Loss of Hearing and Traveling

'Tis the season for airport crowding due to the holidays. As the airports become more and more crowded, individuals suffering from loss of hearing might have a hard time coping.

New Generation Miami Hearing Center will go over the tips given by the Transportation Security Administration that will help you make your traveling less stressful. These include:

1. Do not hesitate to speak with a Security Officer about your hearing loss. Tell the officer the best way in which he/she can communicate with you. According to the TSA “Security Officers are trained to provide whatever assistance they can to persons with hearing disabilities.”

2. Explain to the Security Officer if you need him/ her to face you so you are able to read his/her lips as to understand better. You may also ask for the instructions to be written down if that would be better for you.

3. You do not need to remove hearing aids at security checkpoints.

4. Wear your hearing aids when going through the metal detector.

5. Your Hearing aid won’t be affected by X-ray inspection or walk-through metal detector screening. According to the TSA website “these devices may also safely be screened using Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT).”

6. If you have concerns about going through the screening you can also ask for a full-body pat down instead.

7. Assistive listening devices must undergo x-ray screening.

Charlie Siem: Violinist Raising Awareness on Hearing Loss

Charlie Siem has entertained audiences with his violin. He was born in England and showed his inclination towards music at the age of 3. According to his website, he started playing the violin after “hearing a performance of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto by the late Yehudi Menuhin”. Beethoven himself went deaf at an early age yet his genius level permitted him to continue to compose music in his mind.

Charlie Siem has been named New Generation Miami Hearing Center’s Hearing Health Ambassador. His understanding of the impact loss of hearing can have on a person’s life can be seen in the following statement ”Ever since I was a child my biggest passion has always been music. There are so many kids who do not have the gift of hearing and raising awareness of their needs is so important” With his involvement he will continue to bring understanding on hearing loss.

Hearing Health Affected by Secondhand Smoke

In a previous article we talked about the different studies done over the years to prove the connection between hearing loss and smoking. Now a new study done by the University of Miami in conjunction with Florida International University has shown the relationship between loss of hearing and secondhand smoke.

The study was published in the journal, “Tobacco Control,” which studied 3,000 US adults comparing their hearing health in regards to smoke-exposure. The volunteers were both ex-smokers and those who had never smoked. Each volunteer’s hearing was tested, measuring their hearing over low, medium and high noise frequencies.

Individuals who had secondhand smoke exposure were tested for cotinine which is found in the blood after being in contact with tobacco smoke. The results of these tests showed that exposure to second-hand smoke led to a greater chance of suffering from hearing damage.

According to Dr. David Fabry, who directed the research “We really do not know exactly how much smoke you need to be exposed to in order to be at increased risk. But we do know that the threshold for damage is very low. Really, the safe level of exposure is no exposure."

If you have been exposed to smoke and suspect you might be suffering from hearing loss, visit your local Miami hearing center for a hearing test to diagnose your level of hearing loss.

Amy Winehouse Joins Hearing Health Campaign

Amy Winehouse has become a famous musician since the release of her single "Rehab" which she wrote after firing her management company when they asked her to go to rehab. The British singer is now the New Generation hearing loss ambassador of the week. Through her contribution to the campaign, understanding on hearing health matters such as hearing damage and the usage of hearing aids has increased.

Ms. Winehouse’s musical interests surfaced at the age of 10, when she created a rap duo called “Sweet and Sour.” Growing up in a musical family, with uncles who are professional jazz musicians, Ms. Winehouse was exposed to music from a very young age. She has since endeavored in Soul music which has made her a renowned singer and composer.

The Vasalva Maneuver Preventing Hearing Damage

When traveling by airplane during its descent many people experience an increase in pressure in their middle ear which can be painful. But why does it happen? The reason for this is because the increased pressure results in the Eustachian tubes closing which prevents an even distribution of pressure across the ear drum. There are many techniques out there that help maintain the pressure leveled evenly. These include yawning, swallowing or the Vasalva Maneuver.

In this article we will discuss the Vasalva Maneuver and the effects it might have on your hearing health. This technique is named after the first person who recorded it Antonio Vasalva in the 1700's. The nostrils are pinched closed which allows for pressure to be increased in the chest. It is followed by trying to blow out of the closed nostrils maintaining the cheek muscles retracted. The results of this technique is equalized pressurization of the middle ear.

There are risks associated with this technique which may lead to hearing damage and hearing loss. When trying to equalize the pressure of the middle ear it may result with over pressurization. This may lead to the inflammation of the tissues around the Eustachian tubes.

If, after performing this maneuver, you feel you may have affected your hearing health in a negative way, don’t hesitate to visit your local Miami Hearing center, where an audiologist such as Dr. Joseph Duran will be able to diagnose the damage your hearing might have incurred.