I recently came across a story by Alan Felman, a 30 year old writer for Medical News Today. I want to share it with you because it expresses so many of the emotions and behaviors I felt and exhibited before getting my hearing aids…and after.
“The big kicker with gradual-onset hearing loss is that you are not aware of how it’s changing you until the physical symptoms have become moderate to severe,” said Adam.
Hearing ability diminishes so slowly that you don’t realize that one day the sound of the turn signal disappeared. You no longer hear the key in the lock or the footsteps behind you. The “sounds of life” that keep us in touch with our environment, that soothe, reassure, and alert us, are gone.
Then there are the misunderstandings, mistakes, embarrassment. Your hearing is crucial for understanding the world around you. When your ability to hear and understand the spoken word diminishes, so too does your enjoyment of the things you love doing, the people you love being with and your ability to achieve closeness and bond with others. It is a frustrating and isolating feeling to be with those whom you hold dear only to feel left out because you do not understand the conversation and cannot participate in sharing.
Adam writes, “Communication is a huge part of navigating every stage of your life. If any element of communication is lacking, it can have a significant impact on the way our personality develops, and the methods you use to connect with the outside world.”
Even though your friends are probably understanding, and although subtitles exist to significantly improve the viewing experience for people who cannot hear as well as others, it can still be hard to ignore the underlying feeling of being ‘different’ and stigmatized.
“I developed subtle, invisible coping mechanisms to anchor my social interactions. For example, I cycle between a set of 10-15 stock phrases that I wheel out based on the tone of voice and the context.”
“Absolutely!”
“100 percent!”
“I can fully understand that!”
“Tell me about it!”
None of these seems out of place in a conversation. However, once they become a substitute for genuine responses and coherent conversational flow, they develop into a cornerstone of shame and awkwardness in daily encounters. Especially when they are the wrong response.
Socializing becomes too much of a risk. Every pang of guilt or embarrassment after saying “what?” or “huh?” might lead to another night when you don’t risk going out to socialize. You end up distancing softly spoken colleagues, friends, and even family members, simply because the effort it takes to process their speech can become draining.
“I have a lot to learn about life with hearing aids, but my first lesson was that no one close to me sees it as a negative life event. Everyone has been congratulating me as if I’ve just become a parent for the first time. I’ve realized that however self-conscious you might feel about wearing hearing aids, people only see it as a connection with the world, and this is huge.”
Adam’s hearing aids gave him back the intimate details of life: easily hearing and understanding those around him and whispering a joke to a friend helped him close the gap that hearing loss drives between individuals. Our need to socialize with others is innately human.
Adam says his new hearing aids are discreet, nearly invisible, yet powerful. Sometimes, to his underused ears, things sound a little too powerful. A packet of chips opening across the room, wheels of the stroller on the balcony above, even the “cacophony during bathroom breaks sounds like a National Geographic documentary.”
“There are unexpected changes, too. My experience of food has completely altered — the additional frequencies and sounds add a lightness of bite and extra crunch that I was previously unaware of.”
“My hearing no longer feels impaired — that is, until I remove the hearing aids. Those few moments in the day without them, such as going to the gym or grabbing a shower, are now pretty draining by comparison.
“I have a lot to learn about life with hearing aids, but my first lesson was that no one close to me sees it as a negative life event. Everyone has been congratulating me as if I’ve just become a parent for the first time. I’ve realized that however self-conscious you might feel about wearing hearing aids, people only see it as a connection with the world, and this is huge.”
Most hearing aid users know that their hearing health, treatment, and their hearing aids are crucial. In fact, they probably see their doctor of Audiology more often than any other health care provider. They understand that their hearing capacity and their ability to understand and process speech is critical for effective communication and enjoyment.
First time hearing aid wearers do not realize that hearing aids can require multiple adjustments to obtain the best settings and the right sound for them. Custom hearing aids, especially the tiny, invisible ones, are often re-made several times for fit and comfort. Hearing aids require maintenance, regular cleaning and sometimes repairs. Hearing aids reside in a wax- filled, sweaty, oily and moist environment all day and expected to perform optimally all the time.
Hearing levels, processing ability, and prescriptions change. Yearly monitoring, reprogramming, and fine- tuning of your hearing aids are critical to your ability to communicate.
You are not “done” after you get your hearing aids. Just like with your internist, dentist, and ophthalmologist, your hearing care is ongoing and forever.
