Hearing Loss Doesn’t Have to Slow You Down

Hearing loss can be problematic in a number of ways. Not being able to hear shuts you out of conversations, makes it difficult to watch the telly, and can sometimes lead to social isolation. But we want you to know that things do not have to be this way. Hearing loss does not have to slow you down, as evidenced by the many people we help every day.

Need further proof? Then consider the example of an 80-year-old man from Plymouth considered to be Britain’s oldest disc jockey. Don Barker plays regular gigs in and around Plymouth to throngs of party goers and a group of about 30 fans who follow him to his shows. Don has age-related hearing loss, but that hasn’t slowed him down. He just uses a hearing aid.

Music has pretty much been Barker’s life since he left the Royal Navy to begin DJ work in 1977. Though he is known to play a variety of music as needs dictate, he focuses mainly on disco. Why? Because disco is something people can dance to. And for Barker, that’s what it’s all about. It is thrilling for him to spin his records and encourage people to get up off their bums and start jiving.

We understand that suffering from hearing loss can be a difficult thing. We know that people with normal hearing do not necessarily understand what it’s like to not be able to hear. But we also know that modern hearing aids can do wonderful things. Hearing loss does not have to slow you down; just ask Don Barker. You can still get out there and enjoy life to the fullest even if you don’t hear as well as you did when you were 20. And of course, disco is always on the table.

The Original article Published at Darroch Hearing Blog

The Difference Between a Hearing Aid and a Cochlear Implant

Scientific advancements now make it possible to address all sorts of hearing problems using everything from hearing aids to cochlear implants. What should be made clear is that solutions are applied based on patient need. Along those same lines, a cochlear implant is a unique device that can only be used to address certain kinds of hearing loss. To say that a cochlear implant is not the same thing as a hearing aid is to state the obvious.

A hearing aid is essentially an amplifier. It cannot restore the physical function of the ear to what it was at birth, but it can make hearing sounds easier by amplifying them in the right way. Hearing aids are considered external appliances even though you can buy models that fit completely in the ear canal.

A cochlear implant is used to address profound hearing loss resulting from the basic mechanisms of the ear no longer working. It involves implanting a device in the head – under the skin – that will stimulate the nerves responsible for carrying signals from the ear to the brain. An external piece ‘connects’ with the implant via magnets. The cochlear implant sends signals to the brain that mimic sound without actually producing them.

As you can see, the hearing aid is an amplifier while the cochlear implant is a sound simulator. Both can be used to address different kinds of hearing loss in patients of all ages. If you have any questions about your own hearing loss, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We are here to help restore your hearing as best we can.

The Original article Published at Darroch Hearing Blog

The Hidden Issues of Hearing Loss

To people who have never experienced any form of hearing loss, losing one’s hearing may not seem like that big a deal. After all, you can always turn up the television and speak a little louder, right? Actually, there’s more to it than that. There are a number of hidden issues relating to hearing loss. These hidden issues are things others cannot see.

Not being able to hear properly automatically puts one at a disadvantage. It’s simple to understand if you think about it. People without hearing loss don’t tend to think about others with hearing problems because it is not something that crosses their mind. As a result, they don’t consider how their actions might impact others with hearing loss.

Hearing loss can lead to things such as:

Social Isolation – People with hearing loss can get frustrated in social situations to the point that they stop engaging with others. It’s not unusual for isolation to set in as a result.

Stress and Anxiety – When hearing loss is accompanied by tinnitus (which is actually quite common), the result can be stress and anxiety. Having to listen to constant ringing in the ear can be more than some people can handle.

Broken Relationships – Though it is sad to see, there are times when hearing loss drives a wedge between people to the extent that the relationships are broken.

We do what we do at Darroch Hearing Clinics because we know how serious the hidden issues of hearing loss can be. We are here to help you if we can. Please contact us to book your free hearing test or to learn more about our full range of hearing aids and related services. We may be able to improve your hearing.

The Original article Published at Darroch Hearing Blog

3 Things that Cause Hearing Aids to Whistle

We see a lot of different hearing aid problems here in our clinic. One of them is whistling. Yes, hearing aids can generate a whistling noise that not only reduces their effectiveness but also makes wearing them rather annoying. If you’ve noticed your hearing aid whistling, stop in and see us. We can probably take care of the problem without expensive repairs being necessary.

The three most common causes of whistling hearing aids are:

1. Improper Fit

In order for hearing aids to work as they should, they need to fit snugly into the ear canal so that no sound can escape. An improper fit that allows escaping sound causes feedback that the hearer recognises as whistling. It’s a lot like a microphone feeding back if it’s too close to a speaker. Improper fit can be addressed through modifying the moulding or showing you a better way to insert the hearing aid.

2. Damaged Tubing

The tubing on your hearing aid is that which carries sound from the speaker into your ear canal. Therefore, if the tubing is damaged, it creates the same kind of problem you would experience if the earpiece doesn’t fit properly. Sound escapes and causes feedback. The thing to understand about tubing is that it wears out and breaks down over time. The average hearing aid needs to be re-tubed every 4 to 6 months.

