Hearing Aid Blog

Hearing loss and Viagra

July 16, 2010

In a recent study, published in The Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and conducted at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), it shows that there is, in fact, a relationship between hearing loss and the use of Viagra. This is the first long term study published showing this relationship since warnings were put out in 2007.

The study, headed by Professor Gerald McGwin, PhD, reported, “It appears from these findings that the current government warning regarding hearing loss and the use of PDE-5i medications is warranted,” said Dr. McGwin, a professor of epidemiology in the UAB School of Public Health. “Though there are limitations to this study, it is prudent that patients using these medications be warned about the signs and symptoms of hearing impairment and be encouraged to seek immediate medical attention to potentially forestall permanent damage.”

The problem associated with hearing loss and the use of Viagra is thought to be in the drugs ability to increase blood flow. Again, originally developed to increase blood flow to and through the heart, then to increase blood flow to the penis, PDE-5i also increases blood flow throughout the body. It doesn’t selectively increase blood flow in certain parts of the body and subsequently may also increase blood flow to the ears.

In 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required the drug maker to add a warning that the use of Viagra may lead to hearing loss after several cases of sudden hearing loss were reported by the medical community. Pfizer followed the FDA’s ruling and made “hearing loss” more prominent in its list of side effects of using Viagra (BTW, all drugs have side effects so it’s not unusual).

Reports of a relationship between the use of Viagra and hearing loss aren’t new to the research and medical community and Viagra remains the most popular choice among couples for the treatment of ED in men.

July 11, 2010

Hair Cells from Stem Cells

FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH:

Hair cells are the tiny sensory cells located in the cochlea of the inner ear that turn sound vibrations into electrical signals. Each ear shelters fewer than 15,000 of them, and once they are damaged or die, there are no others to take their place. Unlike birds, fish, and some reptiles, humans don’t have the ability to grow new hair cells if some are lost due to disease, drugs, or long-term exposure to noise. So that’s why we have so many people coming into our office to buy hearing aids.

This past May, a group of NIDCD-funded researchers led by Stefan Heller, Ph.D., at Stanford University School of Medicine announced that they had developed a system for making what appear to be functional hair cells from stem cells. Their findings were published in the May 14 issue of  Cell.

This is exciting research because hair cells in the inner ear have a complicated structure. They resemble other kinds of epithelial cells (cells that line the cavities and surfaces of structures in the body) but with a twist. At their tips, hair cells display a spiky bundle of filaments–known as stereocilia–which contain mechanosensitive ion channels that are able to produce electrochemical signals when stimulated by sound vibrations. Building a hair cell from scratch meant not only replicating its complicated architecture, but also endowing it with the ability to respond electrochemically to sound vibrations.

In the lab, Heller and his colleagues began with stem cells from mouse embryos, setting up conditions to mimic what they knew about how hair cells form during fetal development. They tried out various combinations of growth-inducing substances until they found one that made the cells cluster and display hair cell-like characteristics. The key ingredients were chemicals known as fibroblast growth factors (FGF), which were shown in previous studies to be intimately involved in inner ear development.

Eventually their efforts produced groups of cells that looked intriguingly hair cell-like–with recognizable hair cell bundles at their tips–and when stimulated by electrodes, the cells generated electrochemical currents that resembled those made by young hair cells.

With their “ear in a test tube,” Heller and his team also plan to start a series of tests to search for the biochemical basis for the inner ear’s inability to regrow hair cells. Since all the other hair cell-bearing organs in the body are able to replace lost hair cells, it’s not unreasonable to assume that the current structures in the inner ear evolved from structures that once had the capacity for self-repair.

Finding the switch that turns hair cell regeneration on and off could make returning the inner ear’s capacity to grow hair cells as simple as hitting a chemical reset button, although getting there may take some time. “We’re one step further on a journey,” says Heller. “It will take a while until we reach any kind of clinical relevance.”

