In the same way you care for the rest of your health including getting your eyesight tested and heart and blood pressure levels monitored regularly, it is important to take care of your hearing health. Because there is a lot more riding on it than just your hearing. Hearing loss is the second most common health condition experienced by Australians – more prevalent than asthma, heart disease, cancer, or diabetes – and is projected to increase to 1 in every 4 Australians by 2050. The number of Australians who are hearing impaired or deaf is increasing because of long-term exposure to excessive noise in the workplace, the environment, and a result of an ageing population. Hearing Awareness Week (which commenced Sunday 25th February) and World Hearing Day (set for this Saturday March 3rd) are two global initiatives which aim to increase awareness of and educate people about the issues relating to hearing loss, which are many and varied.

Untreated Hearing Loss: The Health Risks

Untreated hearing loss has been documented to result in a range of negative physiological effects including increased speech comprehension difficulties, auditory deprivation, and brain atrophy (linked to cognitive decline). Hearing loss can also increase risk factors for a number of acute health conditions including diabetes, stroke, elevated blood pressure, heart attack, psychiatric disorder (particularly for those who rate their hearing as “poor”) and affective mood disorders. Numerous studies have linked untreated hearing loss to:

• Diminished psychological and overall health
• Dementia and Alzheimer’s
• Fatigue
• Stress
• Depression
• Irritability, negativism and anger
• Headaches and tension
• Reduced alertness
• Inability to focus and retain information
• Impaired memory
• Impaired ability to learn new tasks

Untreated Hearing Loss: The Impact on Mental Health & Quality of Life People with hearing loss experience greater impacts on mental health and overall quality of life than the general population. This includes lower self-esteem, and increased incidence of sadness, depression, anxiety, insecurity, irritability, and loneliness, as well as increased stress and fatigue. The negative effect on mental health may arise through the negative impact of hearing loss on interpersonal communication (which is central to a person’s health and well‐being), and through increased social isolation.

For children with hearing loss, even a mild or moderate case of hearing loss could cause learning difficulties, issues with speech development, and problems building the important interpersonal skills necessary to foster self-esteem and succeed in school and life.

Hearing loss can increase risk factors for a number of acute health conditions including diabetes, stroke, heart attack, psychiatric disorder, and affective mood disorders.

Untreated Hearing Loss: The Social Effects Untreated hearing loss can result in harmful social impacts that go far beyond the hearing impairment itself. These include issues with work performance and relations, and difficulties with family relationships and friendships that could potentially lead to social withdrawal, avoidance of social events, and eventually social rejection and loneliness. In light of these negative associations, it is clear that taking care of your hearing health is something that should be taken very seriously indeed. The good news is that new and more effective treatments for hearing loss are now available, thanks to advances in health care and medicine. Treating a hearing loss has been associated with improvements in self-confidence, relationships, social life, and physical and mental health.

Untreated hearing loss can result in issues with work performance and relations, and difficulties with family relationships and friendships.

Types of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss can occur as a result of problems at any stage of the hearing pathway, and at any age. A comprehensive audiological evaluation should be undertaken in order to determine the type and severity of hearing loss, and to make appropriate recommendations for treatment. There are four types of hearing loss: conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, mixed hearing loss and central hearing impairment.

Conductive Hearing Loss Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound is not conducted efficiently through the outer and middle ears, including the ear canal, eardrum, and the small bones, or ossicles, of the middle ear. Conductive hearing loss usually involves a reduction in sound level, or the ability to hear soft sounds. Presence of fluid in the ear associated with colds, allergies, and ear infections (i.e., otitis media), or a poorly functioning Eustachian tube are common causes of conductive hearing loss. Other causes include excessive earwax in the ear canal, perforation of the eardrum, or damaged or defective ossicles. Approximately 10% of all hearing losses are conductive, which can range from mild to moderate in severity. Conductive hearing loss can often be medically or surgically treated, and in many cases, hearing can be restored.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss Hearing loss that originates in the inner ear is referred to as sensorineural hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss not only involves a reduction in sound level, or ability to hear soft sounds, but also affects the ability to hear and understand speech clearly. This type of hearing loss can occur in one of two ways: firstly, when the delicate hair cells in the inner ear are damaged and become unable to convert sound vibrations into the electrical signals required by the auditory nerve, and secondly, when nerve pathways in the auditory nerve itself become damaged, preventing the signals from reaching the brain. A sensorineural hearing loss can be of any degree – mild, moderate, severe, or profound, and most often occurs from genetic factors (i.e., hearing loss can run in families), excessive noise exposure, or presbycusis (i.e., hearing loss caused by changes in the inner ear due to aging). Other causes of sensorineural hearing loss include:

