Hearing Health Spring 2015 by Hearing Health Foundation

The Ultimate Consumer Resource on Hearing A publication of

Hearing Health Spring 2015

The

8 Tips for Better Communication

BREAK THE STIGMA

Students Share Wise Words of Support

Issue

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c o nt e nts

A publication of

Hearing Health vol. 31, no. 2, spring 2015

Departments 6

HHF News

28 Ask the Doctor 30 Arts & Culture

32 Assistive Advice 34 Hearing Aids 101 36 Marketplace 38 Meet the Researcher

features

anaging Hearing Loss The Answer Is Simple. Why should M you get your hearing tested and treated? Because your health and happiness may be at stake. Kathi Mestayer

12 Managing Hearing Loss If You Embrace Your Hearing Loss,

You Deal With It Better. Supportive environments and positive attitudes empower students with hearing loss. Melissa Griswold, M.E.D.

16 Technology Which Hearing Aid Is Right for You? Here are a dozen

common scenarios to help you determine the device that best fits your (or your loved one’s) situation. Yishane Lee

22 Managing Hearing Loss 8 Tips for a Better Conversation

With Someone With a Hearing Loss. Follow this advice to improve communication with friends and family. Shari Eberts

Hearing Health magazine (ISSN: 0888-2517) is published four times annually by Hearing Health Foundation. Contact Hearing Health Foundation for subscription or advertising information at: info@hhf.org or 866.454.3924. Copyright 2015, Hearing Health Foundation. All rights reserved. Articles may not be reproduced without written permission from Hearing Health Foundation. In no way does Hearing Health Foundation nor Hearing Health magazine endorse the products or services appearing in the paid advertisements in this magazine. Furthermore, while we make every effort to publish accurate information, Hearing Health Foundation and Hearing Health magazine are not responsible for the correctness of the articles and information herein. USPS/Automatable Poly

24 Research Examining X-Cells. A special update from the Hearing

Restoration Project illustrates how the unique collaborative nature of the consortium can lead to real discoveries. Peter Barr-Gillespie, Ph.D.

Giving Donate—and Save—Through Planned Giving. While supporting a cause you believe in, a planned gift can provide tax and other long-term benefits.

hearinghealthmag.com | Spring 2015 | 3

Hearing health timeline

Since 1958, Hearing Health Foundation has been the leader in preventing hearing loss and in funding research into advanced treatments. Now we are close to developing the first genuine cure for hearing loss and tinnitus by regenerating the damaged inner ear hair cells that make hearing possible. Help us making hearing loss and tinnitus a thing of the past at hhf.org/donate.

1987

1958

Collette Ramsey Baker founded Deafness Research Foundation to help further research and improve treatments for the millions of Americans with hearing loss.

1961

1960

Creation of the National Temporal Bone Banks Program, to collect and study the human temporal bone. In 1992 the registry was taken over by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD).

Funded research that discovered spontaneous regeneration of hair cells in chickens, thus igniting the field of hair cell regeneration in humans.

Editor Yishane Lee Art Director Julie Grant

1990s

Advocacy for Universal Newborn Hearing Screening legislation increased testing from 5 percent to 97 percent of newborns by 2007.

2002

In celebration of our 50th anniversary, rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange.

1972

Associate Editor Laura Friedman Medical Director David S. Haynes, M.D.

Advertising Sales Franzi Bulow GLM Communications fbulow@glmreps.com Editorial Committee Robert A. Dobie, M.D.; Judy R. Dubno, Ph.D.; Melissa E. Heche, Au.D.; Stefan Heller, M.D., Ph.D.; Anil K. Lalwani, M.D.; Joscelyn R.K. Martin, Au.D.; Cynthia Morton, Ph.D.; Allen Ryan, Ph.D.; Samuel H. Selesnick, M.D. Board of Directors Shari S. Eberts, Chairman; Robert Boucai; Judy R. Dubno, Ph.D.; Rebecca Ginzburg; Roger M. Harris; David S. Haynes, M.D.; Collister “Terry” Johnson; Elizabeth Keithley, Ph.D.; Michael C. Nolan; Paul E. Orlin; Peter Steyger, Ph.D.; Nancy M. Williams

2010

Launched Safe and Sound prevention program to prevent noise-induced hearing loss.

1977

Senior Editor Amy Gross

Staff Writers Samuel R. Atcherson, Ph.D.; Courtney M. Campbell, Au.D.; Barbara Jenkins, Au.D.; George Khal; Kathi Mestayer; Nannette Nicholson, Ph.D.; Elizabeth Stump

2008

Began funding research on cochlear implants. This remains a primary area of research funding, with later grants exploring single channel versus multichannel implants, speech perception among cochlear implant users, and implants for children.

vol. 31, no. 2, spring 2015

Publisher Claire Schultz CEO, Hearing Health Foundation

Acquired Hearing Health magazine, the ultimate consumer resource on hearing.

Honored Georg von Békésy with an achievement award in New York City, where he learned he had won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Hearing Health

2011

Funded research in outer ear hair cell motility that led to a new method for measuring the health of a newborn’s ear.

Hearing Health Foundation became the new name for Deafness Research Foundation. Launched the Hearing Restoration Project to develop the first biologic cure for hearing loss and tinnitus.

1985 Started funding research to understand how sensory cells transmit sound from the world to the brain, and began funding tinnitus research.

4 | hearing health | a publication of hearing health foundation

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363 Seventh Avenue, 10th Floor New York, NY 10001-3904 Phone: 866.454.3924 TTY: 888.435.6104 Email: info@hhf.org Web: hhf.org Visit hhf.org/subscribe to get a FREE subscription.

Hearing Health Foundation is a tax-exempt, charitable organization and is eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions under the IRS Code 501 (c)(3). Federal Tax ID: 13-1882107

Bring the Spring Enjoy all the sounds of the new season with the most advanced cochlear implant technology available. Learn about industry-leading innovations in bimodal technology from Advanced Bionics.

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HHF news

News HHF Earns a Four-Star Rating From Charity Navigator Hearing Health Foundation (HHF) was awarded a coveted four-star rating from Charity Navigator for sound fiscal management and a proven commitment to accountability and transparency. This is the highest possible rating, illustrating HHF’s commitment to good governance and highlighting how HHF pursues its mission—to prevent and cure hearing loss and tinnitus and promote hearing health—in a fiscally responsible way. “Donors have a choice as to where they invest their philanthropic dollars,” says Claire Schultz, HHF’s CEO. “We strive to make the greatest impact with every contribution to HHF and are honored to be recognized for our efforts by Charity Navigator, America’s premier charity evaluator.”

Meet HHF’s Newest Staffer HHF is thrilled that Laura Friedman has joined the organization as its communications and programs associate and as Hearing Health magazine’s associate editor. Diagnosed with hearing loss at age 3, she is personally motivated to make the dream of finding a cure for hearing loss and tinnitus a reality. With prior roles in finance and corporate communications, Friedman has used her personal story to help others with hearing loss. She appeared in a Phonak-sponsored YouTube video campaign tracing her adjustment to new hearing aids and will be in an upcoming documentary about living with hearing loss as an adult. Recently appointed to the New York City Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities’ Youth Council, Friedman brings invaluable life experience to her roles at HHF. 6 | hearing health | a publication of hearing health foundation

