When Hearing Loss Is Caused by Drugs
Over-the-counter and prescription drugs are formulated to provide relief from symptoms and treat illnesses, among others. But these drugs also have side effects including hearing loss, usually when the drugs damage the inner ear’s delicate hair cells. These hair cells are crucial in hearing as well as coordination and balance.
Hearing loss caused by drug use is known as ototoxicity and its risk increases as the drug builds up in the body. Furthermore, there are more than 200 known medications and chemicals with hearing loss as a side effect. The hearing loss itself can be temporary or permanent so it’s crucial to ask your doctor about it before agreeing to the medication.
Antibiotics
Not all antibiotics will cause temporary hearing loss and not all antibiotics that cause temporary hearing loss will affect every person who takes them. Aminoglycosides are the common antibiotics that cause it as a side effect.
If you’re prescribed aminoglycosides, such as gentamicin, you should express your concern about possible hearing loss with your doctor. This is especially true for newborns who are prescribed gentamicin for the treatment of meningitis, usually when other antibiotics didn’t work.
Pain Relievers
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and acetaminophen, are commonly used as pain relievers. These are over-the-counter medications and, thus, the potential for misuse and abuse is present.
Be careful about using NSAIDs too much as studies have pointed out the possible side effects of doing so. In a study published in The American Journal of Medicine (March 2010), the regular use of NSAIDs can result in hearing loss. The increased risk is particularly pronounced in men younger than 60 years old who use these medications on a regular basis.
Take NSAIDs only when you have to. Otherwise, ask your doctor about hearing loss if you feel it after taking one of these drugs.
Diuretics
These are medications used in increasing urine production in the body. These are used in the treatment of a wide range of medical conditions, such as glaucoma, edema and hypertension. In some cases, these can cause tinnitus and hearing loss.
Chemotherapy Drugs
Chemotherapy is usually used in the treatment of cancers. While there are several side effects, hearing loss can be the most concerning for patients because it means losing another sense.
Aside from hearing loss, chemotherapy drugs can also cause vertigo and tinnitus. In some cases, the hearing loss is permanent.
Scientists at Oregon Health and Science University are searching for ways of delivering chemotherapy drugs while preserving the sense of hearing.
But don’t assume that just because you’re taking one of these drugs that you’re automatically getting your sense of hearing compromised. You can talk to your doctor about alternative medications or for ways to manage the hearing loss, such as with hearing aids.
If you think you need a hearing aid, make sure that you get a hearing aid prescription. For more details of our hearing test & assessment, and hearing aid services, please contact HK Hearing & Speech Centre.
Source:
HK Hearing & Speech Centre
Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,
and Hearing Aid Prescription
http://www.hkhearingspeech.com
ABCs of Conductive Hearing Loss
Hearing aids can be used in correcting conductive hearing loss so it’s important to discuss your options with your doctor. This is particularly true in cases when the Corti organ in the cochlea still normally functions. The hearing aids amplify the sound coming from the outside into the outer or middle ear.
But what’s conductive hearing loss in the first place? Here are the basics that you should know in case your doctor gave a diagnosis of conductive hearing loss.
A – About Conductive Hearing Loss
There are a few types of hearing loss and conductive hearing loss is common. This is the result of issues in the delivery of sound waves to the cochlea, the part of the inner ear responsible for the sense of hearing.
But don’t worry prematurely about it. The good news is that most cases of conductive hearing loss have good prognosis. Like most types of hearing loss, early diagnosis and intervention will make a significant difference in preventing more hearing loss or improving hearing capability.
B – Being Aware of the Signs
The signs and symptoms of conductive hearing loss can be confused with the signs of other illnesses or injuries. Their duration and severity can also widely vary depending on the exact cause.
If you have two or more of these symptoms, either simultaneously or in succession, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible.
- Muffled hearing, such as when the voices of others seem far away
- Steady or sudden loss of hearing in one or two ears
- The feeling of fullness or stuffiness in one of both ears
- Dizziness
- Loss of balance (The ear plays a major role in balance and coordination)
- Drainage from the ears
- Feelings of tenderness, discomfort and/or pain in the ears
Your doctor will conduct medical history and physical exams, as well as order laboratory exams to determine the exact cause behind these symptoms.
