Can Treating Hearing Loss Lower Your Risk of Dementia?

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A poorly fit hearing aid is a missed opportunity for your ears and your brain. At the San Francisco Hearing Center, we use real-ear measurements at every fitting to make sure you are getting exactly the sound your brain needs to stay sharp.

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By: Lisa Monardi, AuD

The most precious gifts in our lives are our senses: our vision, hearing, touch, taste, and smell – the building blocks of how we perceive and understand our world. Our senses are so common to us every day that it becomes easy to take them for granted. This is especially true for our sense of hearing. We wake up every day just assuming we will be able to hear our magnificent world the same way we always have. Simple pleasures such as children’s laughter, waves crashing on the shore, the words “I love you” or even just a funny comment made by a friend can all become important sources of happiness that brighten our day.

We rarely think about our sense of hearing until we begin losing it. Yet, hearing is one of the most common senses to decline for all of us. It is easy to take hearing for granted, which is why it is that much more important to step back and appreciate it.

Close your eyes and listen:

• What do you hear?
• What don’t you hear anymore?
• Do you miss hearing something?
• How does your hearing affect you socially or emotionally?

Some people are born without hearing, but most people lose hearing gradually due to exposure to loud noise, diseases, and as human age, we naturally start to lose our ability to perceive higher frequency sounds associated with speech clarity. Sounds such as “f,” “th,” “s” and women and children’s voices. It’s easy to joke about the last one — and chalk it up to selective hearing! — but it’s less amusing when our relationships are affected negatively, or we feel isolated or left out. People receive great pleasure from sound. A bird singing outside your window, listening to music, and conversations with other people bring us joy.

The actual perception of sound occurs in our brain, not our ears. The ears collect and convert sound to nerve impulses which are transmitted to the brain. With so much of our brain’s ability to learn and develop tied to the stimulus received from our ears, hearing loss or a lack of sound stimulus referred to as auditory deprivation may have a negative impact on brain function and memory over time.

The good news is that properly fit hearing aids can improve hearing loss and ease of listening. Research from the University of Maryland (UMD) Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences (HESP) shows that the use of hearing aids over a period of six months not only restores the capacity to hear but can improve the brain’s processing speed and working memory too. Findings from the study were published recently in Clinical Neurophysiology.

We should be grateful for the hearing we do have – preserve it and take steps to make the most of the hearing we do have. Your brain depends on it and improved hearing can have a remarkable impact on your health and happiness.

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Dr. Lisa Monardi, Audiologist, has been helping people with hearing loss for over 20 years. Her life’s work and passion has been about maximizing one’s hearing potential. She is the owner of Marin Hearing Center and San Francisco Hearing Center, audiology clinics located in Corte Madera and San Francisco, California.

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 Have questions or need your hearing aids checked or cleaned? Call 415-346-6886

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There are a number of tests that you may encounter and the audiologists at San Francisco Hearing Center can provide the world-class services you deserve irrespective of which tests are right for you. Here’s all you need to know about the most common hearing tests before booking your appointment.

Why are there different types of hearing test?

When you think about things logically, it should come as little surprise to learn that various tests are used. After all, every person has a unique hearing profile while it’s worth remembering that there are various types of hearing loss including conductive, sensorineural and mixed hearing loss.

With this in mind, along with the fact that there are various degrees of severity, it’s understandable that the audiologist may need to try various examinations to provide an accurate diagnosis before finding the right treatment for your specific needs.

The most common hearing tests explained

While the audiologist will know which exams to use depending on your history and individual circumstances. Nonetheless, it’s important to be prepared for the most common types of hearing tests that you may encounter. They are as follows:

Speech testing

A speech test is quite simply an opportunity for the audiologist to test your ability to detect speech and follow a conversation. This will first be conducted in quiet conditions and then repeated in normal conversational conditions. It may also include speech with women and children for pitch purposes.

This should give the audiologist a great chance to analyze your capabilities in both home environments and working environments.

Hearing in noise test (HINT)

HINT testing takes the speech test to another level by replicating noisy environments like the ones which you may find yourself in at various times. In many cases of mild hearing loss, the problems will be most obvious when dealing with these noisy backgrounds.

The HINT test is ideal for people with mild hearing loss who may be worried about any upcoming pre-employment screenings too.

Tone testing

Tone testing allows the audiologist to monitor the highest and lowest frequencies that you are able to hear. By understanding your range, it is possible to make a better decision about your hearing profile and any necessary action.

This is usually completed in a sound booth and the audiologist will ask you to wear headphones before playing the range of sounds and tones.

Tympanometry

An inspection of the eardrum and middle ear allows the audiologist to check the reflexes of the eardrum and inspect the cochlea. Many hearing loss problems are due to issues with these two aspects of ear health and should not be underestimated.

