A well-fitting hearing aid that is working properly should not whistle. That whistle is actually called feedback. Whistling can be caused by:

• The hearing aid is not being inserted into the ear correctly – Make sure the audiologist at your hearing aid supplier shows you how to correctly insert it before you leave with your new aid. Putting the aid into your ear will seem clumsy at first, it will take some practice. It’s not always a case of simply pushing it in – you will likely need to twist it around as you insert it.
• The ear mould does not fit correctly – An ear grows and changes shape continuously. An ear mould that fitted you three years ago may not fit you now. You may need to get a new ear mould for your aid – this will be muchcheaper than getting a completely new one.
• Cracked or defective tubing – The tubing on BTE hearing aids can become defective.
• The aid is at full volume –Hearing aids are normally worn below full volume. If you find that you need to turn yours onto full all of the time, it may be because your aid is not functioning correctly or because you need a stronger one.

The new generation of MP3 players offer significant improvements in sound quality and also provide extended listening time, therefore the likelihood of using the equipment for longer is much greater than it used to be.

Most portable music players are capable of producing sounds up to 105dB, while some even reach120dB. Above 80dB is the level that you are putting your hearing at risk. Loud noise can cause damage to the hair cells in the inner ear, or cochlea, and whilst these hair cells often recover from noise abuse, repeated trauma can cause permanent damage.

General guidelines for safe and sensible MP3 use include:

• Restrict use to short periods – about 20 minutes at a time.
• Do no have the volume too high – about halfway on the volume control should be your maximum level. As a general rule, you should be able to carry on a conversation at a normal level whilst listening to your player.
• Protective filters for the in-the-ear headphones are now widely available, as are headphones which cancel out noise, thereby allowing you to keep the volume at lower levels.
• In-the-ear headphones can increase the volume by 7 to 9dB over and above headphones that sit over the ear.

The Phonak website has a very interesting page on which they demonstrate what it is like to be partially deaf. The page has a number of links that play everyday sounds, such as people talking in various environments, bird song, a piano, a telephone, etc. You can select one of three options for each sound: how it sounds to someone with normal hearing, how it sounds to someone with mild hearing loss and, finally, how it sounds to someone with moderate hearing loss.

I am going to get my Wife to try this. I’ll get her to listen to the sounds for normal hearing first and then the same sounds for a moderate hearing loss.  Will be interesting to see her reaction!

The Phonak hearing loss demo.

Currently, there is a trend in the hearing aid industry toward smaller and more discreet hearing aids, including the recent development of open fit hearing aids (also known as open ear hearing aids). Open fit hearing aids have one major limitation, however; they are not appropriate for many people with a more severe hearing loss and are best used by those with high frequency hearing loss and normal low frequency hearing.

This means that those with severe hearing loss inquiring about this new technology may have either been steered toward more traditional hearing aids (which also have their benefits) or been improperly fitted with open fit hearing aids. However, a recent modification to open fit hearing aids, known as speaker-in-the-ear (SIE) hearing aids, can make these nearly invisible hearing aids available to people with more severe hearing loss.

The Technical Side of a Speaker-in-the-Ear Hearing Aid

Speaker-in-the-ear hearing aids (also known as a receiver-in-the-ear hearing aid, or RITE) are extremely lightweight and are essentially invisible hearing aids, just like standard open fit hearing aids. They consist of a small plastic casing that sits on top of and behind the wearer’s ear and that houses all of the electronic components of the hearing aid (except for the speaker). A thin clear tube is attached to this case, through which very thin wires are run to attach to the speaker, which is located in the end of the tube. From this sound tube, there is a retention line that rests in the bottom of the bowl of the user’s outer ear, keeping the hearing aid securely in place.

The Benefits

The speaker-in-the-ear hearing aid can be programmed to accommodate two distinct hearing losses, a sloping high frequency loss and a more severe hearing loss covering a wider range. As with open fit hearing aids, this type of hearing aid does not require an earmold, so it leaves the ear canal unoccluded, providing a more natural sound quality to the user’s own voice. For those who have a high frequency loss, the unoccluded ear will hear low frequency sounds naturally, through the ear canal, offering a more natural sound quality than a hearing aid that fills the ear canal.