HHF at the ARO Midwinter Meeting In February, HHF CEO Claire Schultz and staff member Laura Friedman joined over 1,000 clinicians and researchers in the hearing and balance community at the Association for Research in Otolaryngology (ARO) meeting in Baltimore. Along with 200 other attendees, they attended a symposium, which was moderated by Hearing Restoration Project (HRP) Director Peter BarrGillespie, Ph.D., and included progress updates from HRP consortium members. Hyperacusis Research, a sponsor of hyperacusis-related Emerging Research Grants, hosted a dinner where scientists presented research and families shared heartfelt stories of loved ones suffering from hyperacusis, which is the inability to tolerate everyday noise levels without discomfort or pain. HHF Partners With Puro Sound Labs In December, Puro Sound Labs launched Puro Kids, its kidfriendly, volume-limiting, wireless headphones. As an HHF Partner for Hearing Health, Puro Sound Labs is dedicated to reducing the risk of noise-induced hearing loss, such as listening to music at unsafe levels via headphones or earbuds. Puro Kids headphones are part of HHF’s Safe and Sound program, and the company has committed to donating a portion of every sale through 2015 of the $80 headphones to HHF. Find them in select Costco stores and online at purosounds.com. HHF Sponsors Sports for Sound Sports for Sound is nonprofit based in Ohio that organizes a one-day, sports-for-all-ages event that includes road races of various distances, an obstacle course, and a basketball tournament. Founded last year, Sports for Sound holds the races to raise funds to help people afford hearing devices. HHF is proud to be a corporate partner of its second annual event on May 16. Read about the founder, Chase Ross, and how he handled his hearing loss as a young athlete on HHF’s blog, at hhf.org/blog?blogid=114. Follow us on twitter @HearingHealthFn Like us on facebook

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*You should talk to your hearing healthcare provider about who is a candidate for a hybrid implant and the associated risks and benefits of the procedure. Hybrid Hearing is approved only for use with Cochlear Nucleus Hybrid L24 Implant. ©Cochlear Limited 2014. All rights reserved. Hear now. And always and other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of Cochlear Limited or Cochlear Bone Anchored Solutions AB. FUN2192 ISS1 AUG14

managing hearing loss

The

BREAK THE STIGMA

The Answer Is Simple Why should you get your hearing tested and treated? Because your health and happiness may be at stake. By Kathi Mestayer

hy don’t more people with hearing loss get and wear hearing aids? There are dozens of reasons, including the cost, performance in noisy settings, and wanting to avoid appearing old, stupid, or… hearing impaired. The combined effect of these reasons is huge: According to a 2012 report in the Archives of Internal Medicine, fewer than 15 percent of people over age 50 who need hearing aids use them. There’s yet another reason why so many people take a pass on hearing loss treatment: We don’t think we need it. The National Poll on Hearing Health, conducted in 2011 8 | hearing health | a publication of hearing health foundation

by ASHA/AARP (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association/American Association of Retired Persons), asked 2,000-plus AARP members a variety of questions about hearing loss. Almost half (47 percent) said they had untreated hearing issues. Of those who self-reported a hearing loss, 58 percent felt that “minor hearing difficulties are easy enough to live with untreated.” Over a third (37 percent) agreed that “unless my hearing difficulty is severe, I am unlikely to want to be treated for it.” And 72 percent of the group surveyed agreed that “most

Photo credit: istockphoto.com/izusek (above); courtesy of Kathi mestayer (right)

Issue

managing hearing loss

people have hearing difficulty as they get older, so it’s not important to get treated.” Combined, these responses say that many people simply don’t see a compelling reason to be treated for hearing loss.

Why Should I? If we take these results at face value, it’s clear a lot of people with hearing loss think there is no problem. Maybe the real question we need to answer for people who do not treat their hearing loss is: “Why should I get a hearing aid?” The answer: because you are likely to be happier. And more socially active. And maybe even healthier. That answer is not a slam dunk, however. The validity of these assertions has been studied for decades, and the research continues. A team led by Frank Lin, M.D., Ph.D., of the Johns Hopkins Center on Aging and Health (who collaborated on the Archives of Internal Medicine study cited above) is ramping up to collect more data on whether, how, and why treatment of hearing loss makes a difference. The National Institutes of Health-funded study, known as SMART (Studying Multiple Outcomes After Rehabilitative Treatment), will include a randomized control trial focusing on how treating hearing loss in older people, ages 50 and up, may reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Quality of Life Once people who need hearing aids get and wear them, they notice a big difference. A whopping 73 percent of hearing aid wearers in the ASHA/AARP study said that hearing aids improved their quality of life, making it “somewhat better” or “much better.” Even though we don’t yet know why or how treating hearing loss improves quality of life, research indicates that it does. One landmark study, from 1990, came from Cynthia Mulrow, M.D., in the Annals of Internal Medicine (where Mulrow is now a senior deputy editor). The study looked at 188 veterans, all with hearing loss, who were divided randomly into two groups of roughly equal size. One group was fitted with hearing aids, and the other (the control group) was waitlisted, with their prior consent, for hearing aids for the four-month period of the study. Both groups answered identical questions at the beginning of the study, at six

weeks, and at four months, regarding their quality of life (comprising social, cognitive, and physical components). The research results showed big differences between people in the two groups, in two key measures: selfreported “emotional and social effects of hearing loss”; and “perceived communication difficulties due to hearing loss.” Examples of the questions included whether difficulty with hearing “limits/hampers your personal or social life” and causes “difficulty when visiting friends, relatives, or neighbors.” Both groups also rated their agreement with the statements: “I do not socialize as much as I did before I began to lose my hearing” and “Since I have trouble hearing: (a) I do not like to go places with friends, or (b) I hesitate to meet new people.” New hearing aid wearers showed significant improvement (69 percent did better in terms of emotional and social effects, and 39 percent in communication). In contrast, the control group did not show any statistically significant change in those two scores during the four months of the trial. A follow-up study found the boost for the hearing aid group lasted 12 months. Asked about these implications today, Mulrow says, “It’s a reasonable inference that hearing aids can help improve social interaction and quality of life for some older people with mild to moderate hearing loss.”

Isolation and Your Health In the years since that landmark study, additional research has been published on the impacts of social activity, isolation, and loneliness on overall health. The effects were often measured using different criteria, which can make comparing the findings difficult over time. But a pattern is emerging. A 2012 study in the journal the Archives of Internal Medicine by Carla Perissinotto, M.D., of the Geriatrics Division of the University of California at San Francisco, looked at the health impacts of loneliness in older people, with an average age of 71. Just over 1,600 seniors were divided into lonely and notlonely groups, according to a three-question survey that asked whether the subjects felt left out, felt isolated, or lacked companionship. A key Hearing aid components underscore the message of this Zazzle.com button. hearinghealthmag.com | Spring 2015 | 9

managing hearing loss

finding of the research was that “the risk of death among lonely people was 50 percent higher than those who were not lonely during the six-year period.” The data also revealed connections between loneliness, overall fitness, and mobility. These two research papers asked different questions, so the data are not strictly comparable. The 1990 study asked about things like social life, visiting people, and meeting new people; that data indicated that the use of hearing aids improved social interaction and quality of life. In the more recent study, the researchers found that loneliness negatively affects overall health and fitness. Asked about the possible link between treating hearing loss, social activity vs. loneliness, and overall health, Perissinotto says, “I would say that there may be a connection here, and it is worth further investigation.”

Back to Why So, what is the answer to “Why should I get a hearing aid?” How about: “Because you may be more satisfied with your quality of life, less lonely, and even healthier overall.” According to the ASHA/AARP study results, that’s a very important answer for people who are deciding whether to pursue treatment for hearing loss. Even though most of the people in that group said that they did not need treatment, 53 percent “strongly agreed” with the statement “I would be more likely to seek treatment for a hearing difficulty if it would make me less likely to develop other health issues.” More studies like SMART are urgently needed for definitive, comparable data on these connections. In the meantime, we have reason enough to promote treatment for hearing loss. We need to create awareness that hearing

loss is more than just another part of the aging process. At the “Hearing Loss and Healthy Aging” workshop in Washington, D.C., in 2014 held by the National Academies’ Institute of Medicine, Lin of Johns Hopkins said, “Optimal hearing is likely critical for many, many aspects of functioning and healthy aging.” It’s also critical for communicating effectively with healthcare professionals and other caregivers. Medical visits may present a window for raising awareness. Perissinotto puts it this way: “Hearing loss is not something routinely asked about in adults, and patients may not feel comfortable bringing it up with their doctor, or even realize the effect it has on their socialization or their interaction with the world.” People can’t be forced to have their hearing tested, let alone to get hearing aids and consistently wear them. But they may be convinced, or perhaps swayed, by the possibility of better overall health and well-being. And that could make the difference in terms of whether a person chooses to check their hearing and then seek treatment if needed. Staff writer Kathi Mestayer serves on advisory boards for the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Greater Richmond, Virginia, chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America. Her work, “Be Hear Now,” appears on BeaconReader.com. See Mestayer’s related HHF blog post, “Communication Is Critical to Care,” at hhf.org/ blog?blogid=93. For references cited in this article, see hhf.org/spring2015_references. Support a Cure: hhf.org/donate

