Most of the stuff we will talk about here was actually introduced in 2015, but they will be the top selling hearing aids in 2016. There has been some hearing devices launched in 2016 and we expect some more to be launched over the course of the year. Let’s take a look at the companies and hearing aid platforms that will probably dominate 2016.

Phonak & the Venture Range

Audeo, Bolero & Virto hearing aids

We have detailed much about the Venture range on this site, it is Phonak’s latest platform which was launched in a step by step release in 2015. The Venture range is available across all hearing aid types and at four hearing technology levels. All of the hearing aid models have been given a re-design and for the first time Phonak have introduced wireless CIC hearing aids.

New CICs

They didn’t settle for just that either, they have also introduced CICs with directional microphones. In fairness the devices are a little larger than the standard CIC, but and it is a big but, they aren’t huge and the extra size is probably worth it for the functionality. 

CICs with directional microphones, a first for Phonak, a first for the industry

The technology in the Venture range is outstanding and Phonak have been careful to equip each of their technology levels with class leading hearing aid features. I would expect these hearing aids to be exceptionally popular this year, the feedback from consumers has been excellent so far and it looks likely that Phonak will only increase their reputation as the go to Premium hearing aid range. 

 A new super power aid from Phonak

Phonak is just about to introduce a replacement super power hearing aid for the Naida Quest. The new hearing aid will be based on the Venture chip, there is a bit of excitement around this launch. Phonak have been hinting at some ground breaking features for people with profound hearing loss. The Naida is probably accepted as the go to hearing device for people with profound hearing loss so any launch of a new one is usually hotly anticipated. I will be at the launch, so I will report back on what I find out. 

Phonak did launch the new Naida Venture range and it is quite a step forward, smaller and more powerful than its predecessor it offers a host of outstanding features for people with profound hearing loss.

Rechargeable Hearing Aids

Phonak didn’t stop there, in September 2016 they launched the Belong range with a rechargeable option. Based on Lithium Ion battery technology they promise to give you twenty four hours of battery life on one three hour charge. This is the first time that Phonak have ventured into the rechargeable hearing aid market. Many believe it is a sign that rechargeable hearing aids are finally ready to go main stream. 

Widex & the Unique Range

Unique 440, 330, 220 & 110

Widex have always been known as a premium hearing aid manufacturer, it is a title that they very much deserved. They have always done things a little differently than any one else within the hearing aid industry. In fact they are famous for it. There have been some major changes within the company over the last few years with a huge shake up at corporate management level. A new CEO was put in place who for the very first time was not a member of the families who own Widex. 

With all of the changes that were happening, people across the industry (manufacturers) and the profession (hearing health professionals) were interested to see what would happen with their new release. It seems that they have stayed true to their roots. The Unique range is another fantastic hearing aid platform from Widex. The Unique range comes in their usual four technology levels, the 440, 330, 220 and 110. Like the other manufacturers they have retained many of their top level features across the range. However, their 110 hearing aid is definitely not class leading in it’s technology level. 

Industry leading wind noise reduction

New Wind Reduction Feature

They have introduced a new wind reduction feature which they say is the best available. Widex do not make claims lightly, so if they say it is so, it probably is. Early feedback from consumers seems to back up the claim. However, that feature is only available in the top of the range 440. 

Widex also introduced a new hearing aid to the Unique family, the Fashion Mini. It is a mini BTE, discrete but powerful and an ideal option for people who want the discretion of a RIC but can’t wear one.

In late 2016, Widex introduced a new Made For iPhone hearing aid range the Beyond. The device is based on their Fusion device and will be launched late 2016 early 2017.

GN Resound & The Linx2

Linx2 9, 7 & 5

GGN Resound were first to market with a Made For iPhone hearing aid and in our opinion delivered the best. They quickly followed it with The Linx2 which enlarged the range and for the first time offered custom hearing aids. It has been a while since they launched but we have included them here because they are still un-beaten in the Made For iPhone field. 

The range is available in three levels of the technology, the 9, the 7 and finally the 5. Resound have really made sure that they kept their feature set really high across the technology levels. The 7 is almost as good as the 9, but there are clear reasons why the 9 is a better hearing aid. The same with the 5 and the 7. No matter what level of technology you buy here, you are getting an outstanding hearing aid. 

Bluetooth connectivity, no streamer needed!

Simple connectivity that sets them apart

The aids connect to smart phones and tablets run by both Apple and Android softwares with ease. They deliver an outstanding integration with all of the apps that you use and the conversations you have with simple ease.

No streamer, just Bluetooth ready hearing aids

What really sets them apart though is that you need no in between device, no streamer. They simply connect via Bluetooth on your device.