For individuals who have a wider range of severe hearing loss, meaning that there is a loss in the low frequencies as well as the high frequencies, having the receiver placed down in the ear canal will provide more gain and thus fit a greater hearing loss than standard open fit hearing aids. Because the speaker is in the ear canal, the sound does not need to travel down the acoustic tube, which means that these nearly invisible hearing aids are able to provide improved sound quality for those with this type of severe hearing loss.

Another benefit of a speaker-in-the-ear hearing aid is that it is much easier to insert into the ear than a custom hearing aid, because the speaker-in-the-ear hearing aid is one-third the size of a custom fitting. This means that this hearing aid can now be an option for users with severe hearing loss and limited mobility.

The Fitting Range

The fitting range for a speaker-in-the-ear hearing aid for a wide range hearing loss would be a maximum of 60dB in the low frequencies and 80dB in the high frequencies. Those with more severe hearing loss and that require this greater gain can still take advantage of a speaker-in-the-ear hearing aid with the addition of a dome tip ear plug, or custom earmold, which other open fit hearing aids may not allow. While other users may not require an earmold with this type of hearing aid, the addition of one can help to meet the increased gain requirement of those with severe hearing loss with less risk of feedback.

Pricing

If you are interested in purchasing a speaker-in-the-ear hearing aid, make sure that you shop around to find the best price and the highest quality product. These nearly invisible hearing aids should not cost much more – if anything – than traditional in-the-ear hearing aids or standard open fit hearing aids. Because this technology is still new, it is important to work with a vendor that has a full understanding of its limitations (particularly for those with severe hearing loss) and abilities. Make sure that you ask many questions before making a final purchase to ensure that you feel comfortable with the vendor that you have chosen.

Conclusion

A speaker-in-the-ear hearing aid can offer the benefits of open fit hearing aids to people with moderate to severe hearing loss. These lightweight, nearly invisible hearing aids can be used with or without an earmold and can provide superior results. Those who were previously told they could not use open fit hearing aids should investigate this new option, carefully choosing the vendor with which they will work.

About the Author

Henry Smith is the founder of America Hears, a leading manufacturer and distributor of digital hearing aids for over 26 years. Henry started the company in 1979, following a 15-year career at the Pennsylvania School of the Deaf, including his work as an Acoustic Technician. Henry is a pioneer in the use of computers and the Internet to allow customers to have a hands-on approach to the tuning and adjusting of their electronic hearing devices. He strives to be customer-centric in all aspects of his work

This is a poem I found a while back. It is very sad.

My family knew that I was deaf
When I was only three, and since then fifteen years ago
Have never signed to me.
I know when I’m around the house,
I try and use my voice,
It makes them feel more comfortable;
For me, I have no choice.
I try, communicate their way-
Uncomfortable for me.
My parents wouldn’t learn sign
Ashamed or apathy?
I never cared about the sound of radios and bands;
What hurts me most is, I never heard
My parents’ signing hands.

Stephen J. Bellitz, Reprinted from Senior News, July 1991

Common Noises and Their Levels

Understanding the levels of sound emmitted from the equipment you use allows you to be aware of when you should be protecting your hearing. You need to protect your hearing, because once it is gone, it is gone. It is not coming back.

Here is a list of common noises and their decibel levels:

Home

• 50dB refrigerator
• 50 – 60dB electric toothbrush
• 50 – 75dB washing machine
• 50 – 75dB air conditioner
• 50 – 80dB electric shaver
• 55dB coffee percolator
• 55 – 70dB dishwasher
• 60dB sewing machine
• 60 – 85dB vacuum cleaner
• 60 – 95dB hair dryer
• 65 – 80dB alarm clock
• 70dB TV audio
• 70 – 80dB coffee grinder
• 70 – 95dB garbage disposal
• 75 – 85dB flush toilet
• 80dB pop-up toaster
• 80dB doorbell
• 80dB ringing telephone
• 80dB whistling kettle
• 80 – 90dB food mixer or processor
• 80 – 90dB blender
• 80 – 95dB garbage disposal
• 110dB baby crying
• 110dB squeaky toy held close to the ear
• 135dB noisy squeeze toys