The HEAR Program to Hear Better The inability to hear clearly in noisy environments is one of the main complaints of new hearing aid wearers, who may give up using them or feel depressed that the aids are not working. A 30-day intervention program by University of Missouri researchers may help. Older adults who participated in the Hearing Aid Reintroduction (HEAR) program tracked the length

of time they wore their hearing aids every day for a month. Then the time they wore them was gradually increased each day. They were also exposed to longer and longer periods of background noises in various environments. The results of the study appeared in the December 2014 issue of the journal Clinical Nursing Research. Participants who slowly increased

10 | hearing health | a publication of hearing health foundation

their hearing aids use, and who got support from their hearing healthcare providers and family, reported greater satisfaction with their aids. The study authors say that while it is common practice to advise patients to wear new hearing aids all day, a gradual approach—and conveying the message that hearing aids are not an instant fix—may yield better success in the long term.

managing hearing loss

‘

The

If You Embrace Your Hearing Loss,

BREAK THE STIGMAA STIGM

Issue

You Deal With It Better ’ By Melissa Griswold, M.E.D.

Wise words, supportive environments, and positive attitudes are empowering students with hearing loss.

12 | hearing health | a publication of hearing health foundation

Chloe, age 6½ Bilateral cochlear implants On her skateboard, Chloe is just one of the girls, practicing drop-ins and eager to learn new tricks. Her determination has won the hearts of many, including the HearStrong Foundation, who honored her as a Champion last June, and the Girls Riders Organization (the group she is training with). Efforts are under way with adaptive sports companies to design a helmet that will accommodate Chloe’s cochlear implants safely and make it less “uncomfy” for her. Identified at birth, Chloe’s hearing loss is genetic. Her parents wanted her to listen and talk, so at age 6 weeks, she was fitted with hearing aids. At 2 ½ years old, after her hearing loss progressed even further, she received bilateral cochlear implants and enrolled in Clarke New York’s Early Intervention Program. Following intensive work with teachers of the deaf and speech pathologists, a once anxious and quiet Chloe rapidly excelled. Chloe speaks English and Russian at home and is studying Spanish at school. Mainstreamed in kindergarten, she is thriving in a gifted and talented program. (Watch a video of Chloe at clarkeschools.org/chloe.)

In Chloe’s Own Words Why I love skateboarding: I like going very fast! It feels a little rough and a little smooth, like running and jogging together. I like dropping in [when you are at the top of a ramp and plunge down]. I’m working on how to pose on a ramp.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CLARKE SCHOOLS

or children today who are profoundly deaf or hard of hearing, the world is full of possibilities. They are listening and learning in classrooms alongside peers with typical hearing—playing instruments, singing songs, participating in sports, and hanging out with friends and family. The future is promising for children who have early, consistent access to sound through hearing aids or cochlear implants coupled with intensive therapy and education. Specialized schools, such as Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech, teach children with hearing loss to listen and talk. At Clarke’s five East Coast locations, teachers of the deaf, audiologists, and speech pathologists work with children—from infants to teens—to prepare them for success academically and socially. In addition to listening and spoken language skills, these students learn to understand their hearing loss, maximize their use of technology, and advocate for themselves in and out of the classroom. With a strong foundation in place, most children transition to their neighborhood schools by kindergarten. At Clarke, educators also support students in their mainstream local schools—assisting with academics and helping to navigate the complex listening situations and social interactions of bustling school environments. Additionally, Clarke helps the students’ mainstream teachers and classmates understand hearing loss, assistive technologies, and communication strategies. Here, meet three Clarke alumni who exemplify what is possible today for children with hearing loss. Embracing their technology and thriving in and out of the classroom, these students are demystifying hearing loss, following their dreams, and empowering others to do the same.

managing hearing loss

Why I need to wear my implants while skateboarding: The instructor might say something like, “Don’t go down that ramp because it’s broken.” It’s important for me to hear so I know what to do. Favorite subjects: I like art because I’m creative. I also like free reading time. I like reading about Spiderman— he’s my favorite character! What helps me listen at school: In the morning I put my boots on—not the ones on my feet! [“Boots” are the term for the FM receivers that attach to Chloe’s implants with connectors.] I hear the best in class because the teacher’s voice goes straight from the FM to my implants. What I tell my friends about my cochlear implants: I say they are hearing tools for people who are deaf. If you are deaf you might get hearing aids or you might get implants. Kids need to know how important they are. Why I like my cochlear implants: I like them because they help me hear. I also have waterproof ones so I can hear when I swim in the pool or ocean. If I didn’t have implants, I wouldn’t even know what people are saying! What I want to be when I grow up: A race car driver.

Olivia, age 12 Bilateral cochlear implants Although Olivia passed her newborn hearing screening, she was diagnosed with hearing loss as a toddler. Fitted with hearing aids at age 3, she received the first of two cochlear implants when she was 5 ½. Olivia is grateful for her strong start at Clarke, and is now enjoying life as a “tween” at her local elementary school. She has a great group of friends who describe her as adventurous, stylish, a good reader and writer, and competitive at word games. Each fall, she shares a PowerPoint presentation she created that explains hearing loss to her new teachers and classmates. Olivia’s openness about her hearing loss and her willingness to let friends know when she’s not following their conversations have helped them communicate together, both at school and at play. In class, Olivia uses an FM system that includes not only a teacher’s transmitter/ microphone so she can pick up her teacher’s voice, but also a separate, pass-around–style microphone that provides better access to her peers’ questions and comments.

In Olivia’s Own Words Three words that best describe me: Athletic, fashionable, sassy. Favorite subject: English/language arts because I like

to write. I have lots of ideas I’m working on. Special talents and favorite activities: Basketball, piano, chorus, dance, skiing. How I take care of my implants during physical activities: I put my implants under my hair and then pull up my hair into a ponytail to hold them in place. My teammates help me out a lot and when I can’t hear them, I can read lips. Learning the ref’s hand signals is important. Adjustable helmets work well for biking and skiing. Other technology used: Since I don’t wear my implants when I sleep, I have a vibrating alarm clock (it’s also tied into the fire alarm), and our phone lights up when it rings. Advice for managing hearing loss: Some kids are shy and try to hide their hearing loss. If you embrace it, you deal with it better. If I didn’t teach my classmates about hearing loss, a lot of kids would mumble, cover their lips, and not use the FM correctly. Tips for communicating: Sometimes it’s better to sit across from someone versus next to them. I look at people when they are talking. It doesn’t bother me if someone taps me to get my attention. One thing not to do—don’t stare at a person with hearing loss. What I’d like to be when I grow up: Author, illustrator, geologist, fashion designer, model, and actress.

Weyehn, age 16 Hearing aids Weyehn’s hearing loss is a secondary effect of a premature birth. He was diagnosed at 2 ½ years old and began wearing hearing aids shortly thereafter. Because Weyehn does not benefit from amplification in his right ear, he wears a BiCROS (binaural contralateral routing of signal) aid in that ear, which transfers sound wirelessly to his left hearing aid, providing as much auditory input as possible. He also uses an FM system at school. Weyehn attended the K-8 Program at Clarke Northampton (Massachusetts) for six years and then entered a public high school with three fellow Clarke graduates. Thanks to a partnership between the high school and Clarke, all four students have the benefit of two full-time teachers of the deaf at the school. This allows for observation, coaching, and an individual support period each day to work on everything from writing essays and problem-solving access issues to managing life as typical high school students. After Weyehn and his friends told the school that the information conveyed via the PA system is often not heard hearinghealthmag.com | Spring 2015 | 13

managing hearing loss

by many students, TV screens were installed around the school to display announcements visually. “That benefits everybody, not just kids who are deaf,” Weyehn says.