• Ear-toxic medications
• Auditory nerve tumours
• Congenital or acquired infections such as meningitis and mumps
• Kidney disease
• Vascular disease

Approximately 90% of all hearing losses are sensorineural, which is a permanent loss that cannot be corrected medically or surgically. In more than 95% of cases of sensorineural hearing loss, hearing aids or cochlear implants are the recommended course of treatment.

Mixed Hearing Loss Sometimes a sensorineural hearing loss may occur in combination with a conductive hearing loss. In other words, there may be damage in the outer or middle ear, as well as the inner ear or auditory nerve. If this happens, the hearing loss is referred to as a mixed hearing loss. An example of a mixed hearing loss may be someone with inner ear hair cell damage due to aging who at the same time has infected fluid in the middle ear due to an upper respiratory infection.

Central Hearing Impairment Central hearing impairment occurs when the auditory centres of the brain are affected by injury, tumour, disease, heredity, or other unknown causes. Central hearing impairment does not necessarily involve hearing loss, although it may. Central hearing impairment involves issues with auditory discrimination, sound localisation, auditory pattern recognition, the temporal aspects of sounds, and the ability to deal with degraded and competing acoustic signals.

Sensorineural hearing loss most often occurs from genetic factors, excessive noise exposure, or presbycusis (i.e., hearing loss caused by changes in the inner ear due to ageing).

How to tell if you have a hearing loss

Most cases of hearing loss develop slowly over time, as a natural part of ageing or the product of a long period of exposure to loud noise. Because of the gradual nature of the problem many people with mild to moderate hearing loss are actually unaware they have an issue, believing that certain lifestyle choices or behavioural adjustments are ‘the norm’ for them, for example avoiding social situations. People can become so used to having hearing loss that they forget how things sound and start living in a quieter world, without even realising what they are missing out on or how their quality of life is being affected. Often family or friends are the first to recognise the problem. If you suspect that you or a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss, early detection is important. TYPICAL SYMPTOMS OF HEARING LOSS:

• A perception that people mumble a lot and don’t speak clearly.
• Hearing someone speak but difficulty understanding some of the words.
• Frequently asking people to speak up or repeat themselves.
• Having to watch a speaker’s lips closely to follow the conversation.
• Difficulty understanding women and children’s voices (or other high frequency sounds).
• Difficulty hearing someone call from behind or from another room.
• Difficulty hearing clearly on the telephone.
• Difficulty hearing at the theatre or other entertainment venues.
• Difficulty hearing in noisy environments, for example in a restaurant or in a car.
• Difficulty following a conversation when in a group of people, in a meeting, at church, or during lectures.
• Difficulty understanding words or voices in a crowd.
• Turning the TV or radio up to an uncomfortably high level.
• Favouring one ear over the other.
• Limiting social activities due to difficulty hearing and communicating.
• Acting withdrawn, isolated, depressed or irritable.

SYMPTOMS THAT INDICATE A LARGER AUDIOLOGICAL PROBLEM:

• A sudden hearing loss in one or both ears.
• Acute or chronic vertigo, dizziness, or imbalance.
• A ringing or buzzing in the ears (i.e., tinnitus).
• A fullness or pressure in the ears.
• A speech/language delay in children.

To get ahead of the game, the best course of action is to take a baseline hearing test and annual follow-up hearing tests to help identify and treat any hearing issues early.

A comprehensive hearing evaluation is a painless, non-invasive, quick and inexpensive process, typically taking 30 – 45 minutes for most adults.