Work

• 40dB quiet office, library
• 50dB large office
• 65 – 95dB power lawn mower
• 80dB manual machine, tools
• 85dB handsaw
• 90dB tractor
• 90 – 115dB subway
• 95dB electric drill
• 100dB factory machinery
• 100dB woodworking class
• 105dB snow blower
• 110dB power saw
• 110dB leafblower
• 120dB chain saw, hammer on nail
• 120dB pneumatic drills, heavy machine
• 120dB jet plane (at ramp)
• 120dB ambulance siren
• 125dB chain saw
• 130dB jackhammer, power drill
• 130dB air raid siren
• 130dB percussion section at symphony
• 140dB airplane taking off
• 150dB jet engine taking off
• 150dB artillery fire at 500 feet
• 180dB rocket launching from pad

Recreation

• 40dB quiet residential area
• 70dB freeway traffic
• 85dB heavy traffic, noisy restaurant
• 90dB truck, shouted conversation
• 95 – 110dB motorcycle
• 100dB snowmobile
• 100dB school dance, boom box
• 110dB disco
• 110dB busy video arcade
• 110dB symphony concert
• 110dB car horn
• 110 – 120dB rock concert
• 112dB personal cassette player on high
• 117dB football game (stadium)
• 120dB band concert
• 125dB auto stereo (factory installed)
• 130dB stock car races
• 143dB bicycle horn
• 150dB firecracker
• 156dB capgun
• 157dB balloon pop
• 162dB fireworks (at 3 feet)
• 163dB rifle
• 166dB handgun
• 170dB shotgun

Perceptions of increases in decibel level

The list below gives you an idea of how noticable a change in decibel level will be to you:

• 1dB  –  Not noticable
• 3dB  –  Noticeable to humans
• 5dB  –  Clearly noticeable change
• 10dB  –  About twice as loud
• 20dB  –  About four times as loud

Decibels are measured on a  logarithmic scale, which means that the difference between values increases as the values get larger. For example, the difference between 10dB and 20dB is smaller than the difference between 100dB and 110dB. Logarithmic values are used to make reading what would be large number much easier. If decibels were rated on a linear scale, i.e. the difference between 10dB and 20dB would be the same as the difference between 100dB and 110dB, then instead of writing 100dB we would have to write 10000000000dB.

Protecting Your Hearing

Like I said, once it is gone, it is gone, so take proper steps to protect your hearing your older self will thank you. Here are some tips to help you protect your hearing daily: 

1. Use earplugs or ear muffs when working; The louder the noise and the longer you’re exposed to it, the greater the chance of hearing loss. Protect your ears on the job (and on the DIY job) with ear protectors – earplugs or earmuffs – and get away from the noise as quickly or as often as you can.  
2. Turn down the damned music: You really need to think about the volume that you are listening to your music at. Don’t listen to your personal music player at very high volumes, If the music is uncomfortable for you to listen to, or if the person next to you can hear the music from your headphones it is too damned loud.
3. Use the 60:60 rule: The 60:60 rule is to listen to your personal music player at 60% of the max volume for 60 minutes. All MP3 players iPods and smart phones bought within the EU have a smart volume feature. Generally when you try to put the volume up past a certain level it will tell you you are passing the safe level. Or it will restrict the volume to a safe level. So use it and don’t turn it off. 
4. Wear headphones: For listening to music, try to choose noise-cancelling headphones, or go for muff-type headphones. These block out background noise and allow you to have the volume lower. Ear-bud style headphones and in-the-ear headphones are less effective at drowning out background noise. 
5. Turn down the volume: Be awre of the volume of your device, turn down the volume on your TV, radio or hi-fi a notch. Even a small reduction in volume can make a big difference to the risk of damage to your hearing. A good rule of thumb is that if you need to shout to be heard above the sound, it’s too loud.
6. Use earplugs when you’re listening to live music: Decent sound filtering ear-plugs are available easily. They can reduce average sound levels by between 15 and 35 decibels depending on the type or filter. They won’t change the fidelity of the music, just lower the level of sound. You can even invest in custom sets for about £120. If you like live music, they are well worth investing in. 
7. Don’t put up with work noise: If you’re experiencing noise at work, talk to your human resources (HR) department or your manager and ask for advice on reducing the noise and getting hearing protection.
8. Wear ear protectors: Wear ear protectors (earplugs or earmuffs) if you are using noisy equipment such as power drills, saws, sanders or lawn mowers.
9. Be careful in the car: Listening to music in a confined space increases the risk of hearing damage. Don’t listen to music too loud for too long

What we do

We like giving good advice, we also like the idea that we can somehow get people to protect their hearing. We also give advice on hearing devices and discuss hearing aid technology. If you are interested in hearing Aids, their types and technologies, take a look at our consumer hearing aid advice guide. It details types, advantages and disadvantages, technology levels and features of hearing instruments in clear and easy to understand language. 