In Weyehn’s Own Words Three words that best describe me: Loyal, helpful, easygoing. Special talents and interests: Art, especially cartooning and drawing. Also basketball, peer-mentoring, and being a Clarke Summer Adventure Volunteer. Examples of self-advocacy: Our teacher of the deaf helped us connect with teachers and students. We made a YouTube video, “True Life: Deaf Kids Shining Bright in High School,” about our way of life. People felt inspired by us and it helped them to know that we were going to be okay going to school there. (Watch the video at youtube.com/watch?v=_ZfTyBgdzBE.) Advice on making friends: You have to realize other kids don’t know anything about hearing loss, so be sure to be nice. Make sure they are facing you and that they do not cover their mouths. Talk to them in a quiet corner of the room, not in a noisy environment. Get their cell phone

clarkeschools.org

Teaching Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing to Listen and Talk Our Programs

• Preschool

• C omprehensive Educational Evaluations

• Mainstream Services

• Professional Development

• K-8 Program

• Clarke Hearing Center

• Teleservices for Families

• Summer Programs

• Early Intervention

Boston • Jacksonville • New York • Northampton • Philadelphia

14 | hearing health | a publication of hearing health foundation

number, email, and Facebook to stay connected. Sports advice: Let the coach know you’re deaf, talk about what you want to work on, and get info before a game starts. I tell the refs that hearing aids are equipment I need to hear. I use a sweatband to protect them. Favorite subjects and future goals: I like anatomy and physiology, genetics, and history. I am interested in traveling, studying, and taking care of animals. How to be successful in high school: Talk with somebody you can trust. This person can be an important role model in life, and someone you can respect. You can talk about your struggles and good things in your day. And don’t judge anyone by their appearance.

Melissa Griswold, M.E.D., is a Clarke mainstream teacher of the deaf and information outreach specialist. She is the editor of Clarke’s “Mainstream News” quarterly publication. With five locations on the East Coast, Clarke teaches children who are deaf or hard of hearing to listen and talk. Clarke works with children (from infants to teens), their families, and the professionals who serve them. Learn more at clarkeschools.org.

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technology

The

BREAK THE STIGMA

Issue

Which Hearing Aid Is Right for You? Here are a dozen common scenarios to help you determine the device that best fits your (or your loved one’s) situation.

s tiny computers, hearing aids benefit from the same technology that is making our laptops (and tablets and smartphones) so small in size yet so advanced in processing power. Thanks to these rapid technological advancements, it’s a rule of thumb that hearing aids have an optimal life similar to that of a computer—about seven years. Whether you’re replacing or upgrading a hearing aid, or getting one for the first time, here are common scenarios you may encounter.

►If finances are tight...

The technological advances are such that a basiclevel hearing aid promises better performance than the highest level of hearing aid from a few years ago. Unlike the economy level, which contains technology that is a few years old, the basic level uses new technology that is scaled down to be more affordable. As with other technology, you may be able to buy a used, reconditioned hearing aid for substantially less money than a new one. Most of these hearing aids are no more than three to five years old. Ask your hearing 16 | hearing health | a publication of hearing health foundation

healthcare provider about this option. Several nonprofits address the need for hearing healthcare for low-income children and families. These include the Miracle-Ear Foundation, the Foundation for Sight & Sound, the Starkey Hearing Foundation, and the HIKE (Hearing Impaired Kids Endowment) Fund. Local chapters of charitable clubs, such as Sertoma and Lions, may have donated hearing aids available. Finally, you may be able to purchase your hearing aid via interest-free installments through companies such as CareCredit and other healthcare-focused credit cards. (Be sure to pay on time, or set up direct withdrawals, in order to avoid incurring interest.)

►If price is no object...

The premium level of technology promises the most enhanced fidelity and the most powerful digital signal processing, as well as advanced features such as background noise suppression, directional microphones, and feedback cancellation. At this level, there may also be dozens of channels available, to better fine-tune

Photo credit: istockphoto.com/teekid

By Yishane Lee

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various sound inputs and listening environments to your individual hearing loss.

►If you’re buying for a young child...

Consider getting a sturdy behind-the-ear (BTE) model. As your child grows, update the ear molds used with the BTE instead of the more expensive option of replacing the entire device. Because of their larger size, BTEs are also easier to locate (pick a bright color, too) and easily facilitate the monitoring of their use. BTEs also pack more power, so if your child’s hearing loss doesn’t require it, your audiologist may have other options to suggest. Flexible, durable hearing aid retainers or sheaths, like those made by Huggie Aids and Ear Gear, can help keep hearing aids on the ears of young children. Teens need the durability and flexibility of a younger child’s device (they grow in spurts as well), but they may be generally less enthused about bright colors and tend to shy away from large sizes. The only hearing aid that will work is the one that your child will wear, no matter his or her age, so work with your audiologist in order to come up with a solution.

►If you lead an active lifestyle...

Siemens Aquaris is still so far the only fully waterproof, completely submersible hearing aid, although that may change as demand increases. The Aquaris has a completely sealed, waterproof body and battery compartment. An acoustic membrane protects the microphone, and Siemens offers a Sports Clip accessory for extra security against loss or damage. Also consider the completely-in-the-canal (CIC) style of hearing aid, or its even smaller cousin, the mini CIC (also known as the invisible-in-the-canal, or IIC). These styles of hearing aid sit entirely in the ear canal, reducing the chance of loss or breakage while also minimizing wind noise. These smaller devices are also best if you need to use a helmet for your sports activity.

► If you want a range of devices and accessories to work with your hearing aid...

Possibly the two biggest recent developments in hearing aid technology are wireless connectivity and the ability to 18 | hearing health | a publication of hearing health foundation

use that technology with your smartphone. The ReSound LiNX was a pioneer in these areas with its “Made for iPhone” hearing aid. (It is now also available to use with Android devices.) Sound is streamed directly into the hearing aid, whether it’s music, a phone call, or GPS directions. The newly launched ReSound LiNX2 includes improved spatial recognition of the direction sounds are coming from. Major hearing aid manufacturers have joined ReSound in embracing Bluetooth wireless connectivity. Streaming sounds from TVs, radios, smartphones, and even voices from across the room without extra wires is becoming a new industry standard. “Wireless features are now included in 82 percent of all hearing aids sold in the U.S.,” says Andy Bopp, the executive director of the Hearing Industries Association, a trade group. “That percentage is certain to increase in the coming years.”

►If hearing well in noise is your biggest issue...

The ability to amplify a specific voice or sound without amplifying all voices or sounds has been the Holy Grail for hearing aids. Recently, hearing aid manufacturers have devised various solutions. For example, Siemens’ new Binax technology narrows the beam of its automatic directional microphone system to enhance the voice of the person you are facing, and recognizing and focusing on it, regardless of how many others are speaking at the same time. The technology also automatically recognizes when you’re in a car and will nearly instantaneously reduce the car noise and start listening for, and enhancing, the voice of the person speaking—whether the person is in front of, next to, or behind you. Staff writer Barbara Jenkins, Au.D., BCABA, says her patients using Binax report remarkable satisfaction. Major hearing aid companies including Oticon, Phonak, ReSound, Starkey, Unitron, and Widex each have their own technologies to address the challenge of being able to hear well in background noise. One commonality among the approaches is making use of both ears. Taking advantage of natural binaural hearing can dramatically enhance the brain’s localization of sounds.

technology

Hearing aids benefit from the same rapid technological advances as computers. ►If you (or your child) are prone to lose things...

