enunciate their words.

When You are out in Public

When going out to go grocery shopping, or picking up a prescription, those previously mentioned tips may be impossible to follow. If you and your spouse are wearing masks, be sure that your spouse is aware that they need to speak clearly and at a steady pace when addressing you. Advocate for yourself when speaking to strangers. Tell them that you cannot hear very well, and let them know that they need to speak very clearly.

If you are speaking to someone with hearing loss, instead of repeating yourself, utilize body language by making eye contact, using hand gestures to reflect your facial reactions and speaking a little slower. If they read lips, speak at a normal, steady pace.

Please be aware that Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings and new hearing aid fittings. If you are having any problems with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.

11 Tips to Discuss Hearing Loss with Your Family

5/22/2020

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When one person has hearing loss, their entire family is affected by it. Talking over a game plan to handle it, can improve communication and make the experience of hearing loss much less frustrating and problematic for everyone who is involved. Let your needs be known to your family.

1. Disclose Your Hearing Loss

It’s important to tell your immediate family that you are having trouble with hearing. Be transparent about what you grapple with on a daily basis. This will let them know what you need, repeat things if necessary and explain anything that was misheard. Be honest and accepting in order to foster a healthy relationship with each other.

2. Describe Your Hearing Loss Experience to Others

It is complicated to fully understand what hearing loss is like if you’ve never experienced it. You might need to explain what your hearing loss experience is like, many times, in a number of different environments in order to give an accurate depiction. Maybe you can suggest that your family members wear earplugs next time they all sit and talk during a family meal. Although it won’t be a completely accurate portrayal of what hearing loss is like (the distortion won’t be replicated), it will give them a general understanding of how some people experience hearing loss.

3. Bring Your Family to Your next Appointment

Learning about the results of your hearing test and how severe your hearing loss is from an expert, could help them better understand your hearing loss and the challenges you endure. Your family will also help your hearing healthcare provider get a better understanding of how you communicate with one another and what environments are most problematic for you. This will help with treatment and how your hearing aid is programmed by your provider.

4. Be open about how You are feeling in regards to Your Hearing Loss

Do not continue to carry one as usual and ignore how you are feeling about your hearing loss. If you disclose how dissatisfied or depressed you are about your hearing loss, your family can grow closer. Being vulnerable is a step in the right direction. Feelings of fatigue are a common result of hearing loss. Your brain is trying to comprehend and piece together what is being said in conversations. Let your family members know when you are feeling too tired.

5. Get rid of the Stigma

If you show how comfortable you are with your hearing difficulties, those around you will be comfortable too. You may be living with someone who has hearing loss, but nobody discusses it. Turning this into a taboo subject prevents that person from getting help, while making their disability a normal part of your family’s life.

6. For Family Members, Practice Good Communication Techniques

It can be as simple as getting your hearing impaired family member’s attention prior to speaking to them. Always keep your mouth uncovered, and face the person with hearing loss. They may rely on lip-reading, facial cues, or hand gestures in order to get a fuller idea of the message that is being conveyed. Ask your family member with hearing loss what they need in order to help them hear you at an optimal level. Be very specific so that they understand what you need and don’t wind up shouting or talking directly into your ear when they speak.

7. Ask Family Members to Advocate for You

You’ll feel a strong support and bond with your family when they find a movie theater that offers captions or a theatre that offers telecoil technology. Their help will allow you to preserve your energy to enjoy your outing or use it to advocate for other things that you may encounter.

8. Use a Signal if You were Unable to Hear Something

A visual signal can be just as useful as saying “What?”, and this won’t stop the flow of the discussion. It can also reduce the amount of frustration that others feel when you ask them to repeat themselves.

9. Try out Different Technology

Have your family test out new assistive listening devices with you, in order to find out if they make it easier to communicate with each other. This could be entertaining for anyone in the family who is tech-savvy.

10. Get You Family Involved with the Hearing Loss Community

Have them walk or volunteer alongside you at a Walk4Hearing event, or any other hearing loss related fundraiser. When they educate themselves about hearing loss, they can have a better understanding about your experience and help you with whatever challenges may arise.

11. Have a Sense of Humor About Things

You will mishear words, so don’t take it too seriously when it happens. Some of it can be very funny. Crack some jokes, and keep things light throughout your journey of creating a family support system.

Your family can help you create a strong foundation of support and strengthen your relationships with each other. Remember to be honest with them, ask them to repeat or clarify when necessary, and involve them in your self-advocacy efforts.

If you, or a loved one, are experiencing hearing loss, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing Aids for a free hearing test and consultation.

Please be aware that Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings and new hearing aid fittings. If you are having any problems with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.

A 2020 Earplug Guide for Musicians

5/1/2020

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Musicians, Protect Your Hearing

If you are a musician, your ears are needed to keep your instruments in tune and get inspired by your surroundings. Without the ability to hear, it would cause musicians to struggle with doing what they love.

Your hearing abilities shift over time, especially if you play an instrument. About one in eight Americans - of any age - experiences some range of hearing loss, so it’s very important for musicians to properly protect their ears.

Modern technology has significantly advanced earplugs. You no longer need to wear over-sized foam plugs, because today’s earplugs are more discreet.

Here are Some of the Best Earplugs for Musicians that are Available Now:

Earos One: These silicone earplugs are unobtrusive and allow users to hear accurate frequencies at any volume level. It takes time to properly seal them for the maximum protection. They reduce noise by 17 - 25 dB. They deliver excellent noise reduction and retain clarity, while providing a wide frequency range response.
Earasers: These silicone earplugs are very useful for stage and studio performances. They are comfortable, and the attenuation is not as high as others. They reduce noise by 19 dB. These are specifically designed for musicians. Each frequency is accurately heard through these earbuds, while reducing noise volume as necessary.
Vibes High Fidelity: These silicone earplugs are very discreet. They have special filters to fine-tune some frequencies. They can reduce noises by 22 dB without muffling the sound that you would get with foam plugs. These earplugs are available for all ear sizes, and are mainly used in loud environments.
Hearprotek High Fidelity: These silicone earplugs can reduce noises by 20 dB. They feature two ear tip sizes, but may not feel comfortable after an hour or two. It’s best to try out a few different kinds to see what feels most comfortable to you. Hearprotek earplugs are inexpensive. They are not meant to be used extensively, throughout an entire show, but you can wear them during the opening sets.
Decibullz: These are customized earplugs made of thermoplastic. They reduce noise by 31 dB. It features a moldable plug and they are affordable. The downside is that they are almost too quiet in some settings.
Eargasm High Fidelity: These silicone earplugs can reduce noises by 21 dB, by filtering the sound instead of obstructing it. They are available in multiple sizes, discreet and easy to clean. These plugs are used at concerts or sporting events. These can be used in any situation - whether there is music involved or not.
Vic Firth High Fidelity: These silicone earplugs can reduce noises by 20 dB. For drummers, there is still good clarity while striking cymbals or kick drums. You may use a neck cord with these earplugs. They are inexpensive.

If you, or a loved one, are experiencing hearing loss, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing Aids for a free hearing test and consultation.

Please be aware that Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings and new hearing aid fittings. If you are having any problems with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.

The Prime Ages of Hearing Health

5/1/2020

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Prime Ages of Hearing Loss vs. Age-related Hearing Loss

Did you know that people between the ages of 18 and 25 are at the prime ages for human hearing?

When we reach our 50s, age-related hearing loss will be a main health concern. Hearing loss begins to worsen after age 25, but it usually goes unnoticed.

Presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss, is the most common form of hearing loss. It is also the third most prevalent physical condition that affects humans.

Hearing loss conditions double during each decade of a person’s life.

If you, or a loved one, are experiencing hearing loss, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing Aids for a free hearing test and consultation.

Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings and new hearing aid fittings. If you are having any problems with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.