BENEFITS vs. DISCOUNTS
- Benefit (definition) – An advantage or profit gained. A payment or gift.
- Discount (definition) – A deduction from the usual cost of something.
“Benefits are far more reliable than perks or discounts and cover more basic needs. Perks are like bonuses that companies offer to make their offer seem better than the competition.”
Many insurance Companies and Medicare supplement policies lure new members by offering “hearing aid benefits.”
Are they really offering you a “benefit?” NO! The insurance Company is actually offering a perk that doesn’t cost them a penny. You, the member, get a discount on hearing aids if you call the 800-number to a 3rd party broker. The 3rd party broker rakes in a fortune from the referrals.
PROS AND CONS OF BUYING YOUR HEARING AIDS FROM A BROKER
PROS
- You get a discount on the purchase of your hearing aids.
- You can sometimes get them from your provider of choice.
- You can save money upfront on the purchase of your hearing aids.
CONS
- You are not purchasing your hearing aids or hearing treatment from your provider.
- The broker pays your provider a set fee for your initial consultation, delivery and fitting your hearing aids, and one or two follow up visits, even one year.
- Restrictions and limitations – Number of visits or specified time are included in your purchase. Thereafter, you pay the provider every time you walk in the door for an office visit. Every 6-month cleaning, annual monitoring, in-office repair, fed-ex shipping and handling to the manufacturer, adjustment, reprogramming, and fine-tuning.
- All of the restrictions and limitations are included with your hearing aid purchase from your provider. One or two re-programming charges alone may exceed your initial savings.
PROS AND CONS OF BUYING YOUR HEARING AIDS FROM A BROKER
Your insurance policy or supplement may have an agreement with any one of the numbers of 3rd party brokers of hearing aids. They all have different prices and limitations in the fine print.
We know them all. Before calling the 800 number and saying “yes,” call us and let us help you on your journey to better hearing.
Click here to schedule an appointment.
Falls and Balance
Dizziness and balance problems increase significantly with age. Over 70% of those over age 65 seek treatment and one third of everyone over 65 will fall. (Center for Disease Control). Falls are the leading cause of death over age 65.
THE LINK
A recent study done by Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the National Institute on Aging found that hearing loss significantly increase the risk of falling. The news could have far-reaching implications when it comes to preventing falls and maintaining independent lives.
There are several reasons why a decrease in hearing increases balance problems and the risk of falling. Hearing loss decreases awareness of of people, pets or other sounds in the environment. Spatial awareness, i.e. where the body is positioned in relation to other people and objects around it, and is crucial for maintaining gait and balance. In addition, many researchers point to cognitive overload as a hindrance to balance
Research as to whether hearing aids helped maintain balance were resoundingly conclusive – the results were overwhelmingly YES. Sound information alone, coming through the hearing aids, plays a large role in maintaining balance.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Get a baseline hearing test now. Make a list of your current medications. Report any balance, dizziness or vertigo issues and symptoms to your audiologist. Physical therapy, balance training and exercises are effective in treating 85% of all balance and dizziness problems. If you have any balance, hearing or clarity problems, seek treatment immediately.
Dr. Ronna Fisher, Au.D.
Founder & President
Hearing Health Center, Inc.
Hearing loss is the most common chronic condition associated with depression in people 60 years or older (JAMA Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. 2017), particularly in women. The National Council on Aging found that wearing hearing aids helps prevent social isolation and depression. Most impressive is the study published in the Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics showing a marked improvement in emotional, social and cognitive conditions after wearing hearing aids for just three months.
Individuals with hearing loss show a 40% accelerated rate of cognitive decline (Frank Lin, MD., Ph.D., Johns Hopkins). With significant to profound the hearing loss, there is a greater the likelihood of developing a cognitive disorder and the steeper decline in mental function. Even those with a very mild hearing loss (even before the hearing loss becomes noticeable), these individuals show accelerated rates of gray matter shrinkage in the brain.
THE LINK
“Belongingness” is a basic and innate human emotional need. According to Roy Baumeister and Mark Leary, all human beings need a certain minimnum quantiy of regular, satisfying interactions. Inability to meet this need results in loneliness and mental distress. The desire to form and maintain social bonds is among the most powerful human motives. Without social bonds, the ability to self-regulate suffers. (Baumesiter, R. F., DeWall, C. N., Ciarocco, N. J., & Twenge, J.M. (2005), Social exclusion impairs self-regulation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, (88)4, 589.)
