Phonak Audeo Q: For Tinnitus

Optimum hearing and understanding in any situation best describes the quality of hearing that most wearers expect from a hearing device. With Phonak Audeo Q, wearers can enjoy conversations in crowded restaurants or during a walk outside on a windy afternoon. Unique Binaural VoiceStream Technology^TM found in all of the Phonak Quest products makes it possible for wearers to hear and understand in the most challenging listening situations.

Phonak Audeo Q: a simple and discreet solution
Daily activities like conversations in a busy restaurant or on a noisy street can quickly turn into a challenge for people even with mild to moderate hearing loss. Phonak Audeo Q offers a discreet and unobtrusive solution that enables more signal, less noise and better understanding in even more listening situations. The Audeo Q model is extremely small and designed to practically disappear behind the ear.
Tinnitus management
Because four out of five people with tinnitus are also affected by hearing loss, Phonak Audeo Q is now available with a dedicated Phonak tinnitus program that supports a variety of tinnitus management philosophies.
Tinnitus is defined as the perception of sound in the absence of an external sound source. Shorter episodes of ear noise that go away are considered normal and experienced by many people. Tinnitus sounds, however, are described in many various ways including the sound of crickets, wind, dripping water, buzz of fluorescent lights, pulsating tones, hissing, buzzing or ringing in the ear and typically last more than five minutes at a time.
"Approximately 50 million people in the United States have tinnitus and a quarter of those experience depression, loss of concentration, sleep problems and loss of enjoyment of life," explained Ann L. Rhoten, AuD, Owner of Kentucky Audiology and Tinnitus Services. "Historically, people suffering with tinnitus have been told they have to 'learn to live with it.' "While currently there isn't a cure, there are treatments such as the Phonak tinnitus management program that can help.
"The Phonak Audeo Q incorporates a tinnitus management feature in the hearing aid which offers a library of sounds and music specially designed to help manage tinnitus. These tools, combined with experienced counseling can be very effective in treating tinnitus," said Dr. Rhoten.

Source: Phonak

Hearing Loss Simulation

Listen and Talk: Helping children with hearing loss

How FM systems can change your hearing experience

CBC Ombudsman responds to CASLPA complaint about the cost of hearing aids

Ombudsman responds:

CBC News Marketplace challenged the high cost of hearing aids in a program entitled “Price Tag Confidential”. The segment raised issues about the cost of the hearing aids and the lack of clarity for consumers about what they are paying for. Joanne Charlebois, Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists , found the piece simplistic and unfair. I agreed that the piece would have been better balanced if it had left itself time to explore the issues more thoroughly.


COMPLAINT

When you filed your complaint, you said you were doing so on behalf of the 6,000 members of the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (CASLPA). You had many concerns about a segment on Marketplace which ran last February as part of a program entitled “Price Tag Confidential.” The premise behind “Price Tag Confidential” is that experts give insights into why goods or services are priced the way they are, exposing disparities or questioning the legitimacy of the cost. This particular episode dealt with the big disparity in price in Canada and the United States of some common consumer products, the true cost, versus the price of beauty products, and why and how companies justify the cost, and finally, the cost of hearing aids. And that was the segment you found very problematic.

Read the full ombudsman's response here.

New insights into sound processing

A healthy ear is much better at detecting and transmitting sound than even the most advanced hearing aid. But now researchers reporting in the August 20 issue of the Biophysical Journal, a Cell Press publication, have uncovered new insights into how the ear -- in particular, the cochlea -- processes and amplifies sound. The findings could be used for the development of better devices to improve hearing.

To read more, follow this link.
Source: Science Daily

New research from Stanford

The 3D Revolution in Hearing Aids

 If you wear a hearing aid, chances are that you are already part of the 3D printing revolution. This is because your hearing aid was, probably, 3D-printed.

To read more, follow this link.

