Excuse me, please

I walked in to a Starbucks last night with the intention of getting some work done while sipping on a caramel latte the size of the tower of Babel.  While waiting in line, there stood two gentlemen a couple of spaces ahead of me, conversing in American Sign Language (ASL).  The one gentleman wore behind-the-ear hearing aids like mine while the other did not.  I could tell the one wearing hearing aids was hard-of-hearing while the other was deaf and relied on ASL for communication.  I admit to always being fascinated by ASL and trying to learn new signs.

I am currently limited to the few signs I teach my children such as “I’m sorry”, “thank you”, “you’re welcome”, “hungry”, “thirsty”, “good”, “boy”, “girl”, “sister”, “brother”, “mommy”, “daddy”, and most important, “I love you”.  I sign “I love you” to them every morning before I leave to go to work.  Their three little fingers up, waving in the window in show of affection for me, continue to melt my heart as I drive away for work every day.  It makes my day, and I hope it sets their school days up for smiles the same way it does me.

…As I bring my mind back to Starbucks, the sounds of the blaring CD and coffee beans whirling around in the grinder fill the air, and I yearn for the ability these gentlemen have to enjoy a perfectly communicated conversation without the interruptions of CD lyrics drowning out their own words.

What caught me off guard though was the lack of courtesy I noticed in a few young girls as they picked up their drinks and walked between the two gentlemen to walk out the door.  The gentlemen casually brushed it off and continued with conversation and smiles.

I thought to myself, “If I was in a conversation with a friend and someone just walked through us without so much as a “Pardon me, please”, I would be a little miffed at their lack of courtesy.  Why is it any different with someone speaking in sign?

I  sat at a little table with my 1500 calorie latte and noticed I forgot something in the car.  The same two gentlemen were sitting next to me.  I signed “sorry” for interrupting them and asked the man who wore hearing aids if he could just watch my stuff for a second while I ran right outside to get something and come right back.  When I came back in I signed “thank you” to both of them and they smiled.  They taught me a few new signs and it just made my night.

Have you ever experienced something similar?  What happened?

I think it is important to know a few basic words in ASL, but one that might be polite to learn is, “Excuse me”.  Here is a three-second clip that demonstrates the simple sign.  Now we can say we learned something new today.

PLEASE SHARE!

Kiersten Troutman is the Manager of Marketing and Outreach at HEARINC in Canton, Ohio.  As a wife and mother of four young children, one of her greatest joys in life is being able to hear her children laugh and say, “I love you.”  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kent State University, and is finishing up her Master of Arts in Composition and Rhetoric from The University of Akron. She suffers severe hearing loss in her left, and mild to moderate in her right, from birth, and has a true appreciation for the audiological advances made in the assistive hearing device industry.  She has a passion for helping others realize that hearing loss does not discriminate with age, and has a vision to educate the public on how quality of life can often be improved simply by taking advantage of the amazing technology available.

HEARINC.  Join the Conversation.

http://www.hearinc.biz

 

 

 

 

Copyright. Kiersten D. Troutman. 2015.

 

 

 

Chocolates, candies, and…sound amplifiers

I remember skimming through web pages and pages of delectable chocolates and old-fashioned candies when I was doing some online Christmas shopping this past year.  As I scrolled farther and farther down the webpage, my taste buds could almost taste the marzipan candies.  Then it appeared.  In between the chocolate-peanut butter snowmen and the swirls of peppermint…there was a “sound amplifier”…for under $50.  Talk about good feeling gone.  I just sort of stared at it, wondering what it was doing in the middle of my sugar shopping. 

I never realized (in my bubble) that companies (some not even anywhere related to audiology) sold such amplifiers–that look like hearing aids–targeted to the hard-of-hearing consumer.  To the average lay person who doesn’t know the difference between a custom hearing aid and a very cheap sound amplifier, these companies seem to mislead consumers in to believing they can correct their hearing loss with a simple answer of a Personal Sound Amplification Product (PSAP).

Unfortunately, hearing loss cannot be helped with a “one size fits all” device, just as reading glasses found at the drug store cannot be used for all vision instances.  In the MarkeTrak VIII study by Dr. Sergei Kochkin, he writes that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did issue a guide to differentiate between simple sound amplifiers and true approved hearing aids.  However, Dr. Eric Mann, the deputy director of the FDA’s Division of Ophthalmic, Neurological, and Ear, Nose, and Throat Devices, goes further to cite that in choosing a PSAP as a substitute over a custom hearing aid can actually “lead to more damage.”

Hearing tests can result in such varied audiograms that it’s quite unrealistic to expect a simple “sound amplifier” to meet the unique needs of individuals.  Only a custom hearing aid–fitted by a licensed professional–could achieve that level of quality and integrity in a product.  This brings me back to the very ugly sound amplifier that was hogging up the screen between my chocolates and candies. It was bulky and could not have been very comfortable to wear.  In addition, the piece that is supposed to slide comfortably in to one’s ear looked like it would easily fall out due to its not-so-customized fit.