This is not a definitive list but we think these are probably the best hearing aid ranges available at the minute for the reasons we have discussed. However, other manufacturers like Siemens, Unitron and Starkey all have hearing aids worthy of inclusion here. In another article we will cover the technology available across the market in an in-depth way. 

We have general details about Hearing Aids, their types and technologies in our consumer hearing aid advice guide. It also details technology levels and features of hearing instruments in clear and easy to understand language. 

Invisible hearing devices have been around for a long time, however, they have recently become very popular again. Most of the big manufacturers have introduced invisible hearing aids in the last few years. These hearing instruments are called by different names SoundLens, Nano, IIC, invisible in canal or just plain invisible hearing aids. No matter the name, they all amount to pretty much the same thing, deep canal hearing aids.

Smallest Hearing Aids

For many new users of hearing aids the idea of invisible ones is very attractive. This is based on a needless sense of embarrassment at having a hearing loss. It is an age old hang up but considering how things have changed I don’t understand it. People always seem to want the smallest hearing aid possible. Treating your hearing loss should be seen as something empowering, it is you taking control. I don’t think that is something to be embarrassed about. However, that is a conversation for another time, let’s talk about invisible hearing aids and who makes them. All of the following hearing devices are available in several levels of hearing device technology. 

Phonak

Phonak Venture Nano Invisible Hearing Aids

The Phonak Venture Nano is the latest Nano invisible hearing aid from Phonak. Phonak say that it is the perfect combination of hearing performance and minimum size and we would be inclined to agree with them. Phonak produce a custom crafted hearing aid to fit completely and deeply in your ear canal, using computer-aided design and the latest generation of advanced materials. Comfort is guaranteed while delivering the sound quality that Phonak is famous for.

The deep position in the ear canal allows the Phonak Nano to use the natural shape of the ear to funnel sound to the microphone which delivers excellent directional hearing, as well as virtual invisibility.

The Nano typically sits deep in the ear canal, the front of the hearing device is in permanent shadow because of the depth it sits at. It is deep enough into the ear canal to be to all intents and purposes an invisible hearing aid.

Who is the Phonak Nano Venture suitable for?

The Nano Venture is not suitable for everyone for two reasons. Firstly, the device will only fit certain shapes and dimensions of ear canal, if your ear canal is too narrow or has too tight a bend it might not be suitable. Other contra indications are things such as excessive waxy ear canals or perforated eardrums. If you face these issues, the Nano may not be the product for you. In these cases other discreet hearing aids may be more advisable to consider.

Outstanding features of the Phonak Nano include: ,

• Perfect fit: each IIC hearing aid is custom made to ensure a perfect fit
• Better localisation: tight fit means users can better determine where sounds are coming from
• All-purpose use: can be worn in all listening situations
• Durability: all components are contained in one unit making it extremely durable
• More comfort: no joined parts mean there are no hard edges

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Our buying guide, no Bla, just clear easy to understand info, we guarantee it will help you pick the right hearing aid for you.

Oticon

Oticon Invisible Hearing Aids

Would you like a hearing device that no one else can see? Oticon has designed their IIC range to be unnoticeable to everyone else, and unnoticeable to you, too. Up until now, the ultra-compact IIC has come at the price of reduced features and limited use cases. Not anymore. Oticon’s new IIC instruments with wireless technology make it possible to combine all the benefits of invisible hearing aids, outstanding listening performance with wireless access to communication and entertainment and the optional remote control.

An Invisible Solution

This is Oticon’s most invisible hearing solution. It is shaped to fit so snugly deep inside your ear that no one will see it, or even realise you are wearing it. It means that you can keep your hearing loss a secret, and enjoy the many benefits of modern hearing care, without any noticeable change to your appearance.

Not only is it invisible to everyone else, Oticon IIC is designed to fit seamlessly into your lifestyle, so that nothing gets in the way of your regular daily routines. It blends inconspicuously and completely into your lifestyle, so that you can continue to play an active part in life. The sound level adapts automatically as sounds and places change throughout the day, so you will always have the sound you need to participate on an equal footing with everyone else.

Oticon IIC will also have minimum impact on the rest of your lifestyle – fitted inside your ear, it will not affect your use of headsets or telephones, nor how you wear your glasses, or even how you do your hair. As it is placed deep inside the ear, Oticon IIC captures sound in the same way that your ears were designed to do. Based on Oticon’s premium hearing aid technology, Inium Sense, and available at three technology levels to suit all budgets, it gently preserves and amplifies sounds so that what you hear is always clear – and you will be able to participate confidently in all situations.

First Ever Wireless Invisible Hearing Aid

Up until now, the ultra-compact IIC has come at the price of reduced features and limited use cases. Not anymore. Oticon’s new IIC instruments with wireless technology make it possible to combine all the benefits of invisible hearing aids, outstanding listening performance, and wireless connectivity, what more could you want?