Walmart sued for selling unlicenced hearing aids

Members of the Texas Hearing Aid Association have filed a federal class-action lawsuit against Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) based on claims that the world's largest retailer sells hearing aids without the state-mandated license.

The group is seeking to stop Wal-Mart's hearing aid sales immediately, in addition to asking the court to require the return of profits from prior sales.

"Wal-Mart knew it was required under Texas state law to become licensed in order to dispense hearing aids in Texas stores, yet the corporation has failed to take all necessary steps to ensure their ability to do so," says attorney Bill Chamblee, managing partner of Dallas-based Chamblee, Ryan, Kershaw & Anderson and lead counsel for the hearing aid group. "There's a reason the state allows only licensed dispensers and audiologists to fit and dispense hearing aids in Texas," continues Mr. Chamblee. "

When an individual suspects they have hearing loss, a licensed hearing professional will be able to give a complete examination of the patient's auditory health in order to detect infections and other problems that aren't addressed by simply wearing a hearing aid."

Mr. Chamblee says the Bentonville, Ark.-based retail giant has chosen profits over the health interests of Texans. "The State of Texas estimates that more than 3.8 million residents are deaf or hard of hearing. That's a tremendous potential customer base that Wal-Mart apparently couldn't resist," says Mr. Chamblee, who has won more than 130 jury verdicts and case dismissals for clients during a 27-year legal career.

 

Sound World Solutions: Cheap alternative to hearing aids

Hearing aids can cost thousands of dollars, but a Chicago area man has invented a much cheaper alternative.

Stavros Basseas, president of Sound World Solutions, was previously an engineer working in the hearing aid field. Basseas opened his business hoping to help developing countries find hearing aids where there are none available. That opened another opportunity in the United States.

"You need to give people some options for them to understand how much they're missing," Basseas explains. "How much easier it would be, having the reading glasses to read the newspaper and for having the amplifier to help you out in difficult situations?"

His invention is called CS10 and uses Bluetooth technology to give people back their hearing. It looks exactly like a small Bluetooth, except it serves as an undercover amplifier. You can control it by following the instructions spoken to you in the earpiece or you can connect to it with your smart phone.

"You can actually adjust the volume, you can adjust the treble, you can adjust the bass," says Basseas. Dr. Regan Thomas from the University of Illinois College of Medicine says if you're experiencing hearing loss, it's best to check with a physician. "It's much less expensive and for mild or moderate hearing loss it might be a good alternative," Dr. Thomas says. "I think all of the professionals would agree, it's probably not as accurate for individuals as a hearing aid, but it's a good thing to have maybe for dinner parties or situations where you're having difficulty hearing."

Some doctors are concerned that by using this device, you may overlook more serious and progressive hearing issues if you don't see a doctor. The earpiece will run you about $300.

Source: Fox 32 Phoenix

Cochlear users see dramatic improvement in hearing thanks to Vanderbilt process

Imagine suddenly being able to hear the words and tone of the person across the table from you in a crowded restaurant when once you only heard overwhelming noise. Or speaking on the telephone with confidence because what you hear is now crisp and clear. Longtime cochlear implant users are reporting such dramatic improvements in their hearing, thanks to new image-guided programming methods developed by Vanderbilt University researchers.

http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2013/03/high-fidelity/

For the audiologist: Easing Hearing Aid Return Pain

It's never a pleasant scenario. The customer is completely unsatisfied with his hearing aid and you have agreed to give him a credit. That's gotta hurt. Here, from the Hearing Journal, is an article that could help ease your pain.

Prince George's posh baby monitor sees and hears him

HRH Prince George of Cambridge already has a cause.

Action on Hearing Loss is offering his parents, HRH Duke of Cambridge and HRH Duchess of Cambridge, the ultimate baby monitor which will not only allow the royal couple to hear their little prince but see him in his crib.

Baby care and safety is the major consideration for any parent, and the royal couple have already shown their knowledge and dexterity in this matter with the baby car seat they expertly used upon leaving hospital, explains CEO Paul Breckell.