As a hearing aid wearer myself, I love the fact that I am able to maintain my quality of life while forgetting that I have them on half the time.  This is a sign of a quality fit…with a quality product.

An interesting point was brought up in the MarkeTrak study.  People who purchased direct-mail hearing aids or PSAPs typically only wore the devices for an average of 3 hours a day, as opposed to those hard of hearing who wore custom hearing aids up to 10 hours a day.  What would cause such a contrast?  Have you ever had someone make an annoying noise in your ear for a long time?  The PSAPs have been known to emit static or be too loud, etc., causing  the person to just pull them out after a while.  Remember when Dr. Mann said they could even “lead to damage”?  PSAPs are just not meant to compensate for a person’s hearing loss.

With a custom fit hearing aid, technology has come so far that noise levels are often automatically adjusted depending on the environment in which a person is standing.  Some are even compatible with hearing aid-specific smart phone applications.

So why do some continue to buy PSAPs?  Number one reason:  cost.  I get it…but $50 will not solve the problem–and may in turn make it worse.  A better option would be to contact a licensed hearing care professional who is conscious of both a patient’s needs as well as their budget, offering solutions that would help improve quality of living without breaking the bank.  Hearing is a sense worth the investment.  It’s just as important as sight and touch.  Monitor it annually just as you do your vision.  You’ll be glad you did.

Sources:  http://www.betterhearing.org/hearingpedia/marketrak-publications/marketrak-viii-utilization-psaps-and-direct-mail-hearing-aids

PLEASE SHARE!

Kiersten Troutman is the Manager of Marketing and Outreach at HEARINC in Canton, Ohio.  As a wife and mother of four young children, one of her greatest joys in life is being able to hear her children laugh and say, “I love you.”  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kent State University, and is finishing up her Master of Arts in Composition and Rhetoric from The University of Akron. She suffers severe hearing loss in her left, and mild to moderate in her right, from birth, and has a true appreciation for the audiological advances made in the assistive hearing device industry.  She has a passion for helping others realize that hearing loss does not discriminate with age, and has a vision to educate the public on how quality of life can often be improved simply by taking advantage of the amazing technology available.

HEARINC.  Join the Conversation.

Copyright. Kiersten D. Troutman. 2015.

 

 

 

 

 

Streamers and such: three reasons to celebrate

I am always finding ways to share my passion for technological advances made in the hearing industry.  I quite often have to point out that I even have a hearing loss in the first place; my single-sided deafness is not readily apparent by my tiny hearing aids that rest behind my ear, blending in with my glasses.  Gone are the days of miniature houses resting behind one’s ears!  Friends and colleagues alike are surprised when I tell them I wear hearing aids.  Questions arise like, “Really?  Are you wearing them now?”, or “Wow, how long have you had a hearing loss?”, as they zoom in on my ears with sudden wide interest.  Granted, I could have chosen brown ones to match my hair color, but what fun is that?  Ocean blue for me.

I began to think of writing on newer hearing technologies that many are unaware exist.  Such technologies include the hearing streamer and the TruLink smartphone app that can be linked to hearing aids, creating a seamless, inconspicuous way to independently control settings.

Streamers

We’re not talking about crepe paper here, although hearing aid streamers give something to celebrate!  A hearing aid streamer is a small device worn around the neck that pairs with hearing aids to transmit sound.  They have the capability of pairing with a:

• TV
• Phone (cell phone and even landline)
• Hearing loop environment

Patients are able to stream phone calls directly into their hearing aids—hands free.  This is ideal when driving or at home baking cookies with flour all over your hands.  Ever see someone taking a call on a Bluetooth®?  Hearing aids are much smaller and much more discreet than the giant Bluetooth® sprouting out of a person’s ear…seriously.

Take a look how the streamer can be worn over or under a shirt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granted, if wearing it under, you will need to be able to retrieve the streamer easily if a call comes in.  HEARINC is not responsible for individuals feverishly undressing to grab a phone call before it goes to voicemail.  Use discretion when choosing attire if wanting to wear it under.  Your colleagues will thank you.

 

 

 

Cell phone application for hearing aids

Now that we are in 2015, technology is assumed to be able to do just about anything; having control over your own hearing aids is no exception.  With the TruLink smart phone app, you now have the capability of linking your hearing aids to your phone.

Consider this:  you are called to a staff meeting in a conference room of 10 people.  By time you hurry and grab your third cup of coffee on the way in to the conference room, you are the last one in and have to sit the farthest away from the speaker.  On a good note, the boss won’t be able to see the coffee that spilled on your white shirt as you came in.  The bad news is you wouldn’t be able to hear him/her make note of it even if they did.

With the hearing aids for smartphone, you simply put the app in microphone mode and lay the phone on the table next to the speaker.  Although you would be sitting at the other end of the room, his or her speech would stream directly through your hearing aids.  If they so much as murmur something under their breath…you may be the only one to know.  It will become your super power.

 

Photo credit: The Ridge Resorts / Foter / CC BY

 

While we’re on the topic of coffee stains, this app is also of particular excellent use in loud coffee houses.  Just set the phone out on the table, and be able to focus on the other person’s speech instead of the constant coffee bean-grinding and brewing in the background.  Let’s face it, background noise is annoying.  There’s help for that!

