Hearing Damage and Musicians without Hearing Protection
If you play musical instruments, and like to do so in a loud fashion, then it is very plausible that you may experience hearing loss. It isn't guaranteed that your hearing will be affected, but without hearing protection, it is highly likely. Hearing loss is a function of exposure time, sound levels, and the peaks of loud sounds. Exposure to a player's own instrument or nearby instruments can cause hearing loss depending on the intensity and length of exposure. Knowing this, it is important to use hearing protection such as ear plugs.
Drummers need high-attenuation earplugs, since their instrument is highly volatile and has peaks of high pitched and low pitched sounds. Some earplugs that provide too much attenuation are not properly used, as , and as a result they do not insert them deeply in their ears because they can not hear their music and tones well enough. These people risk hearing damage.
There are two types of hair cells in the cochlea; inner and outer. The outer hair cells provide sensitivity for quiet sounds, while inner hair cells send information to the brain. From that we can deduce that the type of instrument or noise one is exposed to may determine the severity of hearing loss that a musician may experience. Always wear your earplugs!
Children Need Early Hearing Screenings
There is a percentage of children born in the United States that have a hearing and vision impairment that initially goes unnoticed. In regards to deafness, it is imperative that hearing loss be detected as early as possible to gauge the future needs of the baby.
Signs of hearing loss should be identified by means of a hearing screening in the first month of life. After a few months, an audiologist should be brought into the picture to see if hearing devices or hearing aids are to be necessary. Many hospitals routinely screen all newborns for hearing loss, and others only do so if hearing impairments or disorders run in the family. Other problems such as low birth weight or other physical anomalies can trigger the need for a hearing test.
Children begin learning speech and language within the first 6 months, therefore it is the most important time for their hearing and vision to be in the best shape for development. Studies show that early intervention for the hearing impaired produces better language skills. Make sure your child is ready to learn and live right!
MarkeTrak VIII: 25 Year Trend Highlights
As the BHI publishes research from the MarkeTrak VIII survey, we will be providing factoids or summaries via this eNewsletter. A PDF version of our first installment in the MarkeTrak VIII research series titled “25-year trends in the hearing health market” is available for download.
The key findings in this 25 year look at the hearing health market are as follows:
- The hearing loss population has grown to 34.5 million over the last generation.
- The prevalence of hearing loss has grown from 266 to 295 people per thousand households in the last 20 years.
- 61% of people with hearing loss are males (virtually unchanged over the past generation.
- 60% of people with hearing loss are below retirement age.
- The incidence of hearing loss in the U.S. is 11.3%.
- Over the last quarter century, the hearing loss population grew at the rate of 1.6 times the population growth primarily due to the aging of America.
- Hearing aid adoption continues to increase slowly to one in four.
- 4 in 10 people with moderate to severe hearing loss use amplification for their hearing loss.
- While 1 in 10 people with mild hearing loss use amplification
- Binaural fittings continue to grow and now 90% of people with bilateral loss use binaural hearing aids.
- Hearing screenings by physicians increased to nearly 15%.
- The first time hearing user profile is virtually unchanged probably meaning that open-fit hearing aids did not tap any new market segments.
- 37% of hearing aids fit are to new users
- Their average age is 68.8
- And their average household income is $54k
- Hearing aid owners on average wait 7 years before purchasing a hearing aid after they learn of their hearing loss; while non-adopters have known about their hearing loss on average for about 12 years.
In terms of life-stage the key market segments for hearing aids are: Retired couples, older singles, working older couples and older parents.
Disposable Hearing Aids Pros and Cons
Aside from regular hearing aids that are normal sold to those that are hearing impaired, disposable hearing aids are available to fight mild to moderate hearing loss. Disposable hearing aids have certain advantages and disadvantages in comparison to wearing traditional hearing devices, and all of them should be considered when choosing a hearing aid.
Disadvantages to disposable hearing aids are very straightforward. Every month it is required to throw away the hearing aid and replace it. This is another element to worry about, furthering yourself from a long-term hearing amplification solution. Also, disposable hearing aids are not custom tailored to your ear, meaning that comfort can be an issue if your ear does not have common contours.
Some advantages to disposable hearing aids are the ease of use for seniors, and the frequency of updates. Using this hearing device would be easier for those who have trouble changing hearing aid batteries if in case it runs out of power. Following the nature of device, every month or so you get an updated version. It may be too expensive to replace a traditional hearing aid whenever a new upgrade is released.
Hearing Devices with Bluetooth – Superior Hearing
Bluetooth is found practically everywhere nowadays. It is used in computers, cellular phones, television speakers, and much more. The wireless technology allows sounds to be transmitted from a Bluetooth-enabled device directly into a special headphone set or earpiece. It is almost hard not to see someone walking down the street with their Bluetooth hearing device on, but what is surprising is that in many cases these hearing devices can also work as hearing aids.
Bluetooth technology seems to have been destined to be combined with the world of hearing aides. Both are wireless means of transmitting and processing sound and were created to make it easier for everyone to hear. A short time after their inception, top hearing device manufacturers utilize the technology to help improve hearing and the quality of life of many people around the world.