This is where getting your hearing aid in an easily visible color can help immensely. Hearing aids are no longer only available in various skin tones; besides the traditional blue for the left ear and red for the right, you can get them in a rainbow of colors to better locate them. Soft fabric sheaths from Ear Gear, both corded and cordless, can help you keep track of your hearing aids as well as protect them from dust, dirt, wind, and sweat. They come in neutral as well as bright colors. Many hearing aid manufacturers also make accessories like clips or headbands to help keep devices in place. Getting a custom hearing aid? Have the manufacturer engrave your name and phone number onto the device. Adding this identification costs nothing and, in the event your hearing aid is misplaced, can save you thousands.

►If you want to take advantage of hearing loops...

Telecoils (T-coils) are tiny magnets in your hearing aids that, when engaged, deliver sound wirelessly from hearing loops installed in public venues directly to your hearing aids, which are already optimized to your hearing loss. The venues range from taxis and theaters to train stations and places of worship. Most hearing aids come with T-coils; check with your provider to make sure they are switched on. Some of the smaller CIC hearing aids now contain T-coils, too.

►If you prefer the invisible or near-invisible look…

Besides being nearly imperceptible to others, CICs are positioned deep in the ear canal, which offers a more secure fit, easier use with helmets, decreased wind noise, reduced feedback, and the natural sound localization offered by the shape of your ear canal. Many hearing aid companies offer devices in this size. Your ear canal will need to be large enough to accommodate them comfortably, however. Additionally, there are some devices that are so small and deeply inserted they do not need to be removed nightly. Ask your hearing healthcare provider about the pros and cons of the Phonak Lyric and the Envoy Esteem.

►If you have vision and/or dexterity issues…

While the trend has been toward smaller and smaller models, these can be hard to handle if you have problems seeing or holding tiny objects. In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids are useful when you want a bigger hearing aid but not one quite as big as a BTE. The top of the ear helps to 20 | hearing health | a publication of hearing health foundation

hold the ITE in, which can make them more secure than a BTE. They also use a larger (more powerful) battery and can handle twin microphones for better noise reduction and directionality.

►If you are buying for an older family member...

Remember to keep in mind any dexterity or vision issues (see above), as well as the need for help keeping track of a hearing aid and keeping it clean, particularly if your loved one is in an assisted living facility. For a senior who may not need all the bells and whistles a typical hearing aid provides, consider getting a personal amplifier that is easier to spot and use. Personal amplifiers are usually comprised of basic headphones and a body-worn amplifier with a microphone. They boost the decibel level significantly. The advantage is that they’re relatively inexpensive and hard to lose or break; the disadvantages are that they can cause feedback and are not fully customized for best clarity. (Do not confuse these with personal sound amplifier products, or PSAPs, which look like hearing aids but are not prescriptionbased or optimized for your specific hearing loss.)

►If you want to be sure you’ve made the right selection...

Getting properly fitted for hearing aids isn’t a onestop affair. Be prepared for follow-up visits for minute adjustments to be made. It also helps to wear new hearing aids as often as possible and in a variety of listening environments so the optimal settings can be programmed. Wearing a new hearing aid often also helps your brain reprogram itself to the sounds now being heard. Read the fine print in the hearing aid contract, which usually includes a hearing aid return clause of 30 to 60 days, varying by state. During that period the hearing aids can be returned for any reason. Check what fees are refundable if you do end up returning the hearing aids. And before you sign, ask about the warranty period and insurance policy. The warranty will cover just about any repair for any reason, and the insurance can cover loss and damage beyond repair. Both are important in protecting the important investment you’re making. —With staff writers Barbara Jenkins, Au.D., BCABA, and Elizabeth Stump; and editorial committee member Joscelyn Martin, Au.D. Support a Cure: hhf.org/donate

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AUDIOLOGY

managing hearing loss

The

BREAK THE STIGMA STIGM A

Issue

for a Better Conversation With Someone With a Hearing Loss By Shari Eberts

hose of us with hearing loss know how hard it can sometimes be to converse comfortably with friends and family. We get tired, frustrated, and may just end up tuning out. And it’s hard on those who love us as well. They don’t like to see us struggle or be unhappy; however, they can get annoyed when we don’t understand what they are saying. 22 | hearing health | a publication of hearing health foundation

There are ways to improve communication between you and your friends and family. The first step is for others to understand what you can actually hear and how, even with hearing devices, it may not put you on an even playing field with your better hearing peers. One way to explain this is to visualize the game board on “Wheel of Fortune.” Some of the letters are filled in,

Photo credit: istockphoto.com/Julynxa

Tips

managing hearing loss

heard. Don’t cover your mouth others are blank. The contestant— Remember that with your hands or clothing and or listener, in this case—is trying the volume is only make sure that you are sitting in the to make sense of the assorted, light, where your face can be seen. incomplete sounds that he or part of the problem. she is hearing and to turn these Enunciate clearly and Clarity of the sounds into a word or phrase that speak at a steady rate. makes sense in the context of Remember that the sounds is also really the conversation. It’s not unlike volume is only part of the problem. struggling to fully understand a important. Clarity of the sounds is also really foreign language or conversing in important. Speak your words a noisy bar. clearly, and try to maintain a regular Also, hearing aids don’t work like glasses. Glasses, pace of speech. Rapid speech is very difficult to follow by bending light through a curved lens, can transform since all of that brain processing time is condensed, while an image that is blurry and distorted into something slower than typical speech looks weird on the lips and crisp and clear. So in most cases, people wearing glasses makes lip-reading less useful. can see just like someone with typical vision, or pretty Be aware of the surroundings. Background darn close. noise can be a problem, so try to avoid it if you This is not the case with hearing aids. They’re helpful can. Turn off the air conditioner or turn the fan for amplifying sounds, but this just makes the sounds down to low. Try to avoid playing music in the background. louder, not necessarily more crisp or clear. While most Pick a quieter restaurant or request a corner booth. A people with hearing loss can hear the sounds around quiet, well-lit spot always works best. them, they can’t understand what words are being said. What’s missing is clarity. Take turns speaking. If there are multiple Hearing aids also have a tough time differentiating people in the conversation, it is important that between sounds. In other words, background noise only one person speaks at a time and that each (such as the hum of a refrigerator or air conditioner) is speaker makes the effort to face the person who has amplified in addition to the more important sounds of trouble hearing. the conversation. This can actually make it harder to hear Be prepared to repeat or rephrase. Get in certain situations. ready to hear “what?” at least a couple of times While keeping in mind those details, here are eight during the conversation. Try not to get tips for conversing better with someone who has a frustrated, but simply repeat what you have said. If the hearing loss. person still doesn’t get it the second time, rephrase your Provide context before and while thought using different words that might be easier for speaking. Context makes it easier to fill in the him or her to hear. Or spell a word that is giving a blank spaces of the words on the “Wheel of particularly hard time. Often knowing the first few letters Fortune” game board. If all you hear is “__in,” knowing of a word can help to connect the dots. if the conversation is about a diet (“thin”), or a running Keep your sense of humor. Hey, we know injury (“shin”), or marketing (“spin”) is a big help! it can be frustrating. But remember the goal Get their attention before speaking. is to connect with each other, so why not Hearing takes concentration, especially for laugh at the misunderstandings? It is better than the those with hearing loss, so make sure they are alternative! ready and are paying attention. Talking to someone before Shari Eberts is the chairman of Hearing Health Foundation’s they’re ready will have them playing catch-up and board of directors and writes a blog at LivingWithHearingLoss. will make it harder for them to understand the context of wordpress.com. Special thanks to Greg F., a member of HHF’s the conversation. Junior Board, for many of these tips. Make sure they can see your lips. Lipreading (also known as speech-reading) is Support a Cure: hhf.org/donate helpful for filling in the blanks of what is not

5 6 7

1 2

hearinghealthmag.com | Spring 2015 | 23

research

EXamining

X-Cells

This special update from the Hearing Restoration Project illustrates how the unique collaborative nature of the research consortium can lead to real discoveries. By Peter Barr-Gillespie, Ph.D.