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Sound Advice

Decibels are in essence a measure of volume

The volume or intensity of sound is measured in units called decibels (dB), generally on a scale from zero to 140 (any higher than 140 and you are in trouble immediately). The higher the number in decibels, the louder the noise. The louder the noise, the greater the risk of hearing loss. Hearing loss can occur with regular exposure to noise levels of 110 decibels or more for periods longer than one minute. Not only can noise cause hearing loss, it can also cause tinnitus.

So How loud is too loud?

The risk of sound damaging your hearing is in fact based on how loud and for how long. Continued exposure to noise at or above 80-85dB over time can cause hearing loss, however, the exposure length in that case would be hours. Generally speaking, if you have ringing in your ear or your hearing seems dull after you have been exposed to sound (including loud music) or noise you have exposed yourself too much. However, it is important for me to point out that you may still be damaging your hearing even if you don’t have these symptoms.

If loud music ever feels way too loud or causes pain in your ears, leave the room or turn it down immediately. Without noise measuring equipment it is impossible to tell what noise level you are being exposed to. So, a handy rule of thumb is that if you can’t talk to someone two metres away without shouting, the noise level could be damaging. Speaking of noise measuring equipment, you can download plenty of sound measuring apps for your Android or Apple smartphone. Download one and use it to understand the sound around you. 

Intensities of common sounds in decibels and time exposure limits

Sounds	Intensities	Permissible exposure time
City Traffic, inside the car	85 dB	8 hours
Bulldozer	88 dB	4 hours
Jazz Concert	91 dB	2 hours
Power Mower	94 dB	1 hour
Nightclub	97 dB	30 minutes
Ambulance Siren, inside driver window down	100 dB	15 minutes
Rock Concert, Leaf Blower	115 dB	30 seconds

Go To The Next Page For An In-Depth Table Of Common Sounds & Their Decibel Levels

NEXT PAGE

Long Term Exposure To Noise Over 85 dB Can Cause Hearing Loss

No more than 15 minutes of unprotected exposure to 100 decibels is recommended. Long-term exposure to 80-85 decibels or over can cause hearing loss. Protect your hearing, because once the damage is done, it is done. It is important that you realise that the noise we speak of is any sound, it isn’t just what you think is noise. Music presented at the right dB level will do just as much damage to your hearing. Once you go past 85dB, you are on the clock.

Don’t forget, sound is sound, at the right volume level that music you love will damage your hearing

Here is a short list of common noises and their decibel levels:

• Aircraft at take-off (180)
• Fireworks (140)
• Snowmobile (120)
• Chain saw (110)
• Amplified music (110)
• Lawn mower (90)
• Noisy office (90)
• Vacuum cleaner (80)
• City traffic (80)
• Normal conversation (60)
• Refrigerator humming (40)
• Whisper (20)
• Leaves rustling (10)
• Calm breathing (10)

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Arrange a consultation with a trusted Independent hearing healthcare professional in your area

We like giving good advice, we also like the idea that we can somehow get people to protect their hearing. We also give advice on hearing devices and discuss hearing aid technology. If you are interested in hearing Aids, their types and technologies, take a look at our consumer hearing aid advice guide. It details types, advantages and disadvantages, technology levels and features of hearing instruments in clear and easy to understand language. 

If you like what you see, share it so others can benefit

Tinnitus (pronounced ti-NIGHT-us or TIN-i-tus) is the name given to the perception of a non-existent sound. People who suffer from tinnitus will experience a noise “in their ear” or “in their head” – this is commonly a ringing, buzzing, humming or whistling noise but sufferers may report hearing other noises such as ocean waves, insects or music. The word tinnitus comes from the Latin word tinnire, which means “to ring”.

What causes it?