The World Health Organization's Facts on Deafness and Hearing Loss

5/1/2020

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Main Facts

About 466 million people across the globe have hearing loss. Approximately 34 million of these people are children.
By 2050, more than 900 million people will have hearing loss.
Hearing loss may be caused by genetic factors, birth complications, infectious diseases, chronic ear infections, certain drug usage, loud and/or repeated noise exposure, aging.
Around 60% of children’s hearing loss is due to preventable causes.
1.1 billion people between the ages of 12-35, are at risk of developing hearing loss from being exposed to noise in recreational environments.
Hearing loss that goes untreated leads to a worldwide cost of $750 billion. Early intervention is key to help prevent, identify and address hearing loss.
Those who receive an early diagnosis for their hearing loss, can use hearing aids, cochlear implants or other assistive listening devices; there are captioning apps sign language, in addition to other types of education and social support.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that only 17% of people who would benefit from using a hearing aid, actually wear one.

Approximately 5% of the world’s population - that’s 466 million people - have a disabling form of hearing loss (432 million adults and 34 million children). It is being estimated that in 2050, more than 900 million people - that’s 1 in 10 people - will experience a disabling hearing loss.

A disabling hearing loss is defined as hearing loss that is over 40 decibels (dB) in the healthier hearing ear for adults and hearing loss that is over 30 dB in the healthier hearing ear in children. Most people with disabling hearing loss live in low or middle-income countries.

About one third of those aged 65 or older, have a disabling hearing loss. Most of these people live in South Asia, Asia Pacific and sub-Saharan Africa.

Hearing loss vs deafness

A person with hearing loss is someone who cannot hear as well as someone with normal hearing loss (that’s a hearing threshold of 25 dB or more in each ear). Hearing loss is categorized as mild, moderate, severe or profound. One or both ears can be affected, which can cause difficulty in hearing casual speech or loud sounds.

Someone who is ‘hard of hearing’ has hearing loss that varies between mild to severe. Those who are hard of hearing can communicate with others by verbally speaking and may benefit from using hearing aids, other assistive listening devices and captions. Those with more severe hearing loss may benefit from cochlear implants.

A person who is deaf has profound hearing loss. They have little or no hearing abilities. They use sign language or lip reading to communicate and understand people.

What causes hearing loss and deafness?

Hearing loss and deafness may be congenital (present at birth) or acquired.

Congenital causes could lead to hearing loss that is present at or acquired right after birth. Hearing loss can be caused by genetic factors that may or may not be hereditary, or by pregnancy/birth complications. These include:

Low birth weight;
Maternal rubella, syphilis or other infections that occurred during the pregnancy;
Birth asphyxia (a lack of oxygen flow at the time of birth);
Drug abuse during pregnancy (aminoglycosides, cytotoxic drugs, antimalarial drugs, and diuretics);
Severe jaundice during the neonatal period, that may damage the hearing nerves of the infant.

Acquired causes can lead to hearing loss at any age. These include:

Infectious diseases (meningitis, measles and mumps);
Chronic ear infections;
A buildup of fluid in the ears (otitis media);
Taking certain medications, like treatments for different cancers, drug-resistant tuberculosis, malaria, neonatal infections;
Ear or head injuries;
Frequent exposure to excessive noise, for example from machinery or explosions that are used on the job;
Personal audio devices turned up at a high volume and played for an extensive period of time. Regularly attending concerts, nightclubs, bars or sporting arenas.
Earwax or foreign debris that obstructs the ear canal.
Aging, which causes cells to weaken.

A common cause of hearing loss in children is suffering from a chronic form of otitis media.

What are the Impacts of hearing loss?

Hearing loss impacts the practical means of communication with others. Development of spoken language is delayed in children who have hearing loss that is not addressed and treated.

Hearing loss that goes unaddressed, or ear diseases like otitis media, will most likely have a negative effect on how children perform academically. These children tend to have higher rates of failure and the need for additional assistance in learning. It would be crucial to have access to the appropriate tools in order for them to have the best learning experience, but those means are not always accessible.

Social and emotional repercussions

Being excluded from interacting with others due to an inability to communicate can create feelings of isolation, loneliness, and frustration. This is especially true with older people who have hearing loss.

Economic repercussions

According to the World Health Organization, hearing loss that goes untreated can cost $750 billion in health sector costs, costs in educational support, loss in productivity, and societal costs.

In most developing countries, children who have hearing loss rarely receive any education. Adults who have hearing loss are more likely to be unemployed. Among the employed, there is a greater percentage of people with hearing loss who are in the lower levels of employment in comparison to the general workforce.

In order to lower the rate of unemployment for those with hearing loss, it’s important to create access to education and vocational rehabilitation services, particularly for employers.

Prevention measures

There has been some suggestion that half of all cases of hearing loss can be prevented through public health measures.

About 60% of children under 15 years old, have hearing loss cases that were due to preventable causes. Here are most of the preventable causes of childhood hearing loss:

Complications at birth: birth asphyxia, jaundice, low birth weight, prematurity.
Chronic otitis media, cytomegalovirus infections, measles, meningitis, mumps.
Use of ototoxic medications in pregnant women and infants.

Easy ways to prevent hearing loss

Immunizing children against childhood diseases (measles, meningitis, rubella and mumps);
Immunizing adolescent girls and women who are at a reproductive age against rubella before pregnancy;
Preventing cytomegalovirus infections in mothers who are expecting to give birth by practicing proper hygiene; testing for and treating syphilis and other infections in pregnant women;
Enhance maternal and children’s health programs, promoting safe childbirth;
Practicing healthy ear care
Lowering exposure to loud sounds (on the job and recreational) by raising awareness about the risks; voting on relevant legislation; encouraging people to use hearing protection (earplugs, ear muffs, noise-cancelling headphones).
Screening young people for otitis media, and getting them immediate intervention.
Avoiding any drug usage that could impair hearing, unless it was prescribed and monitored by a doctor.
Referring infants who are at a high risk for hearing loss for an early hearing evaluation. For example, those with a family history of hearing impairments, those who are born with low birth weight, birth asphyxia, jaundice or meningitis.

Identify and manage hearing loss

It is very important to detect hearing loss as early as possible in order to intervene. This will help to reduce the impact of hearing loss during a child’s development and education. Early detection and intervention will improve language acquisition and overall education outcomes. Children who are deaf or hard of hearing, and their family members, should have the opportunity to learn sign language.

Hearing screenings that take place at schools are an effective way to detect ear diseases and hearing loss at an early age. Pure Sound Hearing Aids offers a free hearing test and consultation.

Those with hearing loss can benefit from wearing hearing aids. The global production of hearing aids only fulfills less than 10% of worldwide needs. There is an overall lack of availability of services for fitting and maintaining hearing aid devices, but our hearing instrument specialists at Pure Sound are readily available for your hearing aid needs.

Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings and new hearing aid fittings. If you are having any problems with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.

Permanent Changes in the Brain may be Caused by Mild-to-Moderate Hearing Loss

4/30/2020

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Cases of early childhood hearing loss has proven that changes occur in how the brain processes sounds, but current research indicates that mild to moderate hearing loss may also result in these changes.

Studies Conducted on Children

Researchers at the University of Cambridge, in the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, conducted a study on the late auditory stimulated responses and mismatch responses to speech and non-speech noises for 46 children who suffer from mild to moderate hearing loss (MMHL). Younger children (between 8 and 12 years old) who had hearing loss exhibited, to some extent, normal brain responses that were close to children with healthy hearing abilities. The brain responses of 12 to 16 year olds who have hearing loss were smaller than others.

Some of the younger children were tested again six years later. Researchers discovered that as the children who have hearing loss aged, the way their brain responded changed. The responses that existed when the children were younger were either no longer present or became smaller when the children grew older. There was no indication of worsening hearing loss in children during that time, but it was suggested that a functional reorganization was developing.

When children respond to sounds, their brains further develop. It is important to diagnose and treat these issues when they are in their early stages.

If you have a child, or grandchild, who shows signs of hearing loss, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing Aids. We offer a vast selection of hearing aid solutions at discount prices.

Please be aware that Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings and new hearing aid fittings. If you are having any problems with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.

Classical Musicians are more Prone to Hearing Loss than Rock Musicians

4/30/2020

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It’s true.

