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	<title>The Hearing Professionals</title>
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	<description>Expert Advice on Hearing Aids and Hearing Healthcare</description>
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		<title>The Hearing Professionals</title>
		<link>http://betterhearingblog.com</link>
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		<title>There&#8217;s An App For That!</title>
		<link>http://betterhearingblog.com/2012/05/21/theres-an-app-for-that/</link>
		<comments>http://betterhearingblog.com/2012/05/21/theres-an-app-for-that/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 15:07:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Adam Bernstein</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[audiology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Buying Hearing Aids]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hearing Aid Batteries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hearing Aid Repairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hearing Aids]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hearing Loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://betterhearingblog.com/?p=1400</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Apps are downloadable programs on mobile devices that provide individuals with a service, whether it’s a game to pass the time, a recipe creator, or a convenient flashlight. These apps have become one of the most popular features of Apple and Android mobile devices and now the hearing impaired have access to apps extending from [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=betterhearingblog.com&#038;blog=23087537&#038;post=1400&#038;subd=thehearingprofessionals&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Apps are downloadable programs on mobile devices that provide individuals with a service, whether it’s a game to pass the time, a recipe creator, or a convenient flashlight. These apps have become one of the most popular features of Apple and Android mobile devices and now the hearing impaired have access to apps extending from hearing tests to actual hearing aids. The uncomplicated accessibility of theses apps has increased usage among patients and has sparked curiosity of the hearing industry.</p>
<p>These are the apps that we at The Hearing Professionals have found to be the most helpful to our patients (and for that matter to be the most fun!).</p>
<p><a href="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/uhear1.png"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1422" title="uhear" src="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/uhear1.png?w=610" alt=""   /></a><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/uhear/id309811822?mt=8">uHear</a></p>
<p>uHear is a unique hearing loss screening test application available for download to the iPhone and iPod touch. uHear can screen for potential hearing loss through three assessments: Hearing Sensitivity, Speech in Noise and Questionnaire about common listening situations. uHear also offers a “locate” function to help users find the nearest hearing health care professional for a full assessment. uHear is not intended to replace the hearing assessment provided by a hearing health care professional. In the application, Unitron advices users that they should visit a hearing health care professional for further testing if a hearing loss is suspected.</p>
<p><a href="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/captiopnfish.png"><img class="alignleft  wp-image-1414" title="Captiopnfish" src="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/captiopnfish.png?w=179&h=164" alt="" width="179" height="164" /></a><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/captionfish/id387324703?mt=8">Captionfish</a></p>
<p>If you are deaf or hard of hearing and love movies, Captionfish lets you know about every captioned film in your area. The Captionfish Instant CC Film Finder enables visitors to find captioned movies within 30 miles of their location. Viewers can search any geographic region, sort by title and captioning type (Rear Window Captioned, Open Captioned, etc.) and customize results for up to 7 days our or up to 60 miles away. Captionfish even streams captioned movie trailers so you know just what to anticipate.</p>
<p><a href="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/sound-amp-r.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1411" title="sound amp r" src="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/sound-amp-r.jpg?w=610" alt=""   /></a><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/soundamp-r/id318126109?mt=8">soundAMP R</a></p>
<p>soundAMP is a software application that turns iPhone, iPod touch and iPad into high quality hearing solutions. Sounds are picked up by the microphone, amplified and processed in real time by soundAMP and sent to your earbuds. You can adjust volume by sliding the volume button. You can adjust for background sound levels for each situation by moving the Zoom slider. If you like to hear what was just said without asking your friend to repeat him or herself, just tap the Instant Replay button. This gives you instant access to the last 30 seconds of conversation.</p>
<p><a href="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/hearing-loss-simulator-app.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1408" title="Hearing Loss Simulator APp" src="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/hearing-loss-simulator-app.jpg?w=610" alt=""   /></a><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hearing-loss-simulator/id398352094?mt=8">Hearing Loss Simulator</a></p>
<p>Have you ever wondered what it’s like to have a hearing loss? Do you have a family member with hearing loss? The Hearing Loss Simulator allows you to choose a specific hearing loss configuration and then listen to sounds as though you have that particular hearing loss. The Hearing Loss Simulator contains pre-recorded common sounds and has the option to let you record your own voice for playback though the different hearing loss configurations. The Hearing Loss Simulator includes graphics to show where the common sounds, speech, and individual speech sounds are located for loudness and frequency.</p>
<p><a href="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/db-meter.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1405" title="db Meter" src="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/db-meter.jpg?w=610" alt=""   /></a><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/volume-decibel-meter/id314133077?mt=8">Volume Decibel Meter</a></p>
<p>Volume Decibel Meter provides a way to measure environmental sound levels, showing the approximate dB level (decibel level). It also provides an approximate “decibel guide” at the bottom of the application interface, so that you know what sound levels correspond to a health hazard. Please note that microphone sensitivities vary a lot so the reading you get should be considered approximate (take it with a grain of salt!). This decibel meter also gives you a convenient start/stop button, and records the minimum and maximum decibel reading. You simply tap on those readings to reset the minimum and maximum back to zero.</p>
