Wednesday 24 June 2015

New Apple Watch That Controls Your Hearing Aids


For today's blog post i wanted to let you all know a little more about the latest hearing aid technology with instruments that can be controlled by the new Apple Watch.

The aids are manufactured by ReSound, which has developed the first app that allows hearing aid wearers to control their instrument from their new Apple Watch. This is the latest in Smart Hearing – with the most discrete control available anywhere.

This free app allows control of volume, treble and bass levels, pre-programmed settings for different places (local restaurant, cafĂ©, sports stadium, office, home) and view of the setting selected – right from their wrist. The app is called ReSound Smart™ and is available now from the App Store.

This development in hearing aid technology, connectivity and control follows swiftly on from the launch last year by ReSound of the world’s first made for iPhone hearing aid – ReSound LiNX.

ReSound calls this combination of audiology, connectivity, design and apps ‘Smart Hearing’. It delivers hearing aid wearers the most advanced and natural hearing experience.

Interested users can get immediate access to the ReSound Smart app for Apple Watch by visiting the App Store and downloading the latest version of the ReSound Smart app (3.0.1).

More information about ReSound’s portfolio of smart hearing aids can be accessed by visiting www.resound.com.

 
‘Molly Watts, a young woman with Ushers Syndrome explores some of the real world benefits of the Watch when paired with Smart Hearing aids. It’s a fascinating and moving account by an inspiring young woman and well worth a read.’

Friday 12 June 2015

Air Travel and Ear Pain


With the summer holiday season fast approaching, more and more of us will be jetting off to far flung destinations around the world. Whilst traveling by plane many of us will experience issues with our ears due to pressure.  In rare cases these problems can lead to severe pain and hearing loss, so it is best to take precautions, before, during and after a flight. 


As an Audiologist, I thought it would be good to explain what happens to our ears when we fly…

It really comes down to air pressure. Normally the air pressure inside the inner ear and the air pressure outside are essentially the same, or at least not different enough to cause any trouble. Even if you were to hike to the top of a tall mountain, the slow speed of your ascent would allow time for the pressure to equalise along the way. A problem only occurs when the change in altitude is so rapid that the pressure inside the inner ear and the air pressure outside don’t have time to equalise, as occurs in air travel. 

When your flight takes off, and begins its ascent, the air pressure inside the inner ear quickly surpasses that of the pressure outside. The eardrum swells outward. Picture a loaf of bread baking, and you get the idea. Conversely if air pressure inside the inner ear rapidly becomes less than the air pressure outside, the tympanic membrane (the eardrum) will be sucked inward, almost like a vacuum effect. What has happened is that the Eustachian tube (which links our ears with our throat) has flattened and needs a bit of extra help from you in order to continue to do its job of bringing air into the inner ear. Whether ascending or descending, that stretching not only causes the eardrum not to vibrate (thus the muffled sounds) but also causes the pain you feel. 

Everyone who has flown in a plane has felt the effects of a change in altitude on ears; a feeling of fullness and popping is commonplace. You need to equalise the pressure by introducing as much air as possible via the Eustachian tube and there are a number of ways to do that. 

The easiest way to equalise the pressure is to swallow. When you swallow, that clicking or popping sound you may hear is actually a tiny bubble of air that has moved from the back of the nose into the middle ear, via the Eustachian tube. The Eustachian tube ensures that the air in the middle ear is constantly being re-supplied. That air is then absorbed into the membranes of the inner ear, and the cycle starts over again. This constant cycle of air ensures that the air pressure on both sides stays equal. When you fly, the trick is to ensure that the Eustachian tubes work overtime and open more frequently to accommodate the change in air pressure. 

Chewing gum or sucking on a hard boiled sweet will help; for infants, whose Eustachian tubes are much narrower than an adult’s, the change in air pressure can be even more excruciating, so a bottle or dummy is recommended to increase swallowing. 

Other ways of equalising the pressure include:
  • Avoid sleeping during ascent or descent
  • Drink lots of fluids in-flight to stay hydrated
  • Yawn
  • EarPlanes: Specially designed ear plugs that have a filter to equalise pressure
  • Nasal spray: Take only when needed as overuse of nasal sprays can end up causing more congestion

Karen Finch is the Managing Director and lead audiologist at The Hearing Care Centre.
The multi-award winning, family-run company has 20 centres across Suffolk and Norfolk.
For more information visit
www.hearingcarecentre.co.uk or call 01473 230330.

Monday 1 June 2015

Osteoporosis and Hearing Loss: What’s the Connection?


Evidence is emerging that suggests a link between osteoporosis and sudden hearing loss, with a new study showing that SSNL (sudden sensorineural hearing loss) is almost twice as common among people with osteoporosis. 

SSNL is a sudden, unexplained loss of hearing that typically happens in one ear. It can happen all at once or over the course of a few days. 
 
Osteoporosis, which means ‘porous bones’, happens when bones lose density and mass at a rate of 3-4% per year. Small-boned women of European and Asian heritage past the age of menopause are particularly vulnerable, although men can have osteoporosis too.  When bones become brittle because of osteoporosis, they break very easily. A simple fall, bending over or even coughing can be enough to break a bone if a person suffers from osteoporosis. 
 
It’s not immediately clear why SSNL is more common among people with osteoporosis, but a recent study conducted in Taiwan found a 1.76-fold increase in the incidence of SSNL for patients with osteoporosis compared to a control group. And patients with more severe osteoporosis appeared to have a higher risk of hearing loss than those with milder osteoporosis.
 
It is difficult to say by there is a link between sudden hearing loss and osteoporosis however inflammation, bone demineralisation, and cardiovascular risk factors may all be contributing factors.
 
If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis please do ensure that you book to have a hearing assessment. At least this way we can obtain a bench mark set of results for us to compare to over time. This takes no more than 30 minutes and provides us with a large amount of relevant information to assist in advising an action plan. In fact lots of my work is about educating the people of Suffolk and Norfolk to take proactive steps with their hearing!
 
It is worth noting that around 85% of the people who are treated for SSRL recover at least some of their hearing, but early treatment is key, as urgent medical treatment for SSRL is vital.
 
Make sure you keep your hearing ability high on your agenda in the same way you do your eyes and your teeth, regular checks are necessary for all ages.