Classical music turns out to be more dangerous to your hearing health, than rock music. Even though classical music is not blasted at loud volumes that can shake an arena, on average, classical musicians play four to five hours each day. They are either practicing, teaching, or performing multiple times per week. The intensity of sound may be louder on the set of a rock concert, but the number of hours each week that is spent playing is much greater for a classical musician.

So to all classical musicians, take this into consideration. Reduce the amount of time spent playing your instrument, or wear hearing protection.

If you are a musician who is experiencing hearing loss, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing Aids for a free hearing test and consultation.

Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings and new hearing aid fittings. If you are having any problems with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.

20 Uncommon Facts About Hearing

4/30/2020

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Normally, you don’t think or worry about your hearing - until something affects it.

Basic Facts

Those who suffer from hearing loss tend to feel isolated from others. This can cause anxiety and depression.

When you first experience hearing loss, it can affect the higher pitched sounds. When you reach middle age, the upper range of your hearing abilities can decline between 12,000 to 14,000 Hz.

A human’s audible range depends on how high, low, and loud the sound is. We use Hertz (Hz) to measure the pitch of sounds, and decibels (dB) to measure how loud the sound can reach.

When it comes to the pitch of sound, a human’s hearing abilities begin at 20Hz and end at 20,0000Hz. Our hearing is the most sensitive between the 2,000 and 5,000Hz range.

The safest levels of sound fall between 0 to 85dB. Over the course of time, any sounds that pass the 85dB threshold can harm your hearing health.

Hearing: 20 Uncommon Facts

The World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that 466 million people across the globe suffer from a disabling form of hearing loss.
Over 90% of deaf, or hard of hearing, children are born to parents who do not have any hearing impairments.
About three out of 1,000 children in the U.S. are born with some loss of hearing in one or both ears.
For adults between the ages of 20-69, the greatest cause of hearing loss is age. Those who are between the ages of 60-69, have the most hearing loss.
For individuals who fall between the ages of 20-69, men are about two times more likely than women to suffer from hearing loss.
A person’s ability to hear depends on tiny hairs known as, cilia, which are located deep inside your ears. If these hairs are destroyed by loud noise, or any other reason, it will cause permanent damage to your hearing abilities.
The most common cause of hearing loss is noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) that reaches at least 85 decibels. This is also the type of hearing loss that can be easily prevented.
The smallest bones in the human body are the ossicles located in the middle ear. These are known as the incus, the malleus, and the staples.
Permanent hearing damage can occur after just one severely loud exposure to noise, like a blast.
Your ears are constantly active, even when you are sleeping. Your brain knows that it’s time to rest when you sleep, so it doesn’t react to subtle, or sometimes loud, noises.
In addition to hearing, your ears help you stay balanced. There are loop-shaped canals located in your inner ear that hold fluid and small hairlike sensors that help you stay balanced. The base of the canals are utricle (an organ in the ear that provides information about horizontal acceleration) and saccule (an organ in the ear that provides information about vertical acceleration).
Ears not only help you hear, but they also help with your balance. The inner ear is made of the cochlea (helps you hear) and the vestibular system (helps with balance). The vestibular system recognizes movement by using sensory cells, which are stimulated whenever the head is moved or tilted. This system is sensitive to any slight movements of the head. Any large, quick, or drawn out movements (such as rotating around) will need time to relax afterwards. This is the reason why a room may seem as though it’s still spinning, even when you have stopped spinning. The vestibular system transfers signals to the vestibular nerve, it then reaches the cochlear nerve and delivers electrical signals to the brain.
As humans age, it becomes more and more difficult to hear high frequency sounds. Cilia will start to break down, which diminishes the ability to hear high frequency sounds.
Earwax traps dirt and debris, which insulates your inner ear. Unless your earwax becomes impacted to the point where you cannot hear, you should not remove it. Any excess earwax will make it out of the ear canal on its own.
Some living creatures do not hear using their ears. Snakes use their jawbones, mosquitoes utilize their antennae, and fish hear by responding to pressure changes.
Dolphins do not have ears. They hear with eardrums that are located outside of their bodies. They use sonar, or echolocation, to strengthen their already exceptional hearing abilities.
Dogs have the ability to hear frequencies that humans cannot hear. This is why they are able to figure out when you arrive home, long before anyone else.
Cats can hear higher frequencies than humans and dogs. Cats have the ability to hear sounds that are nearly two octaves higher than what humans can hear. They have ear muscles which permit them to pivot their ears up to 180 degrees.
Monkeys have hearing abilities that are not as sharp as humans. They can hear at frequencies below 8000Hz, and up to 45,000Hz. This is an octave above the upper human limit.
Elephants hear frequencies 25 times lower than humans. They can gather sounds through their feet and trunks.

If you, or a loved one, have been experiencing hearing loss, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing Aids for a free hearing test and consultation for the best options that we have available for you!

Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings and new hearing fittings. If you are having any problems with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.

May is Better Hearing and Speech Month

4/30/2020

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Each May, Better Hearing and Speech Month raises awareness about hearing loss, communication, and speech-language disorders which impact more than 14 million Americans.

Over 20 percent of American adults have, at one point in their lives, experienced serious difficulties when it came to their hearing. The inability to hear can affect a person’s emotional and physical health, in addition to their education, social, employment, and daily life.

Hearing Loss Affects People of all Ages

The Center for Hearing Loss and Communication has estimated that 48 million Americans are affected by hearing loss. Hearing loss can be detected at birth or occur at any age.

Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent communication disorders in elderly adults. About one in three adults who are 65 to 74 years old have hearing loss. Almost half of adults who are over 75 are affected by hearing loss. Hearing loss can cause feelings of isolation from your family, friends, and the community. Hearing aids and assistive listening devices can help to improve the life of a person with a hearing impairment, but only one out of four adults (who are at least 20 years of age) who would benefit from using hearing aids actually use them.

Reasons for the lack of usage in hearing aids among those with hearing loss vary from feelings of social stigma to discomfort due to a poorly fit hearing device.

Recognizing Symptoms of Hearing Loss

Prior to getting hearing loss treatment, you must accept the fact that you have a hearing condition that interferes with how you communicate with others. Hearing loss generally develops gradually, so it is difficult to identify whether you are experiencing it.

Here are some distinct signs of hearing loss:

People frequently ask you to turn down the volume on the TV, computer, or radio because it’s too loud.
People sound as though they are mumbling.
You are constantly asking people to repeat themselves.
If someone is calling or talking to you from an angle that is not directly in front of you, you have difficulty hearing them.
You have difficulty communicating in groups of people, no matter how many people there are.
You have difficulty hearing if there is too much background noise.
You have difficulty hearing the doorbell or the phone ring.
Family members, friends, and colleagues notice and address your hearing loss to you.
All of your concentration is focused on listening to someone talk at a soft or normal tone, which causes fatigue.
You rely on lip-reading when people talk to you.

What Can Happen when Hearing Loss goes Untreated

If you, or your loved ones, have observed these signs, you may have also noticed that your social life is suffering due to problems related to communication and hearing. You may stop socializing in order to avoid an embarrassing moment where you may mishear or not be able to hear others. This can create tension between you and your family and friends. Hearing loss can lead to poor work performance, which can lower your salary and cause employers to not value you as much as other employees. As a result, these struggles with communication can cause feelings of depression, insecurity, and isolation. Hearing loss has also been associated with dementia.

Getting Treatment

Hearing loss can be treated. The Better Hearing Institute has indicated that 95 percent of Americans who have hearing loss can benefit from using hearing aids. Hearing aids help make sounds easier for your brain to interpret and understand. Today’s hearing aid devices not only provide better hearing but are functional for everyday usage when it comes to streaming phone calls, music and TV.

If you suffer from hearing loss, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing Aids for a free hearing test and consultation for the best options that we have available for you!

Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings and new hearing aid fittings. If you are having any problems with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.

How can Side Effects of Psoriasis Impact Your Hearing Health?

4/28/2020

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Psoriasis generally conjures the image of dry, red, flaky skin due to inflammation. Psoriasis can go beyond skin problems, by affecting your overall health. Chronic irritation can cause cardiovascular disease.