<p><a href="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/sign-4-me.png"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1403" title="Sign 4 me" src="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/sign-4-me.png?w=610" alt=""   /></a><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sign-4-me-signed-english-translator/id312882992?mt=8" target="_blank">Sign 4 Me</a></p>
<p>Sign  4Me is the ultimate tool for learning sign language and it’s the only app that provides sign language in 3D! The library includes more than 11,500 words. Type in sentences, phrases, words and even the alphabet. Everything you enter will be saved in your History. Us the controls to speed up or slow down the signing; turn on or off the looping feature; and send the character to his “home” or default position. Even though this app costs nearly $10, it’s worth every penny!</p>
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			<media:title type="html">Sign 4 me</media:title>
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		<title>Invisible Hearing Aids</title>
		<link>http://betterhearingblog.com/2012/05/16/invisible-hearing-aids/</link>
		<comments>http://betterhearingblog.com/2012/05/16/invisible-hearing-aids/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 May 2012 15:34:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Adam Bernstein</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[audiology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Buying Hearing Aids]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hearing Aids]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hearing Loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://betterhearingblog.com/?p=1343</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Since the arrival of the Starkey SoundLens nearly two years ago (June, 2010) heralded a new era in invisible hearing aids a lot has happened in the market. So it seems like a good time to discuss this subject. The Starkey SoundLens (AKA OtoLens) was the first if its kind, a hearing aid that could [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=betterhearingblog.com&#038;blog=23087537&#038;post=1343&#038;subd=thehearingprofessionals&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Since the arrival of the Starkey SoundLens nearly two years ago (June, 2010) heralded a new era in invisible hearing aids a lot has happened in the market. So it seems like a good time to discuss this subject.</p>
<p>The Starkey SoundLens (AKA OtoLens) was the first if its kind, a hearing aid that could truly be called invisible. Up until this point the <a href="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/invisible-hearing-aid.png"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1347" title="Invisible Hearing Aid" src="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/invisible-hearing-aid.png?w=300&h=258" alt="" width="300" height="258" /></a>hearingaid manufacturers and some national chains in particular had all been guilty of marketing their CIC (completely in the canal) hearing aid as invisible.</p>
<p>While it cannot be denied that CIC hearing aids are very neat and cosmetically attractive, it is stretching it a bit to call them invisible. You maybe able to call them invisible from some angles and very discreet from others. But that doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue or seem very appealing from a marketing point of view.</p>
<p>Then along comes Starkey with their SoundLens, a truly invisible hearing aid that sits so deep in the ear canal that it is invisible from any angle. What a proposition! But wait … there has to be a catch, right?</p>
<p>The nature of the fitting of this type of product is that a very deep impression of the ear <a href="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/iic-4.png"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1351" title="IIC 4" src="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/iic-4.png?w=300&h=225" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>canal is needed for the manufacturing process. In fact, the impression has to reach far deeper than a standard impression – pretty much touching the eardrum.</p>
<p>It can be uncomfortable for the patient to take such a deep impression, and quite frankly there are a lot of audiologists out there who are incapable, unqualified or even fearful of taking a safe impression this deep. Because deep impressions are needed and more difficult to obtain, this type of device tends to be remade several times before the fit is comfortable.</p>
<p>Also for these invisible hearing aids to be suitable, your ear canal needs to be wide and tall enough to accept the minimum dimensions of the device. Other things can rule out being suitable, such as waxy ear canals, tight bends in the ear canal, perforated eardrums, etc. Because of the fit issues, we have found that less than half of all patients wishing to use this type of instrument are actual candidates!</p>
<p>Since the Starkey SoundLens was launched, a number of other manufacturers have brought to market similar invisible hearing aids to compete<a href="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/iic.png"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1354" title="IIC" src="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/iic.png?w=610" alt=""   /></a> with Starkey. These products include the Siemens iMini, the Phonak Nano, the newly relased Oticon Intiga i, and the Unitron Micro CIC.</p>
<p>Generally these new hearing aids are marketed as “invisible” hearing aids or “near” invisible. And depending on space in the canal, they tend to sit so deep in the ear canal and in deep shadows that they blend right in and are difficult to see from any angle.</p>
<p><strong><em>So is an “invisible” or “nearly invisible” hearing aid appropriate for you?</em></strong></p>
<p>We’ve already discussed the issues of ear canal size, the shape of the canal and wax build up as potential fit issues. But since these hearing aids are so small, these devices may also not be appropriate for people who have problems with dexterity (manipulating small objects) or visual problems. And because the average life span of a hearing aid is four to six years, you must think consider this before purchasing. Based on this along, the invisible hearing aid may be more appropriate for a 40 year old than an 80 year old!</p>
<p>As with all hearing aids there are pros and cons to each device. And the new invisible hearing aids aren’t any different. They can be perfect for one patient, but completely wrong for the patient across the hall.</p>
<p>To find out more about the new invisible hearing aids, contact <a title="The Hearing Professionals" href="http://www.icanhearthat.com" target="_blank">The Hearing Professionals </a>today.</p>
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		<title>Cheaper Online Hearing Tests Sound Great, But Not Worth Cost</title>
		<link>http://betterhearingblog.com/2012/05/07/cheaper-online-hearing-tests-sound-great-but-not-worth-cost-2/</link>