"With no nanny to assist them, Action on Hearing Loss hope (our) gift will provide that all important sense of security that all new parents wish for, whether deaf or hearing,"

The Action on Hearing Loss approved £130.00, Amplicomms Watch and Care V120 baby monitor is an ideal solution for deaf, hard of hearing or any parent who wants to keep an extra safe eye on their little one. It has a built in camera and screen to monitor movement as well as sound. A vibrating pad slips under your pillow to alert you at night and flashing coloured lights alert you during the day. The camera automatically switches to infrared night vision in darkness, enabling good visibility at all times. Parents can have a two-way conversation and even monitor the temperature of the room remotely.

"Everyone at Action on Hearing Loss sends their sincere congratulations to the royal family. As a charity with a Royal Patron, HRH The Duke of York, we are particularly delighted and felt it wholly appropriate to send the family a practical gift that we know both hearing and non-hearing parents feel safe to rely on." 

The baby monitor is available from Action On Hearing Loss at http://www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/PrincelyGift or call the sales team on =44-(0)1733-361199 or Textphone +44-(0)1733-238020
 

Prof blows whistle on referees

An American researcher is blowing the whistle on sports referees.

In a recent study, a Western Michigan University psychiatrist revealed that whistle-blowing may be harmful to the health of these rule enforcers.  The study shows that one single whistle blow can reach a mind-blowing 116 decibels, far exceeding safe noise levels.

"I did expect the numbers to be kind of high, but I didn’t expect them to be that high," Greg Flamme told CBC news.

Flamme’s team asked sports officials how well they hear in general and if they ever had tinnitus in their ears after officiating games.

“The rate of tinnitus that was reported was much higher than we might have expected based on national norms,” said Flamme. “The same subjects reported hearing issues at a much higher rate that the norm in most of the Midwestern U.S.”

Researchers also measured the sound outputs of different whistles. They found just one whistle blow, anywhere between six and 90 seconds in length, could reach 100 per cent of what would be considered allowable for human hearing.

 “We know that whistles are potentially a factor, but we can’t rule in or out the factor from exposure to crowd noise or music or other factors that the person may be involved with,” said Flamme. “All we can say from this is that we can’t rule out the whistle as a potential contributor to hearing impairment … stadium and crowd noise is a whole other study.”

For their part, referees interviewed rejected Flamme's calls for preventative measures saying most refs feel using lower decibel whistles would hurt their performance.

 

The Cocktail Party Problem

The cocktail party is the enemy of people who suffer from hearing loss.
It's hard to pay attention to one person when there is garbled noise everywhere, right?
But there's good news from the researchers who've discovered that brain waves can hone in on one speaker to solve the "Cocktail Party Problem".
They've discovered that brain waves are shaped so the brain can selectively track sound patterns from a speaker while at the same time exclude competing sounds. This finding can have important implications for everybody from ADHD kids to older folks, even people with autism.
This is science speak, but if you're interested in learning more about how the brain works with selective sounds and noise, here is the geek link:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130306134218.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fmind_brain%2Fhearing_loss+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Mind+%26+Brain+News+--+Hearing+Loss%29

Are your ears playing musical tricks?