Causes of Conductive Hearing Loss
When the natural movement of external sound waves through the external or middle ear becomes blocked, the result is conductive hearing loss. In this case, some but not all of the sound waves enter the inner ear, thus, the decreased hearing capacity.
There are several causes of conductive hearing loss, particularly to the damage on the ear’s external structures.
- Earwax buildup, which can completely block the ear canal
- Swimmer’s ear, also known as otitis externa, isn’t just related to swimming in pools and other bodies of water. Instead, it’s an infection in the ear canal that can also be the result of use of cotton buds or Q-tips as well as water exposure.
- Foreign bodies, such as small objects like beans and beads, can get stuck in the ear, as is the case for children. In adults, it can be small insects being lodged in the ear.
Other causes include non-cancerous lesions in the bones in the ear canal; aural atresia or physical defects in the external ear canal; and infections in the middle ear.
Source:
HK Hearing & Speech Centre
Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,
and Hearing Aid Prescription
http://www.hkhearingspeech.com
Tips for Hearing-abled Persons When Talking to Hearing-impaired People
Even with hearing aids, people with hearing impairments cannot perceive sound the way people with normal hearing can. This emphasizes the importance of knowing what to do and what not to do when conversing with hearing-impaired people, with or without their hearing aids.
With that said, here are a few effective tips in making your conversations with hearing-impaired persons more productive and enjoyable.
Face the Person
Facing away from whoever you’re talking to isn’t a good idea when you’re talking to a hearing-impaired person. While it works with people with normal hearing, perhaps in movies and television sitcoms, it doesn’t work in people with hearing loss for many reasons.
You have to face him so that he can actually see your lips for lip-reading purposes, as well as see your facial expressions, hand gestures and body language. This way, you’re giving him ample opportunity to actively engage in the conversation and make the appropriate responses.
Don’t just face the person either. You have to be on the same level as he is as well as ensure that you’re in a good light for him to see you well.
Get His Attention
Don’t speak without getting the other person’s attention, such as by tapping him on the arm or shoulder. You have to give him sufficient time to shift his attention to you and then to engage in the conversation. Other ways to get his attention are saying his name and using a hand gesture.
Maintain Eye Contact
Of course, eye contact is a must in effective face-to-face communication. But it’s even more so when talking with a hearing-impaired person. You can both determine the feelings of the other person by looking into each other eyes and taking into account each other’s words, facial expressions and body language.
Speak Normally
There’s no need to shout in front of a hearing-impaired person to be heard! Besides, that’s just rude and you won’t have a good conversation when you’re being rude from the start.
Instead, you should speak in your normal speaking volume. But don’t slur or hurry with your words. You should speak clearly, distinctly and slowly without exaggerated mouth movements, which will allow the other person to read your lips.
You may, of course, speak at a slightly higher volume of voice but don’t shout. Otherwise, the other person won’t be able to read your lips well, not to mention that it’s being rude.
Aside from avoiding exaggerated mouth movements, you should also avoid putting your hands in your face while you’re talking. Again, it has something to do with lip reading. You may also make it a point to position yourself in the other person’s good ear (i.e., the one with better hearing capabilities).
In the end, you and your hearing-impaired friend will enjoy good conversations if you make the effort first. Keep in mind that he may be hesitant about initiating the conversation so you may want to start it.
Source:
HK Hearing & Speech Centre
Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,
and Hearing Aid Prescription
http://www.hkhearingspeech.com
When Hearing Aids Become Wet (OMG!)
Faster heartbeat, faster breathing and the need to scream like the world’s gone mad! Yes, that’s exactly how we would feel, too, if our hearing aids become wet. And we’re not just talking about slightly damp due to the sweat in your ears – we’re talking about getting the entire thing wet in water.
What can you do? Well, don’t panic just yet so you can have a clear mind and calm disposition to deal with the issue. What’s done is done and the best thing you can do is to move forward and find solutions.
Here are the steps that you can do to rescue your wet hearing aids.