		<comments>http://betterhearingblog.com/2012/05/07/cheaper-online-hearing-tests-sound-great-but-not-worth-cost-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 May 2012 16:52:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Adam Bernstein</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[audiology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Buying Hearing Aids]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hearing Aids]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hearing Loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://betterhearingblog.com/?p=1381</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hearing aids aren’t cheap. If you buy a high-quality hearing aid from an audiologist, by the time all is said and don it will probably run you well over $2,000 – nearly double if you need aids for both ears. So what would you say if you could buy hearing aids for a fraction of [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=betterhearingblog.com&#038;blog=23087537&#038;post=1381&#038;subd=thehearingprofessionals&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hearing aids aren’t cheap. If you buy a high-quality hearing aid from an audiologist, by the time all is said and don it will probably run you well over $2,000 – nearly double if you need aids for both ears.</p>
<p>So what would you say if you could buy hearing aids for a fraction of that – between $650 and $950 – from a company affiliated with a <a href="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/hihealthlogo1.jpg"><img class="alignright  wp-image-1383" title="hiHealthLogo" src="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/hihealthlogo1.jpg?w=306&h=203" alt="" width="306" height="203" /></a>nationally known health insurer, and do it all online, including your hearing test? That’s what Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare (UHC) is offering through its business affiliate, hi HealthInnovations. As of October 2011, consumers can go to the company’s website (<a href="http://www.hihealthinnovations.com/">www.hihealthinnovations.com</a>), take an online hearing test, and order their hearing aids for less than $950. If they choose to sign up for UHC’s Medicare Advantage plan, the aids might even be free or virtually so.</p>
<p>Sounds great, right? There’s just one problem: Virtually every organization involved in hearing health thins it’s a bad idea. Organizations that have spoken our against the new program include the American Academy of Doctors of Audiology, the American Academy of Audiology, the International Hearing Society and several states organizations for speech, language and hearing. Even the Minnesota Department of Health took action, warning consumers in a release that, “Before hearing aids can be sold to consumers, (state and federal) laws require practitioners to … visually inspect the consumer’s ears and ear canal.”</p>
<p>That’s just one of the problems, says Gregory Frazer, owner of California-based Pacific Hearing Inc. and director of audiology at Pacific Eye &amp; Ear Specialists who has written to UHC with a litany of concerns about the new plan.</p>
<p>“First of all, no one is looking in the person’s ear to see if they have earwax,” he pointed out. Earwax? You bet. About one-third of people with <a href="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/hi-health-023.gif"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1385" title="hi health 02" src="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/hi-health-023.gif?w=300&h=196" alt="" width="300" height="196" /></a>hearing loss may just have a massive buildup of wax, called cerumen, in their ears. If you don’t get the wax out, a hearing aid isn’t going to help much.</p>
<p>“People doing a hearing test online also don’t have the benefit of a professional consultation to pick up a pathological problem that may be related to the hearing loss, “Frazer added. “Our ear mirrors out health, and between 5 percent and 10 percent of people with hearing loss are going to have a condition that requires some type of medical or surgical treatment.” But if you’re doing an online hearing test, nobody is examining you to see if you have other symptoms that might point to underlying medical problems.</p>
<p>And how accurate is that online hearing test? No very, say many professionals. Most audiologists will test your hearing in a specially designed sound room, and they will test more than just the “pure tone” thresholds that the hi HealthInnovations test uses. Even though the online program recommends taking the test in a quiet place, many people can’t really crate a soundproof environment in their home. (When I tried to take the test, jets from a nearby airport were zooming overhead.) Some people have taken the test twice, both passing and deliberately failing, and in both cases hearing aids were recommended.</p>
<p>There’s also the question as to whether or not the practice is even legal. The International Hearing Society has requested a meeting with the <a href="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/hi-health-011.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1388" title="hi health 01" src="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/hi-health-011.jpg?w=300&h=257" alt="" width="300" height="257" /></a>Food and Drug Administration about hi HealthInnovations because the sale of hearing aids is federally regulated. The Medical Device Act requires that a seller will not sell a hearing aid unless the prospective user has presented a written statement signed by a licensed physician (preferably one who specializes in diseases of the ear) within the last six months. Some companies skirt this requirement by marketing their products as “personal sound amplification devices,” which are not aimed at treating hearing loss. But the Hearing Industries Association (HIA) believes that by utilizing a hearing test – and then presenting consumers with results that suggest specific devices for varying levels of hearing loss – the hi HealthInnovations program steps over the line.</p>
<p>“In our view, this isn’t just an implied claim, but an out-and-out statement that these products are intended to compensate for impaired hearing,” said Carol Rogin, executive director of HIA.</p>
<p>Whether or not the FDA shuts down hi HealthInnovations (we were unable to get a comment from the company), it’s important that people who have hearing problems get accurate and complete care. Obviously, everybody’s dealing with a difficult economy and the lure of a good product at a cheaper price is difficult to resist. But is it really so cheap? It’s unlikely that the hearing aid you bought online is going to be professionally fitted for you, or come with a warranty, or with someone who will teach you how to insert the aid in your ear properly or change the batteries. These things are often more complicated than they sound. Frazer says that a good third of his patients have trouble changing batteries in their hearing aids even with assistance from his office.</p>
<p>So before you consider buying a hearing aid online, ask yourself: Am I trying to get a bargain on a hearing aid, or am I trying to hear better?</p>
<p>From: <a href="http://www.washdiplomat.com/">The Washington Diplomat</a>.</p>
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		<title>Drugs and Hearing Loss</title>
		<link>http://betterhearingblog.com/2012/04/30/drugs-and-hearing-loss/</link>