A friend of mine had a running battle with his next door neighbor about the sound level on his stereo and television.
"The other night, the cops showed up at my door. That was the last straw."
The thing is, Ray wasn't playing the television or music that night. He was sound asleep at 9 p.m. after spending a few hours at a bar with friends.
"I brought the cops in and said 'see?' They're both off."
The battle royale got so heated -- with the neighbor clearly in the wrong -- that the super eventually moved her to another floor.
Was the neighbor crazy or did she suffer from "a musical ear," hallucinations that made her actually believe there was music playing?
Last year, I ran into Dr. Neil Bauman, an expert on the musical ear phenomenon.
He says hallucinations occur when your brain thinks something is happening even though your five senses have not received any direct stimulus. They can be visual (seeing), auditory (hearing), olfactory (smelling), gustatory (tasting), or tactile (feeling). Auditory hallucinations are by far, the most common.
If you've ever had this condition, you may be thinking that you are down right mentally ill. Schizophrenics have people talking to them all the time.
The good news is that there are two kinds of hallucinations: psychiatric and non-psychiatric.
If you're hearing your voices telling you to do something, get ye to a psychiatrist, stat!
But if you hear, say, Christmas carols or the national anthem -- the most common musical hallucinations -- or a phantom radio playing in another room, not to worry, says Dr. Bauman. It's just your auditory circuits playing tricks.
Dr. Bauman gives talks around North America and he says he finds some 10 to 30 percent of his audiences come up to him and admit they hear these kind of sounds on a regular basis.
Who gets musical ear?

• About two-thirds are over 50, with a third of the sufferers over 70.
• Generally, the person has some hearing loss.
• Three times as many sufferers are women.
• Commonly it appears in people who are depressed or anxious.
• More often than not, the person has tinnitus, a ringing in their ears.
• The sounds come from an actual real direction which convinces the subject that the sound is real.

What can you do if you think you suffer from this condition?

Dr. Bauman suggests you seek medical help from a professional who specializes in conditions of the brain. You will want to rule out a brain tumor or other abnormality.

Here are his other suggestions:

• Learn about music ear syndrome. The more you know, the less you fear.
• Convince yourself that the sounds aren't real. If it happens at night, put a pillow over your ears. If you can still hear the sounds, they aren't real.
• Reduce your anxiety level. Anxiety feeds into musical ear. 
• Rule out any reactions from drugs you might be taking.
• Enrich your environment with real sounds. Musical Ear often occurs because of the lack of auditory stimulation.
• Become more socially active. This will help ease depression and distract your mind from the sounds you don't want to hear.

If you want to learn more about this condition, I suggest visiting Neil Bauman's website which has some very helpful information. He is also an entertaining speaker.

http://www.hearinglosshelp.com

 

Canada lacks universal assistance for hearing aid subsidies

It's difficult enough to get someone to wear a hearing aid, even if they need one, and the cost of purchasing them can be prohibitive particularly for those on a fixed income. So most Canadian provinces provide subsidies for hearing aids.

But the size or even existence of that subsidy very much depends on where you live.

A CBC investigation recently found that if you're hearing impaired, it's better to live in Ontario than any other province. And Manitoba is the province with the worst record on hearing aid subsidies. Here is how the provinces stack up.

Worst offender: In Manitoba, only those under 18 years of age qualify for a payment of 80% of the cost. Veterans and aboriginal Canadians are covered by the federal government and do not need private insurance.

Best provider:  In Ontario, the Assistive Devices Program pays up to $500 per hearing aid for everyone, or $1,000 for a pair.

In between: Eight provinces and territories provide some level of subsidy for hearing aids, which can cost anywhere from $1,500 to more than $8,000 for seniors who do not qualify for income assistance.

Other Examples

Canadians in other parts of Canada, such as Yukon and the Northwest Territories, start getting full coverage for hearing aids at age 60.

British Columbia offers a program called the Equipment and Assistive Technology Initiative, in which seniors can apply for financial assistance, although advocates say eligibility is restrictive and seniors must be looking for work.

Albertans participate in a cost-sharing program where the savings can be up to $900 per hearing aid. Saskatchewan offers a subsidized audiology clinic where the waiting times are long, but the savings on service could be up to $500.

In New Brunswick, the province is the payer of last resort but will cover hearing aids for those who qualify financially and have no other way of paying.

Hearing loss affects a person's health care and may be the first identifier of dementia. Hearing loss also accounts for difficulties in relationships and can be a threat to a person's productivity. Some might argue that for a country that boasts about its health care system, Canada has a poor track record when it comes to equal access to prosthetic devices such as hearing aids.

We welcome your comments.

Hearing through your teeth?