According to The Journal of Rheumatology, there was a link between psoriatic arthritis, mental health, and hearing damage. Psoriatic arthritis is a type of psoriasis where inflammation occurs near the joints, which lead to pain, inflammation, and difficulty moving. The common skin plaques may not be a symptom in those with psoriatic arthritis.

Your Hearing and Psoriatic Arthritis

Hearing may be affected by psoriatic arthritis. In a study there were test subjects without psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, who were studied alongside test subjects who had one or the other condition. Researchers found that hearing loss was more likely to be reported by test subjects who had psoriasis. Those accounts were backed up with audiometric testing. Other risks were taken into account, and those who were diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis were far more likely to have hearing loss than any other group of test subjects.

A study from 2015 discovered that individuals with psoriasis are more likely to experience sudden sensorineural hearing loss - or sudden deafness. With this condition, the ability to hear declines within three days. Researchers believe that those who have psoriasis are at a higher risk, due to the rapid inflammation that occurs when there is a sudden outbreak of psoriasis symptoms. Hearing loss may occur if this flare-up appears close to or inside the cochlea. This sudden hearing loss can usually be helped with treatments that relieve psoriasis, but hearing aids are recommended if sudden hearing loss is not restored with other regimens.

If you suffer from psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, closely monitor your hearing health. Get your annual healthcare check-up and regular hearing tests. Inflammation from these diseases can cause inner ear damage, which can lead to hearing loss and imbalance. There have also been connections between psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, depression and anxiety. Each of these problems can worsen hearing loss. Get tested for your hearing early, so that you can get immediate treatment. Untreated hearing loss can lead to dementia.

If you, or a loved one, are experiencing hearing loss, please contact us at Pure Sound to schedule and appointment.

Please be aware that Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings and new hearing aid fittings. If you are having any problems with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.

Ear and Hearing Quiz

4/23/2020

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1.) Where is the auricle found and how what function does it play in your hearing?

A. Inner ear. This is where it transfers sound from the inner ear to the brain.
B. Outer ear. This is where it harnesses sounds and directs them to the middle ear. It’s also commonly known as the part of the ear that gets pierced during ear piercing.
C. Middle ear. This is where it transfers acoustic energy from compression waves in air to fluid–membrane waves within the cochlea.
D. Cochlea. This is where it transforms the sound into a neural message.

2.) What is the name of the external part of the outer ear that is visible on your head?

A. Eustachian tube
B. Round window
C. Malleus
D. Pinna

3.) What is a function of earwax?

A. It helps stop tinnitus.
B. There is no function. It clogs the ear, and makes it difficult to hear.
C. It improves hearing. Earwax works almost like mucus functions in the respiratory system and elsewhere. It catches foreign debris, lubricates the ear canal, flushes out dirt and serves as an antibacterial element. It will also seal the inside of the ear and stop water from entering it. Hearing can function on its own without the addition of earwax.
D. None of the above.

4.) What is the proper name for earwax?

A. Wax gland secretion
B. Cerumen
C. Sputum
D. Rheum

5.) Which Harvard physiologist was awarded a Nobel Prize for his work with cochlear mechanics?

A. Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz
B. Rütger Wever
C. Dennis Bray
D. Georg von Besky

6.) What are the names of the three bones that are found inside of your ear?

A. Ethmoid, Frontal, and Maxilla
B. Incisors, Canines, and Molars
C. Incus, Stapes, and Malleus
D. Carpal, Phalanges, and Metacarpal

7.) What common household item would you find ear wax on?

A. A book
B. Computer mouse
C. Light switch
D. Remote control

8.) What is another name for the eardrum?

A. Tympanic cavity
B. Auditory canal
C. Ossicle
D. Tympanic membrane.

9.) What is the rapid back and forth movement of the eyes associated with vertigo known as?

A. Dizziness
B. Optokinesis
C. Nystagmus
D. R.E.M.

10.) In whales, what can be determined by the amount of earwax present?

A. Their I.Q.
B. Their age
C. Their hearing abilities
D. Their diet

Lets see how you did!

1.) Answer: B. Outer ear. The auricle harnesses sounds and directs them to the middle ear. It’s also commonly known as the part of the ear that gets pierced during ear piercing.

2.) Answer: D. Pinna. This part is composed of fatty tissue. It features the helix, antihelix, concha, tragus, and the lobe. It harnesses sound, which then travels through the middle ear.

3.) Answer: C. Improves hearing. Ear wax works almost like mucus functions in the respiratory system and elsewhere. It catches foreign debris, lubricates the ear canal, flushes out dirt and serves as an antibacterial element. It will also seal the inside of the ear and stop water from entering it. Hearing can function on its own without the addition of ear wax.

4.) Answer: B. Cerumen

5.) Answer: D. Georg von Besky

6.) Answer: C. Incus, Stapes, and Malleus

7.) Answer: A book. Many bodily fluids or similar fluids, were utilized as ink pigment.

8.) Answer: D. Tympanic membrane

9.) Answer: C. Nystagmus. The inner ear has a vestibular section that is responsible for balance and eye stabilization.

10.) Answer: B. Their age

Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings and new hearing aid fittings. If you are having any problems with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.

23 Common Causes of Hearing Loss

4/23/2020

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There can be a number of different causes for each type of hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and tinnitus are typically caused by being exposed to loud noises. Hearing loss can also be caused by a birth defect, genetics and a reaction to different types of drugs, particularly ones used for cancer treatments or for chemotherapy.

Causes of Two Different types of Hearing Loss

Sensorineural hearing loss

Acoustic neuroma (tumors)
Aging
Diabetes
Excessive exposure to noise
Heredity
High fever or a rise in body temperature
Hypertension
Injury
Ménière's disease
Meningitis
Obesity
Ototoxic drugs (medication that harms hearing abilities)
Shingles
Smoking
Stroke
Viral infections (measles or mumps)

Conductive hearing loss

Abnormal growths or tumors
Dislocated middle ear bones (ossicles)
Foreign objects obstructing the ear canal
Infections in the ear canal or middle ear that cause fluid buildup
Otosclerosis (irregular bone growth in the middle ear)
Perforated or scarred eardrum
Wax buildup

If you, or a loved one, have experienced any of these types of hearing loss, schedule a free-hearing test and consultation with us at Pure Sound Hearing Aids. We offer a variety of hearing aid solutions for a wide range of hearing loss.

How Those with Hearing Loss can Effectively Communicate with Hospital Care Workers During COVID-19

4/23/2020

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Practical Ways to Communicate

Have you considered how you would talk to doctors, nurses and staff members at the hospital? Your hospital visit, no matter what you are going in for, is going to be very different during this pandemic.

Under ordinary circumstances, hospitals are required to provide services that will guide the hard of hearing to understand what is being said and should ask what services you will need. This may include Video Remote Interpreting (VRI), an in-person sign language interpreter, lip-reading hand-held amplifying devices, written communication, caption devices or CART, or speech-to-text apps.

Due to the influx of patients who are visiting the hospitals, many hospitals have not been able to provide these accommodations. Many hospitals will not allow in-person interpreters, family members, or visitors to enter the building. You might be alone for a long time when you are in the hospital.

The majority of doctors and nurses at the hospitals are wearing face masks and gloves. They may speak to you from behind a window or curtain, so it may be harder to hear them or recognize facial cues.

Each person has a right to how they are cared for. Here’s what you need to know:

Print out a paper or medical card that indicates you are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf and blind, so that the hospital staff knows that they need to communicate with you differently. Here’s a sample of a placard:

I AM DEAF/HARD OF HEARING/DEAFBLIND.
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND YOU WITH YOUR MASK ON.
MY NAME IS ____________________________ .
HERE IS MY IDENTIFICATION CARD / DRIVER’S LICENSE.
PLEASE SPEAK INTO MY SMARTPHONE. I AM USING IT TO UNDERSTAND YOU.
PLEASE RESPECT MY LEGAL RIGHT TO UNDERSTAND YOU AND PARTICIPATE IN MY CARE BY ALLOWING ME TO USE THE SMARTPHONE.
IF MY SMARTPHONE IS NOT WORKING WELL OR AT ALL, PLEASE WRITE DOWN WHAT YOU ARE TELLING ME.