The exact physiological causes of tinnitus are not known; however, there are a number of things which are widely understood to cause, or worsen, the condition:

• Noise-induced hearing loss – Exposure to loud noises can damage and even destroy hair cells in the inner ear. Up to 90 percent of all tinnitus patients have some level of hearing loss.
• Wax build-up in the ear canal – The amount of wax ears produce varies by individual. Sometimes, people produce enough wax that their hearing can be compromised or their tinnitus can seem louder. If you produce a lot of earwax, speak to your physician about having excess wax removed manually
• Certain medications – Some medications are toxic to the ear. Other medications will produce tinnitus as a side effect without damaging the inner ear. Effects, which can depend on the dosage of the medication, can be temporary or permanent. Before taking any medication, make sure that your prescribing physician is aware of your tinnitus, and discuss alternative medications that may be available.
• Ear or sinus infections – Many people, including children, experience tinnitus along with an ear or sinus infection. Generally, the tinnitus will lessen and gradually go away once the infection is healed.
• Jaw misalignment – Some people have misaligned jaw joints or jaw muscles, which can not only induce tinnitus but also affect cranial muscles and nerves and shock absorbers in the jaw joint. Many dentists specialize in this temporomandibular jaw misalignment and can provide assistance with treatment.
• Cardiovascular disease – Approximately 3 percent of tinnitus patients experience pulsatile tinnitus; people with pulsatile tinnitus typically hear a rhythmic pulsing, often in time with a heartbeat. Pulsatile tinnitus can indicate the presence of a vascular condition where the blood flow through veins and arteries is compromised-like a heart murmur, hypertension, or hardening of the arteries.
• Head and neck trauma – Physical trauma to the head and neck can induce tinnitus. Other symptoms include headaches, vertigo, and memory loss.
• Stress, anxiety or depression – It is well known that psychological problems, such as stress, can worsen an existing case of tinnitus – in rare cases, it cause it to start in non-sufferers.

Different types

There are two different types of tinnitus: objective and subjective.

• Objective – Objective tinnitus is much rarer than Subjective. In these cases, it is possible for a physician to perceive actual sound emanating from the sufferer’s ear. It can arise from muscle spasms that cause clicks or crackling around the middle ear.
• Subjective – Subjective is defined as being the cases in which only the sufferer can hear the noises.

If you think you have it

Consult your GP or medical professional – they will attempt to determine the cause of the tinnitus and, if possible, offer some options for treatment. If they cannot offer a treatment, they should be able to refer you to an audiologist for further investigation into the problem.

Ways of reducing the effects of tinnitus

• Avoid loud noises.
• Avoid total silence.
• Relax and avoid stress.
• Avoid stimulants such as nicotine and caffeine.

Further reading

NHS Direct Online

British Tinnitus Association

American Tinnitus Association

RNID’s Tinnitus section

Analogue and digital hearing aids are completely different beasts. Up until now I have worn only analogue aids and I’m in the process of getting some digital ones so I thought I’d write about a few things I’ve noticed during the switch.

Didn’t that used to be louder?

Analogue hearing aids amplify all sounds at the same level – this can make it difficult for wearers to hear conversation when there is a lot of background noise. Digital hearing aids are much cleverer in that they are able reduce the level of the background noise and make conversation easier to hear.

Due to their background-reducing capabilities you will find that when you first wear digital aids a lot of noise that was once loud to you is now quiet – this will more than likely make you think that the aids aren’t working correctly or that they haven’t been set at a high enough volume. Don’t worry. Listen to someone talking in a noisy situation and you should find that you are able to hear them much more clearly than when you wore analogue aids.

Things won’t sound the same

When you switch from analogue to digital, be prepared for things to sound differently. This will be particularly true if you are wearing an older pair of analogues. I found that people’s voices sounded differently through digital aids, especially my own – they were higher-pitched and easier to understand but the difference from what I was used to hearing before took some time to adjust to.

Programming

When your hearing aid vendor receives your new digital hearing aids from the manufacturer they will come setup for your audiogram. Even though this is the case and they should be ready to use, I’ve found that I have had to make quite a few trips back to the vendor to get the aids re-programmed slightly. This may be just bad luck but it’s worth keep in mind that you might need to make extra trips back to the vendor to tweak your aids’ settings until you are happy with them – this may be particularly important if your vendor is charging per visit!

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Jeff Rich, drummer with 80s rock band Status Quo, is interviewed on the Independent website. He talks about how his hearing was damaged by years of drumming on-stage surrounded by speakers pumping out 4,500 watts.

He talks about how he was initially in denial about his hearing problem and how his life has been transformed by digital hearing aids.

The article goes on to talk about some of the options available for people wishing to purchase hearing aids.http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/article2353469.ece