 

Get in the loop

I’ve discussed hearing induction loops before, but I’ll briefly touch on this technology again here.  If you currently wear hearing aids that have a “t-coil” in them (ask your audiologist if yours does), keep an eye out for this sign in various establishments:  

The loop logo indicates that the particular establishment has what is known as a hearing induction loop installed on the premises.  Simply switch your hearing aids to the t-coil setting, and sound will be transmitted directly in to your hearing devices.  This logo is often found in environments such as a concert/symphony hall, a museum, some churches, or even some drive-thru windows (ever get tired of the garbled mess of supposed dialogue at fast food drive-thru windows? Ya, us too.)  Get in the loop!

 

Interested in some of these technologies?  Want to know if your current hearing aids are compatible with these technologies?  Send us an inquiry to set up an appointment in our Akron or Canton, Ohio offices.  It’s time you Join the Conversation!

 

 

PLEASE SHARE!

Kiersten Troutman is the Manager of Marketing and Outreach at HEARINC in Canton, Ohio.  As a wife and mother of four young children, one of her greatest joys in life is being able to hear her children laugh and say, “I love you.”  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kent State University, and is finishing up her Master of Arts in Composition and Rhetoric from The University of Akron. She suffers unilateral hearing loss from birth and has a true appreciation for the audiological advances made in the assistive hearing device industry.  She has a passion for helping others realize that hearing loss does not discriminate with age, and has a vision to educate the public on how quality of life can often be improved simply by taking advantage of the amazing technology available.

HEARINC.  Join the Conversation.

Copyright. Kiersten D. Troutman. 2015.

 

L is for loud: children and noisy toys

Listen, mommy!

It’s Christmas time again.  Time to turn the lights on the tree to find out 500 are burned out.  Time to dream about all the fancy cookies you will bake but never have time for… And time for noisy toys purchased by well-meaning relatives for your children in effort to be the “fun” aunt or uncle.  Thanks, but no thanks.  Let’s take a look at a kid’s play laptop computer for instance.  You watch your three-year old daughter push one of the big, squishy plastic buttons with her sticky candy-cane finger, to hear “C is for…”, but she can’t just listen to the whole thing.  That would be boring, mommy.  So instead, she pushes it 24 times. The computerized voice continues.  “C is for….C is for…C is for…C is…C…C is. C. C. C. (pause) L…”  

“Argh!  L is for loud”, you whisper under your breath.  You then turn the Tylenol bottle upside down to watch the last one dribble out.

Then she switches it to music mode.  You never knew such decibels could come from quite a little thing—Yes, I’m still talking about the computer!  I would require much more time and space to discuss how little lungs themselves seem to be able to break sound barriers as well.

She spins and dances to the tune.  You know this, because even from in the kitchen, the computerized music pushes through the walls, and you hear a thud as she tries to do one of those air spin thingies you see on ice skating.  The tune repeats.  For the third time.

Batteries make the toys go around

Granted, many of these toys with audio are adorable (the first ten times), but when they are held close to a child’s ears for extended periods of time, they become more like dangerous objects to their hearing.  One needs to consider the length of a child’s arm in comparison to that of an adult’s.  Due to being much shorter—thus closer to their ears—it becomes more of a risk in children (infants especially.)  Babies explore by putting everything in their mouths.  A toy with noise being that close to her ears can cause permanent hearing damage.

According to the Sight & Hearing Association, “toys are required to meet the acoustic standard set by the American Society of Testing and Materials, which states that the sound-pressure level produced by toys shall not exceed 85 dB at 50 cm from the surface of the toy.”  The problem herein lies that 50 cm is longer than the average length of an adult’s arm, no less a child’s arm.  With children pulling toys close to them, hearing can be affected in less than 15 minutes of exposure with toys that blast over 100dB.

Push the buttons

Have you ever walked in a toy aisle where the person before you has pushed every button of every toy known to man on every shelf? Fire engines are wailing, dollies are sobbing for their mommies, Elmo is asking for a hug, Transformers are trying to transform in the confines of twist ties and hard plastic, music is jangling on a hand rattle for babies…. You feel like the Grinch when he says, “All the noise, noise, noise!”… 

My advice:  be that person.  Yep, I said it.  Be that annoying person who pushes all the buttons like an eager child on Christmas day.  The goal here is to determine if it’s too loud.  If it’s too loud for you, it’s way too loud for a child.

Pleeeeeeease!

If your child has begged with three cherries on top for a specific toy that is loud, take tape and place it over the speaker of the toy to help muffle the sound, thus cutting the decibel level down by a sane amount.

…If you’re really desperate, do what we do after the 63rd encore performance of the same blaring tune…pull the batteries out.  Grinch mommy.

PLEASE SHARE!