If you use a smartphone, download any apps that you need to communicate with them, and bring your smartphone with you.

Here is a list of free apps:

Video Interpretation

Linguabee is offering free video interpreting for COVID-19 testing

Speech to Text

Ava (allows type back, translates many languages) (iOS, Android)
Google Live Transcribe (allows type back, translates many languages) (Android)
Microsoft Translator (allows type back, translates many languages) (iOS, Android, Windows)
Otter.ai (English only) (iOS, Android)
Webcaptioner (many languages) (universal web page)

Typing Back

Big Note (iOS, Android)
Cardzilla (iOS, Android)
Google Keep (iOS, Android)
Sorenson Buzz Cards (iOS, Android)

Phone Calls

It may be best to have multiple captioned telephone (IP CTS) provider’s apps on your phone, in case there is a situation where your phone service provider experiences technical difficulties. Text-based relay services would be a good option to have if you cannot get a reliable internet connection.

Convo (iOS, Android)
Global (iOS, Android)
Purple (iOS, Android)
Sorenson (iOS, Android)
ZVRS (iOS, Android)

Other text-based options for phone calls

IP Relay (iOS, Android)
Mobile TTY or real-time text (RTT) calling 711 - Telecommunications Relay Service (iOs, some Android)

For the Deaf-blind

In addition to the tools that were previously listed, those who are deaf-blind, here are some apps that can display text in large type.

Apple Notes (built into iOS)
Make it Big (iOS)
Cardzilla (iOS)

Please be aware that data charges may apply to these apps.

Some communication apps function by audio recording what the speakers are saying and transmitting them to internet-based services for translation to text or sign-language. If the recordings have any private, sensitive medical information about the patient, please keep that in mind along with possible impacts it may have on privacy.

The FCC currently restricts the use of IP CTS when all parties to a call are in the same room. Parties must be in separate rooms to use IP CTS. Patients should follow all FCC rules and regulations.

If you, or a loved one, are experiencing hearing loss, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing Aids to schedule a free hearing test and consultation.

Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings, and new hearing aid fittings. If you are having any problems with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.

What Should You Do if You Experience Sudden Hearing Loss?

4/21/2020

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Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Those who have experienced sudden hearing loss described it as hearing a buzzing and an unusually loud noise while feeling dizzy. Hearing can suddenly be lost in one or both ears. This condition is known as sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), or sudden deafness. This is a type of hearing loss that quickly occurs and has no external explanation of its cause.

SSNHL is characterized by inner ear inflammation. It normally affects one ear. This condition may cause tinnitus and vertigo.

According to a clinical practice guideline that was published in August (2019) by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, about 66,000 Americans suffer from SSNHL each year. This condition can begin at any age, but it is frequently diagnosed in adults who are in their late 40s or early 50s.

SSNHL can be a very alarming experience for people. They tend to notice some confusion and an inability to hear. The signs of this problem cause people to be concerned that they may be experiencing a stroke.

Here is what you should know -- and what you should do -- if you experience sudden hearing loss:

Get An Early Diagnosis and Treatment

Many who experience SSNHL will likely blame it on allergies or a respiratory infection that clogged their ears. They may also believe that their hearing will eventually recover on its own.

Within a week or two, approximately half of those with SSNHL will spontaneously get back some of their hearing abilities in the affected ear.

Getting an early diagnosis, and treatment can help beat the odds. It’s best to see a healthcare professional within 24 to 48 hours.

Your healthcare professional will examine you by determining whether or not there is a physical reason for your sudden hearing loss. There may be fluid in your ear, earwax obstructing the ear canal or your eardrum might be punctured. Other possible causes may be due to head trauma, being exposed to specific chemotherapy medications or neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Medical professionals are unable to diagnose the exact cause of SSNHL in about 90 percent of those who are affected.

Studies are still being conducted, but some research recommends that there is a connection with the metabolic system -- a group of conditions including high blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and waist circumference that is bigger than the average size.

Exams and Specialists

If a physical examination does not disclose an obvious reason for sudden hearing loss, you can see a hearing instrument specialist within a few days.

At Pure Sound Hearing Aids, our specialists can conduct a pure-tone audiometry test, which plays a sequence of tones with an audiometer. This hearing tone test will measure the frequencies of tones that you are able to hear.

Throughout the pure-tone audiometry test, you will wear headphones and sit inside a soundproof booth. The specialist will sit outside of the booth, operate the audiometer and document your responses. You will be asked to press a button on a hand-held device each time you hear a tone. The tones will fluctuate in loudness (decibels) and pitch (frequency), in order to analyze the hearing abilities of your inner ear to recognize sound vibrations.

If you, or a loved one, have experienced sudden hearing loss, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing Aids to schedule an appointment and consultation.

Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings and new hearing aid fittings. If you are having any problems with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.

5 Facts that You Need to know about Tinnitus

4/17/2020

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According to the American Centers for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 50 million Americans have experienced tinnitus.

1. Tinnitus Defined

Tinnitus refers to the sensation of hearing sounds in your ear, even if there are no actual external noises. Typically, tinnitus is subjective, which means that the person who has this condition is the only one who can hear the noises. Generally, those who have the condition have characterized the sound as a “ringing in the ears”. Others have explained it as a chirping, buzzing, hissing, roaring, or whistling noise.

Not only do the sounds vary from person to person, but the effects are also unique for each individual. Some have experienced irregular instances, while others have relentless symptoms.

The need for some relief is so great that many will do anything from getting acupuncture, to using eardrops, herbal solutions, hypnosis, etc.

2. Causes of Tinnitus

Experts have not determined the precise cause(s) of tinnitus. There are many sources that are known to trigger or worsen ringing sensations in the ears:

Aging - Natural aging will gradually destroy the cilia. This is one of the main causes of hearing loss. Tinnitus is a frequent syndrome when it comes to age-related hearing loss.

Hearing Conditions - Conditions like Ménière's disease can cause tinnitus.

Health Conditions - There are numerous health conditions that have been linked to tinnitus, including:

Auditory, vestibular or facial nerve tumors
Cardiovascular disease
Fibromyalgia and chronic pain
Head or neck trauma
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Jaw misalignment
Stress and fatigue
Thyroid problems

Loud sounds - Being exposed to loud noises can destroy cilia (small hairs) located in the cochlea. These small hairs cannot regenerate, which causes permanent tinnitus and/or hearing loss. Tinnitus that is noise-induced is the result of exposure to very loud noises from your surroundings, which may include a loud concert, a factory environment, being around heavy machinery, or from gunshots.

Ototoxic medications - Certain prescription medicines like antibiotics, antidepressants, anti-inflammatories, diuretics, etc. can be ototoxic (harmful to the inner ear and the nerve fibers that connect the cochlea and the brain).

3. Is tinnitus curable?

Tinnitus has no known cure. According to the American Tinnitus Association (ATA), there are therapies and treatments available that may help lessen the problems associated with tinnitus.

One of the options is using hearing aids. Hearing health care professionals have noted that 60 percent of patients who suffer from tinnitus have felt a sense of relief when wearing them.

Sound therapy is another alternative to treating tinnitus. Hearing aids can be used effectively during acoustic or sound therapy sessions, making the ringing or buzzing sensations less evident.

4. What to do if You or Someone you know has Symptoms of Tinnitus

Because the precise cause of tinnitus is unknown, it is recommended that you see a professional for a hearing test evaluation. There are specific features that are measured for tinnitus:

Audiogram
Brain stem Evoked Response Audiometry (BERA) is an effective way to evaluate the auditory pathway from peripheral (end-organ) vertigo
Tinnitus pitch match
Tinnitus loudness match

5. How to Relieve Tinnitus

As aforementioned, there’s no cure for tinnitus, but there are hearing aids that can help relieve symptoms.

If you suffer from tinnitus, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing Aids for a free hearing test and consultation for the best options that we have available for you!

Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings and new hearing aid fittings. If you are having any problems with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.