Different Styles of Hearing Aids

When you have a vision loss, usually you are given two option, glasses or contacts.  Traditionally, hearing aids, like glasses, came in two styles – In-the-Ear or Behind-the-Ear.  With new technology, more options are available.  Traditional in-the-ear hearing aids are usually a molded plastic shell housing the microphone, receiver (speaker) and other electronics.  They come in sizes that vary from a full shell that fills up the entire concha (shell) of your ear down the new invisible-in-the-canal, which are very small and are hidden completely in your ear canal.  Behind-the-ear hearing aids are comprised of a few different styles.  Traditional BTE hearing aids consist of an aid that sits behind your ear that houses the microphone, receiver (speaker) and electronics.  A air-filled tube follows your ear to a custom made earmold that sits in your ear.  New variations of this style include the Mini/Micro size of the aid, which is a smaller version and the open-fit aids.  Open-fit hearing aids have a small aid that sits behind the ear, a small, narrow tube that goes to your canal and either a small “dome” that sits in your ear or a small custom made shell.  Receiver -in-the ear hearing aids have a very small hearing aid behind the ear with a wire that goes into your ear that has a small dome on it.  New recently styles are the invisible-open hearing aid which has a very small hearing aid attached to a tubing and dome that curls around the concha (shell) of your ear and the Instant-Fit CIC that is a ready to wear hearing that sits completely in the canal.  The last style is the extended wear hearing aid.  This aid is inserted deep in your ear canal and worn non-stop for three to four months.

The hearing aid style you receive depends on a few factors.  The most important factor when choosing a hearing aid is the degree of your hearing loss.  Most mild to moderate loss levels can pretty much wear any style of hearing aid.   A more severe loss may warrant a larger aid, such as a traditional BTE or a full-shell ITE so that it can produce enough power.  Other factors to consider are lifestyle, cosmetic importance, ear shape/size, dexterity and shape of hearing loss.  Your hearing health provider can discuss with you the best style for you.

Lyric Hearing Aid

March 29, 2010

Dr. Ross Cushing describes the Lyric Hearing Aid.

Hearing Quiz:

March 26, 2010

1) Do you have trouble understanding conversation in a noisy restaurant or crowded room?

o Yes o No o Sometimes

2) Do you sometimes feel that people are mumbling or not speaking clearly?

o Yes o No o Sometimes

3) Do you experience difficulty fol­lowing dialog in the theater?

o Yes o No o Sometimes

4) Do you sometimes find it difficult to understand a speaker at a pub­lic meeting or a religious service?

o Yes o No o Sometimes

5) Do you find yourself asking people to speak up or repeat themselves?

o Yes o No o Sometimes

6) Do you find men’s voices easier to understand than women’s?

o Yes o No o Sometimes

6) Do you experience difficulty understanding soft or whispered speech?

o Yes o No o Sometimes

7) Do you have difficulty understand­ing speech on the telephone?

o Yes o No o Sometimes

8 ) Does a hearing problem cause you to feel embarrassed when meeting new people?

o Yes o No o Sometimes

9) Do you feel handicapped by a hearing problem?

o Yes o No o Sometimes

10 Does a hearing problem cause you to visit friends, relatives, or neighbors less often than you would like?

o Yes o No o Sometimes

11) Do you experience ringing or noises in your ears?

o Yes o No o Sometimes

12) Do you hear better with one ear than the other?

o Yes o No o Sometimes

13) Have you had any significant noise exposure during work, recreation, or military service?

o Yes o No

14) Have any of your relatives (by birth) had a hearing loss?

o Yes o No

Scoring

2 points for Yes

1 point for Sometimes

0 points for No

Scores of 3 or more: May mean that you have a hearing problem.

Scores of 6 or more: Strongly suggest that a hearing check is warranted.

How Nature Protects the Eardrum

December 28, 2009

The eardrum is a highly sensitive membrane and nature has taken various precautions to protect it from damage:

Cerumen (earwax): The external part of the ear canal contains sweat and sebaceous glands. The glands produce a waxy substance known as cerumen or earwax, which traps bacteria and dust. Cerumen is only produced in the outer third of the ear canal where it can be removed. Never try to clean down inside of the canal yourself. If you have a problem, consult your hearing care professional or physician.

Protective hair: The external part of the ear canal is covered with tiny hairs that act like a curtain to protect the eardrum from dust and dirt. If dust or bacteria do succeed in penetrating the curtain they are trapped by the cerumen.