Kiersten Troutman is the Manager of Marketing and Outreach at HEARINC. As a wife and mother of four young children, one of her greatest joys in life is being able to hear her children laugh.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kent State University, and is finishing up her Master of Arts degree in Composition and Rhetoric from The University of Akron. She suffers unilateral hearing loss from birth and has a true appreciation for the audiological advances made in the assistive hearing device industry.  She has a passion for helping others realize that hearing loss does not discriminate with age, and has a vision to educate the public on how quality of life can often be improved simply by taking advantage of the amazing technology available.

HEARINC.  Join the Conversation.

Copyright. Kiersten D. Troutman. 2014.

 

Poor Thanksgiving

Poor Thanksgiving.  It often gets lost in the hurried frenzy of Christmas shoppers too eager to wait until the Saturday afterward to start shopping.  Yes, there are those who find Black Friday (and now even “Brown Thursday”) to be a tradition spent between moms and daughters whisking out of the driveway in sweatpants at 3 AM in order to save a few bucks. The loud bustle of the espresso machines whirling at 3 AM in Starbucks for that Black Friday latte before fighting the maddening crowds is a little much for me these days.  Maybe it’s because—with four young children—I’m just tired.  All the time.  BUT, do you remember growing up and getting excited to have a four-day weekend, of which included a day to sleep off all the gravy we ate the day before?  What happened?

The sounds of Thanksgiving included the sound of the electric carving knife slicing the turkey to bits, while grandma laughed at the spectacle, licking gravy off her fingers as turkey bits flew.  It was the blender whipping up homemade cream to top the hot pumpkin pie out of the oven.  It was aunts laughing in the kitchen.  Like gut-busting laughs.  I couldn’t help but laugh with them even though I didn’t know what they were talking about.  It was contagious.  I still smile when I think about it.

It was the sound of boots stomping the snow off as a million distant relatives came bustling through the door like a bunch of bundled up “Ralphies” from The Christmas Story.  It was aunts giving smooches on all the babies’ and kids’ cheeks, remarking how they’ve grown, and kids being “on their best behavior.”    It was the sound of cards being dealt for a game of cards, or kids squealing when papa came in and tossed them higher and higher in the air.  Or when he got the train out.  Oh, how he loved trains.

It was the sound of fine glasses going “tink” as they were raised in a toast to health, and saying a prayer of thankfulness to God.  We kids felt important raising our glasses of punch up with the grown ups.  It wasn’t every day we got to use the fine china.  Barely reaching over the table, we could hear the sound of fancy dishes being passed, with scoops of delectable carbohydrates being plopped on plates, then topped with heavenly goodness, also known as gravy.  We all gained five pounds just in passing the food around, consuming it with our eyes before it ever hit our stomachs.

It was the drone of a television somewhere in the background after dinner, an announcer citing plays of a football game—and dad snoring louder than the game itself, head hanging back on the couch…mouth hanging wide open.  It was festive jazz music playing in three-quarter time.  It was mothers repeatedly asking children to stop running through the house, lest they poke an eye out. 

All of this culminated in to a very much needed day of rest on Friday.  Seriously, eating five pounds of turkey, gravy, noodles, casseroles, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, and rolls didn’t just digest overnight.  It required massive shut-eye…which brings me back to poor Thanksgiving.  Are we giving it the time it deserves, or are we brushing right over it in less than 24 hours?  According to ABC News, “Americans take less vacation, work longer days, and retire later.”  Just maybe we need to enjoy the sounds of peace that comes on the Friday after Thanksgiving, the sounds only found if we relax at home with family.

It’s very possible that we’re missing memories, simply because we’re caught in the chaos.

PLEASE SHARE!

Kiersten Troutman is the Manager of Marketing and Outreach at HEARINC. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kent State University, and is finishing up her Master of Arts degree in Composition and Rhetoric from The University of Akron. She suffers unilateral hearing loss from birth and has a true appreciation for the audiological advances made in the assistive hearing device industry.  She has a passion for helping others realize that hearing loss does not discriminate with age, and has a vision to educate the public on how quality of life can often be improved simply by taking advantage of the amazing technology available.

HEARINC.  Join the Conversation.

Copyright. Kiersten D. Troutman. 2014.

 

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Diabetes-hearing loss link

29.1 million Americans have diabetes

According to the National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2014, 29.1 million Americans have diabetes (http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/statsreport14/national-diabetes-report-web.pdf).  This staggering statistic is complicated with the fact that most of those with diabetes are unaware that there is also a link between diabetes and hearing loss.

Better Hearing Institute cites diabetes-hearing loss link

November is National Diabetes Month.  Chances are, a hearing exam isn’t on the healthcare checklist of a lot of people with diabetes.  It should be.  See what the Better Hearing Institute has to say about this link between diabetes and hearing loss:

People with diabetes are about TWICE as likely to develop hearing loss. That means it’s especially important for them to protect their hearing.

In recognition of American Diabetes Month in November and World Diabetes Day on November 14, the Better Hearing Institute (BHI) has issued five habits for healthier hearing for people with diabetes.

