CLINIC NEWS The holiday season is here! Large gatherings with family and friends and holiday celebrations can provide some good insight into how your hearing is doing. If you find yourself straining to hear in noisy environments, exhausted at the end of social gatherings or missing key words and phrases, our team can help! Schedule an appointment today so you can enjoy the rest of the holiday season with less stress and better conversations with loved ones. See the bottom of our newsletter for information on our Hearing for the Holidays Event, and schedule your appointment today.
Over-The-Counter Hearing Devices: Frequently Asked Questions
On August 16, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration issued a final rule to create a new category of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing devices. Under this rule, OTC devices became available on store shelves and online this past October. Here are some answers to some common questions about OTC hearing devices. Do I need a prescription for OTC devices? No, you can buy them without a prescription or a hearing exam. Are OTC devices for everybody? OTC devices are only for adults ages 18 and older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. If you have severe hearing loss or are under 18, you will need prescription hearing devices. Are OTC devices the same as prescription devices? One significant difference is that OTC devices will be self-fitting, so you must adjust the device settings yourself.1 In contrast, prescription hearing devices are custom fit by a hearing professional to provide the right amplification levels for your unique hearing profile. According to the new FDA guidelines, OTC devices will also have a maximum sound output of 111 decibels to reduce the risk of sound overamplification, user-adjustable volume control and an insertion depth limit in the ear canal. The devices must also meet performance specifications and design requirements.2
Is it okay to skip my hearing evaluation and buy OTC devices? Hearing loss can change gradually over time, so getting a hearing evaluation before purchasing any hearing device is always a good idea, especially since OTC devices are only for certain types of hearing loss. Skipping a hearing evaluation also means that your audiologist won’t get a chance to check for any serious underlying medical issues causing your hearing loss, which could have long-term consequences for your health. The bottom line? With OTC hearing devices, you’re on your own to make them work for you; with prescription hearing devices, you get comprehensive medical care and fitting expertise to help you hear your best. Have questions? We’re here to help—talk to our team today. 1 National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (2022). Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/over-counter-hearing-aids 2 Food and Drug Administration. (2022). FDA Finalizes Historic Rule Enabling Access to Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids for Millions of Americans. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-finalizeshistoric-rule-enabling-access-over-counter-hearing-aids-millions-americans
2092 Gaither Road, Suite 100, Rockville, MD 20850 | Phone: (301) 738-1415
Noisy Toys May Be Hazardous to Your Family’s Hearing Health
With holiday gift shopping in full swing, learning which noisy toys may contribute to hearing loss for kids and their caregivers is a fa-la-la-la-fabulous idea. They Can Create a Real Racket Hearing damage from a toy can occur when it emits any sound that measures 90dB or higher. Kids make the likelihood of damage much greater because they often hold toys closer to their ears due to their short arm span or hold them too close to their caregivers’ ears. A child who does this can make a 90dB sound grow as loud as 120dB, potentially causing permanent hearing loss.1 Which Toys Could Harm Hearing? According to the Center for Hearing and Communication, the following toy types could result in hearing loss because they create sounds over 90dB. • Certain rattles and squeaky toys can emit 110 dB sounds. • Musical toys, such as electric guitars, drums and horns, may produce sounds as loud as 120 dB. • Toy phones for small children can clock in at between 123 and 129 dB. • Toys designed to amplify the voice have been measured at 135 dB. • Toys producing firearm sounds emit volumes as loud as 150 dB one foot away from the noise source.2 Take Steps to Protect Ears of All Sizes Santa Claus may be coming to town soon, but you can make sure his sleigh isn’t full of noisy toys (or make them less loud if they are). Try before you buy—If the toy sounds too loud, it probably is. Don’t purchase it. Muffle the sound—Placing duct tape over the speakers will help. Bye-bye batteries—Remove batteries from toys that emit too much noise. Get rid of the toy—Your loved ones’ ears will thank you. You can also give low-volume gifts, such as puzzles, board games, coloring books and Legos, which lets your child have fun without potentially damaging their (or your) hearing. However, if you believe you or a loved one has hearing loss, don’t wait until the holidays are over to get help. Schedule a hearing evaluation today! 1 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). Noisy toys. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/noisy-toys/ 2 Cochary, J. (2021, May 15). Noisy toys. Center for Hearing and Communication. https://noiseawareness.org/info-center/noisy-toys/