Ear canal: The eardrum is further protected by bends in the ear canal. This helps prevent objects accidentally entering the ear and damaging the eardrum.

Cerumen and hearing instruments: When you first start wearing a hearing instrument, it often seems like a foreign object in the ear. This feeling disappears after a short familiarization period. All the same, hearing instruments can stimulate the production of cerumen. Some instruments are equipped with a protective cerumen filter to help prevent earwax from entering the instrument. If the outlet of the hearing instrument is blocked by earwax, the volume may be reduced or even cut-off altogether.

A Good Hearing aid fit is Vital

There are two reasons to make sure a hearing instrument fits well – one acoustic, the other anatomical.

The acoustic reason – A loosely fitting hearing instrument can cause feedback (whistling). This happens when the instrument does not fit snugly and the amplified signal finds its way back to the microphone. For comfortable, interference-free hearing, a snug fit in the ear canal is essential.

The anatomical reason – A hearing instrument that does not fit snugly can work its way out of the correct position when its wearer is chewing, yawning or simply talking. This is because the shape of the ear canal is influenced by movements of the jaw. You can feel this by putting the tip of your finger into the ear, then slowly opening and closing your mouth.

Useful Tips for Caring for Your Hearing Aids

Modern hearing aids are durable, easy-to-use and reliable.  Nevertheless, a few simple precautions will ensure that your instruments continue to give you many years of trouble free service.

  • Avoid getting your hearing instruments dirty. Always make sure your fingers are dry and clean before handling your hearing instruments. The microphone inlet is only a few tenths of a millimeter wide and can become blocked easily.
  • Avoid sharp knocks and impact. Insert and remove your hearing instruments over a soft surface (a bed or sofa). Protect your hearing instruments from heat. Never leave your hearing instruments where they may be affected by extreme heat. Protect them from direct sunlight (at home and in a parked car) and do not leave them near radiators. Protect your instruments from dampness. Remove instruments from your ears before showering, bathing, or swimming. Do not leave them in the bathroom where they could suffer water damage. Dry any perspiration inside and around the ears regularly. Dampness and condensation can damage the circuitry in your hearing instruments. We recommend that you leave the battery compartments open overnight and use the special drying kit available from your hearing care professional.
  • Keep your hearing instruments out of the reach of children and pets. Dogs are irritated by the feedback (whistling) sound and attracted by the owner’s scent. Often the result is a chewed up hearing instrument. The hearing instrument battery can be dangerous if swallowed. Consult a medical professional immediately if the battery is accidentally ingested.
  • Avoid contact with make-up or hair spray. The fine particles produced by make-up or hair spray can easily block a microphone inlet. Always remove hearing instruments before using such products.

Troubleshooting Your Hearing Aids

If you are having problems with your hearing aid, there are a few things you can do yourself to try to fix it.


Problem: The volume drops

  • Low battery – replace it.
  • The sound outlet is blocked with earwax – clean with a small brush.
  • Change the cerumen filter.
  • Blocked microphone inlet – consult your hearing care professional.

Problem: The instrument “whistles” in the ear

  • The instrument is not correctly inserted in your ear. Try again.
  • The instrument is in the wrong ear – swap it over.
  • The fit of the instrument is too loose – consult your hearing care professional.

Problem: The instrument does not work

  • There is no battery in it – insert one.
  • The battery compartment is not closed – shut it.
  • The battery is dirty – clean the battery surface.
  • The battery is dead – replace it.

Problem: The instrument slops out of your ear

  • The ear canal is wet or dirty – wipe the hearing instrument and your ear with a soft, dry cloth.

Problem: The instrument hurts your ear

  • The instrument is not correctly positioned – remove and re-insert it. If the problem persists, consult your hearing care professional.

Problem: The instruments is difficult to insert

  • Place a small drop of non-irritating lubricant on your finger and smear onto the ear canal entrance before inserting your instrument. Ensure that no lubricant enters the sound outlet or microphone apertures.

Important:
If the suggestions above do not solve the problem, contact your hearing care professional.

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