Better Hearing Institute Issues 5 Habits for Healthier Hearing for People with Diabetes

Washington, DC, October 31, 2014—Hearing health should be included in good diabetes management, says the Better Hearing Institute (BHI), and has issued five habits for healthier hearing for people with diabetes. Studies show that people with diabetes are about TWICE as likely to develop hearing loss. Yet hearing tests are frequently overlooked in routine diabetes care. In fact, some experts believe that hearing loss may be an under-recognized complication of diabetes. (http://ow.ly/DuVyB)

BHI’s outreach comes in recognition of American Diabetes Month in November and World Diabetes Day on November 14.

So what is the link?

Hearing depends on small blood vessels and nerves in the inner ear. Researchers theorize that over time high blood glucose levels can damage these blood vessels and nerves, diminishing the ability to hear. (http://ow.ly/uCLit)

Based on the findings of a meta-analysis conducted on the link between diabetes and hearing loss, Professor Hirohito Sone of the Department of Internal Medicine, Niigata University School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan, believes that hearing health should be included in good diabetes management.

“Our findings support routine hearing screenings for people with diabetes starting at an earlier age than for people without the disease,” Professor Sone says.  This is very important from a preventative healthcare perspective.

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 “We want to stop untreated hearing loss from leading to other health problems, like depression or dementia, which would make the diabetes burden even greater.”-Professor Sone

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Younger individuals at an even greater risk

The meta-analysis, which looked at 13 studies, found that people with diabetes were 2.15 times more likely to have hearing loss. When broken down by age, it found that younger individuals were at an even greater risk.  Those older than 60 with diabetes were 1.58 times more likely to have hearing loss, while the risk for those 60 and younger with the disease was 2.61 times higher. (http://ow.ly/DpXDv)

According to Kathleen L. Yaremchuk, M.D., Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit: “A certain degree of hearing loss is common with aging, but it is often accelerated in patients with diabetes, especially if blood-glucose levels are not being controlled.”

In a 2012 study, Yaremchuk and colleagues at Henry Ford Hospital found that women between the ages of 60 and 75 with well-controlled diabetes had better hearing than women whose diabetes was poorly controlled. (http://ow.ly/DCB8K)

“Our findings really point to the importance of patients controlling their diabetes and paying attention to their hearing health,” said Yaremchuk. “Because hearing loss tends to come on gradually, people aren’t always fully aware of its significance. But untreated hearing loss can lead to withdrawal, isolation, and leave the individual subject to depression and other cognitive issues.”

5 habits for healthier living for those with diabetes

BHI encourages people with diabetes to take care of their hearing by following these five healthy habits:

1. Get a thorough hearing exam every year and watch for signs of hearing loss. You do it for your eyes. Now do it for your ears. See a hearing healthcare professional every year for a thorough hearing examination. If you notice a change in your ability to hear under certain conditions—like at a restaurant or on a conference call—go sooner. And be sure to share the information with your primary care physician and endocrinologist.

2. Use hearing aids, if recommended. Hearing aid technology has advanced radically in recent years. While hearing loss is not reversible, today’s hearing aids can dramatically enhance your ability to hear and engage with others—which can make a tremendous difference in your overall quality of life. Many hearing aids are virtually invisible, sitting discreetly and comfortably inside the ear canal. They adjust to all kinds of noise environments and pick up sound from all directions. Best of all, they’re wireless. Today’s hearing aids stream sound directly from your smartphone, home entertainment system, and other electronics directly into the hearing aid itself—at volumes just right for you. Some are even waterproof.

3. Keep your blood sugar under control. Just as your heart, eye, and nerve health are affected by your blood sugar levels, your hearing health may be as well. Work with your doctor to monitor your blood sugar and take appropriate medicines as prescribed.

4. Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Even for people without diabetes, a healthy lifestyle benefits hearing health. Not smoking, exercising, and maintaining a healthy diet all support your ability to hear. In fact, studies show that smoking and obesity increase the risk of hearing loss, while regular physical activity helps protect against it. (http://ow.ly/DbkDZ& http://ow.ly/DbkT9 & http://ow.ly/Dbldc)

5. Use ear protection. Everyone is at risk of noise-induced hearing loss. But using ear protection is one of the best—and simplest—things you can do to preserve your hearing. Carry disposable earplugs with you, especially when you know you’ll be somewhere noisy. Use appropriate ear protection in loud work environments. Keep the volume on smartphones and other electronics low. Limit your use of headphones and ear buds. And get in the habit of quickly plugging your ears with your fingers and walking away if a loud noise takes you by surprise. Most of all, limit your time in noisy environments.

 

Diabetes and hearing loss should be taken seriously.  Please contact your audiologist to maintain good hearing health, especially if you have diabetes.

PLEASE SHARE!  Spread the word!  Together, we can raise awareness of the link between diabetes and hearing loss.

Kiersten Troutman is the Manager of Marketing and Outreach at HEARINC. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kent State University, and is finishing up her Master of Arts degree in Composition and Rhetoric from The University of Akron. She suffers unilateral hearing loss from birth and has a true appreciation for the audiological advances made in the assistive hearing device industry.  She has a passion for helping others realize that hearing loss does not discriminate with age, and has a vision to educate the public on how quality of life can often be improved simply by taking advantage of the amazing technology available.