Free Hearing Screening Promotion

The purpose of a hearing assessment is to determine not only if you have a hearing loss, but how mild or severe it is. A thorough hearing evaluation can also help define the type of hearing loss you have (i.e., conductive, sensorineural or mixed) and whether it will respond best to medical treatment (i.e., a Cochlear implant), or hearing aids. A comprehensive hearing evaluation is a painless, non-invasive, quick and inexpensive process, typically taking 30 – 45 minutes for most adults. During your visit the audiologist will run a series of tests and examinations using professional equipment.

Once you have completed the series of hearing tests your audiologist will present you with a thorough explanation of your test results, including your audiogram. If a hearing loss has been identified, your options will be discussed including whether you require further testing, any medical or surgical referrals or treatments, and if hearing aids are recommended, the type and style that would be suitable to your individual circumstances. In addition, you may be given more information regarding your specific needs; whether it’s how to protect your hearing if you’re exposed to noise on a regular basis, or strategies for improved understanding in difficult listening environments.

You’ll be referred to a physician for evaluation and treatment if an underlying medical condition is suspected. In most cases of hearing loss, (including more than 95% of sensorineural hearing losses), hearing aids or cochlear implants are the treatment of choice. As part of Hearing Awareness Week 2018, Ear & Hearing Australia are offering free hearing screenings for pensioners, veterans and seniors.* If you or your loved one would benefit from this offer please book an appointment now. We provide hearing tests at all of our conveniently located clinics and our dedicated team of qualified audiologists has amassed years of experience, guaranteeing a professional, friendly and dependable service you can trust. *Fees may apply if proceed to audiological assessments.

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Hearing Loss and Dementia: The Link Between Them & 10 Common Warning Signs

According to several major studies, older adults with hearing loss are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and dementia compared to those with normal hearing. Further, the risk escalates as a person’s hearing loss grows worse. Those with mild hearing impairment are nearly twice as likely to develop dementia compared to those with normal hearing. The risk increases three-fold for those with moderate hearing loss, and five-fold for those with severe impairment. One study led by Dr Frank Lin, Professor of Geriatric Medicine at Johns Hopkins University in the US, shows auditory impairment is associated with a 30-40 per cent rate of accelerated cognitive decline. His team is now trying to identify if better treatment of hearing loss could reduce dementia rates.

People with severe hearing loss are five times more likely to develop a form of dementia compared to those with normal hearing.

Dementia is NOT a normal part of ageing. The World Health Organization defines Dementia as a syndrome, usually of a chronic or progressive nature, caused by a variety of brain illnesses that affect memory, thinking, behavior and ability to perform everyday activities. As of December 2017 there are more than 413,106 Australians living with dementia, a figure that is predicted to increase to 536,164 by the year 2025.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause, accounting for up to 70 per cent of people with dementia. Some forms of Alzheimer’s and frontotemporal dementia (which usually affects behaviour before memory) can be genetic. But most dementias are not inherited. The most common dementias – Alzheimer’s and cerebrovascular disease (damage to the brain’s blood supply) – have no cure. The disease progression varies but people usually live four to eight years after an Alzheimer diagnosis but can survive 20 more years. So improving communication between doctors and audiologists and finding better ways to support and test people for hearing loss and dementia is becoming increasingly urgent.

There are more than 413,106 Australians living with dementia, a figure that is predicted to increase to 536,164 by the year 2025.

How are hearing loss and dementia connected?
Although the reason for the link between hearing loss and dementia is not conclusive, study investigators suggest that a common pathology may underlie both, or that the strain of decoding sounds over time may overwhelm the brains of people with hearing loss, leaving them more vulnerable to dementia. They also speculate that hearing loss could lead to dementia by making individuals more socially isolated—a known risk factor for dementia and other cognitive disorders.
In addition to being an important risk factor for Alzheimer’s and dementia, multiple studies have shown that hearing loss worsens the symptoms of these diseases when they are already present. These symptoms include impaired memory, the inability to learn new tasks, reduced alertness, compromised personal safety, irritability, anger, fatigue, stress, depression, and diminished overall health.

Can hearing aids help?
So what can be done to identify and assist those at risk? Consulting a doctor and an audiologist is the obvious first move. But more research is needed to analyse the overlap between the two conditions. It is important to note that typical hearing loss does not cause dementia and not everyone with hearing loss will develop a dementia. But if a hearing loss is identified wearing hearing aids – earlier rather than later – can help. Dr Anil Lalwani and his team at Columbia University Medical Center in the US published a study in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry last year. “Our study suggests that using hearing aids may offer a simple, yet important way to prevent or slow the development of dementia by keeping adults with hearing loss engaged in conversation and communication,” explains Dr Lalwani.