ince its creation more than three years ago, the Hearing Restoration Project (HRP) consortium has gathered twice annually for scientific meetings; these interactions have proven to produce meaningful research outcomes. At the meeting held in Seattle last fall, 15 researchers convened to compare and discuss data from the past year and to plan for the coming year’s projects. During the discussions, five of the investigators were surprised to find that they had independently observed the same result—one that was so surprising that each had initially dismissed it as an experimental artifact. Here’s what they all observed separately: In an adult mouse cochlea that had previously lost its hair cells due to damage from sound or drugs, weeks later, a few cells remaining in the cochlea began to display molecular markers related to hair cells. (To learn about the importance of inner ear hair cells, see box, above right.) These results may suggest that the supporting cells in the cochlea are more responsive to damage than we thought, and that they were trying to convert into new hair cells. That fact that the five different groups experienced the same observation using very different methods added considerable weight to the findings, and emphasizes the value of the collaborative, data-sharing approach to science utilized by the HRP. These observations were discussed among the 15 investigators, and a new project was born to further investigate what were provisionally labeled “X-cells.” Given the flexibility of the HRP’s funding process, the consortium was able to fast-track a proposal. The investigators wrote the proposal in a few weeks and vetted it with the rest of their HRP colleagues. The proposal was then evaluated and approved by the Scientific Advisory

24 | hearing health | a publication of hearing health foundation

Chickens and Other Birds Can Regenerate Their Hearing The key to restoring hearing in humans is to regenerate cells deep within the inner ear. In fact, most types of hearing loss in humans results from damage to these cells, called hair cells. While humans cannot regenerate hair cells in the inner ear after they are damaged, chickens can. In fact, most animals other than mammals can regenerate these delicate cells, restoring their hearing spontaneously after damage. The HRP’s goal is to translate this to humans.

Board of the HRP, and the project is now moving forward. The HRP hopes to see exciting results from this project, which should establish whether these “X-cells” are real. If so, the HRP will determine how to push them further along their molecular differentiation pathway to become full-fledged hair cells, and to eventually restore hearing. HHF understands the value of the consortium and has enabled the group to meet regularly for these important discussions. When HRP consortium members agree that an area of research deserves further exploration, a proposal is written and put forth for review and approval. Once approved, the fact that HHF can release the funds quickly helps to accelerate the pace of research toward a cure for hearing loss and tinnitus. Peter Barr-Gillespie, Ph.D., is the director of the HRP consortium and a scientist at the Vollum Institute at Oregon Health & Science University. Support a Cure: hhf.org/donate

CURE CAN A CHICKEN HELP

HEARING LOSS AND TINNITUS?

The answer, incredibly, is YES! Learn more in Hearing Health Foundation’s Public Service Announcement at hhf.org.

www.hhf.org.

giving

Donate—and Save— Through Planned Giving While supporting a cause you believe in, like Hearing Health Foundation, a planned gift can provide tax and other benefits.

Cash or Assets

Outright gifts of cash or assets allow you to give a gift during your lifetime and to see the positive effect the gift provides. In place of cash, you can give a gift of appreciated assets to HHF. Examples of appreciated assets include property (such as real estate) and securities (stocks and bonds). Should HHF subsequently sell the assets for a price that is higher than your cost of acquisition, you will have avoided paying a capital gains tax on the sale of the assets, and HHF will be able to use the proceeds from the sale to fund its programs.

A Source of Income

ultimately pass to the charity at You can also make a current gift your death. The IRS determines this that provides income for life for you by taking into account the current or your family. It’s easy to see why appraised value and interest rates this type of gift is very attractive to plus your life expectancy. donors. While HHF does not yet By George Khal Bequests offer this type of donation method, it One of the easiest ways to give a may become an option in the future. gift is to leave a bequest at your death One example of this type of through your will or trust. HHF planned giving is a charitable gift welcomes this type of gift. You simply annuity, which provides regular designate a certain dollar amount or a payments to you and/or your family, percentage of your estate to be given starting either when the gift is made to HHF upon your death. Your family or at a date in the future. Once the will receive an estate tax charitable amount is determined, the payments deduction, which may lessen your are fixed and not subject to market family’s overall estate tax burden. fluctuations, and they continue for A retirement account (IRA, 401k, life, or for a period of years. pension, or other tax-deferred plan) Here, too, you will not have to pay makes an ideal gift for HHF. If you any capital gains tax that you might leave a retirement account to HHF, otherwise have been obligated to pay the full value of the gift is transferred had you simply sold the assets that at your death with no income tax had appreciated in value and donated taken from it, and your estate receives the sale proceeds to the charity. Also, an estate tax charitable deduction. not only will you receive a charitable If this same asset was left to your income tax deduction for a portion family, it will be subject to income of your gift, you will also receive part tax whenever money is withdrawn of the annuity payment tax-free. from the account. It may also be Another option is to create a life subject to an estate tax. estate. This allows you to donate your home or other real estate To This article was written by while maintaining the right explore ways tax and estate lawyers who to live at, or otherwise use, to give to and have been involved with the property for the rest of support HHF, HHF and its mission to your life. The value to you see hhf.org/ prevent and cure hearing loss is that you receive a current join-us. and tinnitus and to promote income tax deduction equal hearing health. to value of the home that will

26 | hearing health | a publication of hearing health foundation

photo credit: @istockphoto.com/Jitalia17

“Planned giving” is a term for the many ways in which charities are funded through gifts by donors. What many people don’t realize is that planned giving can benefit both the charity and the donor at the same time: The charity receives much-appreciated funding, while the donor benefits from tax breaks and even income paid back. The main types of planned gifts include lifetime gifts of cash or appreciated assets; lifetime gifts that also provide an income or a financial advantage to you or your family; and bequests that are given upon death. Hearing Health Foundation (HHF) is a 501(c)(3) charity that currently offers some of these ways of donating.

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hearinghealthmag.com | Spring 2015 | 27

ask the doctor

A recent article in this magazine advised against seeing an ENT after a child

fails a newborn hearing screening. I would like to better understand this position, as it confused me, and my ENT. Can you explain?

Thank you for your question. The article you refer to was written by a parent in a section that allows readers to express their personal opinions and experiences. While these firstperson pieces can be helpful for sharing advice, the positions taken in these pieces are not necessarily those of Hearing Health Foundation, which publishes this magazine. In fact, we do recommend that a child who has failed the newborn hearing test, usually given at the hospital within 48 hours after birth, be brought to see other specialists, including a pediatric audiologist and an ENT, also known as an otolaryngologist, who is a surgeon who treats disorders of the ear, nose, and throat. This is to verify the initial test results, evaluate any hearing loss, and recommend treatment. These medical professionals can help answer your questions, such as: Is there really a hearing loss? If so, to what degree? Will it get worse? Are there other symptoms I should be concerned about? The ENT’s role is to figure out whether there are medical conditions that may be the reason for the hearing loss. These include problems with the ear canal or eardrum, fluid in the middle ear, and other malformations of the ear. In addition, the ENT can

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Ask the Doctor help determine whether there are skeletal or vision issues related to the hearing loss. Any initial otoacoustic emissions and the auditory brainstem tests may be repeated. Doing the tests again helps to confirm whether there is a hearing loss. You may be asked to see additional professionals or complete other tests, such as brain or body scans or genetic testing. All of this is to narrow down the cause, if possible, and to outline the next steps toward getting treatment. While medical practices can vary in terms of how they evaluate hearing loss, pediatric offices follow the “1, 3, 6” guidelines set forth by the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing, a professional group comprised of audiologists, ENTs, pediatricians, and other specialists. These guidelines call for certain tests at specific times (ages 1 month, 3 months, 6 months) so that specialists can correctly diagnose a hearing loss and then implement optimal treatment plans. During the first years of a child’s life, the development of spoken language and communication skills

is critical, and the sooner a child is diagnosed and treated for a hearing loss, the better. Each person’s needs vary as much as each person’s audiogram differs. There is no “one size fits all” approach in medicine. After a diagnosis is confirmed you should ask for—and expect—your doctors to address your child’s unique hearing loss and your family’s requirements in the way that is best suited to you. For additional resources, contact the agency that oversees the Newborn Hearing Screening Program in your state at infanthearing.org/states/index. html. This question was answered with the assistance of HHF medical director David S. Haynes, M.D., FACS; Andrea Dunn, Au.D. Ph.D., CCC-A; and Alison Kemph, Au.D., CCC-A, who practice at the Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center in Nashville. Support a Cure: hhf.org/donate

If you have a question for HHF’s medical advisers, please send it to info@hhf.org. We make every attempt to answer letters personally and if they are printed here, your name and address will be omitted. Letters may also be edited for length and clarity when published.