Starkey

Starkey SoundLens Synergy

Starkey introduced the SoundLens several years ago, in fact I believe it was the first of the current crop of invisible hearing aids. They to have been updating the technology within their invisible hearing aid offering. Recently the made the device even smaller and they added a second wireless invisible hearing aid to the line up. 

Wireless Invisible Hearing Aid

The wireless version of the SoundLens is no bigger than the older SoundLens type, so it will be a discreet deep fitting hearing aid. 

Signia

Insio Primax IIC

This is a late addition to the article, Siemens introduced the Insio Primax IIC this year as part of the Primax introduction. It is in fact the most powerful invisible hearing aid available covering hearing losses well into the severe range. It is available in three levels of technology the 7px, the 5px and the 3px. 

Wireless Invisible Hearing Aid

The Insio Primax is also a wireless invisible hearing aid. 

We have general details about Invisible Hearing Aids and other types of devices in our consumer hearing aid advice guide. It also details technology levels and features of hearing instruments in clear and easy to understand language.

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Never mind the difference, what’s the process?

We got a great question recently from one of our readers in the United Kingdom. The reader asked about the difference between free trials and money back offers and what she could expect in relation to the process. 

The questions were excellent and it was obvious I hadn’t explained the difference clearly enough or answered all the questions that a consumer might have. So here are the questions:

Your article states that a trial period is different from a Money Back guarantee; can you explain how? Is it that no money is paid upfront for a trial period and that one is only trialling a pair of “in stock” aids, not brand new aids which you have chosen? If so, can these be programmed for your individual loss? Are there any other differences? Is the Money Back Guarantee period for trialling the exact pair of aids which have been purchased so that you can be sure that you get along with the exact pair selected?

Be clear about what is on offer

Many companies in the hearing aid space talk about a trial period, however you need to be clear from the start what that actually is. While many talk about a trial they are actually talking about a period of time where you can get your money back. They aren’t necessarily talking about a free trial of hearing aids where no money is involved. This isn’t as widespread as it once was, most companies are now very clear about what they offer.

When companies do talk about an actual free trial, they are usually talking about you trying a set of hearing aids for a specific period. Those hearing aids will normally be a set of non custom hearing aids either BTEs or RICs. They may not necessarily be stock hearing devices, for instance, if you were really interested in a specific set of non custom hearing aids from a particular manufacturer they would be ordered in for you to try.

Even if the devices were stock, they will be completely programmed to your hearing loss so the settings are customised to you. This should give you the peace of mind to make a decision on your experience. If you have selected a particular set of aids and trialled them, the devices you use during the trial are the hearing instruments you will purchase.

Very few people offer a free trial on custom in the ear hearing aids. Usually they are purchased under a money back process. The main reason for this is worries on the part of the Practitioner about committment. There is more work and internal expense to have a set of custom hearing aids produced. So Practitioners want to be sure you are committed to the process by seeing the colour of your money.

In fairness I think that is only fair, however there is an easy way around this. Just trial a BTE or RIC version of the custom hearing aids you are interested in. For instance, say you were interested in the Widex Unique 330 CIC. You could ask for a trial of the the Widex Unique 330 Passion, Fusion or Fashion M. Those aids are in essence just different shapes of exactly the same technology. So if you were happy with them, you would be happy with the performance of the CIC.

Money back periods

Money back periods are exactly as they sound, you purchase a pair of hearing aids and you have a period of time where you can get your money. In essence, money back periods are really about giving you the confidence to buy a set of hearing aids. It allows you to know that if you don’t get on with them, you can give them back and get your money back. However, always be clear how much money you are getting back because there is often an administration fee.

From a personal point of view, if I go through the process with you, organise a set of hearing aids and see you twice during the first month, I would be looking to retain a service charge. And in fact many companies do. Always check if there is a service charge and how much it is on any money back offer. I hope I have made it clearer and thank you for the inspiration.

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I always watch TV and Netflix with the sound down and subtitles on, I’ve been doing this for at least 5 years, probably longer. The sound does go on if someone else is watching as well but in our house this doesn’t happen all that often, my daughter mostly watches YouTube on her iPad and my Wife is into the likes of “Real Housewives of Orange County” whereas “Breaking Bad” is more my cup of tea. So quite often I can watch with my preferred setup of no sound and subtitles.

I get asked why I prefer subtitles when I can stil hear. For several reasons…..

Yes, I can still hear, but I don’t hear like most people do, it is not something that is easy and happens passively, I have a severe hearing loss so listening and understanding conversations is hard work, it is effort. 