The physical inspection is additionally an opportunity for the audiologist to see whether your hearing loss is caused by temporary issues such as wax build ups or infections.

Industrial hearing screenings

Many jobs require good hearing for employees to perform to their best while many situations, including working with music or heavy machinery, can put your ears at risk. Industrial hearing screenings are the perfect way to spot the early signs of hearing loss.

Early detection can help the audiologist find the right type of ear defense and management tools needed to prevent future damage, keeping your ears in far greater health going forward.

What else can the audiologist test for?

The audiologist may also want to run several examinations to find the underlying reasons for tinnitus, if you have it, while they can also test for reasons behind other issues related to your ear health.

If hearing loss is detected, the audiologist can additionally support you through the process of evaluating the different types of hearing aids. Moreover, another appointment for hearing aid fittings can prepare life as a hearing aids user. From ensuring that you have the perfect model and device to learning about maintenance, this appointment is key.

Essentially, then, the audiologists at San Francisco Hearing Center can provide the comprehensive approach to hearing health that you deserve. And it all starts with the hearing test.

Ready to book your hearing test?

Whichever type of hearing test is deemed right for you, our audiologists are perfectly equipped to conduct the examinations to determine whether you have hearing loss and, if so, decide which type of treatment is right for you.

Take the first step by calling our office today. We look forward to seeing you!

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So in this article, we’re going to explain a couple of the most common signs that you’ll experience when you are due for a hearing test.

Common Signs You Need a Hearing Test:

1. Your workplace is loud but you don’t wear hearing protection

If you work somewhere noisy such as a construction site, a club, or even an airfield, then you may want to consider hearing protection if you aren’t using it already. If you’ve been working for an extended period of time and have neglected hearing protection then it’s a good idea to get a hearing test to see if you’re experiencing some level of hearing loss.

2. You find it difficult to participate in social gatherings

One of the most common signs that you’re suffering from hearing loss and need to take a hearing test is if you find it difficult to follow conversations when you’re at a social gathering. For example, you might ask people to repeat themselves or you might have trouble following a conversation when there are too many people around. The feeling of being surrounded by conversation might even frustrate or annoy you.

3. You’re suffering from tinnitus

Tinnitus is known as a ringing or buzzing sound that only you can hear. It often occurs as a result of changes in the nerves in your ear, hence why it’s commonly related to hearing loss. If you’re experiencing tinnitus then there could be a variety of different reasons why it’s happening. Hearing loss is certainly a plausible option which is why it’s a good idea to take a hearing test.

4. You’re getting comments about your hearing

“Why do you have the TV turned up so loud?”
“You want me to turn the volume higher?”
“I can hear your music from the floor below”
“Didn’t you hear me ringing your phone?

If you get comments like these on an increasingly common basis, then it could be a sign of hearing loss. People usually aren’t afraid to point out if they notice that your volume is too loud or if you fail to hear them. Don’t ignore these comments as it usually means that they’re noticed something out of the ordinary and that something could be your hearing. And a common sign that you need a hearing test.

In most cases, hearing tests take no longer than 30 minutes and they’re an excellent way to help you understand the level of your hearing and if there’s an issue that could be fixed in order to restore your hearing. Make sure you speak with your audiologist if you feel that you may be experiencing hearing loss, as even a minor problem can quickly grow especially if you aren’t aware of how easily you can damage your hearing.

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Problems hearing softer sounds

It’s usually softer sounds that you start struggling with first of all if you are experiencing mild hearing loss issues. These are sounds that begin with ‘f’ or ‘s’ or ‘th’. These sounds might start becoming harder to pick out and understand in everyday conversation because they’re a little more subtle than harder sounds so your hearing has to work harder to notice them.

Feeling like you have plugs in your ears

The feeling that you have plugs in your ears is a common example people use to describe what they’re feeling when they’re suffering from mild hearing loss. Other people it’s like your ears are full of water or something like that. If you’re noticing that sensation and you’re not sure why it’s happening, it could be down to mild hearing loss.

Quieter voices become harder to understand

We all know that some people naturally talk more quietly than others. And you might start to notice that you’re struggling to hear what those people are saying if your hearing is in decline. You might not notice this with most people, but some people definitely have a quieter way of speaking and those voices can start to sound even quieter.

Expending more energy on hearing people

The task of hearing what people are saying is one of those things that will usually just happen naturally, so if you’re noticing that you’re having to strain and expend more energy to hear what people are saying, it might be down to the issue of hearing loss. Having to strain is not ideal and it’s not necessary for people with healthy hearing, so you should get it checked out.

Treatment Options For Mild Hearing Loss

Hearing aids
One of the most common treatments for hearing loss is having a hearing aid fitted. This can be suitable for mild hearing loss, even if it seems like a huge step to take for a relatively minor issue. It’s one of the most effective ways to rebalance a person’s hearing and take away the problems that we mentioned above. Don’t rule it out without considering it.