		<comments>http://betterhearingblog.com/2012/04/30/drugs-and-hearing-loss/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:31:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Adam Bernstein</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[audiology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hearing Aids]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hearing Loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ototoxic Drugs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sudden Hearing Loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Aspirin, Viagra and Advil: What do these drugs all have in common, you may ask? These and many other prescription and over-the-counter drugs are known as Ototoxic medications that can cause hearing loss. Ototoxic drugs – literally meaning “ear poisoning” – can lead to a variety of ear-related health problems such as permanent pr temporary [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=betterhearingblog.com&#038;blog=23087537&#038;post=1331&#038;subd=thehearingprofessionals&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align:left;" align="center">Aspirin, Viagra and Advil: What do these drugs all have in common, you may ask? These and many other prescription and over-the-counter drugs are known as Ototoxic medications that can cause hearing loss. Ototoxic drugs – literally meaning “ear poisoning” – can lead to a variety of ear-related health problems such as permanent pr temporary hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), dizziness, hypersensitivity to sounds, pressure in the ears or balance issues. While there are over 200 Ototoxic drugs on the market today, many people are unaware of the side effects these drugs can have on their hearing capabilities.</p>
<p>Many drugs that we call “Ototoxic” are widely used, such as Aspirin (40,000 tons are consumed <a href="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/ototoxic-02.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1334" title="Ototoxic 02" src="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/ototoxic-02.jpg?w=300&h=199" alt="" width="300" height="199" /></a>yearly worldwide). Sadly, some health care providers are either ignorant of this information or otherwise neglect to mention it when prescribing medication. Let’s face it, as consumers we need to know the facts. Here is a list of the usual suspects:</p>
<p><strong> Medication that can cause temporary damage (reversible once intake stops)</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Salycilates: for pain and heart conditions (e.g., Aspirin, Acetaminophen)</li>
<li>Anti-inflammatory drugs: for arthritis and other pain relief (e.g., Advil, Voltarin)</li>
<li>Quinine: used for Malaria treatment</li>
<li>Loop Diuretics: for certain heart and kidney conditions</li>
<li>Sildenafil: for erectile dysfunction (e.g., Viagra)</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Medications that cause permanent damage</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Aminoglycosides: powerful antibiotics (e.g., Gentamicn, Streptomycin)</li>
<li>Chemotherapy drugs: for cancer treatment (e.g., Cisplatin, Carboplatin)</li>
<li>Strong pain relievers: (e.g., Hydrocodone in conjunction with Acetaminophen)</li>
</ul>
<p>Even if your mediation does not appear on this list, it would be a good idea to ask your doctor if what you are currently taking could be considered Ototoxic.</p>
<p><strong>Reading the Signs of Drug-Induced Hearing Loss</strong></p>
<p>A large part of the danger of Ototoxic medications is that people either fail to recognize the <a href="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/ototoxic-05.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1336" title="Ototoxic 05" src="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/ototoxic-05.jpg?w=610" alt=""   /></a>symptoms right away, or else attribute them to something else. Ototoxic symptoms can occur even in those who have no previous hearing problems. However, they are usually worse for people already suffering from Sensorineural hearing loss. In both cases it depends on how long you have been taking the medication and in what quantities. If you are currently under any of these medications, simply be aware of any changes in your hearing capabilities. If you are beginning a treatment and require chemotherapeutic medications, for example, make sure to have a audiologist record a baseline of your hearing so you can compare any deterioration in your hearing.</p>
<p>As information about Ototoxic drugs is not always readily available, it’s important to read up on new research in the field. Or, you can learn more about hearing and hearing loss by contacting <a href="http://www.icanhearthat.com">The Hearing Professionals</a> at (414) 332-3377.</p>
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		<title>For Hearing Loss Treatment, Sooner is Better</title>
		<link>http://betterhearingblog.com/2012/04/23/for-hearing-loss-treatment-sooner-is-better/</link>
		<comments>http://betterhearingblog.com/2012/04/23/for-hearing-loss-treatment-sooner-is-better/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:56:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Adam Bernstein</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[audiology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Buying Hearing Aids]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hearing Aids]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hearing Loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[It is a well known fact that hearing loss is the third most common health condition affecting adults over the age of 60, just behind arthritis and hypertension. The process of age-related hearing loss is gradual and progressive. Some experts say it can start as early as in our 40s. This message is especially important [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=betterhearingblog.com&#038;blog=23087537&#038;post=1317&#038;subd=thehearingprofessionals&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align:left;" align="center">It is a well known fact that hearing loss is the third most common health condition affecting adults over the age of 60, just behind arthritis and hypertension. The process of age-related hearing loss is gradual and progressive. Some experts say it can start as early as in our 40s. This message is especially important to the over 70 million baby-boomers – many of who are healthy and active, but may not realize that their hearing has already started to diminish.</p>
<p>Hearing loss that is age related may not always be preventable. However, waiting too long before getting tested, and if needed, getting fitted <a href="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/how-we-hear.gif"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1321" title="How We Hear" src="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/how-we-hear.gif?w=300&h=229" alt="" width="300" height="229" /></a>with hearing aids, is preventable. And doing it sooner rather than later is a very smart move. One of the first signs of hearing loss is often an inability to hear and understand speech in noisy environments, but communication in all environments is hindered as the condition progresses. A number of factors contribute to hearing loss in adults including age, genetics, noise exposure, medication and chronic disease.</p>
<p>Just like our joints and muscles, the use-it or lose-it principle applies to our hearing. Hearing loss is actually linked to brain atrophy in older adults.</p>
<p>“As hearing ability declines with age, interventions such as hearing aids should be considered not only to improve hearing, but to improve the brain,” said lead researcher Jonathan Peele, Ph.D.,  in a new research study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.</p>