So the first reason I turn the sound down on the TV is that I want to enjoy the show effortlessly. After a full day of listening, pardoning?, trying to stay in the conversation it is nice to kick back, relax, and just watch the show – if I relied on the sound I would no doubt be rewinding often to try and work out what I had missed, who said what and what the hell is going on. Not fun. 

Secondly, I don’t want to disturb others in the house by having the TV too loud, if I had the volume up where I had the best chance of hearing it I would be drawing glances from the family. I was at my parents’ house the other week, my Mum has a mild/moderate hearing loss but refuses to wear her hearing aids – she turned the TV on, rammed it up to an insane volume and you could see everyone in the room wince, it actually hurt my ears, she was asked to turn it down pretty quickly!

Lastly, I’m pretty sensitive to loud noises, I think many people with hearing loss are, so there would be a balancing act between having the TV loud enough to hear but having to bear the noisier parts of the show.

Subtitles work really well for me, I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything by having no sound, you can still see
easily an actor’s mood and feeling without actually hearing how they said something. But a weird thing is when I do finally hear a show that I have watched for a long time on subtitles – those voices! uh! They sound like that? I always have an idea in my head of how someone someone sounds but it is never how they really sound, you can imagine my surprise when I finally heard Dr Sheldon Cooper talk!

I always watch TV and Netflix with the sound down and subtitles on, I’ve been doing this for at least 5 years, probably longer. The sound does go on if someone else is watching as well but in our house this doesn’t happen all that often, my daughter mostly watches YouTube on her iPad and my Wife is into the likes of “Real Housewives of Orange County” whereas “Breaking Bad” is more my cup of tea. So quite often I can watch with my preferred setup of no sound and subtitles.

I get asked why I prefer subtitles when I can stil hear. For several reasons…..

Yes, I can still hear, but I don’t hear like most people do, it is not something that is easy and happens passively, I have a severe hearing loss so listening and understanding conversations is hard work, it is effort. 

So the first reason I turn the sound down on the TV is that I want to enjoy the show effortlessly. After a full day of listening, pardoning?, trying to stay in the conversation it is nice to kick back, relax, and just watch the show – if I relied on the sound I would no doubt be rewinding often to try and work out what I had missed, who said what and what the hell is going on. Not fun. 

Secondly, I don’t want to disturb others in the house by having the TV too loud, if I had the volume up where I had the best chance of hearing it I would be drawing glances from the family. I was at my parents’ house the other week, my Mum has a mild/moderate hearing loss but refuses to wear her hearing aids – she turned the TV on, rammed it up to an insane volume and you could see everyone in the room wince, it actually hurt my ears, she was asked to turn it down pretty quickly!

Lastly, I’m pretty sensitive to loud noises, I think many people with hearing loss are, so there would be a balancing act between having the TV loud enough to hear but having to bear the noisier parts of the show.

Subtitles work really well for me, I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything by having no sound, you can still see
easily an actor’s mood and feeling without actually hearing how they said something. But a weird thing is when I do finally hear a show that I have watched for a long time on subtitles – those voices! uh! They sound like that? I always have an idea in my head of how someone someone sounds but it is never how they really sound, you can imagine my surprise when I finally heard Dr Sheldon Cooper talk!Advertisements

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As reported in the Hearing Journal, a recent small study undertaken in Australia on self-fitting hearing aids has thrown up some interesting results. Although the study was small, it has added some weight to the call for further study. Its conclusions were as follows “While limited, these data suggest that self-fitting aids may provide satisfactory benefit and performance to those who can manage the self-fitting process. Our findings show that at least one currently available self-fitting product is comparable to those measured with professionally dispensed hearing aids”.

Again, the study was limited in numbers, however, it’s conclusions are in line with the thoughts of many hearing aid activists. For many years hearing aid activists across the world have called for greater control and inclusion in their care. Many have called for the power to undertake fine tuning and some have consistently called for self-fitting to be offered as a feature. This study gives some weight to that call. Let’s take a look at the study in greater detail.  The study was completed by only five people, however, the age range of the group is of interest. The group was aged between 72 and 79 years of age. 

Quite often this cohort is considered by many in the profession as people who would not necessarily be interested in technology and participation in their own care. The fact that these people were involved in a trial of self-fitting hearing aids seems to advise us to re-consider our outlook. In essence, the trial proved that the concept of self-fitting hearing aids providing a benefit of a similar nature to assisted fitted hearing aids has validity. 

There is, of course, a caveat, self-fitting is only for people who can manage the self-fitting process. Again, that makes sense and is in line with the thoughts of hearing aid advocates like Steve. In essence, most hearing aid advocates think that self-fitting and or fine tuning will be of interest to a cohort of hearing aid users, not necessarily everyone. They also believe that even the people who are interested in self-fitting or fine-tuning will still want some sort of involvement of a professional in the process. 