Using hearing aids may offer a simple, yet important way to prevent or slow the development of dementia by keeping adults with hearing loss engaged in conversation and communication.

How to help loved ones with hearing loss and dementia
Having a supportive family is critical in improving communication and wellbeing for people with hearing loss and dementia. Maintaining empathy and composure, ensuring you are facing the person when talking to them in a well-lit area and speaking up can make a big difference, says Scanlan. Greg Savage, Professor of Clinical Neuropsychology at Macquarie University, says research backs up the importance of familial support. “We have found that when a family member is helping in cuing, the overall performance is much better than when a partner is not helping in that way,” explains Professor Savage.

If a relative suspects hearing loss or the early signs of dementia, suggesting a hearing test is a sensitive way of addressing the topic. “Sometimes a hearing test can be a good first step to make, rather than admitting you think someone is developing dementia because they are becoming forgetful,” says Scanlan. She adds that feeling cross or frustrated with the person will only increase their fear of social interaction.

Having a supportive family is critical in improving communication and wellbeing for people with hearing loss and dementia.

Encouraging a healthy, low fat, low sugar diet is also sensible as diabetes has been linked to hearing loss and Alzheimer’s disease, and high blood pressure and raised cholesterol increase the risks of vascular dementia. But having ways that allow for early diagnosis and intervention are key to improving outcomes.

“Most people wait seven to 10 years before they do anything about it. During that time psychological and social impacts of hearing loss can be far-reaching,” says Scanlan. “One thing we do know is that it’s not so much the hearing loss itself but hearing loss that hasn’t had any intervention that seems to cause the most impact on the affected individuals, their partners and families,” she says.

The 10 Warning Signs of Dementia

Although the early signs vary, common early symptoms of dementia include:

• 1. Recent memory loss that affects daily life. It’s normal to forget meetings, names or telephone numbers occasionally and then remember them later. A person with dementia might have trouble remembering conversations or may repeatedly ask questions.
• 2. Difficulty performing regular tasks. It’s normal to make a wrong turn occasionally while driving. Someone with dementia might have regular difficulty driving a familiar route.
• 3. Problems with language. Many people have trouble occasionally finding the right words. Someone with dementia might have difficulty following or starting a conversation, or may use the wrong words.
• 4. Disorientation of time and place. It’s normal to forget for a moment what day it is or why you went into a room. A person with dementia may be confused abut the time of day and what it’s appropriate to do at that time (for example eating breakfast at dinner time).
• 5. Decreased or poor judgement. Making a poorly thought through decision once in a while is normal. A person with dementia might make bad decisions frequently and may start paying less attention to their physical appearance.
• 6. Problems with complex tasks. It’s normal to have some degree of difficulty with complex tasks, for example balancing a budget. A person with dementia may be unable to keep track of finances or manage to plan or cook meals.
• 7. Misplacing things. Anyone can misplace their wallet or keys. A person with dementia may repeatedly put things in inappropriate places.
• 8. Changes in mood and behaviour. Everyone becomes sad or moody from time to time. A person with dementia can have rapid mood swings, from calmness to tears to anger, for no apparent reason or because they are having difficulty coping.
• 9. Relating to others. People’s personalities can change a little with age. A person with dementia may suddenly become more outspoken and seem less considerate, or become more socially withdrawn and unconfident.
• 10. Loss of initiative. It’s normal for people to tire of work, interests, or social responsibilities. A person with dementia may lose interest in or be unable to get started on things that they used to enjoy doing.

The 10 common warning signs of dementia.

Hearing Awareness Week is upon us, and what better time to gain a better understanding of how our hearing works, how to tell and what to do when things go wrong, and how to live a full and happy life with hearing loss, including advice on choosing between hearing aid solutions.