28 | hearing health | a publication of hearing health foundation

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hearinghealthmag.com | Spring 2015 | 29

arts & culture

‘I Have a

Hearing Loss’

Legendary American singer Gloria Gaynor is best known for her disco smash “I Will Survive,” which, nearly four decades later, is still the classic anthem of personal empowerment and strength. The 1978 single topped charts around the world; even today it remains a staple in venues as wide-reaching as Hollywood romantic comedies, sports arenas, The karaoke bars, and gay pride parades.

than the person being spoken about. THE I want to help the cause of Hearing Issue Health Foundation to find a cure for hearing loss and tinnitus. To me a cure would mean the increased ability to enjoy what I love most—music—with no fear or concern that my hearing will become even more impaired. We owe it to ourselves to educate ourselves, and our loved ones, about hearing loss in order to protect our hearing. A cure for hearing loss would also mean the loss of any stigma for those suffering from it and the wonderful opportunity to hear music and so many other awesome sounds—like birds singing and children’s laughter, two of my favorites.

BREAK STIGMA

Now the 65-year-old Grammy Award winner opens up to Hearing Health for the very first time about her own hearing loss, in an effort to support Hearing Health Foundation’s mission to prevent, educate, and cure hearing loss and tinnitus.

“

I had my hearing loss evaluated two years ago and was told I have nerve damage and some hearing loss, but there has been no treatment or any recommendation for treatment. I can’t be certain, but my educated belief is that my hearing loss has a lot to do with so much loud music onstage, in clubs, and directly in the ears from headphones. Because my hearing loss was detected only two years ago, I think neither my work nor my life have been that much affected. I am now conscious and careful of the sound levels I listen to, so as not to make matters any worse. This is why I’d like to help people, especially young people, learn about what adversely affects their hearing, why it is so important to avoid those things, and how.

I decided to speak publicly about my hearing loss at this time because it has only been recently that I realized that hearing loss can be an occupational hazard for people in my profession. Also, I realize that modern technology is threatening the hearing of young people who want to emulate celebrities in the music business. If my sharing information about my hearing loss problems can help some young people avoid the problem, I’m glad to talk about it. This is the advice I can give to someone who feels stigmatized about having a hearing loss: Recognize that what someone says about someone else—especially about someone else’s disability— says a lot more about the speaker

30 | hearing health | a publication of hearing health foundation

”

Grammy Award winner Gloria Gaynor is currently recording a gospel album as well as working on a jewelry line in collaboration with the Home Shopping Network. For more, see gloriagaynor.com. Support a Cure: hhf.org/donate

arts & culture

Meet

Les Paul Ambassador Chill Kechil

Chill Kechil, a composer and DJ, is donating a portion of his music sales to help fund the search for a cure for hearing loss and tinnitus.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GLORIA GAYNOR (LEFT) AND CHILL KECHIL

Like many professional musicians, guitar legend Les Paul lived with a hearing loss and tinnitus. Now the Les Paul Foundation is supporting Hearing Health Foundation’s Hearing Restoration Project, an international consortium of top hearing researchers who are working to find a cure. The Les Paul Ambassadors program, launched in 2013, promotes the education of musicians and others about the risk of noiseinduced hearing loss (NIHL) and tinnitus. These music industry professionals support the search for a cure and are sharing their stories to help prevent NIHL. Below, meet Les Paul Ambassador Chill Kechil.

“

Music is my passion. I compose, create, and DJ music across several genres with a common ‘chillout’ theme influenced by jazz, lounge, beats, and smooth house. I am a world traveler translating cultural experiences from the Americas, Europe, and Asia into lounge and dance sounds. My experience with music began at an early age, first as a fan with an interest in jazz and soul. I took up guitar as a teenager, playing with various groups from school. It was at that time I discovered during hearing tests that I had some high frequency hearing loss, leading me to focus on

protecting my hearing at an early age. I wore earplugs way before they were commonly used, and have learned to use various forms of music production technology and apps to help me compose music while protecting my hearing. Through HHF I want to help others prevent hearing loss and tinnitus while HHF works toward a cure. When the music world began to change in the 1990s and early 2000s, I became very interested in the merging of different types of music to create new genres. I was living in Chicago at the time the music genre now known as ‘house’ was evolving. I also liked ‘acid jazz.’ These genres combined music I loved from the jazz and soul world with rhythmic dance beats. This trend of merging different music worlds is what drives my passion for music today. Traveling and living around the world, including in Europe and Asia, continues to inspire my music. In Asia I met my wife, who inspired my artist name, Chill Kechil. My wife is a Singaporean of Malay origin. In Malay ‘Kechil’ means ‘small’ or ‘a little.’ The name helps me ‘chill a little’ and inspires my music. I also began to explore the influence of the internet and technology and the ability to interact with people and fans globally led me

to create my internet radio station ‘Smooth Chillout Vibes,’ which has grown to one of the top internet radio stations at Live365 today. I love to curate music for listeners around the world. After starting the radio station, I began to DJ at various venues in the New York City area and then began creating and producing my own music. I am passionate about bringing the gift of music to those with hearing loss and to help protect and ultimately find a cure for it. I am proud to donate a portion of my music and apparel proceeds to Hearing Health Foundation.

”

Support HHF and enjoy Chill Kechil’s music at chillkechil. com. Learn how Chill Kechil has managed his hearing loss while building a career in music at hhf.org/blog?blogid=113. Support a Cure: hhf.org/donate hearinghealthmag.com | Spring 2015 | 31

assistive advice

By George Khal

lert systems and alarm clocks are taking advantage of advances in wireless and smartphone connectivity to provide greater convenience and coverage— and peace of mind. Every year new products are introduced; here are a few of the most promising. Amplicom USA’s TCL Vibe Digital Dual Alarm Clock With Vibrating Wristband ($50) is a cubeshaped, battery-operated alarm clock measuring just under 3 inches on each side. It has a dual alarm adjustable to 75 decibels (dB) along with a calendar and room temperature reading. The best feature is the comfortable, soft, cloth wristband, which is adjustable to all wrist sizes and secured with Velcro. It vibrates when the alarm goes off. As with all new electronics the settings are supposed to be intuitive, but they could pose a challenge for someone who is technologically challenged. Amplicom’s Amplifyze TCL Pulse Bluetooth-Enabled Alarm ($40) is a slim, pocket-size alarm that is programmable via an app on your Apple iPhone or iPad. (The Android version will be available in May.) The app can monitor up to five TCL Pulse alarms, and each alarm can be programmed for up to 10 alerts throughout your day, for reminders such as taking medications, picking up the kids, or waking up from sleep. You can choose to be signaled by vibration, sound, or both. Another feature is a countdown timer—helpful

as a kitchen timer or for waking from a nap. (amplicomusa.com) Serene Innovations’ CentralAlert Wireless Notification System CA360 ($180) is an alarm clock and all-in-one notification system for your home. It can connect with your doorbell, door knocker, phone, baby monitor, emergency weather radio, motion detectors, and more. It uses a bright built-in flasher, a programmable loud yet not unpleasant sound, and a powerful bed shaker. Three new compact alert systems—the CA-CX ($90), CAMINI ($110), and the CA-380 ($340)—use a tabletop cradle. They are part of the CentralAlert system but also can operate independently. Plug in your landline or rest your smartphone in the cradle (it will also charge the smartphone), and set separate alerts (using a loud ringer and a bright flasher) for incoming land-line calls, cell phone calls, text messages, and video calls, as well as lights to indicate missed messages. The CA-MINI and CA-380 come with a wireless doorbell that will make the base unit flash when someone is at the door; it can also be used by a bedridden person to call a family member for help. The CA-380 includes a wearable, batteryoperated pager (CA-PX), and its own bed-shaker attachment. The pager, with additional accessories, can monitor all home functions such as the doorbell, door knocker, phone,