Self Fitting Hearing Aids Available

Self-fitting hearing aids have been available for some time in Australia. Blamey and Saunders have offered self-fitting hearing aids for some time now. The hearing aids are purchased online and a kit is sent out to help you fit them. 

Self-fitting hearing aids have also become available in the US with the recent introduction of the iHear product line up. In fact, iHear have the only FDA approved home hearing test kit in the States. So there is a demand for the products and it appears that demand is growing.

The key worry for professionals is around efficacy and safety for users. The study goes some way to alleviating fears. Knowing all of this, the question has to be will self-fitting of hearing aids become the norm? If it does, what input if any will be wanted from professionals by consumers? I think professionals will have to begin to explore this question, they will also have to decide what they can offer and how they can do it.

As to the future of self-fitting, I think it will probably come to pass. There is a demand for it and that demand is being very cleverly met by businesses globally. I think as the market and demand grow more traditional hearing aid manufacturers will need to look at it. Although, I do think that it is a market that will run in tandem with the traditional type of hearing aid provision. I also think that self-fitters will want some involvement of professionals in the process. Whether that service element is provided by the manufacturers of the devices or third party providers will remain to be seen.

We would love to hear your thoughts on self-fitting of hearing aids, drop us a line at info@hearingaidknow and let us know what you think.

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Ear Candles Don’t Work, Not Just That, They are Actively Dangerous

There seems to be a real fad for hopi ear candling at the moment. It is claimed that it can do everything from removing ear wax, through relieving sinus pain all the way to stopping tinnitus apparently. The tinnitus one was new on me, to be honest, but when someone asked me in the clinic today if ear candling was the right thing to do for relief of their tinnitus I asked where did they get that idea? They showed me, it was on the Internet, so it must be true! Well, it’s not, let’s talk some sense, ear candling doesn’t even remove ear wax, let alone anything else. Let’s talk hopi ear candles. 

What are the Claims About Hopi Ear Candles?

So first, let’s take a look at what they are supposed to be able to do, there are a lot of claims made about ear candles, it seems the only things they don’t do is feed the poor or bring about world peace. This list is not exhaustive but it is everything I was able to find up to the point that I could no longer tolerate the rubbish. 

• relieve sinus pressure and pain (honestly how?)
• cleanse the ear canal (afraid this one is proven rubbish)
• improve hearing (probably based on the fact it removes ear wax, which it doesn’t)
• assist lymphatic circulation (it’s magic, that must be it!)
• regulate pressure (????)
• purify the mind (sorry but hahahahahahaha)
• strengthen the brain (????????)
• relieve pain and fever associated with a ruptured eardrum (do not put a lighted candle in your ear with a perforation, in fact don’t put anything in your ear with a perforation unless told to by a doctor)
• cure swimmer’s ear and other ear infections (don’t do it!)
• relieve earaches (nope, just nope!)
• sharpen the senses of smell, taste, and color perception ( are we talking about LSD infused candles?)
• stabilize emotions (because having warm wax fall on your face is just what you need to make you calm)
• stop tinnitus (ringing in the ears) (this really makes me mad, nope, nope, nope)
• help TMJ pain and stiffness (magic!)
• relieve vertigo (????)
• fortify the central nervous system (more magic)
• purify the blood (just hahahahahahaha)
• act as an anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, or antibiotic ( magic I tell you, magic!)
• cure Meniere’s syndrome (not a chance, again a serious problem that needs proper care)
• aid sinusitis (how, tell us. we are fascinated)
• release blocked energy ( …………….)
• reduce stress and tension (honestly, has anyone fallen asleep yet?)
• cure auricular zona (a herpes zoster infection of the ear) (Herpes zoster is a nasty one that needs treatment with anti virals)
• open and align the chakras (can someone show me where my chakras are, I definitely need them aligned?)
• open the spiritual centers and cleanse the auric bodies (hahahahahahaha)

The only thing that Hopi Ear Candles can’t do is feed the poor and bring about world peace!

Researching this piece was enlightening, the claims made for these candles are just outlandish. Some of them are just plainly ridiculous and they have no basis in scientific fact. Nor do they providers of the service try to provide any factual basis for the claims they make. Normally I would have little interest in this sort of thing, however, when sham practitioners make claims about serious illnesses it is time to start balancing out the rubbish. Before I go on, if you think you have excess earwax and you are determined to try a natural home remedy, you should consider a solution of hydrogen peroxide .

