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.
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.
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.
Link between Painkillers and Hearing Loss
AudiologyNow! 2010 – April 14-17, 2010 – San Diego
This will be my second time attending the conference as a student volunteer. It is a great opportunity to learn about the research and technological advancements in the field of audiology. I plan to come away with insightful information to share on this blog!
Visit the AudiologyNOW! website for more information.
Joey McIntyre (New Kids on the Block) talks about their 3 month old son’s hearing loss
Ringing in the ears
Definition of tinnitus: Tinnitus is the medical term for the perception of sound in one or both ears or in the head when no external sound is present. It is often referred to as “ringing in the ears,” although some people hear hissing, roaring, whistling, chirping, or clicking. Tinnitus can be intermittent or constant-with single or multiple tones-and its perceived volume can range from subtle to shattering (American Tinnitus Association).
What causes it? There are a few causes of tinnitus; these include hearing loss, exposure to loud noise, certain types of medicines, allergies, tumors and problems in the heart and blood vessels, jaws and neck. In most cases, tinnitus is a result of damage to the microscopic endings of the hearing nerve in the inner ear. Typically, the younger the person, the more likely it is that their tinnitus is a result of loud noise exposure.
What should you do if you are experiencing the symptoms of tinnitus? Go see a doctor and he or she will try to determine the cause. Your doctor may refer you to an ENT to examine your ears and an audiologist, who can test your hearing.
Are there any treatments? Yes. Although there is no cure for tinnitus, there are some treatments that can provide relief. Treatments include maskers, medicine, relaxing and more. Click here for a complete list of treatments:
Treatments
I have talked to several people that suffer from tinnitus and they describe it as being sometimes difficult to deal with and distracting. It is important to find a treatment method that works and practicing it. Some people find that listening to the TV or music helps to mask the ringing or buzzing. With proper treatment, it is possible for most people to live a normal life.
LISTEN: audio simulation which mimics what tinnitus (ringing in the ears) (click on link to play)
Tinnitus simulation by Dr. Billy Martin of the Oregon Hearing Research Center at Oregon Health & Science University has created the following sound clip that will give you an idea of what it sounds like to suffer from tinnitus.
Resources:
American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
American Tinnitus Association
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCH)