Study Compares Treatments For Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Hearing health conditions affect millions of Americans today, one of which is Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). This condition is due to constant exposure of loud noise, such as wearing headphones at the highest sound level for hours. An audiologist is able to diagnose SNHL with a hearing test, and provide the correct treatment.

The treatment of SNHL varies from oral prednisone or intratympanic corticosteroid therapy. The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), compared both of these treatments. The results showed that any of these treatments are equally effective in treating this type of hearing damage.

According to Steven D. Rauch, MD, of Harvard Medical School "If all other factors are equal, oral prednisone remains the standard treatment. Oral treatment costs substantially less and causes less discomfort than IT treatment," he explained. "However, if there are medical contraindications to oral steroids, IT treatment is equally effective."

For more information about Sensorineural Hearing loss, as well as the different treatments available, do not hesitate to contact your local Miami hearing center. An expert will be able to guide you in finding the right treatment, which will help improve your hearing health.

Cytomegalovirus Found In Newborns Responsible For Hearing Damage

In previous articles we have discussed the importance of early detection of hearing loss in infants. A recent study done by the University of Alabama at Birmingham examined saliva tests to detect a virus which may cause hearing loss in children, if left untreated.

The virus called cytomegalovirus, can be treated effectively to reduce the risk of hearing health problems. This type of infection is passed from mother to child, and affects thousands of newborns each year.

The study examined mouth swabs from almost 35,000 infants from seven different U.S. hospitals. The virus was found in 97 percent to 100 percent of cases. Study co-author Dr. Suresh Boppana explains, "We now know that we have a test with saliva that works”, he goes on to say, "The challenge is, unlike the dried blood spot [heel stick], which is already used for newborn screening in hospitals across the country, we don't have a system in place for the collection of saliva. But we've shown that if you wanted to test a lot of babies for congenital CMV infection, it can be done."

This new finding will help in early diagnosis of a virus that might lead to loss of hearing. By doing so, children will have a better chance to develop their speech and language abilities normally and prevent hearing damage. If you believe your child might suffer from any kind of hearing condition, contact your local Audiologist.

Understanding Hearing Aids

Hearing aids help a person deal with their hearing loss. As the Phonak website explains, it is important to be patient and realize that getting used to a hearing aid takes time. The adjustment process begins slowly, using the hearing aid for a couple of hours and gradually increasing the duration as you begin to familiarize yourself with the unit.

Phonak, provides with four different exercises that will help in the adjustment process. The first one deals with listening to your own voice, and the sounds around you. Making sure to distinguish them between the familiar sounds and the sounds that seem strange. The second exercise deals with following a conversation. Begin by talking with an acquaintance on the phone, then talking with a person in a quiet environment, and finally watching TV in quiet surroundings.

The third and fourth exercises deal with tolerating loud noises and focusing your hearing. In the third exercise try to have a conversation in a loud environment; the fourth exercise deals with staying focused and becoming an alert listener. In the end, it’s all about practice and getting used to a hearing aid.

Don't forget to visit an audiologist, such as Dr. Joseph Duran, who will help better diagnose the level of loss of hearing and choose the right equipment that will greatly improve your quality of life.

Hearing Aids Tips

Below are recommendations by the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) for new users of hearing aids. ASHA covers the process of not only purchasing a hearing aid, but also the steps required for you to obtain the right equipment.

The hearing aids you're going to by must be regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Although there is an option to purchase these aids online, it is very important to first receive a hearing test from an audiologist, to measure the level of hearing loss you suffer from. In order to receive all the benefits your hearing aid provides, you will also be instructed on its correct usage.

When visiting a certified audiologist, you will receive a hearing health evaluation as well as the right hearing aid for your hearing. When it comes to the price, ASHA explains, a hearing aid is based on “…the style, electronic features, and related needs for professional consultation and rehabilitation services. Hearing aid costs typically increase with more complex and sophisticated circuitry and smaller size.”

If you would like to learn more about the different hearing aids that can help you improve your hearing, do not hesitate to contact your local Miami Hearing Center.

Musical Ability and Hearing Loss

A study done by Northwestern University in Chicago has gone over the relation between musical experience and its effect on hearing health over time. In the study, 37 individuals from 45 to 65 years of age were placed into two different groups: those who have musical experience and those who don’t. The study found a correlation between music, its effect on auditory memory and the ability to hear speech in noisy environments.

As Nina Kraus, director of the Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory in Northwestern’s School of Communication states, “Lifelong musical training appears to confer advantages in at least two important functions known to decline with age -- memory and the ability to hear speech in noise,” She went on to state, “If the materials that you work with are sound, then it is reasonable to suppose that all of your faculties involved with taking it in, holding it in memory and relating physically to it should be sharpened.”

The study provides with information on how a musician’s hearing health development occurs from childhood to old age. Music ability may improve hearing and allow the person to avoid age-related hearing loss or hearing damage. For more information about your hearing health and how to prevent loss of hearing visit your local Miami Hearing Center.