32 | hearing health | a publication of hearing health foundation

George Khal founded Sound Clarity, an international retail company for assistive devices, serving as its president from 2000 to 2010. He has a severe bilateral hearing loss and was the Iowa chapter coordinator for the Hearing Loss Association of America. Support a Cure: hhf.org/donate

Wireless, Connected, and Secure: Home Alert Systems

baby monitor, emergency weather radio, motion detectors, and more. (sereneinnovations.com) Sonic Alert’s Sonic Connect SEC100 ($50) and SEC200 ($50) are two portable USB devices that alert you to incoming email, instant messages, and Microsoft Outlook calendar and task reminders. They have a simple plug-and-play setup and use a bright flashing strobe (SEC100) or flashing LEDs (SEC200); each also uses a bright red LED message waiting light. The SEC200 screens and ranks incoming Outlook messages so those from VIPs, like your boss, get priority. The devices only work with a Windows PC using Windows XP or higher, and do not work on Apple computer products. Available in September, Sonic Alert’s HomeAware (the price will be between $200 and $230) is a complete home alerting solution using digital wireless technology. You’ll receive alerts for the doorbell and for incoming calls via land line, cell phone, or video. Included is a powerful bed shaker, an extra-loud alarm up to 105 dB, an extra-bright flashing strobe, and a USB cell phone charger. Optional accessories provide warnings about a baby’s cries, smoke and carbon monoxide, and emergency weather reports. In addition, a large scrolling display spells out the alert notification in two-inch-tall red letters. (sonicalert.com) For photos of the products, please refer to the websites listed above.

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hearing aids 101

A Few of My Favorite Hearing Aid Accessories By Courtney M. Campbell, Au.D.

in hearing aids. Even The though using a dryer/ dehumidifier will help, I recommend my patients use hearing aid sheaths as well. These covers are designed to keep sweat and moisture away from the hearing aid while still letting sound reach the device. They are ideal for patients who work outside or who know they will be exposed to the elements (such as rain). Two other helpful accessories are battery testers and battery caddies. Each comes in a keychain form to make them super-portable. Having a battery tester is great for when you find a stray hearing aid battery and want to check if it’s still good, or if you can’t tell if your current battery is working. The battery caddy is also especially helpful, as each caddy stores two or three batteries and gives you quick, easy access to extra batteries in case yours become completely

BREAK STIGMA

Help maintain, care for, and even personalize your hearing aids with these useful additions. class. For him, I recommended an electric hearing aid dryer for storing his hearing aids overnight. Many of these dryers double as sanitizers, a great investment for people who wear hearing aids who are frequently in very moist environments. Moisture buildup is one of the most common reasons for repairs

misplaced their hearing aids, active THE kids and adults, and patients who have dementia can Issue all benefit from these handy clips. They work with both behind-the-ear (BTE) and inthe-ear hearing aids. One of my favorite accessories is aimed at children and all hearing aid users who are young at heart: hearing aid jewelry! I always suggest you get your hearing aids in your preferred color (mine are pink), but color certainly isn’t the only way to personalize your hearing aids. Oticon sells stickers that fit perfectly on hearing aids and come in a variety of designs (with images of sports, the holidays, etc.). These can be changed out easily depending on your mood or the time of year. Hayleigh’s Cherished Charms are beautiful, handmade hearing aid charms for BTE hearing aids. Tube Riders are small, clip-on charms to decorate BTE tubing and are another fun way for kids to take pride in their hearing aids.

drained at an inopportune time. Another useful product for all age groups, from children to seniors, are ear clips like those made by Ear Gear and OtoClips. These clips attach to the hearing aid and then to the patient’s shirt or glasses so that if the hearing aid falls off the ear, it’s not lost! Patients who have previously

34 | hearing health | a publication of hearing health foundation

An audiologist at A&A Hearing Group in Chevy Chase, Md., Courtney M. Campbell, Au.D., received her undergraduate and doctorate degrees from the University at Buffalo in New York. She has a hearing loss and has been wearing hearing aids for over a decade. Support a Cure: hhf.org/donate

When you’re buying a new hearing aid, it’s easy to focus only on the hearing aid itself and forget about other factors. But key accessories can help you maintain and care for your new device, and make using the hearing aid easier—even fun! Here are a few of the accessories I recommend most often to my patients to help with day-to-day usage of their hearing aids. One product I give out at every fitting is a dehumidifier. I advise my patients to use a nonelectric dehumidifier called the Dry Caddy every single night. The dehumidifier, which uses a molecular sieve desiccant, keeps any excess moisture from accumulating in the hearing aids and can reduce repairs and extend the life of your hearing aids. Some people need a more heavyduty approach. I have one patient who practices Bikram (hot) yoga and needs to wear his hearing aids during

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meet the researcher

NAME: Daniel Winkowski, Ph.D. University of Maryland BIO:

IN HIS WORDS:

to better understand the changes that neural circuits undergo after noise trauma. This will facilitate and focus the design of therapies for reducing and reversing the disorder. I also want to develop a therapeutic strategy to reverse the abnormal changes resulting from noise trauma.

I study the effects of noise-induced hearing loss

A huge component of science is figuring out how

(NIHL) on auditory cortical neural networks. Noise trauma affects neural networks in a manner that can produce tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ears). My research is designed to precisely study this disorder at the neural level using a mouse model.

something works. This drive to understand the mechanics of things was something that I had even as a child. Growing up as a young boy, I was fascinated by the toys we had around our house not only as things to play with. I would often dismantle the toy so that I was able to see how each part worked and what its role was with regard to the larger function of the toy. My older brother was never excited about my passion, as some of his toys were subject to my curiosity, but I think he has gotten over that by now.

My hypothesis is that noise trauma produces changes within networks of highly interconnected neurons and these changes to the network contribute to tinnitus. By using state-of-the-art optical imaging methods, I can simultaneously visualize the activity of tens to hundreds of individual neurons at a time.

The imaging methods I am using have already led to many novel insights about how normal brain circuits are organized in all sensory systems. So it seemed logical to me to use this approach to study how brain circuits reorganize after trauma or damage and to assess whether the changes lead to tinnitus.

I am optimistic that I can soon offer some new insights into changes at the neural circuit level that cause tinnitus. While I am still in the early stages of this project, I want We need your help to continue funding excellent hearing researchers like Daniel Winkowski, Ph.D. To donate today to Hearing Health Foundation in support of groundbreaking research, visit hhf.org/donate.

38 | hearing health | a publication of hearing health foundation

Fantastic, highly influential mentors early in my career have made me feel very fortunate. They were able to teach me good habits, show enthusiasm for science, spend time with me, and serve as an example to me on how to be a successful mentor to others.

Outside of the lab, I enjoy every minute of spending time with my family. My wife and I have three small children who take up most of our time. Although life can be anything but relaxing when around our children, it is an absolute thrill to observe them as they explore and discover the world around them. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Tine Aakerlund Pollard

Hearing Health Foundation would like to thank the Royal Arch Masons for their generous contributions to Emerging Research Grantees working in the area of central auditory processing disorders (CAPD). We appreciate the support of the Royal Arch Masons for their dedication to healthy hearing and commitment to funding CAPD research.

photo Courtesy of daniel winkowski

After receiving a Ph.D. in biology from Temple University in Philadelphia, Winkowski completed postdoctoral research at Stanford University and the University of Maryland, where he is now an assistant research scientist at the Institute for Systems Research. He is a 2014 Hearing Health Foundation Emerging Research Grant recipient, and a General Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons International award recipient.

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