Remove from Water ASAP
Instead of just looking at your wet hearing aids in the tub or toilet, perhaps screaming a few times, you should immediately remove them! The sooner you can remove them, the better their chances of actually surviving the dunk in water. Their covering acts as a protective barrier, too, but it won’t last long so urgency is a must.
Turn Them Off
If your hearing aids were turned on when they were accidentally placed in water, you should immediately turn them off. Then, you have to remove the batteries and throw them properly. You should never turn them off and then on just to see if they are still working.
Close the battery door and remove the tube, if your hearing aids have one. Dry the tube and the hearing aids gently using a soft, clean and dry towel. Shake them as gently as possible so that more water can be removed from their inner parts.
Remove More Water
Even with the dry pats and gentle shakes, there will likely be water trapped inside the hearing aids. You should then use other methods to remove the trapped moisture.
In this case, a small fan or a hairdryer should do the trick.
- Turn on the hairdryer but set it to the lowest setting.
- Aim the nozzle of the hairdryer on the hearing aids for a few minutes at a time. Be sure to keep the nozzle a good distance away from the hearing aids. This is because excessive heat has the same effect as water and, in fact, it can be more damaging than a short spell in water.
After a few minutes, leave the hearing aids to dry out. This can take a few days to accomplish but be patient. You shouldn’t replace the batteries and turn the hearing aids on in an hour or so after drying them out.
Also, leave the battery door open while waiting for them to dry out. You may also place the hearing aids inside a humidifier pot, which will speed up the drying process.
After a few days, put on fresh batteries in the hearing aids and turn them on. You may just have a functioning pair already! Otherwise, you should consider getting them to a professional repairman.
Source:
HK Hearing & Speech Centre
Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,
and Hearing Aid Prescription
http://www.hkhearingspeech.com
What You Should Know About the Automatic and Manual Volume Controls on Your Hearing Aids
Hearing aids are obviously designed to amplify the sounds of voices, nature and other environmental sounds. These are also designed to address the listening needs of a wide range of situations, from hearing your favorite music across the room to tuning out your next-door neighbors’ screaming match.
But do you know what makes the sound amplification and, thus, volume in your hearing aids increase and decrease? Let’s take a look at their two main types of volume controls.
Automatic Volume Control
Many hearing aids have built-in automatic volume control that makes it easier to use them, especially for beginners and for people with hand dexterity issues. Automatic volume control is just as it says – it means the hearing aids automatically adjust their volume according to the sound environment.
The level of sound amplification will obviously be based on your hearing loss. You and your audiologist will work toward getting the right amplification during the fitting session.
Furthermore, the automatic volume control on your hearing aids will amplify sounds based on their original volume. Thus, loud sounds will be amplified less than softer sounds.
Manual Volume Control
Many hearing aids with automatic volume control also have manual volume control. The latter is appreciated by people who want to manually adjust the volume based on their personal preferences and according to the demands of the situation.
Manual volume control usually comes in the form of small levers. These also have a tactile feeling to them, so if you adjust your hearing aids’ volume, you will get both the sound of a click and the feeling of the switch locking into position.
The manual volume control levers are also usually separate from the push button for the programs. For example, the volume’s toggle key is at the top of the hearing aid while the push buttons for the programs are at the bottom. You won’t then have to accidentally turn off your hearing aid when you only wanted to change its volume level.
Your audiologist will explain the proper use of the controls on your hearing aids. If your hearing aids have a lever for manual volume control, it’s easy to use.
- To increase the volume, push the lever upwards
- To decrease the volume, push it downwards
- Wait for the beep when increasing or decreasing the volume, unless you have deactivated the tones. The beep will be higher in tone when increasing volume and lower in tone when decreasing it; the maximum or minimum volume level is signified by a steady tone.
In many hearing aids, adjusting the volume in the right ear will change the volume to the same level in the left ear and vice versa. Others have separate volume controls for each ear.
Hearing aids and their volumes require some getting used to, especially if you’ve experienced hearing loss for quite some time. Just use them every day and you will eventually become accustomed to them, even think of them as part of your body.
Source:
HK Hearing & Speech Centre
Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,
and Hearing Aid Prescription
http://www.hkhearingspeech.com