How hearing works

Hearing is a complex process involving both the ears and brain working together to create a ‘hearing pathway’. In simple terms, sound travels through the ear as sound waves, vibrates in the ear drum (and gets processed in other ways through a complex organisation of bones, hair, and cells), and is then sent as electrical impulses along the auditory nerve to the brain. These impulses are then interpreted by the brain as different types of sound, allowing us to make sense of and participate in the world around us. Read on for a more in-depth look at the different parts of the ear and how they work together to help us hear.

Our ears are made up of many parts, which are usually divided into three categories: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. Each of these parts plays an important role in helping us to hear.

1. The Outer Ear
The outer ear collects ambient sound from the world and directs it along the ear canal so it can reach the ear drum. The visible shape of our outer ears (known as the pinna) acts like a funnel, directing and amplifying the soundwaves into our ears. When sound hits our ear drums—a very thin membrane—it vibrates, transferring the sound deeper into our ear.

2. The Middle Ear
Once the sound reaches our eardrums, it interacts with the middle ear. The role of our middle ear is to transmit the sounds collected by our outer ears. It does this via a group of specialised bones—the smallest bones of the human body—that vibrate and conduct the soundwaves, directing them into our inner ears.
There’s also another important job performed by our middle ears: ensuring that the air pressure that builds up is equalised with the surrounding air pressure. We have all felt the uncomfortable sensation of unequal pressure when flying, or going for a scenic drive through the mountains. The Eustachian tube is responsible for remedying this imbalance, opening with swallowing, yawning, or chewing, which equalises the pressure and brings our ears back into balance.

3. The Inner Ear
Our inner ear, made up of a series of tubes and passages, transforms the soundwaves that have travelled through the outer and middle ear. The sounds are converted into electrical impulses that are sent to our brains along the auditory nerve, allowing us to interpret and recognise what we are hearing from the world around us.
Here, in our inner ears, lies an important organ called the vestibular. It has a critical job within our bodies that we likely give little thought to—controlling our sense of balance. Inside, little fluid-filled passages monitor our body’s movement, letting our brains keep track of where we are in space and keeping us upright and on our feet.

Hearing is a complex process involving both the ears and brain working together.

Hearing loss can occur as a result of problems at any stage of the hearing pathway, and at any age. To find out about the different types of hearing loss read on.

Types of hearing loss

There are 4 types of hearing loss: Conductive Hearing Loss, Sensorineural Hearing Loss, Mixed Hearing Loss and Central Hearing Impairment. The main difference between them is the physical location of the problem within the ear.

1. Conductive hearing loss
Sometimes the sound from the outside world is not conducted efficiently within our outer and middle ears, resulting in difficulty hearing soft sounds. This type of hearing loss is called Conductive Hearing Loss. It can occur with an ear infection or from the common cold, damage to the Eustachian tube, or a build up of wax inside the ear. There are medical or surgical options available as treatment for conductive hearing loss. An audiologist can recommend which treatment type would best suit you.

2. Sensorineural hearing loss
A more common cause of hearing loss involves damage to either the tiny hair cells in our inner ears or damage along the auditory nerve. This means that the sound vibrations reaching the inner ear can’t be converted into electrical signals, or that those signals cannot travel into the brain. This type of hearing loss is known as Sensorineural Hearing Loss. It can occur with repeated exposure to loud noise, and also occurs as a natural process of ageing. It results in permanent hearing loss, as the hair cells are unable to do their job of transmitting vibrations once damaged. Hearing aids are the most common treatment option for Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

3. Mixed Hearing Loss
Some cases of hearing loss involve both Conductive and Sensorineural Hearing Loss. This type of hearing loss is known as Mixed Hearing Loss. Talk to your audiologist for the best combination of treatment/s for this type of hearing loss.

4. Central hearing impairment
Hearing can also be impaired by injury or disease, which is known as Central Hearing Impairment. Sometimes it’s associated with hearing loss, and sometimes not. If you experience sudden hearing loss, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

If you experience sudden hearing loss, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

A comprehensive audiological evaluation should be undertaken in order to determine the type and severity of hearing loss, and to make appropriate recommendations for treatment. Find out more about each type of hearing loss and preventive measures you can take to avoid them here, or read on to find out how you can check to see if you have hearing problem.

How can I check if I have a hearing problem?