3. Excess Earwax

The third cause of a whistling hearing aid actually has nothing to do with a hearing aid itself. It is the result of excess wax build-up that doesn’t allow the hearing aid to fit properly. The simple solution is to remove the wax from the ear. Most hearing aid wearers need this simple procedure from time to time.

The Original article Published at Darroch Hearing Blog

How Can a Hearing Aid Help with Tinnitus?

In our last blog post, we discussed three things you might not know about tinnitus. Among them is the fact that there are two different kinds of tinnitus, the most common being subjective tinnitus. In this post, we want to discuss how hearing aids can help people suffering from this form of the condition. Keep in mind that subjective tinnitus is almost always linked to hearing loss.

When a person begins to lose some of his or her hearing, whether that is due to age, illness or some sort of injury, the result is less auditory stimulation from external noises. Think of it in terms of standing under a tree during a rainstorm. The train does not prevent all the precipitation from getting through, but it does prevent some of it. Hearing loss results in fewer external sounds making it to the auditory portion of the central nervous system.

Tinnitus is caused by the brain trying to make up for the loss of those external sounds. The brain processes the limited frequencies it is exposed to in different ways, resulting in tinnitus. People with tinnitus related to hearing loss are often suffering from a loss of higher frequency recognition. Thus, tinnitusis often described as a high-pitched ringing in the ears.

With all of that said, let’s talk about how a hearing aid can help. Hearing aids can amplify certain frequencies depending on the needs of the patient. Digital hearing aids are especially adept at this. By amplifying the frequencies that are not heard as well, a hearing aid can make up for the loss of natural sound. This can prevent some of the frequency modification happening in the brain. A hearing aid can also provide enough amplification to mask the tinnitus.

The Original article Published at Darroch Hearing Blog

3 Things You Might Not Know about Tinnitus

Tinnitus is a condition affecting tens of millions of people around the world. Also known as ringing in the ears, tinnitus can range from being mildly annoying to completely debilitating. It all depends on how the individual deals with the distraction tinnitus is known to cause.

Here at Darroch, there are several different methodologies we can use to approach the issue of tinnitus. There are also a number of studies currently underway with the hope of finding a pharmaceutical treatment to alleviate the condition. In the meantime, here are three things you might not know about tinnitus:

1. The Causes of Tinnitus Are Many

Tinnitus is a symptom of an underlying health issue in most cases. Tinnitus can be caused by obstructions in the middle ear, head and neck trauma, sinus pressure, and other conditions. It is most commonly caused by noise or age-related hearing loss.

2. There Are Two Kinds of Tinnitus

There are two types of tinnitus, the first being subjective tinnitus. This first variety comprises just about 99% of the known cases. With subjective tinnitus, there is no sound recognised by anyone other than the sufferer. Objective tinnitus, which accounts for 1% of the world’s cases, does involve a sound that is audible to both the sufferer and others around him or her.

3. There Are Ways to Measure Tinnitus

Though 99% of all tinnitus cases are subjective in nature, there are still ways to evaluate the characteristics of tinnitus and how these impact the individual sufferer. We do it through things such as speech recognition tests, acoustic reflex testing, and pure tone audio testing.

If you’re suffering from tinnitus, we urge you to contact Darroch right away. We might be able to help alleviate your discomfort significantly.

The Original article Published at Darroch Hearing Blog

Your Hearing Is More Delicate Than You Know

Some of our blog readers are people investigating digital hearing aids for older loved ones. It is that group of individuals we want to address in this post by stating the following: your hearing is more delicate than you know. So many things can affect hearing over a person’s lifetime that it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly why certain individuals suffer hearing loss while others do not.

As one example, did you know that a recent study reported by the Daily Mail and echoed by the NHS indicates that long-term use of certain over-the-counter painkillers can contribute to hearing loss in women? Indeed, the study found a link between long-term use of paracetamol or ibuprofen and hearing loss.

Researchers discovered that women who used NSAIDs at least twice per week for 12 months or longer had a higher risk of hearing loss compared to those who didn’t use the painkillers quite as often. Furthermore, the risk of hearing loss increased with the length of time subjects used the drugs.

What is not clear is the cause-and-effect. One possible explanation is that certain NSAID drugs can damage multiple components of the ear including its protective layer and the tiny hairs that vibrate when sound waves are present. Researchers also say that NSAIDs can reduce blood flow to the ears.

The NHS recommends checking with your GP for other options if you find yourself taking over-the-counter painkillers, like ibuprofen, on a regular basis. If there are other ways to treat your pain, you may be able to reduce your risk of developing hearing loss in the future.

Darroch offers free hearing tests if you’re concerned about your hearing right now. If you are suffering hearing loss, you may benefit from a digital hearing aid.

The Original article Published at Darroch Hearing Clinics Blog