HEARINC.  Join the Conversation.

 

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What makes an audiologist so great?: meet Shera Kile

There are plenty of choices when it comes to choosing an audiologist.  So to whom do you lend your ears?  As someone who worked full-time, went to college full-time, and had a family with four children, convenient scheduling was an absolute must for me!  Before I came on board with HEARINC, I was a patient for over three years.  I was impressed that they were able to schedule my first appointment after-hours, at 5:15pm.  This was above and beyond my expectation of good service right off the bat.

The first person I met with was audiologist, Shera Kile, who was kind, understanding, and informative of my options on how to best accomplish my objective to hear better.  After understanding which device would serve me the best, we got down to critical questions…like, “What color hearing aid do you prefer?”  Brown (to match my hair), light, soft colors, etc. Me?  No, I went with ocean blue, because this girl is a leader, not a follower.  I almost wish I went with pink, you know, just because it’s “fun.”  I guess it didn’t really matter though; due to hearing aids being so small today, they are rarely noticeable regardless if they are fire engine red or light brown. Whether you admit it or not, you just pictured a fire engine red hearing aid sitting on the back of my ear.

 

 

Three years later, I am now a part of the HEARINC Outreach initiative, and I am proud to share my story with you.  Today though, I want you to know more about Shera.  I sat down with her to capture some of her world outside of audiology.  Here is what I discovered:

The world of Shera Kile, beyond audiology

Shera just celebrated her 47th birthday.  She indicated that she doesn’t “feel 47.”  So naturally I asked…

Q:  What do you want to be when you grow up?

A:  I want to go live in Cinderella’s castle at Disney World, but for now I will be an audiologist.

Q:  What do you miss most about being a kid?

A:  Being carefree

Q:  What is the #1 song played on your iPod, or Pandora, or whatever other platform they have for listening these days?

A:  Luke Bryan’s “My Kind of Night”

Q:  What would you name the autobiography of your life?

A:  The Life and Times of Shera Lin Ater Kile

Q:  Where’s Waldo?

A:  Hiding somewhere in that book, but I can’t find him

Q:  What does your perfect day look like?

A:  Sleeping in, all three of my children at home, and playing with my puppy dogs

Q:  What is a secret talent you have that many may not know?

A:  I used to be a gymnast.  I can still do a handstand and a cartwheel

Q:  Sunrise or sunsets?

A:  Sunsets

Q:  You are a mom of one boy and identical twin girls, all who are now out of high school.  How did you survive?

A:  (laughs) One day at a time…

Q:  Do you sing while driving in the car?

A:  Absolutely!

Q:  What would your superhero power be and why?

A:  I want to fly.  I could get a lot of stuff done if I could fly.

 

We seem to have quite a few superheros at this lair, I mean office, where we are busy saving hearing…and flying.

If you would like to meet this superhero, please stop by our office.  She will be signing autographs all week during her week of published fame.

 

PLEASE SHARE!

Kiersten Troutman is the Manager of Marketing and Outreach at HEARINC. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kent State University, and is finishing up her Master of Arts degree in Composition and Rhetoric from The University of Akron. She suffers unilateral hearing loss from birth and has a true appreciation for the audiological advances made in the assistive hearing device industry.  She has a passion for helping others realize that hearing loss does not discriminate with age, and has a vision to educate the public on how quality of life can often be improved simply by taking advantage of the amazing technology available.

HEARINC.  Join the Conversation.

Copyright. Kiersten D. Troutman. 2014.

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Top questions asked to an audiologist

Frequently asked questions to audiologists

Here are the answers to questions most frequently asked to an audiologist…Apparently some have asked if it is ever a good idea to store hearing aid batteries in a freezer. Hmm.  Frozen chicken breasts, bags of peas, tv dinners…hearing aid batteries…Let’s find out:

What are the differences of good, better, and best technology in terms of price?  What makes one more expensive than the other?

Think of it this way.  You don’t want to buy an F150 Ford truck when you need an F350 to pull a horse trailer or a large boat.  It may be the exact same size, it may have the exact same interior, and it may even have the same paint job.  For all practical purposes, they may look alike, but the F150 does not have the power or the transmission to do the job.  So, if you buy the F150 to pull that heavy load, you could expect it to last maybe a year, then fall apart.  Whereas if you had purchased the F350, it might last ten years and/or 250,000 miles with satisfactory service throughout its lifetimes.  The same applies to hearing technology.  The primary three things that have to be fit for a person’s hearing loss are:  first the hearing loss, second, the person’s lifestyle (or listening environments), and third, it all has to meet their budget.  Smaller sizes, Bluetooth® capability, and even iPhone compatibility all affect price.  It’s amazing what technology can do now.  Did you ever think you would be able to stream your phone calls directly through your hearing aids?

How much do hearing aids cost?