Hearing loss is the second most common health condition experienced by Australians, but most people don’t notice they have a problem until they start to experience symptoms. To get ahead of the game, the best course of action is to take a baseline hearing test and annual follow-up hearing tests to help identify and treat any hearing issues early.

A visit to a professional audiologist for a hearing test will provide a comprehensive assessment of your current hearing, as well as any recommendations for treatment. During your visit the audiologist will run a series of tests and examinations using professional equipment, which helps to build a full picture of your current hearing, your lifestyle, and to assess the nature and level of any hearing loss.

For more information on the comprehensive range of hearing tests available from Ear & Hearing Australia clinics, or to take action now, start our simple online hearing test.

Identify and treat any hearing issues early by taking a hearing test.

Living with hearing loss

Hearing loss often happens slowly, so it’s not always immediately obvious. Even after the hearing loss is identified, people may have difficulty accepting it, or deny that the problem is important enough to warrant a visit to a specialist. The first step in living with hearing loss is acknowledging that there is a problem. It’s very difficult to take measures to minimise the long-term impact of the hearing loss if you are in denial that it even exists. As difficult as it can be to accept, hearing loss is serious and seeking professional advice will always be beneficial in terms of getting the information you need and starting any suitable treatment options.

Living with hearing loss can be difficult not only for you, but also for those around you. The people closest to you are likely to notice things like having to turn the TV volume up, or asking them to repeat themselves over and over again. If you notice yourself limiting your social interactions and not enjoying the places and activities you used to, seek professional advice from a qualified audiologist. With correct advice and treatment, your quality of life doesn’t need to suffer because of hearing loss.

People living with hearing loss can have a rewarding and enjoyable life through the use of modern technology including hearing aids and other assistive devices, as well as lip reading, sign language and other trainable skills. These can all help with communication and interaction with others at work, school and home. Depending on the type and severity of hearing loss, medical treatments (such as surgery) may also be helpful.

Read more about how you can learn to live a full and happy life with a hearing loss here, or read on to find out about the latest hearing aid technologies available.

People living with hearing loss can have a rewarding and enjoyable life through the use of modern technology.

New technology hearing aids

Hearing aids used to be bulky, uncomfortable eyesores, but not anymore! Modern technology and advances in design and function mean that hearing aids have vastly improved from past models, with electronics now miniaturised to the point where designers can focus more on aesthetics and developing hearing aid solutions that are so tiny, they’re considered invisible. Lyric from Phonak has been described as ‘the contact lens for your ear’, and there are many other hearing aid options in a choice of styles to suit your lifestyle and even your fashion sense.

Modern hearing aids also boast increasingly sophisticated features including compatibility with smartphones and computers, waterproof options for use in a wide range of environments, ‘smart’ processing that can detect where sound is coming from, adjust speech sounds relative to background noise, and change settings depending on the activities you’re doing (like talking on the phone or listening to music) and bluetooth compatibility, which allows aids to communicate with one another and exchange data.

The different types of hearing aid technology available is extensive and may feel overwhelming, so it’s important to consider your needs and preferences before you make a decision on what type of hearing aid you want to purchase. These technologies range from simple settings that may require manual adjustment in certain environments, to automated and sophisticated settings that have greater processing power. The main overall difference is the level of fine tuning you require or want from your device. Looks are also an important consideration, and now more than ever there are a wide range of options available once you have chosen the style of hearing aid you’d like.

Modern hearing aids come in two distinct styles: models that sit in the ear, and models that sit behind the ear.

In The Ear (ITE) hearing aids:Hearing aids designed to fit in your ear are discreet and can be invisible to others, as they either sit inside the ear canal or just at the entrance to your ear. To others, it will not be obvious that you are wearing a hearing aid at all! Because of their small size, and the fact that they sit inside your ear, ITE hearing aids are limited in their ability to be manually adjusted, and will need to be custom fit by a trained audiologist. They also have small switches and battery sizes.

Behind The Ear (BTE) hearing aids:The latest BTE hearing aids are much more contemporary in both design and look; they are small, sleek, and are a much more attractive option compared to past designs. Modern BTE models are customisable not only in the types of controls and battery types, but also in terms of colour and style. You can even choose them to match your hair and skin tone.

The Lyric hearing aid from Phonak is so small it is invisible to others and has been referred to as the contact lens for your ear.