Children with Hearing Loss and the Effect it has on Their Vocabulary

4/16/2020

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Studies on Children with Hearing Loss

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hearing loss can influence the way a child develops language, but getting an early diagnosis and proper treatment for children can help them strengthen these communication skills.

A study was conducted on 448 children, between the ages of 8 to 39 months, who have hearing loss. These children’s vocabulary (spoken or sign language) abilities were compared to a child who was the same age. Children with hearing loss have been recommended to undergo the EHDI 1-3-6 Guidelines.

The EHDI 1-3-6 Guidelines are as followed:

All babies are recommended a hearing screening no later than 1 month of age.
If an infant doesn’t pass their hearing screening, he or she needs to get tested by a hearing specialist as soon as possible. It is recommended that they don’t wait until they are over 3 months old.
Intervention services should be used for children who have been diagnosed with hearing loss, as early as possible and no later than 6 months of age.

Newborns who get a hearing screening for hearing loss within a month, have had successful treatment options. In 2014, 96 percent of American children were screened for hearing loss at no later than one month of age. Slightly over 40 percent of children who participated in the screening, did not meet the crucial steps of having their hearing loss diagnosed by 3 months and starting intervention by 6 months.

The CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities’ objective is to provide all children who have hearing loss with the same opportunities for success as their peers who have normal hearing. The latest studies indicated that children who suffer from hearing loss and get a hearing screening, examination, and intervention services manage to have much better development in vocabulary.

How to Treat Hearing Loss in Children

Treatment suggestions are as unique as each child and the type of hearing loss that they have. Here are some treatments and interventions to choose from:

Get a hearing aid device that is properly fitted and programmed for their individual needs.
Work with a professional, or a team, who can help a child and their family learn about constructive ways to effectively communicate with each other. This could be through sign language.
Join a support group to talk to people who are in the same situation, and get their advice

There is further research that is needed to learn how children who have hearing loss can continue to advance their vocabulary as they get older. A child’s family, pediatric healthcare providers, and hearing specialists each play a part in a child’s hearing assessment journey by getting the child tested as soon as possible, and intervening with the right care.

If you, or a loved one, are in need of hearing aids, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing Aids for a free hearing test and consultation.

Pure Sound will only be open by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings and new hearing aid fittings. If you are having any issues with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before stopping in at one of our offices.

What are the Signs of Hidden Hearing Loss?

4/16/2020

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What You May Want to Observe

There are no universal guides that have been settled upon to diagnose hidden hearing loss, but here are some things that you may notice.

You inaccurately hear what people say.
You need a quiet setting in order to enjoy a conversation with others.
You are easily distracted, especially when there is too much background noise.
You have a strong sense that you have hearing loss, even if you pass a hearing test.

What Happens to Your Brain During Hidden Hearing Loss?

During the process of hearing, cilia (tiny hair cells) located in the inner ear will vibrate and send a signal to the auditory nerve (vestibulocochlear nerve). It is vital that these signals navigate over synapses, which are crucial connections between the nerve cells.

Typical hearing loss occurs when there is damage to the nerve or hair cells. Hidden hearing loss usually emerges due to the loss of synapses between the cilia and the vestibulocochlear nerve. As a result, the noise that is signaled will be incomplete. This is what causes those with hidden hearing loss to miss information that is necessary to decipher language.

A 2009 study that was conducted on mice, showed that loud noises could damage synapses. The mice were exposed to 100-decibels of noise - approximately the same level of sound from a lawnmower - for two hours. The researchers found that the mice’s hair cells were still in tact, but half of their synapses were permanently destroyed.

Individuals who have lost their synapses might be able to hear a beeping noise during their hearing test, even if it is at a reduced volume that would confuse someone who has cell or nerve damage.

Causes of Hidden Hearing Loss

The combination of excessive noise and aging tend to worsen hidden hearing loss. The majority of researchers have found that extensive exposure to low noise levels might induce hidden hearing loss. It is generally agreed upon that aging exposes this issue. Some synapses are lost as we age.

Another cause may be complications with cells that produce myelin (a substance which insulates the brain cells in your ears). Some autoimmune disorders such as Guillain-Barré syndrome - associated with food poisoning, the flu, hepatitis, and the Zika virus - attack myelin.

Hidden hearing loss is sometimes undiagnosed and gets mistaken for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or central auditory processing disorder. Central auditory processing disorder is usually diagnosed in children and occurs in a different level of the brain.

Living with Hidden Hearing Loss

In some cases, a person with hidden hearing loss may stand or sit with a small group of people while there are several others around, and not be able to hear the people right next to them. After moving into a different room, with only a few people, this person may still need to move closer in order to hear others. Whispers can be heard in quiet spaces, but comprehending speech in noisy surroundings can be difficult.

Results from a hearing test can show normal ranges, and no treatment would be given.

Treating Hidden Hearing Loss

If you have slight or mild hearing loss, you may find hearing aids that feature a “speech in noise” program to be beneficial. These hearing aids use directional microphones to harness the sounds emanating in front of you and diminish the sounds on your sides or behind you. There is also the option of placing a microphone close to the signal that you are trying to hear, and wearing a Bluetooth receiver or hearing aid.

Please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing Aids for a free hearing test and consultation. We have experienced hearing instrument specialists who will work with you until you feel comfortable with your hearing aid devices.

Pure Sound will only be open by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings and new hearing aid fittings. If you are having any issues with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before stopping in at one of our office locations.

Have You been Diagnosed with Congenital Hearing Loss?

4/16/2020

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Causes of Congenital Hearing Loss

Hearing loss that is present at birth, is known as congenital hearing loss. It may include hereditary hearing loss or hearing loss caused by other influences in utero. Some of the known causes include:

Birth injuries
Drug and alcohol usage while pregnant
Genetics
High blood pressure in the mother while pregnant, known as preeclampsia
Infections
Jaundice and Rh factor problems
Lack of oxygen, known as anoxia
Low birthweight
Maternal diabetes
Premature birth

Genetic influences are the cause of more than 50% of SNHL. The other 50% is caused by environmental influences.

Here are some statistics on hearing loss:

In the U.S., the pervasiveness of permanent hearing loss in children is 1.2 to 1.7 per 1000 live births.
About 20-30% of children who suffer from congenital SNHL have profound hearing loss.
Congenital hearing loss may adversely affect one’s educational achievements, employment opportunities, income, how they use the healthcare system, and their life expectancy.
Having universal newborn hearing screening programs has enhanced early detection of congenital hearing loss. This benefits everyone from the children who have hearing loss, to their family and the general public in regards to public health costs.
Early detection of hearing loss in children is very important, in order to get treatment and support for the child’s development in learning. Early identification improves speech and language acquisition while lowering the future costs of SNHL.
Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is the most prevalent type of sensory loss across the globe.

Severities of Hearing Loss

Normal hearing < 20 dB
Mild 20-40 dB
Moderate 41-55 dB
Moderately Severe 56-70 dB
Severe 71-90 dB
Profound > 90 dB

Hearing Loss Frequencies

Low frequency < 500 Hz
Middle frequency 501-2000 Hz
High frequency > 2000 Hz

The Genetic Factors of SNHL

About ⅔ of genetic SNHL are non-syndromic, where hearing loss is the only symptom. The remaining ⅓ are syndromic forms in which hearing loss separates with other phenotypes. Examples of syndromic SNHL are Branchio-Oto-Renal syndrome, Crouzon syndrome, Down syndrome, Pendered syndrome, Treacher Collins syndrome, Usher syndrome, Vohwinkel syndrome, and Waardenburg syndrome.
About 80% of cases regarding congenital non-syndromic SNHL cases have an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance. Approximately 15% are autosomal dominant. The x-linked and mitochondrial inheritance make up less than 1% of cases.
The typical form of syndromic hereditary SNHL is Pendered syndrome. The main demographic of those affected, are children with mutations in a gene known as SLC26A4 on chromosome 7q31.
Mutations in more than 100 different genes could cause hearing loss, mutations in a single gene and make up for ½ of autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss in several countries.
Genetic testing is more readily available for a growing number of genes that are related to hereditary hearing loss.