<p>“Your hearing ability directly affects how the brain processes sound, including speech – preserving your hearing doesn’t only protect your ears, <a href="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/grandpa.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1324" title="grandpa" src="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/grandpa.jpg?w=610" alt=""   /></a>but also helps your brain perform at its best,” according to Peele.</p>
<p>You don’t actually “hear” a sound until the brain’s hearing centers receive electrical signals from your ear, process those signals and generate some reaction – like getting out of the way of an on-coming car as you cross the street.</p>
<p>Well, not only do the hearing nerves weaken over time, the hearing centers of the brain, under-utilized, also tend to weaken – atrophy – as a result of the auditory deprivation. In other words, the hearing centers no longer receive any process as many electrical hearing messages from the ear.</p>
<p>Understanding hearing loss and treatment options, such as hearing aids, can assure you don’t lose it before it is too late. The longer a hearing loss is ignored, the greater effects of deprivation. In other words, if you have a hearing loss, sooner you begin your treatment, including hearing aids, the better the results.</p>
<p>The solution? Keep your hearing nerves fresh and stimulated – don’t deprive them. See the experts at The Hearing Professionals when you first suspect hearing loss. And, if you’ve suspected (or know) you have hearing loss, move your ears to The Hearing Professionals instead of turning up the TV or radio.</p>
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		<title>Wearing Earbuds Can Lead to Accidents and Loss of Hearing</title>
		<link>http://betterhearingblog.com/2012/04/16/wearing-earbuds-can-lead-to-accidents-and-loss-of-hearing/</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:36:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Adam Bernstein</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[audiology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Headphones]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hearing Aids]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hearing Loss]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[This past week my family and I visited the University of Wisconsin, Madison. As we walked up Bascom Hill I was amazed at how many of the college students who were wearing headphones and blasting their music! With MP3 players and music streaming on phones, kids never have their favorite tunes more than a cord [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=betterhearingblog.com&#038;blog=23087537&#038;post=1302&#038;subd=thehearingprofessionals&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This past week my family and I visited the University of Wisconsin, Madison. As we walked up Bascom Hill I was amazed at how many of the college students who were wearing headphones and blasting their music! With MP3 players and music streaming on phones, kids never have their favorite tunes more than a cord away. But experts warn that earbuds can pose a greater danger. Wearing earbuds can lead to problems if the user has the music turned up too loud or is inattentive while wearing the headpieces.</p>
<p>The number of people injured while wearing earbuds has tripled since 2004, according to a recent study in “Injury Prevention” journal. In 2010<a href="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/madison.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1306" title="DSC09661" src="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/madison.jpg?w=300&h=225" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>-2011, a total of 47 pedestrians were injured when they did not hear a car or train as a result of listening to music through earbuds. This is a big increase from six years earlier when only 15 such incidents were noted. The sound from headphones can mask outside noise, making it difficult to hear traffic or warning horn that might have saved a life.</p>
<p>Children and teens must understand the importance of being attentive to the traffic and vehicles around them, as they walk to school or around the neighborhood. Although kids may assume they will be watchful enough to make up for their diminished hearing, parents should explain that we need all of our senses to be careful and protect ourselves.</p>
<p>Listening to music through headphones comes with another set of dangers. Because earbuds are designed to provide the clearest possible sound, they sit very close to the eardrum. Listening to music too loud through earbuds can cause hearing problems, particularly in children.</p>
<p>“It can eventually cause a hearing loss,” said Melissa Born, an audiologist at The Hearing Professionals in Milwaukee. “It may not be an <a href="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/madison-03.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1309" title="Madison 03" src="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/madison-03.jpg?w=300&h=152" alt="" width="300" height="152" /></a>immediate hearing loss; it could appear years down the road.”</p>
<p>Chain saws and motorcycles create about 100 decibels of sound – a level that can damage hearing after less than half of an hour. An MP3 player at 70 percent of its top volume is about 85 decibels. This level of sound for long periods of time can put listeners in real danger of permanent hearing loss.</p>
<p>For teens, it can be difficult to understand the seriousness of hearing loss years away versus the fun of listening to loud music. That’s why Born suggests parents check up on kids to ensure that they are listening to music at safe levels. To help parents gage how loud their children are listening to music through earbuds, Born suggests a simple test.</p>
<p>“If other people can hear your music when you have earbuds in, that’s too loud,” Born said. “Kids who are listening to earbuds at a safe and comfortable level should be able to hear conversations going on around them.</p>
<p>Many MP3 players also come with volume limits that parents can set. These volume limits can be locked, preventing the user from turning <a href="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/madison-04.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1312" title="Madison 04" src="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/madison-04.jpg?w=300&h=168" alt="" width="300" height="168" /></a>music up beyond the limit without the pass code.</p>
<p>A concern with noise-induced hearing loss is that it happens so gradually that many people don’t realize that they have a problem until it’s too late. Signs that a child might have a hearing loss include ringing, buzzing or roaring in the ears after hearing a loud noise and muffling or distortion of sounds.</p>
<p>It is important to avoid the problem in the first place and to take action at the first signs of a problem. Many famous musicians, such as Phil Collins and Roger Daltry, have said they regret losing their hearing. Recent reports show that classical musicians are at risk as well: Trumpeters playing pieces such as Mahler’s “Ninth Symphony” can reach very loud volumes that could induce deafness.</p>
