Auctioning of hearing aids for Hear Indiana’s "Talk Walk Run 2010" event
The non-profit Indiana chapter of the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Hear Indiana’s “Talk Walk Run 2010” event is being held on Saturday, May 1, 2010.
The purpose of the 5K walk or run is to raise awareness and funds for children with hearing loss. One of the ways they are raising funds is through an auction of books, hearing loss related products, and sports memorabilia on their website. What’s interesting is that they are auctioning a pair of Phonak Naida IX hearing aids at a starting bid price of $2,000 for both. There are current no bids on the item and the auction ends on April 29 at 10:00 p.m. The retail price of this hearing aid varies depending on the practice, but the Naida IX can retail for approximately $3,000 each.
Please remember that this hearing aid is not appropriate for every individual. Consult with your audiologist about whether or not this hearing aid is appropriate for you. Learn more about the Naida IX on Phonak’s website.
Here are the restrictions listed on their website:
Restrictions:
Naída is water resistant and available in 19 colors and four different styles. With the help of your audiologist, you may choose your color and style. Please contact your audiologist or Paul Kreimer (800-777-7333 or paul.kreimer@phonak.com) if you are unsure if this hearing aid is right for you.
New website – Deafteens.org
Here is one particular touching story from the website: “My Story” By JoEllen R., age 18
via Hearing Sparks
Phonak Audéo PFE, Perfect Fit Earphones
- 1 pair of Audéo Perfect Fit Earphones with microphone
- Audio filter box with 6 audio filters (2 grey, 4 black)*, and changing tool
- Silicone ear tips – 3 pairs (1 pair S, 1 pair M, 1 pair L)
- ComplyTM foam tips – 1 pair M
- Cleaning tool for ear tips
- 2 silicone ear guides
- Carrying case
Science Daily: Structure of inner-ear protein is key to both hearing and inherited deafness
Thousands of microscopic hair cells located in the cochlea of the inner ear are extremely sensitive structures. Stereocilia are hair-like structures located on the hair cells and tip-links are filaments that connect the stereocilia in bundles. These structures are involved in the depolarization process, which ultimately leads to the excitation of the auditory nerve resulting in physiologic percept of sound.
ScienceDaily.com released an article on April 17, 2010 about new studies from the labs of David Corey, professor of neurobiology at Harvard Medical School and Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, and Rachelle Gaudet, associate professor of molecular and cellular biology at Harvard University’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences. The group performed studies on one of two proteins, cadherin-23, that join to form each tip-link. Their studies show how mutations of the protein can make this otherwise extremely strong protein to weaken in its calcium bonding, resulting in inherited deafness. When weak, stress can cause this bond to “break in billionths of a second.”
Read the awesome article: Structure of inner-ear protein is key to both hearing and inherited deafness
Apple explains the science of sound and listening responsibly
On December 30, 2009, Apple Inc won their appeal for iPod hearing loss lawsuit. The appeals court in San Francisco ruled that the plaintiffs failed to show that use of the iPod poses an unreasonable risk of noise-induced hearing loss. Senior Judge David Thompson wrote, “At most, the plaintiffs plead a potential risk of hearing loss not to themselves, but to other unidentified iPod users” (via Reuters). I believe that the lawsuit was originally filed in 2007.
Tips from Audiologists for dealing with noisy restaurants
- Sit in tables in alcoves, which provide a barricade against sound waves.
- Avoid sitting by the bar or kitchen.
- Avoid sitting near large parties, who tend to talk louder.
- Ask for additional light and look at your dining companion. Without realizing it, we read lips.
- Ask management to turn the music down, even if you get dirty looks. Not only does this reduce noise, but people will then talk more softly.
- Look at photos of the restaurant ahead of time. No carpet or tablecloths and boxy dimensions should raise red flags.
Why such noisy restaurants?
An excerpt from the article about the SF restaurant pictured above read: “The staff of La Mar in San Francisco realized noise was a problem immediately after opening, says general manager Andrew Generalao. It was a “low priority,” Mr. Generalao says, until a local reviewer printed that the decibel level was 80—just under the level audiologists consider damaging to hearing after long-term exposure.”
What is an Audiologist?
More often than not, when someone asks me what I am studying and I reply with “audiology,” I see a curious look on the face that is accompanied with “what is that?” Other times, people are able to make some connection to the ear. I enjoy educating others about the field of audiology and the scope of practice for an audiologist. I feel strongly about the positive difference we can make in patients’ lives in helping them hear better, which can ultimately lead to an improved quality of life. Having said that, audiologists are not only involved in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss, but also evaluate those individuals with balance problems.
Etymotic custom earpieces – are they worth it?
Check out a video of the custom earpieces – Wall Street Journal