Humans have a profound need to connect with others and gain acceptance into social groups. When relationships deteriorate or when social bonds are broken, depression may set in. The world over, in every country, culture and religion, people are most happy when they are with those they care about and love. It is a frustrating and isolating feeling to be with those who you hold dear only to feel left out because you do not understand the conversations and cannot participate in sharing. According to Steger, M. F., & Kashdan, (T. B. 2009) people who are depressed often feel unable to satisfy their need for belonging, leading to having fewer intimate relationships. They also induce negative feelings and reactions in others, which consequently elicits rejections. The effects of rejection are more potent than the effects of acceptance because rejection causes emotional hurt and pain (Buckley, Winkel and Leary).
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Get a baseline hearing test and brain processing evaluation now. If you have any hearing or processing difficulties, seek immediate treatment.
Dr. Ronna Fisher, Au.D.
Founder & President
Hearing Health Center, Inc.
Dementia and Your Ears
You do not hear with your ears. Your ears are merely an appendage to collect sound and direct it to your brain where the sound is processed, sorted, filtered and deciphered so you are able to understand the world around you. As processing, sorting and filtering becomes increasingly more difficult, your ability to understand is negatively correlated as comprehension decreases.
Individuals with hearing loss show a 40% accelerated rate of cognitive decline (Frank Lin, MD., Ph.D., Johns Hopkins). With significant to profound the hearing loss, there is a greater the likelihood of developing a cognitive disorder and the steeper decline in mental function. Even those with a very mild hearing loss (even before the hearing loss becomes noticeable), these individuals show accelerated rates of gray matter shrinkage in the brain.
Johnathan Pelle at the University of Pennsylvania state, “As hearing ability declines, hearing aids should be seriously considered not only to improve hearing, but to preserve the brain.” (Science Daily) The Lancet, in 2017, published the findings of a study conducted by twenty-four international researchers who identified nine risk factors for dementia. Hearing loss is the highest contributing factor for developing dementia.
THE LINK
Lack of regular social interactions leads to mental stagnation and deterioration. It takes a great deal of extra effort and concentrated listening for those with hearing loss to comprehend what is happening around them.
This creates a significant strain on the brain (cognitive overload) and interferes with normal cognitive function. In addition, hearing loss causes individuals to withdraw socially as it becomes a burden and a barrier to meaningful connection to friends and family.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Get a baseline hearing test and brain processing evaluation now. If you have any problems hearing or understanding those in your life, seek out help and treatment immediately.
Dr. Ronna Fisher, Au.D.
Founder & President
Hearing Health Center, Inc.
A study conducted by Harvard University found an overwhelming relation between heart disease and hearing loss. “Hearing loss has occurred 54% more often in people with heart disease than in the general population.” Heart disease can be caused by problems with blood flow and blood vessels. It often results from plaque build-up on the arteries (atherosclerosis) which makes it difficult for blood to flow through the veins, arteries, vessels and bodily organs – especially the inner ear.
Hearing loss is not only the consequence of ineadequate blood flow to the auditory system. Recent research (Hull RH, Kerschen SR, The influence of cardiovascular health on peripheral and central auditory function in adults: a research review. AmerJournAud 2010;19(1):9-6. shows corresponding damage to the brainstem and auditory pathways resulting in difficulties processing, decoding and understanding speech.
THE LINK
The inner ear is extremely sensitive to blood flow. Inadequate blood flow and blood vessel trauma damages the nerves of the inner ear. Hearing loss could be an early, in fact the first, warning sign of an impending heart attack or stroke.
The nerves of the inner ear are so sensitive and fragile that Harvard researchers concluded the ear might be the first organ to feel the effects of cardiovascular disease. They stated that if blow flow is inadequate. The nerves of the inner ear are so sensitive that hearing loss can be an early warning sign of impending cardiovascular disease.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Get a baseline hearing test now. If you are receiving treatment for cardiovascular disease, monitor your hearing regularly for any changes.
Dr. Ronna Fisher, Au.D.
Founder & President
Hearing Health Center, Inc.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chromic autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack healthy tissues. The result is inflammation, pain, deformity of the affected areas and stiffness in the joints. Astudy conducted by the Arthritis Foundation found an overwhelming connection between rheumatoid arthritis and hearing loss, with a 42.7% correlation.