The Environmental Factors of SNHL

Widespread causes of SNHL in infants are categorized as TORCH infections (toxoplasmosis, others, rubella, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), HSV).
The root cause can be separated as acquired infections and congenital infections.
Congenital infections: CMV, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, rubella virus, Toxoplasma gondii, and Treponema pallidum.
Acquired infections: Borrelia burgdorferi, Epstein-Barr virus, Haemophilus influenza, Lassa virus, measles virus, mumps virus, Neisseria meningitidis, non-polio enteroviruses, Plasmodium falciparum, Streptococcus pneumonia, and varicella zoster virus.
Additional environmental factors: ototoxic medications, noise, prematurity, asphyxiation/anoxia, sepsis, craniofacial anomalies, low birth weight, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Treatment

The current treatment options for children who suffer from hearing loss are the use of hearing aids.
Eventually, there will be gene-based therapies that will hone in on further treatment options for those who have hereditary hearing loss.

A baby’s hearing will be tested at the hospital.

Pure Sound will only be open by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings and new hearing aid fittings. If you are having any issues with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before stopping in at one of our offices.

Select Proper Hearing Protection

4/16/2020

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Advice on How to Protect Your Hearing Health

Exposure to dangerously loud repetitions can result in permanent hearing loss, tinnitus, and difficulty with comprehending speech when there is background noise. Take precautions by reducing the chances of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).

Cut down on your exposure time and volume by simply removing yourself from the source of the sound.
Protect your hearing health by using earmuffs, earplugs made of foam, or performed ear plugs.
Recognize when you are being exposed to noise that is too loud. The human sound threshold is 85 dBA or more. Use a sound measuring app on your smartphone to find out what the sound levels are. If you need to yell in order to be heard by someone who is within an arm’s length away from you, that means the venue is too loud.

Hearing protection is labeled with a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR). NRR is measured in a laboratory and the vast majority of individuals receive much less noise reduction than the NRR indicates. Overall, hazardous sounds need 5 or 10 dB of noise reduction to be considered safe. Just about any properly fitted, hearing protection may provide 10 dB of protection. In order to determine if your hearing protection is properly fit, listen for a shift in how you can hear your own voice. If your voice sounds fuller, deeper, or more hollow, you probably have a correct fit.

If you are exposed to sounds that reach at least 100 dBA or more (for example from a jackhammer) or a sudden loud noise (from a nail gun or firearm), it is recommended that you wear twice as much hearing protection (such as wearing earmuffs over your earplugs).

Take Your Listening Environment into Consideration

Think about whether you need to wear eyeglasses, sunglasses, or any other type of eye protection. Maybe you need to wear a hat, helmet, or another type of head protection. These accessories may interfere with how a pair of earmuffs are sealed. Earmuffs may feel uncomfortable in humid climates; the cushions on earmuffs may not be completely sealed off in colder environments.

Earplugs can be an alternative option. If your hands are bound to get dirty, do not use foam earplugs (these need to be rolled smaller with your fingers prior to inserting them into your ear canals).

Think about what type of noises you are hearing. Are the sounds continuous or intermittent? Earmuffs and pre-formed earplugs can be easily removed and frequently replaced than foam plugs. Having corded earplugs are convenient if you don’t have pockets or a purse. If you are listening to music or need to talk to others while wearing your ear protection, you can use flat attenuation earplugs or earmuffs (or musician’s earplugs) in order to preserve sound consistency. Maybe you’ll be in a quiet setting, but there will be spontaneous eruptions of sound, like fireworks. Level-dependent, or sound restoration, hearing protectors let sounds permeate through when it’s quiet and become a safeguard for your hearing when noises get loud.

Take Comfort and Convenience into Consideration

Sort out which type of hearing protection is suitable, based on your noise exposure and how you intend to use them. It’s important to keep in mind that the hearing protection will only work if you wear them consistently and properly each time you are prone to dangerous noise levels. Select protection that benefits your needs and feels comfortable.

Pure Sound will only be open by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings and new hearing aid fittings.

What causes Clogged Ears and Muffled Hearing? How can it be Treated?

4/16/2020

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Muffled noises can sound and feel as though there are cotton balls in your ears. It's a similar feeling to the pressure that is felt when reaching a high altitude while flying in an airplane. There isn't a total inability to hear, but you may struggle to hear clearly.

The phenomenon of muffled hearing develops when sound waves have difficulty transferring through the inner ear. Different circumstances can cause an obstruction in the ear. Some cases are insignificant and can be resolved immediately, but other instances need immediate medical attention in order to prevent further hearing loss.

Signs of muffled hearing

Experiencing muffled hearing is not only identified by the sensation of having cotton balls in your ears. Here are some other symptoms:

Discharge from the ear
Feelings of fullness in the ear
Pain in the ear
Tinnitus

Causes of muffled hearing in one ear

The symptom of muffled hearing can be caused by multiple conditions. Some of these include:

Buildup of earwax

Earwax stops dirt and debris from getting into the ear canal. It's also a natural lubricant for the ears. Occasionally, earwax can build up and be impacted in one or both ears. Earwax that builds up and obstructs the ear canal can be a small problem, but excessive buildup can cause muffled hearing.

Other problems that may arise due to earwax build-up include earaches, too much pressure, and tinnitus.

Presbycusis

This type of hearing loss is caused by aging and those who experience it are unable to hear high-pitched sounds. Those who suffer from this type of hearing loss may have difficulty hearing a phone ring.

Other signs of presbycusis include difficulty hearing while there is background noise, tinnitus, and struggling to hear women or small children's voices.

Middle ear infection

Bacterial or viral infections develop when fluid builds up in the middle ear due to swelling or inflammation in the eustachian tube. This tube siphons the liquid from the middle ear.

There are some middle ear infections that are moderate and tend to clear out on their own. Other middle ear infections may cause pain in your ears, ear drainage, or hearing loss if left untreated.

Symptoms of an ear infection in children include tugging at the ear, crying more than usual, a loss of appetite, and fever.

Common cold

The common cold may induce muffled hearing from congestion blocking the Eustachian tube. Colds are generally innocuous. A clogged ear will clear up as soon as the congestion clears up.

Hay fever

Symptoms of hay fever are similar to symptoms of cold and sinus infections. Allergies can cause congestion in the ear, which can trigger a mild muffled hearing.

Airplane ear

Airplane ear is caused by an imbalance of air pressure in the middle ear, and the air pressure in your surroundings. This tends to occur in an airplane, elevator, or while going up a tall mountain.

You may experience ear pain, bleeding from the affected ear, or vertigo. Normally, this is not considered a serious condition, but it can lead to persistent tinnitus or hearing loss.

Noise-induced hearing loss

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) occurs when there is damage to your auditory nerve. You may experience mild, severe, temporary, or permanent hearing loss. It only takes a one-time, brief exposure to loud noise to cause NIHL, or repeated exposure thereafter.

Blockage in the ear

In addition to earwax, any foreign object in the ear canal can cause muffled hearing. This could include an insect, water, or any small object. This is a common culprit for children.

If there is a foreign object obstructing your ear, seek immediate medical attention to avoid further damage to the ear. These types of blockage may cause pain, feelings of fullness in the ears, and hearing loss.

Medications

Some types of medication can adversely affect the nerve cells in your inner ears. These include:

Antibiotics
Anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin and ibuprofen)
Chemotherapy drugs
Loop diuretics

Other symptoms of medically induced hearing loss include fullness in the ear, tinnitus, and vertigo.

Perforated eardrum

A perforated eardrum is also known as a ruptured eardrum. This is also another cause of muffled hearing. It happens when a hole or tear forms in the tissue, which separates the middle ear from the ear canal.

A ruptured eardrum normally doesn't require urgent attention and can heal on its own. Other symptoms may include:

Pain in the ear
Blood drainage from the ear
Nausea
Tinnitus
Vertigo

Tumor

If you are experiencing hearing muffled sounds, it could be a sign of a tumor. Acoustic neuroma is a benign growth that forms on the main nerve that leads from the inner ear to the brain. Other signs are losing your balance, facial numbness, tinnitus, or vertigo.