Tinnitus is Not To Be Taken Lightly

Tinnitus can be a serious problem for some people, it can have a dramatic effect on their life and well being. They will try any possible treatment angle that makes a claim if it seems even vaguely true. The same can be said for Menniere’s. The desperation to seek help and or reassurance is just manipulated by these ridiculous claims. Tinnitus is a symptom of an underlying problem, normally it is a symptom of underlying hearing loss, however, sometimes it can be a symptom of something serious. Sticking a candle in your ear and setting it on fire will not help you in any way with relief of tinnitus. 

Any tinnitus that is causing real problems in someone’s life needs to be properly investigated. There is no cure for tinnitus right now, however, there is an effective treatment. The claim that ear candling can help may be based on the fact that ear wax removal can often lead to an abatement of tinnitus. This is true, but only in the case that the tinnitus is caused by the ear wax blockage. Removing the blockage relieves the tinnitus. However, here is the real catch, ear candling does not even remove ear wax, that is the simple truth. So, to the question, do hopi ear candles help or cure tinnitus, the answer is no. 

The Claims About Ear Wax Removal

It is claimed that the act of burning the candle softens the ear wax and produces a vacuum which sucks the ear wax out. In any and all scientific testing of this, it was found that it doesn’t. Think about this clearly, ear wax solid enough to block an ear tends to be old and relatively hard. You would need a huge amount of vacuum to suck it out in this way. That vacuum would also burst the eardrum in the process.

Micro-suction ear wax removal uses vacuum to remove wax, however, it is a controlled vacuum which is only powerful enough to suck wax out when it is in direct contact with the wax. We don’t just stick a hoover in your ear and hope for the best.

But Where Does The Residue Come From?

At the end of your ear candling treatment, you are shown the results of your ear wax removal with all of the dirt and impurities. Many people ask where does that come from? Yes, they just burned a cotton tube soaked in beeswax, probably going to be some residue from that, you think? In all the scientific studies the residue was shown to be part of the candle and nothing else.

Where Do Hopi Ear Candles Come From

Who knows? There are varied claims about ancient Egyptians, native Indians and Tibetans, the only people I didn’t see was Aliens. Again, any claim is scant on evidence. That kind of sums them up in their entirety really, scant on evidence. 

Will Ear Candling Remove Ear Wax?

Hell No! The only thing you are doing is putting yourself at risk, the risk of fire, burns to the face, ear canal or eardrum and middle ear injury to the ear from dripping wax. Plugging of the ears by candle wax, bleeding, perforation of the eardrum and finally delay in seeking needed medical care for an underlying condition. In fact, the FDA has this to say

FDA has received reports of burns, perforated eardrums and blockage of the ear canal which required outpatient surgery from the use of ear candles. And a survey of ear, nose and throat physicians published in 1996 in the medical journal Laryngoscope reported 13 cases of burns of the ear, seven cases of wax occlusion of the ear canal, and one case of a perforated eardrum. The authors of this study also reported that the burning ear candles dripped candle wax on the eardrum of the test subjects and in a model of the ear. http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/PatientAlerts/ucm200896.htm

Personal Experience

I have never had any personal experience with ear candling, but I know a man that has! One of our associates Paul Nand underwent ear candling many years ago. Before he attended he took images of his ear canals showing ear was blockages. After he attended he returned to his practice and took more images. Funnily enough, the ear wax blockages were still there. Nothing had changed. 

As succinctly as possible, ear candles are balderdash, rubbish, a scam. They don’t work, they actually physically can’t work and anyone who says they do is either self-deluded or outright looking to take your money. If you have an ear wax buildup, have your earwax removed by a professional with a recognised method. It is safer for everyone involved and it will mean that your ear wax will actually be removed.

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This is copied from a Reddit post by kerrigan7782 – normally I would just link to external sites but I don’t know if Reddit posts are deleted after a certain amount of time. The text is about the sound being emitted during the take-off of a space rocket.

The Saturn V itself, (and all large rockets nowadays) are so loud that they will kill themselves from volume alone. NASA must employ a Sound Suppression System that dumps enormous quantities of water continuously onto the launch pad to muffle the sound waves reflecting off the launch pad surface as they are so powerful that they will damage the rocket itself.

Now then, lets do the math, this chart handily informs us that the Saturn V rocket produced a SWL (Sound Power Level) of about 220 decibels, which is sufficient to melt concrete nearby and set grass aflame a mile away, however, lets just look at sound attenuation calculations alone and compare them to smaller figures to make it seem more comprehend able.

Since I am not a physicist or engineer (yet) I am going to use the simplified math that direct sound attenuates at a rate of 6 dB each time you double the distance. Since I am lazy I am going to go one step further and use this site’s calculator to convert SWL to SPL.