Hearing loss is the most common health-related issue, with up to 72% prevalence in rheumatoid arthritis (The Open Rheumatology Journal, Jan. 2016)
THE LINK
Rheumatoid Arthritis is associated with many other diseases that are also known to adversely affect hearing such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and kidney dysfunction.
Another link between rheumatoid arthritis and hearing loss is medications. Many medications are known to cause hearing loss. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen, which is often used to manage the pain of R.A., can cause hearing problems. A 2012 study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, showed that taking these pain medications six or seven times a week increased the risk of hearing loss by 24%. These painkillers, such as Advil, Motrin or Tylenol restrict blood flow to the inner ear. Blood carries oxygen and other nutrients throughout the body, so when less blood reaches the ear, the cells become damaged, resulting in loss of hearing.
What you can do
Get a baseline hearing test now. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, your medications should be reviewed and your hearing monitored regularly for any associative changes.
Dr. Ronna Fisher, Au.D.
Founder & President
Hearing Health Center, Inc.
Everyone (well, everyone over 50) worries about losing their memory and fears the “A” word…Alzheimer’s. We all know someone who has it; and we all panic at the thought of, “that could be me.” So we take care of ourselves. We try to eat better, exercise some, check our blood pressure and cholesterol levels regularly and suffer through periodic prostate/mammogram/colonoscopy exams.
BUT THERE IS SOMETHING YOU NEED TO KNOW. YOU ARE PROBABLY MISSING A SIMPLE BUT CRITICAL CHECKUP.
WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU HAD A HEARING TEST? GRADE SCHOOL?
No one wants to admit or deal with difficulty hearing and understanding. The majority of people assume that frequently misunderstanding conversations and saying, “What,” “huh,” “pardon me,” all the time is just another unwanted consequence of getting older. Difficulty hearing is usually dismissed and ignored: even by your doctors. Most doctors don’t even ask about your hearing let alone include a hearing check as part of your routine physical.
A multitude of studies at John Hopkins¹, CUNY Graduate Center², and elsewhere³ have confirmed definitive links between untreated hearing loss and brain function.
CONSIDER THE FACTS:
- You don’t hear with your ears. Your ears are just an appendage to catch the sound signals and send it to your brain to process.
- There is a specific area of the brain (Wernicke’s area) whose sole purpose is to decipher and make sense of the sound it receives from your ears.
- Your ability to hear, process and understand is directly related to your cognitive functioning.
- When your hearing diminishes, your brain stops getting the stimulation it needs to process information.
- Lack of adequate stimulation causes deterioration. It’s a classic case of “use it or lose it.”
- Your brain’s ability to hear, understand and process sound information is directly related to your memory. You can’t remember what you didn’t hear!
CLINICAL STUDY RESULTS:
- 83% of patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s have untreated hearing loss
- Even a minimal decrease in hearing doubles the risk of dementia. A moderate loss (the majority of people seeking treatment) raises the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s 500%.
- Every test of cognitive function was significantly worse in scores for mental status, memory and executive functions in those with untreated hearing problems.4
- When your hearing diminishes, your brain stops getting the stimulation it needs to process information.
- Hearing loss actually shrinks the brain one cubic centimeter every year due to the loss of grey matter and brain tissue.5
- Diminished hearing ability significantly affects your kinesthetic sense of your environment. You are 300% more likely to lose your balance and fall when your hearing decreases.6
- Early detection and treatment increases cognition, improves memory, preservers speech processing ability and enriches personal relationships
- When treated with hearing aids, 33% of Alzheimer’s patients were reclassified to a less severe category
- Appropriate hearing treatment increases cognitive function, enhances memory, improves balance and decreases depression.7
- In every case, caregivers reported that hearing treatment improved their relationship.
Why do we frequently check our blood pressure, heart, cholesterol levels, moles, eyes and teeth? Why do we have regular checkups and examinations?
Because early detection and treatment is critical!
Difficulty hearing is not just an inconvenience and getting your hearing checked is no longer optional. Yearly hearing checkups are vital to your overall health can well being.
And it could save your brain!
- http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/hearing_loss_and_dementia_linked_in_study
- Weinstein, BE, Amsel, L (1986). Hearing loss and senile dementia in the institutionalized elderly. Clinical Gerontologist, 4: 3-15.