<p>Parents who suspect their children are listening to their music too loud should take action today. If you wait too long or don&#8217;t want to intervene, we at The Hearing Professionals would be happy to do so on your behalf. But at that point, we most likely will be selling them a hearing aid.</p>
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		<title>William Ellsworth “Dummy” Hoy &#8211; A Lasting Impact On Baseball</title>
		<link>http://betterhearingblog.com/2012/04/09/william-ellsworth-dummy-hoy-a-lasting-impact-on-baseball/</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:52:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Adam Bernstein</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[audiology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Baseball]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hearing Aid Repairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hearing Aids]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hearing Loss]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[This past weekend millions of Americans celebrated Major League Baseball’s Opening Day. For some, it’s a rite of spring and for others it’s a near-religious experience. Just think of some of the great players to play the game: Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Ty Cobb, Hank Aaron, Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio all had a huge [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=betterhearingblog.com&#038;blog=23087537&#038;post=1277&#038;subd=thehearingprofessionals&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This past weekend millions of Americans celebrated Major League Baseball’s Opening Day. For some, it’s a rite of spring and for others it’s a near-religious experience. Just think of some of the great players to play the game: Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Ty Cobb, Hank Aaron, Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio all had a huge impact on baseball. But guess whose name is associated with <em>every</em> play in baseball? Don’t know? William Ellsworth Hoy. <strong><em>William WHO?</em></strong> Well, let me tell you a little about one player who has had a lasting impact on the game.</p>
<p>William Ellsworth “Dummy” Hoy (1862-1961) was a major league baseball player with nine different teams in five different leagues. During his<a href="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/332px-dummy_hoy_baseball_card.jpg"><img class="alignright  wp-image-1280" title="332px-Dummy_Hoy_baseball_card" src="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/332px-dummy_hoy_baseball_card.jpg?w=194&h=340" alt="" width="194" height="340" /></a> rookie year in the majors (1888), Hoy led the National League with 82 stolen bases, a record that tops those of some of the most celebrated Hall of Famers. (Ty Cobb stole no bases during his rookie year, Babe Ruth had only 10). His career total: 597 to 607 stolen bases (depending on which account you read). Hoy had a respectable .288 lifetime batting average and 2,054 hits. He once hit .357. He had 1,004 walks and played in 1,798 major league games. In 1901 William hit the first Home Run of the newly formed American League for the Chicago White Stockings. That same year Hoy hit the second grand slam in the league (his teammate Herm McFarland had hit the first one earlier in the game).</p>
<p>Hoy’s own proudest achievement was throwing out three runners at home plate (from center field) in one game – an unprecedented and seldom equaled feat.</p>
<p>But none of that is what makes Hoy interesting; after all, you can go through the records of baseball’s past and find dozens of similar resumes. What makes Hoy interesting is that for everything he accomplished on the baseball field, he did not hear a single smattering of applause. Not one clap, not one cheer. On the bright side, he never heard a discouraging word either.</p>
<p>It wasn’t that the fans ignored him for some strange reason. No, it was that during his childhood, Hoy was <a href="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/hoy1.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1284" title="hoy1" src="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/hoy1.jpg?w=610" alt=""   /></a>completely deafened by Meningitis.</p>
<p>As a boy, William got the nickname “Dummy” because of his deafness. In today’s society calling him that name would not be acceptable, but back then dummy meant somebody who could not speak. When people called him William, Billy or Bill, he corrected them because he actually preferred Dummy.</p>
<p>Fans quickly learned of Hoy’s hearing problem and figured out a way around it; when Hoy’s performance was worthy of applause, the crowd would stand and wave to him (some called it the “Deaf Applause”).</p>
<p>Unfortunately for Hoy, the fans weren’t the only ones that learned to adapt to him. Realizing that after every pitch, Hoy would turn to the umpire in order to read his lips to find out if the pitch was a ball or strike (in those days, umpires were not nearly as demonstrative as they are today), opposing teams would “fast pitch” Hoy. The catcher would get the ball back to the pitcher and the pitcher would throw his next pitch while Hoy was still determining what the call was for the first pitch.</p>
<p>The strategy worked and Hoy’s average plummeted to .219 in 1885 while playing for a minor league team in Oshkosh,Wisconsin. But now <a href="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/dummy-hoy1.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1289" title="dummy-hoy" src="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/dummy-hoy1.jpg?w=225&h=300" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>it was Hoy’s turn to adapt. As the story goes, Hoy wrote out a request to the third base coach, asking him to raise his left arm to indicate a ball and his right arm for a strike. Hoy could follow the hand signals after each pitch, and be ready for the next. And the umpires and other players found these signals so useful that they became standard practice – they’re still used everywhere. Hoy adapted the “out” and “safe” signals from American Sign Language (ASL). In 1887 he would go on to hit .367 that year, and by 1888 he was in the majors.</p>
<p>After retiring from baseball in 1903, Hoy (now 42) bought a 60-achre farm near Mount Healthy, near Cincinnati. He operated it for 20 years, and sold it in 1924. He always retained his enthusiasm for baseball. He joined a local amateur team, coached Deaf-community teams, attended meetings of the Baseball Players of Yesterday, and kept in contact with old friends from his illustrious career.</p>
<p>On October 7, 1961, Hoy tossed out the first ball at the first game of the World Series game in Crosley Field (Reds vs. Yankees). Shortly afterwards, he became ill and was hospitalized. On December 15, 1961 he died of a stroke. He was 99 years old.</p>
<p>Without “Dummy” Hoy, baseball just wouldn’t be the same.</p>
<p>Career Highlights</p>
<ul>
<li>Led National League in stole bases in 1888 with 82 (his major league rookie year).</li>
<li>One of the all-time leaders in stolen bases (Robert F. Panara ranks him 13<sup>th</sup>)</li>
<li>Twice led his league in walks, and once in stole bases and at-bats</li>
<li>Threw out three bass runners at home plate in one game, June 19, 1889</li>
<li>Had the second grand slam (home run with bases loaded) in the American League with the Chicago White Stockings, May 1, 1901</li>