This is one of the top questions asked when it comes to aiding a hearing loss.  Hearing aids typically cost between $900 and $3,000 for an excellent hearing aid, with the average price being $1,850 per hearing aid that uses the latest technology.  There are companies that sell refurbished hearing aids at a lower cost, but the buyer should be aware of the age of the technology and the cost to maintain the hearing aid.  Never discount the fact that a person’s lifestyle plays a significant role in what type of technology a person needs.

How long do hearing aids last?

As with any product, a hearing aid is guaranteed to work only as long as the manufacturer’s warranty lasts.  Most hearing aid manufacturers offer warranties that offer protection for defective components for one to three years.  You will find that lower-end technologies tend to have one year warranties, while higher-end technologies offer two and three year warranties.  If kept and cared for in optimal conditions, most hearing aids should last four to six years, while seven or more years of reliable use is less common.

Can I sleep with my hearing aids in place?

Do you sleep with your glasses?  As you might guess, this answer is more of a comfort level than anything else.  Although some may find them useful to hear alarms, they may come out of the ear during sleep, and both the ears and the hearing aids need a rest.  Moisture, warmth, and darkness are all agents that can lead to bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.  Taking hearing aids out at night allows them to dry, removing one of the primary agents of infections. Also the hearing aids need an opportunity to dry out.  There are drying kits available that work well for this purpose.

If a person’s hearing loss is severe to profound, and hearing assistance is needed to hear at night, there are assistive listening devices that will better accomplish this purpose.

Can hearing aids get wet? 

Units are typically not labeled anything but “moisture resistant.”  This means they are not waterproof, but they will be protected in light moisture exposure (think of that light rain sprinkle that you got caught in.)

Are hearing aids comfortable?

If the units are fitted properly by a professional audiologist, hearing aids should fit comfortably, conformed to the contours of the ear.  This is true, as I have often forgotten I had mine in before hopping in a shower.  Refer to question above.

Is it safe to use cotton swabs?

Are we all guilty of this?  Do we not all keep Qtips in business?  Cotton swabs can cause damage if pushed too far in the ear canal or pushed too far against the eardrum.  Depending on the amount and consistency of wax, cotton swabs can actually clog the ear canal, reducing the effectiveness of hearing devices.  Quite often hearing aid users think their devices have failed when in actuality, it was just a bad case of ear wax.  Ask an audiologist for other recommended ways for cleaning ears.

Should I store my hearing aid batteries in the freezer?

.  No.  Extremes in temperature can shorten the battery life.  They should not get too hot or too cold.  Ideally, they should be stored around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.  Putting them in the butter tray of your refrigerator with the butter door closed, or in your sock drawer, can be two places where you they can be safely  stored.

Questions?

Do you have a question that you’ve always wanted to know about hearing technology, or are you curious about these new advances that incorporate the use of iPhone applications?  These aren’t your grandparents’ hearing aids.  Gone are the days when people were required to wear a box the size of a small house behind their ear in order to hear.

Post your questions for the HEARINC audiologist in the form below, and we’ll get back to you!  Don’t be shy; go ahead and ask if the hearing aids come in pink.  Style and sophistication meet at last.  It is our vision to help you Join the Conversation.

PLEASE SHARE!

Kiersten Troutman is the Manager of Marketing and Outreach at HEARINC. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kent State University, and is finishing up her Master of Arts degree in English from The University of Akron. She suffers unilateral hearing loss from birth and has a true appreciation for the audiological advances made in the assistive hearing device industry.  She has a passion for helping others realize these advances, and has a vision to educate the public on how quality of life can often be improved by simply taking advantage of the current technology available.

HEARINC.  Join the Conversation.

 

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Top 10 signs of hearing loss

We all love a good top ten, so here’s my list on signs of hearing loss, which is typical for almost all who experience hearing difficulty.  Don’t be shy; It’s okay to admit if you didn’t hear the microwave beep a half hour ago.  That’s why we’re here.  Let’s begin:

10) The TV remote control volume indicator doesn’t seem to go beyond 82  

You see your children walk past you in the living room daily—with pilot earmuffs on.  Unless they’re training to be aviators, this may be a good indicator a hearing test is in your future.

9) “I’m sorry, can you repeat that?”

You have gotten used to the very irritated faces of those who are annoyed in having to repeat their long “and my fish was this big” story.

8) Women and children first!

We’re not throwing out life preservers here.  In the world of audiology, the voices of women and children go first in hearing loss.  Now, hubbies out there…please…show some restraint in excitement here.

7) You have gotten pretty good at playing Scrabble

You hear maybe three out of every five words in a conversation.  The rest of the time—while the speaker is busy going off on a tangent about how her hair doesn’t seem to do what she wants it to do anymore—you’re busy trying to fill in the two blanks on what she said that was actually important.

6) You have recently decided to become a hermit

You’ve heard the saying, “silence is golden”, but it’s not precious when you inflict it on yourself, because you know you won’t be able to participate in conversations.  Missing your son’s wedding is out of the question.  You begin to contemplate ways in which to avoid the over-crowded loud reception hall and dodge all the round tables filled with indecipherable chatter.  This may be a good indicator to step in to your audiologist’s office for a test.  You’d be surprised what technology can do.