- JAMA Intern Med. Published online January 21, 2013
- Uhlmann, RF, Larson, EB, Rees, TS, Koepsell, TD, Duckert, LG (l989). Relationship of hearing impairment to dementia and cognitive dysfunction in older adults. Journal of the American Medical Association, 261(13): 1916-9.
- http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/hearing_loss_linked_to_accelerated_brain_tissue_loss_
- http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/hearing_loss_linked_to_three_fold_risk_of_falling
- http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151029005494/en/Long-Term-Study-Show-Wearing-Hearing-Aids-Reduces
Roger Daltrey, lead singer of the iconic rock group, The Who, said, “Dr. Ronna Fisher, at Hearing Health Center, is the only person I trust with my hearing.”
Near the end of Monday night’s performance of the rock opera, Tommy, at Ravinia Festival, Daltrey talked about the struggles with his hearing loss. “Do yourself a favor, he told the standing ovation crowd, go get your hearing checked. It’s more important than you know.” Learn more tag www.hearinghealthcenter.com
Roger Daltrey and Dr. Ronna Fisher
Roger Daltrey, lead singer and founder of the iconic rock group, The Who, says, “Dr. Ronna Fisher, at Hearing Health Center, is the only person I trust with my hearing.”
Near the end of Monday night’s performance of the rock opera, Tommy, at Ravinia Festival, Daltrey talked about the struggles with his hearing. “Do yourself a favor, he told the standing ovation crowd, go get your hearing checked. It’s more important than you know.”
At almost every concert, Roger Daltrey encourages concertgoers to wear hearing protection in order to avoid later needing hearing aids themselves.
“I advise you all — all you rock-and-roll fans — take your f—ing ear plugs to the gigs. If only we had known when we were young … we are lip-reading,” Daltrey told the audience.
Daltrey was in Chicago eight years ago when he first met Dr. Ronna Fisher. At the time, he was only interested in being fit for in-ear performance monitors. When Dr. Fisher overheard him admonishing his band for playing so loud that he couldn’t hear himself sing, she knew that, most likely, it wasn’t the band’s problem. She convinced him to have his hearing tested, and as she suspected, the band was not to blame. Daltrey had a significant hearing loss, and Fisher fit him with his first set of hearing aids. He now visits Dr. Fisher every time he is in Chicago.
For the record, though, Daltrey is not the only member of The Who to battles difficulties with his hearing. Who co-founder Pete Townshend, has wrestled with hearing problems for decades and, according to Daltrey, now wears hearing aids in both of his ears.
Earlier this year, fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Eric Clapton disclosed he is also beset with major hearing issues. Other rock legends whose hearing has been afflicted include Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Ozzy Osbourne and AC/DC’s Brian Johnson, who was warned by doctors that he could lose all his hearing if he did not stop touring.
Johnson had constant tinnitus, a ringing, buzzing, hissing sound in the ears that no one else can hear except you. “I was in big, big trouble”, said Johnson. “I didn’t think I could handle it,” “To have something in your head, a constant noise, it’s probably the most horrendous thing a musician, could have, not to mention anyone else. I will try and help anyone who asks. Right now, I hear it screaming away in my head.”
Roger signs his “Tommy” setlist
Most often, in fact 95% of the time, when there is tinnitus, there is hearing loss. Noises in your head/ear is often the first sign/symptom that something is wrong with the auditory system. At first, it comes and goes. This is a warning. Protect your ears, your hearing, and your brain. If you ignore it, and continue exposing your ears/auditory system/brain to excessive sound, the tinnitus becomes permanent.
How can you protect yourself? Take a break every once in a while. Take off your headphones and give your ears a chance to rest and normalize. Turn down the volume when you start listening again.
Get custom ear pieces. Headphones and earbuds let sound leak out so you turn the sound up louder. Customized ear pieces, that can be made to fit whatever device you’re using, sits deeper into your ear canal and closer to your eardrum. Sound doesn’t leak out and the volume is reduced.
Invest in quality headphones and earphones. You’ll be less likely to crank up the volume to dangerous levels if the sound is balanced. There’s also less chance of damaging high frequencies if the headphones aren’t distorting the high-end. Think of how uncomfortable it is to listen to really horrible headphones — that discomfort might be the early stages of damage. (1)
As for Roger Daltrey, he told his audience that he plans to continue performing “for a long time; I am lucky to be doing what I do, so thank you.”
Read more: Roger Daltrey’s Hearing Loss: Who’s Sorry Now (1)