The technology is almost like child's play. You can build an ideal computer based hearing aid in a PDA or Smartphone (both of which are far more advanced than any early desktop personal computer) and have it in your pocket. You have more space and chip size to build a better processor to transmit improved and amplified sound. Hearing and vision have been the recipients for a mammoth amount of technology, and Bluetooth technology in hearing devices is the just tip of the iceberg.
Hearing Loss While Running
We have all done it. Our afternoon jog turns into a mobile rock-n-roll concert. It is easy to let our hearing slip away into the blaring music that pumps through our headphones. If we aren't careful with the volume of our hearing devices, hearing loss may be soon to follow.
Sound is measured in decibels (db) with a level of 85 db considered a safe level for constant input. Many music players can play songs up to a level of 120 db. Although after 85 db, that things get dangerous and your hearing begins to deteriorate. A symptom called Noise Induced Hearing Loss can occur only hours after high, intense music.
While running, enjoy the music but make sure that you aren't losing your hearing in the process. you want to be able to hear your friends after it is all said and done. You are doing the right thing by practicing a healthy lifestyle, but include your ears as well as the heart, lungs, and legs in your exercise.
Hearing and Quality of Life for Deaf Children
It is no question that the quality of your child's life is a number one priority. When a child is born hard of hearing or deaf, then many parents believe that this quality will go down significantly. Children that are born without a fine tuned sense of hearing frequently experience troubled times in the social arena. Making friends, communicating, sharing, and learning are all hindered. These situations are all hampered even more if both hearing and vision are affected. Fortunately for these children with special hearing needs, cochlear implants have been proven to bring their quality of life to astronomical levels in comparison to without the implant.
Cochlear implants are electronic hearing devices that partially restore hearing to the deaf or severely hard of hearing individuals. The hearing device is surgically implanted into the inner ear and stimulates the hearing nerve, allowing deaf individuals to receive sound.
A study involving 88 families with children who had cochlear implants measured their quality of life using a short survey. The results revealed children who had a cochlear implant rated their quality of life equal to that of their hearing peers. Giving such happiness and excitement to a child has no price and studies such as this one shows the importance of hearing to a growing child. If your child is experiencing trouble hearing, please take the initiative and looking into hearing aids or other hearing devices.
Hearing App Uses iPhone or iPod as Hearing Amplifier
Who would have thought that there would be an application to improve your hearing. If you are showing signs of hearing loss, there's an app for that. A company called Gingers Labs, has developed threee separate hearing applications that are looking to revolutionize the way we use our personal media devices.
The three new hearing device apps include: soundAMP Lite, a free, high quality introductory hearing app ; soundAMP 2.0, which features the most advanced multi-band sound processing available in this type of device; and soundAMP R that combines the highest quality hearing device with a full-length recording feature. They days of switching between hearing devices are over.
SoundAMP greatly enhances the user's hearing while conversing in small groups, watching TV, or attending concerts. The value of the media player is increased exponentially, as many people already own the players and will not have to buy any more hardware. The devices act as a psuedo-compressor which attenuates louder sounds and amplifies quieter sounds. This leads to improved sound clarity that lets users hear what they have been yearning for in regards to their hearing. Looking forward to the next vision and hearing app!
The Utility of Digital Hearing Aides
Hearing aids are useful devices for those that are showing signs of hearing loss. Not only can it quickly give them signs of improvement, it may be their endgame for a hearing solution. Aside from analog hearing aids, new technology has allowed for digital signal processing to assist in the transformation of muffled, quiet sounds into understandable language and ambiance.
In this century, many different styles of hearing aids have been released that utilize DSP (digital signal processing) to assist in hearing improvement. Digital hearing aids have become more and more prevalent in society, bringing them to an essential level in our daily lives. By converting an incoming signal into numbers that the tiny embedded computer chip can understand, the audio is not only amplified, it is clearer.
Digital hearing aids also allow for the user to identify the position where the sounds are coming from. This adaptive quality is admired for its usefulness in an environment where there is a lot of sound sources. Using a digital hearing aid fosters a better life for those that suffer from hearing loss. Soon we will be able to improve both our hearing and vision with digital signals!
Waterproof Hearing Aides Come Closer
Losing your hearing and vision is not something to sit around and wait for. A growing number of senior citizens are retaining their active lifestyles of the past. Power walking, swimming, heavy gardening, and other activities are quickly filling up their morning. The signs of hearing loss or vision loss should not hold any of them back, and neither should their necessary devices that combat these hindering attributes. To complement these active lifestyles, hearing aid makers are looking to make their designs waterproof, allowing those with hearing devices to swim without worry.
About 60 swimmers have begun testing a next-generation waterproof hearing aid this month, looking to see if stronger coatings can withstand multiple swimming session in a week's time. Many seniors find that swimming is a gentler alternative than jogging or other impact-heavy activities. Vision and hearing loss should not play a factor in the fitness level of anyone, and researchers are looking to destroy this stigma that has stalked their golden years.