<li>Was on four pennant-winning teams: Oshkosh Club of the Northwestern League (1887); Chicago White Stockings of the American League (1900 and 1901); Los Angeles Lookoos of the Pacific Coast League (1903).</li>
</ul>
<p>Teams</p>
<ul>
<li>Milwaukee Brewers, Northwestern League – 1886</li>
<li>Oshkosh Club, Northwestern League – 1886-1887</li>
<li>Washington Senators, National League – 1889-1889</li>
<li>Buffalo Bisons, Player’s League – 1890</li>
<li>St. Louis Browns, American Association, 1891</li>
<li>WashingtonSenators, National League – 1892-1893</li>
<li>Cincinnati Reds, National League – 1894-1897</li>
<li>Louisville Colonels, National League – 1898-1899</li>
<li>Chicago White Stockings, American League – 1900-1901</li>
<li>Cincinnati Reds, National League – 1902</li>
<li>Los Angeles Looloos, Pacific League, 1903</li>
</ul>
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		<title>Hofstra Professor Helps Develops Sabbath Friendly Hearing Aid</title>
		<link>http://betterhearingblog.com/2012/04/02/hofstra-professor-helps-develops-sabbath-friendly-hearing-aid/</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 02 Apr 2012 16:17:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Adam Bernstein</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[audiology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Buying Hearing Aids]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hearing Aids]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Orthodox Jews who wear high-end, multi-program hearing aids often disable their devices’ most helpful features on the Jewish Sabbath, because they are concerned about inadvertently depressing a program button when they are inserting the instrument. Hofstra University Professor of Audiology Dr. Levi A. Reiter and Persona Medical Inc. have recently developed the new “EMET” hearing [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=betterhearingblog.com&#038;blog=23087537&#038;post=1256&#038;subd=thehearingprofessionals&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Orthodox Jews who wear high-end, multi-program hearing aids often disable their devices’ most helpful features on the Jewish Sabbath, because they are concerned about inadvertently depressing a program button when they are inserting the instrument. Hofstra University Professor of Audiology Dr. Levi A. Reiter and Persona Medical Inc. have recently developed the new “EMET” hearing aid, which circumvents the problem of activating buttons or switches on the Sabbath, making it the world’s mist Sabbath-friendly hearing aid.</p>
<p>According to Jewish Law, operating electronic switching mechanisms may violate one of the principles of Sabbath observance. Orthodox Jews often choose to have their audiologist program the <a href="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/dr-reiter.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1258" title="Dr. Reiter" src="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/dr-reiter.jpg?w=197&h=300" alt="" width="197" height="300" /></a>instrument’s software to disable the multi-program option. These multi-program features are designed to increase ease of listening in various sound environments, e.g., restaurants, music venues, traffic noise, etc. While this solves the Sabbath problem, it also denies the wearer access to program selection during the week when it could be very useful.</p>
<p>The new EMET hearing aid, inscribed with the Hebrew font meaning “true” (as in true sound), enables a hearing aid wearer to activate the multi-program option. Therefore, during the week the wearer has full access to any one of four listening programs. Before the Sabbath arrives the wearer can select the listening program he/she prefers for the day. The chosen program cannot be altered inadvertently. Once the Sabbath is over, the wearer can again assume full access to a wide range of listening settings.</p>
<p>Dr. Reiter says, “Fortunately we have been able to apply the EMET concept to all known hearing aid types, <a href="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/emet-hearing-aid.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1261" title="EMET hearing aid" src="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/emet-hearing-aid.jpg?w=231&h=300" alt="" width="231" height="300" /></a>including the tiny custom, ‘deep canal’ fittings, the full rang of ‘in-the-ear’ sizes and the ‘behind-the-ear’ series, including ‘slim tube’ open ear fittings, ‘receiver-in-the-canal’ instruments, and powerful behind-the-ear hearing aids.”</p>
<p>Dr. Reiter first made news in 2006 when he composed a rap song for Hofstra’s freshman orientation, titled, “Say What?,” explaining the importance of the field of audiology. For this, the grandfather of 26 received the admiration of his students as well as the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA), which adopted it for its recruitment efforts. <a href="http://www.drreiter.com/assets/ur_reiter_rap.wma">Click Here To Download Dr. Reiter&#8217;s Rap</a></p>
<p>In 2008 Dr. Reiter was again in the news for his diagnosis of an Ear-Kiss Syndrome, which was subsequently named “Reiter’s Ear-Kiss Syndrome” (REKS). One of his patients, a young mother, suffered permanent hearing loss when her toddler daughter gave her a strong kiss on the ear. Dr. Reiter’s research found this condition is much more common than previously thought, and he started a campaign to get people to be more mindful of any shows of affection near the sensitive ear area. His work in this area has also made audiologists more mindful of this condition and its causes.</p>
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		<title>Viral Video Shows Woman Hearing Own Voice For First Time</title>
		<link>http://betterhearingblog.com/2012/03/26/viral-video-shows-woman-hearing-own-voice-for-first-time/</link>
		<comments>http://betterhearingblog.com/2012/03/26/viral-video-shows-woman-hearing-own-voice-for-first-time/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:32:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Adam Bernstein</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[audiology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hearing Aids]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hearing Loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[A video of a deaf woman hearing her own voice for the first time with the help of a hearing implant has gone viral and has received over 12 million hits! The video of Sarah Churman, shot in October, 2011, was posted on YouTube and shows herself hearing her voice loud and clear for the [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=betterhearingblog.com&#038;blog=23087537&#038;post=1214&#038;subd=thehearingprofessionals&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A video of a deaf woman hearing her own voice for the first time with the help of a hearing implant has gone viral and has received over 12 million hits!<a href="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/sloan-churman.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1249" title="*Sep 01 - 00:00*05_Flatbed_1" src="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/sloan-churman.jpg?w=300&h=187" alt="" width="300" height="187" /></a></p>