Compensating via small daily life changes
If you feel like your hearing is not so bad that you need a hearing aid in order to function normally, you might decide to make small changes in your daily life so that this issue doesn’t bother you so much. Compensating by turning up the volume and asking those around you to speak more clearly might be enough for some people.

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What is the Difference Between BTE and ITE hearing aids?

ITE styles

When you’re looking at a smaller hearing aid, you could think about the ITE style of hearing aid. Due to their size and their discreet appearance, they are a good option for those who may feel a little embarrassment about their hearing loss. There are several different types of in the ear style hearing aids, and there are various sizes.

ITE hearing aids are smaller than the behind the ear type, and this can make them difficult to handle if your dexterity is bad. However, this shouldn’t stop you from having this type of hearing aid. There are low-profile styles that feature a half shell or full shell that make them easier to insert and remove into the ear. They’re not normally recommended for those with a severe hearing loss, because the battery doesn’t last as long as the behind the ear type. Those with a severe hearing difficulty generally put their hearing aids through a heavy wear, so need a longer life.

BTE styles

These hearing aids are the largest of the three main styles and can handle multiple features and customizations. Whether you want muted skin tones or more vibrant colors, BTE hearing aids come in a variety of styles to meet your aesthetic wants. Because they are slightly larger than the other styles, they also can be ideal for individuals with dexterity issues.

These are the hearing aids that accommodate a more severe hearing loss, as their battery lasts a lot longer and they’re easier to handle. There are the mini styles that are popping up on the market, which accommodate thinner tubes. The best way to know which is right for you is speaking to your audiologist.

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Examination of the ear

The first thing the audiologist will do is examine your ear. They will look in your ear and see if there are any obvious signs of something wrong, such as a buildup of earwax or infection. After this, they will continue with the rest of the test and check all other invisible possibilities. This will be painless and you should not feel any discomfort during this examination.

Series of tests occurs during a hearing test

Next, the audiologist will perform a series of tests that will include pure-tone testing, speech testing, tympanometry and possibly a few other small tests. These will help the audiologist to determine whether your hearing is working at its optimum level. However, not all of the tests may be necessary so, you might find that you only have three tests performed.

Each test is looking for something different in your ear and your audiologist will perform the tests that are necessary. These tests are non-invasive and should not cause any discomfort.

Explanation of the results

Knowing what happens during a hearing test can help you feel at ease during the test. Once all the tests have been conducted, your audiologist will be able to go through the results with you straight away. It will be explained what each test was for and what they found. If there is anything that was abnormal, they will be able to explain to you what this means and what comes next.

If you don’t understand, you should not be afraid to ask your audiologist to explain again. They are going to be here to help and support you until you understand fully what the results are and how they are going to impact you.

Treatment

Finally, with symptoms and results in hand, the audiologist will recommend the best course of treatment. Hearing aids are the most common method of relieving hearing loss and your audiologist will likely discuss the different options with you.

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Building stronger relationships

Many of us engage in conversation with several people over the course of a single day. Conversation isn’t just built on talking. Listening also plays an essential role. If you find it hard to hear, it can be difficult to follow chats and keep up in social settings. Many of us feel uncomfortable about asking people to repeat themselves, and if you’re finding it increasingly tough to get involved in conversation, you may start to become more withdrawn. How do hearing aids impact your life? Hearing aids can help to strengthen existing relationships and build new friendships and working relationships, as they give people more confidence and the ability to hear other people speaking. When you have hearing aids, you can join in, you can take more out of each conversation and you don’t have to feel anxious in social scenarios.

Improving quality of life

Losing your hearing can knock your confidence and cause you to become isolated. Many people find that using hearing aids improves their quality of life. With hearing aids, people are more likely to socialize again, they may feel more confident at work, and they may also have that extra confidence boost they need to try new things, visit new places and meet new people. If you dread making calls over the phone, going into stores or sitting in a meeting, the idea of taking up a new hobby or joining a group or a society may seem terrifying, but with hearing aids, anything is possible.

Staying safe

Our senses enable us to appreciate the world around us, but they also play a vital role in keeping us safe. When you’re out and about, you use your sense of hearing to detect potential dangers and hazards without even giving it a second thought. When you can’t rely on your hearing, you may become more vulnerable. Hearing aids improve safety by enabling you to detect sounds and noises that may indicate danger, for example, fire alarms. Hearing aids provided by an audiologist will also reduce the risk of accidents on the roads, as you can often hear oncoming traffic before you see it.

If you’re finding it difficult to hear, you may be thinking about the possibility of wearing hearing aids. Hearing aids offer an array of benefits for those with hearing loss, and they can have a profound impact on the way you live your life, and what you get out of each and every day. If you have any questions about hearing aids, or you’re not sure if they are the best option for you, don’t hesitate to talk to your audiologist.

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