At 20 meters from the rocket nozzle an observer might be experiencing 182 db SPL, the equivalent of more than a pound of TNT detonating 15 feet away or 1 ton of tnt detonating 150 feet away, survival would be extremely unlikely, wind force would be over 100 mph, buildings would be torn apart, it would become very, very hot from the sound pressure alone compressing the air.

At 100 meters it would fade to (merely) 170 db, you would be unable to breathe or likely see at all from the sound pressure, glass would shatter, fog would be generated as the water in the air dropped out of suspension in the pressure waves, your house at this distance would have a roughly 50% chance of being torn apart from sound pressure alone. Military stun grenades reach this volume for a split second… if they are placed up to your face. Survival chance from sound alone, minimal, you would certainly experience permanent deafness but probably also organ damage. At this distance, the ambient air temperature would remain relatively steady, with perhaps a little heating or cooling, (alternatively it might alternate between hot and cold as the low frequency vibrations pass over you)

At 500 meters, 155 db you would experience painful, violent shaking in your entire body, you would feel compressed, as though deep underwater. Your vision would blur, breathing would be very difficult, your eardrums are obviously a lost cause, even with advanced active noise cancelling protection you could experience permanent damage. This is the sort of sound level aircraft mechanics sometimes experience for short periods of time. Almost twice as “loud” as putting your ear up to the exhaust of a formula 1 car. The air temperature would drop significantly, perhaps 10-25 degrees F, becoming suddenly cold because of the air being so violently stretched and moved.

At 2 kilometers (140+ db), you are reaching the closest you could be without near instant permanent hearing loss without hearing protection. You would feel a similar amount of force from the sound pressure as a football player tackling you. Your throat and vocal cords would start vibrating along to the sound of their own accord. The air temperature would drop “only” a few degrees from expansion.

At 5 km, or 3 miles (135 db) it would have a similar volume as a freight train horn continuously blowing in your near proximity, but low and rumbling. Permanent hearing damage would result without significant hearing protection.

NASA actually lets people view the shuttle launch at a distance of around 7 miles (front seat of rock concert-esque volumes predicted here, freaking casuals). I should also mention that this is a very simplified model that ignores wind speed, humidity, altitude, the existence of the ground, everything to do with the source of the sound (like superhot rocket exhaust) and some other factors.

And at last, I leave you with one of my favorite videos in the world. (turn it up, a lot)

The Irritating Phenomenon of Hearing Aid Feedback

So you probably recognise the situation, you are sitting there minding your own business and then someone turns to you and says your hearing aid is whistling. The shock and horror sets in. Or, you lean in to hug someone you love and suddenly there is an ear-splitting squeal. While this was a once a normal part of wearing a hearing aid, it isn’t really any longer. Modern hearing aids should not generally whistle, however, there are times that it may still happen. Let’s talk about feedback, what it is, how it happens and what may be causing it. Welcome to the world of hearing aid feedback. 

What is Feedback

The whistling or squealing noise that is sometimes emitted from hearing aids is called auditory feedback or just, feedback. Hearing aid feedback is always a seal problem, no I don’t mean fluffy ocean-going animals I mean seal as in tight. It is caused by amplified sound that leaves your ear and finds its way back into the microphone.

From there, the sound is re-amplified by the hearing aid system which causes that annoying whistle. It is exactly the same effect caused by people with microphones on stage going to close to the speakers. The problem can occur when you put your hand up to your ear, when you’re hugging someone, while you’re inserting or removing your hearing aid, when you wear a hat, a headscarf or when you sit in an enveloping chair.

Occasional hearing aid feedback is perfectly normal and you should be able to stop it by making sure your hearing aid is in your ear properly. However, if you are experiencing feedback often there may be something else wrong with your hearing aid. If you hear whistling when you move your jaw to chew or talk or turn your head you should visit your hearing professional.

Hearing Aid Feedback Managers

Most modern hearing aids have very good feedback managers which ensures that for much of the time whistling is a thing of the past. Both Phonak and Starkey are recognised as offering the very best Feedback Management systems. However, there is always a however right! Sometimes even modern hearing aids might whistle. Before I explain why I want to explain why modern hearing aids whistle less. 

In modern hearing aids the feedback management system, a hearing aid feature that you can read about here, is set during the fitting. The Professional can see the chances of feedback happening and whether or not there is enough amplification before feedback to suit your hearing loss. At that stage, if there isn’t enough amplification they will change the fitting in your ear, be it a tip or a mould. 

Once that is done satisfactorily, there should be no possibility of feedback unless something changes. Usually, that means a physical change, which brings me onto. 

Why Do Hearing Aids Squeal?