A lump on your neck can be a symptom of nasopharyngeal cancer. This type of cancer grows in the upper part of your throat and may cause muffled hearing, tinnitus, and pain in your ear.

Meniere's disease

This disease occurs in the inner ear. Symptoms include muffled hearing, pain in the ear, tinnitus, vertigo.

It is not known as to what causes Meniere's disease. Some speculate that it could be linked to abnormal fluid in the inner ear. There's no cure for it, but symptoms might improve or go away with time.

Brain injury or trauma to the head

Serious injury to the brain or head trauma can damage bones in the middle ear or nerves located in the inner ear. This can occur due to a serious fall or impact to the head.

Treating muffled hearing

Remove anything that is blocking your hearing.

If earwax is obstructing your ear canals, you may use an earwax removal kit which will soften and flush out the wax.

Do not use a Q-Tip. That could push whatever is obstructing your ear further into your ear.

Hearing aids

In some instances, the muffled hearing won't improve. This might happen with Meniere's disease, age-related hearing loss, NIHL, or hearing loss caused by trauma or medication.

If your hearing loss is permanent, hearing aids may help to amplify sounds.

Pure Sound will only be open by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings and new hearing aid fittings.

The Experience of Hearing Loss

4/16/2020

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Hearing loss is complicated. It is especially difficult to understand the full details of it if you’ve never had the experience.

Having Hearing Loss is Similar to playing Wheel of Fortune

Think about the show Wheel of Fortune. Some of the letters are shown, while the others are blank. This is how someone with hearing loss hears other people. Using a mix of fragmented sounds, facial cues, lipreading cues, and what they already know about the topic at hand to construct words and phrases that would match the context of the discussion. This requires a lot of energy from your brain and can lead to fatigue.

Hearing Loss is Not a Secondary Problem

Hearing is a very active method that requires a lot of focus and effort. It’s not a trivial process that’s done while doing something else. Hearing is the main pursuit. This is why it’s vital to get the attention of someone who has hearing loss before communicating with them.

Wearing Hearing Aids is Not Like Wearing Eyeglasses

When you wear hearing aids, your hearing won’t go back to the way it was before. Hearing aids and eyeglasses do not function the same way. Eyeglasses make blurry images sharper and clearer. Hearing aids can make noises louder, but not always crisper. Sounds may still be muffled or unclear.

Seeing is Hearing

For those with hearing loss, it takes visual and auditory cues in order to communicate with others. It’s important to take lipreading, other people’s body language, and facial expressions into consideration so that sounds will make more sense. Make sure to stand or sit face to face with someone when you are communicating with them. Here are some additional tips to use.

Using Visuals

Having visual elements as references can be extremely helpful, particularly when a presentation is being given in a learning environment.

Using written phrases, images, and videos with captions is a great tool to use in order to inform others about the topic that is being discussed.

Pure Sound will only be open by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings and new hearing aid fittings.

What Sounds would You Miss Because of Your Hearing Loss?

4/14/2020

There is a wide range of hearing loss. Each degree comes with more difficulty or loss of particular sounds. Hearing levels are categorized as normal, mild, moderate, severe and profound. Being unable to hear sounds often leads to isolation, frustration, and depression.

Here’s a list of six sounds that you might miss:

Someone telling a joke and laughter.
The voice of your loved ones.
Feeling included in conversations during social situations.
The sound of your favorite music.
The voice-over in an audiobook reading of your favorite novel.
The sounds of nature (birds chirping, water flowing, etc.)

Here’s a list of sound levels, and examples of noises associated with them:

Normal (up to 25dB of hearing loss in adults, 15dB of hearing loss in children)

You have the ability to hear speech clearly in quiet or calm environments.

Birds chirping
The wind blowing around leaves
Water droplets
Whispering

Mild (between 26-40dB of hearing loss in adults)

You have difficulty with speech and sounds in busy or reverberating surroundings, but you are able to hear clearly in quiet environments.

A babbling brook
Fans blowing
A watch ticking
The sounds of f, l, m, ng, s th, and v.

Moderate (between 41-70dB of hearing loss in adults)

You have difficulty comprehending speech, notably when there is background noise and if you need to raise the volume on your computer, phone, radio and TV.

A baby crying
A conversation with someone
Typical office sounds
The sounds of a, b, d, g, h, i, j, k, o, p, r, u, z, ch, and sh.

Severe (between 71-90dB of hearing loss in adults)

Ordinary speech cannot be heard at all or it’s muffled, even when it’s spoken loudly and it is difficult to distinguish speech. You can comprehend speech using some form of amplifier or hearing aid, but it still doesn’t sound normal.

Alarm clock
Coffee grinder
Doorbell
A Phone ringing
Piano music
Sounds from a computer or TV
Whistling teakettle

Profound (91dB or more in adults)

Distinguishing speech is still challenging even with an amplifier or cannot be heard at all.

Aircrafts
Emergency vehicle sirens
Fireworks
Gunfire
A squeaky toy that is held near the ear

Pure Sound will only be open by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings, and new hearing aid fittings.

How to Remove Water from Your Ears

4/14/2020

Coronavirus_pandemic

Have you ever had water trapped in your ear after a swim, or a shower? Signs of having water trapped in your ear include a sensation of fullness in the ear canal and feeling water shaking around in your ear. This can occur in one or each ear.

If the water does not discharge on its own, this might cause otitis externa - an ear infection that is also called swimmer’s ear.

Why does water get trapped in your ears?

Water can stay in your ears for reasons such as a narrow ear canal or because it is trapped by excessive earwax or other foreign matter.

Who does this usually affect?

Adults and children who frequently spend time in the water are at the highest risk. Getting water trapped in your ears may occur whenever you submerge under water. In some instances, turning yourself upside down when doing a flip or handstand, could cause water to enter your ears.

Are there any risks to having water trapped in your ears?

In some cases, there are risks to having water stuck in your ears. Your ears excrete a waxy, water resistant substance known as cerumen (earwax). Typically, water will trickle out of the ear on its own. If it does not, bacteria can grow causing swimmer’s ear.

Bacteria thrive in environments that are humid, wet, where there are abrasions or scratches inside the ear canal, or due to allergic reactions and skin conditions.

The first signs of swimmer’s ear could be mild, and they include:

Clear, odorless fluids draining from the ear
Feelings of mild discomfort
Itching and redness inside your ear canal

Get in touch with a medical professional if you experience any of these symptoms.

Tips to prevent water from entering your ears

You can wear over-the-counter earplugs, or discuss purchasing a pair of earplugs that are designed to be used in the water with your hearing instrument specialist. These earplugs may cost more than your average foam ear plugs that you can buy at the drugstore, but they can be customized for your ears. They are also washable and reusable.

Tips to remove water from your ears

If you do get water in your ears, do not place anything inside your ear canal with the intention of draining the liquid out. Using a cotton swab, your finger or any other foreign object into your ear might push whatever is blocking your ears deeper into the canal, puncturing your eardrum. This may also scratch off any waxy layers that protect your ears, which can cause bacteria or an infection to grow.

Here’s what you should do instead:

Tilt your head towards the ear that is affected, and gently tug your earlobe.
Take a few minutes to lie down on your side with your affected ear resting on a soft, cotton towel.
Cup the palm of your hand over your ear, sealing it. Lean your head towards the ground while gently pushing and releasing your palm back and forth to create suction.
Move your jaw. You can chew gum or yawn. As you do this, tilt your ear that is affected toward the ground.
Inhale, pinch your nose with your fingers, close your mouth and gently exhale to open your Eustachian tubes.
Use heat. Place a warm compress on the affected ear or blow warm air from a hair dryer (on the lowest setting) into the ear canal.
Use hydrogen peroxide ear drops, available at most drug stores. *This should only be done if you do NOT have an ear infection, a perforated eardrum, or eardrum tubes (where a small tube is inserted into the eardrum in order to aerate the middle ear for an extended period of time, and prevent the build up of fluid in the middle ear.

Pure Sound will only be open by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings, and new hearing aid fittings.