For Flying Out Loud:
Travel Tips for Flying With Hearing Devices Hey there, jet setter. You may be a pro at picking the perfect destination for your next adventure, but what about easily navigating the ins and outs of air travel with your hearing devices? We recommend reviewing this preflight briefing of tips to ensure that you and your trusty traveling device companions have a safe and enjoyable trip. Pack Your Device Accessories—Make space in your suitcase for everything your devices need to work their best. A charging station, charging cable, dryer/dehumidifier, cleaning kit and extra batteries, domes and wax guards are all must-haves for keeping devices happy while you’re away from home. Wear Your Devices Through Security—Taking devices in and out can be a hassle, so go ahead and leave them in. Just let the security agent know that you’re wearing hearing devices before stepping through the metal detector. Connect to the Airport’s Hearing Loop—To help hearing device users hear announcements more clearly, many airports have induction loop systems, which produce a wireless signal that devices with telecoils can pick up. Remember to switch your hearing devices to the “T” setting, and you’ll be good to go. Wear Your Devices During the Flight—When you hear the flight attendant say, “Please turn off all electronic devices and stow them in your seat pocket,” you don’t have to! This rule doesn’t apply to hearing devices. While it can be tempting to take a vacation from your devices while onboard the aircraft, they make it easier for you to interact with flight staff, chat with your seatmates and hear the captain. In-flight announcements can be difficult to hear even while wearing devices, so let the flight staff know that you have hearing loss and ask them to come directly to you to relay any critical information face to face. Another way to make traveling less turbulent? Get your hearing devices in tip-top shape by taking them in for a clean-and-check from our friendly team.
Call us at (301) 738-1415 to schedule your appointment today!
2092 Gaither Road, Suite 100, Rockville, MD 20850 | Phone: (301) 738-1415
Don’t Miss Out on Your End-of-the-Year Benefits If you have a flexible spending account (FSA) or medical insurance that covers hearing care or devices, you likely have funds that you need to “use or lose” before the year comes to a close. Don’t leave money on the table—here’s how to take advantage of your benefits before they expire. Get Hearing Devices and Care Through Your Health Insurance Several insurance plans cover hearing exams annually, so check yours! Hearing often changes so gradually that you may not notice it—but getting regular exams can help your audiologist detect and treat any changes as soon as possible. Have a hearing device benefit through your health insurance? Find out the dollar amount of your benefit and how often you can receive it (annually, every three years, etc.). If you are eligible for a hearing device benefit this year, now’s the perfect time to use those funds to upgrade to the latest hearing technology for less by having your insurance cover some of the cost. Pay for Hearing-Related Items With Your FSA You can use the pretax contributions you’ve made to your FSA for any medical costs not covered by your insurance, including purchasing hearing devices, batteries, repairs and maintenance. An FSA is an effective way to save for out-of-pocket medical expenses. However, most of the funds disappear at the end of each year (your plan may allow you to roll over up to $570 to the next calendar year or use up any remaining funds by March 15 of the following year). It’s a smart idea to check your current FSA balance—you could have hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars available to help you hear your best. Invest in your long-term hearing health by using your end-of-the-year benefits before they’re gone. Take the proactive step of scheduling an appointment with us today to ensure you’re on the schedule before 2022 ends.
STRUGGLING TO HEAR IN NOISY ENVIRONMENTS? Join us for our Hear for the Holidays Event December 12–21 and receive a: •
FREE hearing aid clean-and-check
•
10% discount on all assistive listening devices
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FREE TV adapter or another assistive listening device with the purchase of a set of hearing aids
Call today to reserve your spot! (301) 738-1415
The Family Hearing Center
TLC
The Treatment and Learning Centers