5) You swear you can read even a ventriloquist’s lips

You’ve been known to browse through Facebook posts and “watch” the video clips without even opening it up to actually listen to the audio.  You’ve just gotten that good at lip-reading.  Everybody reads lips to augment speech understanding.  Those with hearing loss, however, rely more on lip-reading as their primary source of speech understanding.  Nothing gets past you; you put the ventriloquist out of a job.  This may be good; they are a little creepy.

4) If you could pick the word of the year, it would be…”Huh?” or “What?”

“Huh?”….I can still remember my mother correcting me when I was a child that using “huh” in conversation was “rude.”  Nevertheless, “huh” became a staple in my word diet.  Is it in yours?  “Huh” lines right up there in the part of the food pyramid where the doughnuts can be found….What do you mean doughnuts aren’t in the food pyramid?  I’ve been living a lie all these years…

3) You hear Jingle Bells year-round  

Let’s face it:  Jingle Bells should only be heard one month out of the year.  When you hear your ears ringing (buzzing, rushing water, or even motor sounds–all sounds of tinnitus) any other time, it’s time to see your audiologist. Tinnitus is typically found with hearing loss.  Seek out your audiologist to explain the maddening noise in order to find relief.  Over fifty million people experience tinnitus; More than half of them have an associated hearing loss.

2) “Would you like some thighs with that?”

Perhaps it was just subliminal that I heard it that way.  But no, throw in the fries I say! …and then I remember to put in my hearing aids to avoid further misinterpretations.

And last, but never least…

1) Ha ha ha ha ha!….Wait, what am I laughing at? 

You are the last to know the punchline of a joke, but you laugh anyway.  It’s certainly no fun when someone has to repeat it after everyone has already laughed and moved on.

 

PLEASE SHARE!

Kiersten Troutman is the Manager of Marketing and Outreach at HEARINC. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kent State University, and is finishing up her Master of Arts degree in English from The University of Akron. She herself suffers unilateral hearing loss from birth and has a true appreciation for the audiological advances made in the assistive hearing device industry.  She has a passion for helping others realize these advances, and has a vision to educate the public on how quality of life can often be improved by simply taking advantage of the current technology available.

HEARINC.  Join the Conversation.

Copyright. Kiersten D. Troutman. 2014.

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Children with sensorineural hearing loss: impact on education

Minimal sensorineural hearing loss impacts education

FACT: 37% of children with only MINIMAL hearing loss fail at least one grade [source:  National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)]

Getting ready for back to school?  It’s hard to believe August 1st is around the corner.

I feel compelled to share my story:

I remember struggling horribly throughout childhood with single-sided deafness. It was a widely misunderstood condition. Teachers would not enunciate, students were cruel, and I felt as though I poured much of my energy just in to concentrating on what the teachers were saying.  I could hear them for the most part, but speech discrimination was a different story, thus, the misunderstanding between me and those around me.

First grade fears

In first grade, my teacher, Mrs. Hollis–I’ll never forget her–had me wear a sign around my neck that said, “Enunciate.” Of course, it was meant to bolster my confidence in that only I knew what the word meant and others around me would have to ask what it meant.  And so, my mother fashioned a small-rectangled poster sign with itchy yarn looped around a hole on each end of the sign and had me wrap it around my neck like they do the blue papers at the dentist office.  The black Sharpie marker-inked letters were thick and straight:  ENUNCIATE.  I walked around the elementary school that day with the sign only I knew the definition to.  

Granted, this definitely could have set me up for more ridicule, but little me didn’t see it that way.  Rather, I beamed with my newfound intellect.  Kids walked up to me all day asking what it meant.  “It means slow down and speak up,” I replied in my most studious, educated voice.  Duh, I added to myself.  I laugh when I think about it now.  For the most part, it worked; students began to slow down a little and speak more clearly.

Thankfully, we don’t have to wear signs around our necks these days to inform others of hearing loss.  Although, now at 37 years old, I still sometimes feel this pressure to understand everything, it is not as bad, because I wear assistive technology.

So this back-to-school season, prepare your child with supplies…and a hearing screen. There are so many options now. The technology is amazing actually!

…And if anyone knows Mrs. Hollis who used to work with Akron Public Schools, share this with her…

Do you have any amazing teachers that you’ll never forget? What made them amazing?

Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9796643…and my own first grade experience.  Thankfully, no one was traumatized in the making of, or wearing of, the ever-mysterious “Enunciate” sign.  Students and faculty alike, instead, were made aware of hearing loss in their schools, and were educated on it.  Kudos to the illustrious Mrs. Hollis.

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Kiersten Troutman is the Manager of Marketing and Outreach at HEARINC. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kent State University, and is finishing up her Master of Arts degree in English from The University of Akron. She herself suffers unilateral hearing loss from birth and has a true appreciation for the audiological advances made in the assistive hearing device industry. She has a passion for helping others realize these advances, and has a vision to educate the public on how quality of life can often be improved by simply taking advantage of the current technology available.

Copyright. Kiersten D. Troutman. 2014.

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