New Study: 1 in 5 Over the Age of 12 Have a Hearing Loss

Reposted from http://news.yahoo.com/hearing-loss-far-more-common-expected-210408085.html

MONDAY, Nov. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Hearing loss affects
about one-fifth of Americans aged 12 and older, a far higher number than previously believed, researchers report.

They examined data from people whose hearing was tested during National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys (NHANES) from 2001 to 2008. Based on the World Health Organization's definition of hearing loss (unable to hear sounds of 25 decibels or less in the speech frequencies), the NHANES data showed that 12.7 percent (30 million people) of the U.S. population aged 12 and older had hearing loss in both ears and 20.3 percent (48 million
people) had hearing loss in at least one ear.

Previous estimates put the numbers at 21 million to 29 million.

This new study also found that rates of hearing loss nearly doubled with every decade of age, and that women and blacks were significantly less likely to have hearing loss at any age.
It's not clear why women and blacks are less likely to experience hearing loss, study leader Dr. Frank Lin said in a university news release.

Lin is an assistant professor with dual appointments in both the department of otolaryngology-head & neck surgery at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and in the department of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

It may be that the female hormone estrogen and the melanin pigment in darker skin could have a protective effect on the inner ear, which Lin and colleagues plan to investigate in future studies.

Lin said the findings of this study, published Nov. 14 in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, will help research into hearing loss and its potential consequences such as cognitive decline, dementia and poor physical functioning.

"This gives us the real scope of the problem for the first time and shows us how big of a problem hearing loss really is," Lin said.

If you would like to learn more about hearing loss, go to www.utahhearingaids.com. To schedule a free hearing exam and consultation with a board certified audiologist, call 801-770-0801.

Why NOT To Use Cotton Swabs To Clean Your Ears

An old saying tells us not to stick anything in our ears smaller than our elbow.  Audiologists have told their patients this for years.  It seems like common sense, but a new study has confirmed that there is a direct association between those who ignore that advice and use cotton swabs to clean their ears and ruptured ear drums.

When you clean your ears with a cotton swab, you risk damaging your ear drum if the swab goes too far into the ear. A study shows, that more than half of the people who visit ear, throat and nose specialists confess to using cotton swabs to clean their ears.

A ruptured eardrum, also known as tympanic membrane perforations (TMP), is a tear in the tympanic membrane, which separates the outer ear from the inner ear. A ruptured eardrum may be accompanied by sharp ear pain, an earache, ear drainage, ear ringing or buzzing, dizziness or hearing loss. In severe cases, vertigo and facial paralysis can occur.

A ruptured eardrum can lead to discomfort, and even though the study showed that most cases healed on their own within two months, surgery can in some cases be required.
Alternative ways to clean your ears

As for alternative ways to clean your ears, study co-author Dr. Michael Seidman, director of the division of otologic and neurotologic surgery at Henry Ford Hospital, recommends these methods:

• Mix equal amounts of cool peroxide and hot tap water. Allow the mixture to reach body temperature and then gently irrigate the ear. No more than twice a month.
• Mix one part plain vinegar and one part water and use four or five drops once a week.
• Try an over-the-counter ear wax removal product and follow the directions carefully.
• Make an appointment with a doctor to have ear wax removed.   Those in Utah County can call 801-770-0801 to schedule a wax-removal appointment.  You can also go to our website at www.utahhearingaids.com for more information on the ear.

The study

The study was carried out by researchers from Henry Ford Hospital. In the study, the researchers examined the medical records of 1,540 patients who suffered from ruptured eardrums between 2001 and 2010.

Tinnitus and Neuromonics for our Veterans

Did you know that tinnitus is one of the most common post-war complaints of our returning soldiers?  Watch this CNN story about one soldier's experience and how Neuromonics helped him.

Should I Get Help For the Ringing In My Ears?

Nothing is as scary as something that you don't understand.  Educating yourself about any condition is the first step to treating it.

Even though tinnitus usually begins with a hearing loss, the problem is not exclusive to the ears. It is the result of neurological mis-fires in the auditory system and within the parts of the brain that affect your conscious thoughts and emotions.

Every case of tinnitus is unique, but there are some commonly accepted explanations for its cause.

In our brains, there is neurological activity occurring all of the time. Normally, this activity is “masked” by everyday sounds.  When something happens to alter the natural balance of activity (such as a hearing loss, head trauma, etc…), the neurological activity is changed and the brain interprets this activity as sound. This could be a rustling, whistling or ringing sound—and it is this sound that it known as tinnitus.

50 million Americans suffer from tinnitus, but only about 4% of those suffer badly enough to seek professional treatment.  This first step in treatment is an evaluation by an audiologist who will diagnose the problem and present treatment options and recommendations.

So how do you know if you are one of the 4% who should seek professional help?  Follow this link to take a simple online self evaluation.  If you have any questions or would like to schedule an evaluation with the ONLY clinic in the Intermountain West that is able to provide both Neuromonics and Tinnitus Retraining Therapy, call 801-770-0801.

You can also sign up for our free education seminar on November 15th in Lehi, UT to have any questions answered and to hear about the latest treatment options.  RSVP by calling 801-770-0801.