<p>The video of Sarah Churman, shot in October, 2011, was posted on YouTube and shows herself hearing her voice loud and clear for the first time after being implanted with Envoy Medical’s Esteem device. The video went viral, Envoy Medical’s sales spiked and Churman and the company shared the spotlight on The Today Show, Ellen DeGeneres, Fox and Friends, and CNN’s Anderson Cooper and Dr. Sanjay Gupta, among others. The story was also covered on 150 local television stations.</p>
<p>Churman, 29, was born deaf and relied on reading lips and hearing aids until she received a surgically-implanted device. On her YouTube channel, Churman wrote, “I was born deaf and eight weeks ago I received a hearing implant. This video of them turning it on and me hearing myself for the first time.”</p>
<span style="text-align:center; display: block;"><a href="http://betterhearingblog.com/2012/03/26/viral-video-shows-woman-hearing-own-voice-for-first-time/"><img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/LsOo3jzkhYA/2.jpg" alt="" /></a></span>
<p>In the video shot by her husband and posted on video-sharing website YouTube, Churman cries as she hears sounds, including her own voice and her husband’s laughter for the first time as the implant was activated.</p>
<p>During her appearance on “Ellen,” Churman learned that Envoy was giving her an implant for her other ear. That happened earlier this year, and, again, Churman recorded her reaction.</p>
<span style="text-align:center; display: block;"><a href="http://betterhearingblog.com/2012/03/26/viral-video-shows-woman-hearing-own-voice-for-first-time/"><img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/fp4usWroDew/2.jpg" alt="" /></a></span>
<p>After Churman received her second implant, her husband again videotaped the moment the device was activated. While you don’t get the pure, unadulterated joy that you did in her first video, it is still interesting to see someone hear in stereo for the first time. Churman first describes it as “weird” but really tarts to like the new sensation after about a minute.</p>
<span style="text-align:center; display: block;"><a href="http://betterhearingblog.com/2012/03/26/viral-video-shows-woman-hearing-own-voice-for-first-time/"><img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/e6RNWB7N4VQ/2.jpg" alt="" /></a></span>
<p>According to the company’s website, the implant is the only fully surgically-implantable hearing device for sensorineural hearing loss that uses the natural ear as a microphone.</p>
<p>The implant, which is not visible on the user, has a sound processor implanted behind the outer ear and two transducers implanted in the middle ear to use the eardrum as a microphone, picking up the sounds through the ear canal.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			<media:title type="html">aibernstein</media:title>
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		<title>Raising Awareness of the Link Between Diabetes and Hearing Loss</title>
		<link>http://betterhearingblog.com/2012/03/19/raising-awareness-of-the-link-between-diabetes-and-hearing-loss/</link>
		<comments>http://betterhearingblog.com/2012/03/19/raising-awareness-of-the-link-between-diabetes-and-hearing-loss/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:13:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Adam Bernstein</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[audiology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Diabetes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hearing Aids]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hearing Loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://betterhearingblog.com/?p=1171</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[To help raise awareness of the link between diabetes and hearing loss – and to encourage people with diabetes to get their hearing checked – The Hearing Professionals is participating in American Diabetes Association Alert Day, which takes place this year on March 27, 2012. American Diabetes Association Alert Day is a one-day “wake-up call” asking the American [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=betterhearingblog.com&#038;blog=23087537&#038;post=1171&#038;subd=thehearingprofessionals&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align:left;" align="center">To help raise awareness of the link between diabetes and hearing loss – and to encourage people with diabetes to get their hearing checked – The Hearing Professionals is participating in American Diabetes Association Alert Day, which takes place this year on March 27, 2012.</p>
<p>American Diabetes Association Alert Day is a one-day “wake-up call” asking the American public to take the Diabetes Risk Free Test to find out<a href="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/diabetes-alert-day-web-banner-ad-300x250.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1173" title="Diabetes-Alert-Day-web-banner-ad-300x250" src="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/diabetes-alert-day-web-banner-ad-300x250.jpg?w=610" alt=""   /></a> if they are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.</p>
<p>As part of its efforts, The Hearing Professionals will be urging people with diabetes to take the Across America Hearing Check Challenge to help determine if they need a comprehensive hearing test by a hearing healthcare professional. Hearing loss is about twice as common in adults with diabetes compared to those who do not have the disease. Yet hearing screenings oftentimes are not part of the regular regimen of care that people with diabetes routinely receive.</p>
<p>This year, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) will be encouraging people to take a new and improved Diabetes Risk Test by driving them to Facebook, where they can also ask questions, engage with the ADA community, and share the test with friends and loved ones. Although American Diabetes Association Alert Day is a one-day event, the Diabetes Risk Test is available year-round.</p>
<p>The Hearing Professionals is also urging hearing healthcare professionals across the country to take part by encouraging their clients to take the<a href="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/diabetes-alert-day-web-banner-2.jpg"><img class="alignright  wp-image-1203" title="Diabetes-Alert-Day-web-banner-2" src="http://thehearingprofessionals.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/diabetes-alert-day-web-banner-2.jpg?w=300&h=250" alt="" width="300" height="250" /></a> Diabetes Risk Test and to take it themselves. The new Diabetes Risk Test asks users to answer simplequestions about weight, age, family history, and other potential risks for prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. Preventative tips are provided for everyone who takes the test, including encouraging those at high risk to talk with their healthcare provider.</p>
<p>We at The Hearing Professionals feel strongly about the American Diabetes Association Alert Day and will be providing free hearing examinations not only on March 27, 2012, but for the remainder of the month of March, 2012. If you would like to schedule your free hearing examination, please call The Hearing Professionals today at (414) 332-3377 and tell them that you want to participate in the American Diabetes Association Alert Day.</p>
<p>For more information on the American Diabetes Association Alert Day, click here: <a href="http://bit.ly/i0u0NA">http://bit.ly/i0u0NA</a>.</p>
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