As I said, there has been some physical change to the setup of the hearing aid or the fit in your ear. Here are some of the reasons for a whistling hearing aid:

• Not in Properly: Put Your Damn Hearing aid tip in your ear people! More often than not, when I see feedback issues it is because Users are not placing the tip of the hearing aid (on RICs and Thin Tube BTEs) deep enough in their canal. Sometimes, Users aren’t getting their moulds into their ear properly when they are wearing BTEs, I have even seen Users put theirs In The Ear hearing aids upside down or in the wrong ears. The fix is simply getting them in the right ears and make sure they are in properly.
• Bad Mould Fit: Sometimes with moulds the ear has changed over the years which means they just don’t fit properly anymore. An ill-fitting ear mould can allow too much sound to leak out making the hearing aids whistle. If this is the case, you need to see your professional to get a new ear mould.
• A Build Up of Wax: A buildup of earwax in your ear canal means that more of the sound being presented by the hearing aid bounces or leaks out of the ear. The increase in the sound being forced back out of the ear changes the set feedback path, the feature can’t cope and you get a high-pitched whistle. The only answer to this one is to get the earwax removed.
• Turning Up The Volume: This is less of a problem than it once was as feedback management systems are smarter and better than they ever were. However, sometimes turning up the volume on your hearing aids will increase the sound being forced back out of the ear which changes the set feedback path, the feature can’t cope and you get a high-pitched whistle. Turn down the volume and talk to your professional about why you needed to turn it up so high.
• A Cap or a Scarf: Sometimes wearing a cap or covering the hearing aids with a scarf can change the feedback path and make the hearing aids whistle. Giving someone a hug has a similar effect and may result in a short whistle. This can be a little inescapable with some types of fittings such as open fit. However, it should be at a minimum. 
• A Split in The Tube: Any split in the tube that joins a Behind The Ear hearing aid to the ear will cause whistling. There are two types of tube, a thicker traditional type, and the slim tube. The traditional plastic tube that joins some hearing aids to the ear mould can harden, shrink and split.  The new slim tubes can become worn with use and split. The answer is simply to replace the tube.

That isn’t a full list, but it is certainly a list of the usual suspects as they say. On occasion, I have seen hearing aids feedback for no other reason than something has gone wrong with them. That is rare though, more often than not, it is a problem with the physical seal with the ear.

Tinnitracks is a website and smartphone-application that treats tinnitus by getting you to listen to specially-crafted music over a period of time.

A number of studies (see below) have shown that tinnitus sufferers who listen to filtered (or “notched”) music see some considerable improvement in their tinnitus after several months. The music used in the treatment is filtered to remove sounds at the specific frequency of the person’s tinnitus – so music used in the treatment is tailored specificlly for the individual. Luckily, almost any music can be filtered and used, so you probably won’t have to spend months listening to something you really can’t stand.

There are two types of tinnitus: subjective and objective. Objective tinnitus can be detected by other people and is usually caused by myoclonus or a vascular condition. In some cases, it is generated by a self-sustained oscillation within the ear, which can arise from muscle spasms around the middle ear. Subjective tinnitus is the most frequent type, it can have many possible causes but, most commonly, results from hearing loss and noise exposure which damages hair cells in the inner ear. Subjective tinnitus can only be heard by the affected person.

Tinnitraks http://www.tinnitracks.com/en/ works for subjective tinnitus sufferers and those who are aged 18-60 and have a hearing loss of less than 65 dB are likely to see the best results.

The core idea indicated in the research, and the key to Tinnitracks’ treatment is that subjective tinnitus sufferers have increased activity in their brain’s auditory cortex that relates specifically to the frequency of their tinnitus – and so by exposing the brain to sounds (the music) with that frequency removed it will re-balance that increased activity and reduce tinnitus symptoms. 

Tinnitracks is currently only available in Germany but hopes to gain approval from the relevant medical boards and offer its treatment in other countries.

Study sources

• 1 Okamoto, H., & Stracke, H., Stoll, W., & Pantev, C. (2010). Listening to tailor-made notched music reduces tinnitus loudness and tinnitus-related auditory cortex activity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 107(3), 1207–1210. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20080545
• 2 Pantev, C., Okamoto, H., & Teismann, H. (2012a). Music-induced cortical plasticity and lateral inhibition in the human auditory cortex as foundations for tonal tinnitus treatment. Frontiers in systems neuroscience, 6(June), 50.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22754508
• 3 Pantev, C., Okamoto, H., & Teismann, H. (2012b). Tinnitus: the dark side of the auditory cortex plasticity. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1252(1), 253–8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22524367
• 4 Stracke, H. , Okamoto, H., Pantev, C.( 2010). Customized notched music training reduces tinnitus loudness. Communicative integrative biology, 3(3), 274–277. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2918775/