There seems to be some hearing aid fatigue in the marketplace with many companies admitting one is just as good as another when it comes to technology.

So this could be interesting news for some individuals who suffer from single side deafness or conductive hearing loss.

The American Academy of Audiology has approved a policy statement on implantable hearing devices that includes bone conduction appliances such as non-surgical and removable hearing devices that transmit sound through the teeth. Sonitus Medical out of California hopes to capitalize on this change as the only manufacturer of these devices.

Here's how they describe their product.

An innovation in hearing loss technology, SoundBite transmits sound using the well-established principle of bone conduction. Unlike predecessor prosthetic devices that reroute sound through skull bones, SoundBite places a custom fabricated transducer on the tooth, thereby eliminating the need to surgically implant a post in the skull. In this way, SoundBite eliminates the surgical costs and potential complications of the implant by using the tooth as a "naturally osseointegrated" post.

The SoundBite system comprises two parts. The first component is a removable in-the-mouth (ITM) appliance, which is custom made for each patient to fit on either the upper left or right back teeth. The ITM transducer produces vibrations that allow sound to reach the cochleae via bone conduction. The second component is a small digital signal processor unit worn behind the ear (BTE) which picks up the sound and wirelessly transmits the signal to the ITM. The ITM does not require modification to the teeth, and an oral exam is conducted by a medical professional prior to use of SoundBite. SoundBite is removable, with normal daily functions such as talking and eating attainable with the device in place. More information is available at www.sonitusmedical.com

While this technology is not yet available in Canada, enterprising Canadians need only find an ENT in the U.S. who is qualified to offer this service. We see it as an opportunity for Canadian providers to get with the program.
 

 

Not enough hearing aids: WHO

 

The World Health Organization (WHO) says more than 360 million people have hearing loss worldwide yet there are not enough hearing aids to meet the demand for them.

 In makring International Ear Care Day on March 3, the WHO warned that the current production of hearing aids is meeting less than 10% of the global need.

As the population ages globally, more people than ever before face hearing loss. One in every three people over the age of 65 – a total of 165 million people worldwide – lives with hearing loss, according to WHO.

Another 32 million people affected by hearing loss are children under the age of 15. Many of whom live in low- and middle-income countries – particularly in South Asia, Asia and the Pacific and sub-Saharan Africa – where untreated ear infections lead to hearing loss.

“About half of all cases of hearing loss are easily preventable while many can be treated through early diagnosis and suitable interventions such as surgically-implanted hearing devices,” Shelly Chadha of the Department of Prevention of Blindness and Deafness. .

WHO encourages countries to develop programs for preventing hearing loss within their primary health care systems, including vaccinating children against measles, meningitis, mumps and rubella; screening and treating syphilis in pregnant women; and early assessment and management of hearing loss in babies.

According to the figures released prior to the International Day, fewer than one out of 40 people who need a hearing aid in developing countries have one. WHO said it is exploring technology transfer as a way to promote access to hearing aids in those places.

The agency also cited sign language training and social support as beneficial for people with disabling hearing loss.

 

 

ODSP and hearing aids: Ministry responds

In yesterday's blog post, I presented complaints about the Ontario Disability Support Program's two quote policy, which both audiologists and some patients are calling unfair. Here is what the Ministry of Community and Social Services had to say:

Q: The Minister indicated in a letter to OSLA that there is no two quote policy unless the original cost is deemed unreasonable. Yet audiologists and patients I've interviewed say it does. In one case, a disabled man in Petawawa is being forced to travel return 100 k at his own expense to get a second quote. He is very agitated about having to lose his audiologist of 13 years.

A: For clarity, the Minister indicated in this letter that there was no change in the policy. The policy has always provided caseworkers with the authority to request a second quote, where it was considered necessary.

Clients may not be required to obtain two quotes in every circumstance, for example, where;

- Emergency and weekend repairs are needed (also exempt from prior authorization requirement)

- limited number of vendors in a geographical area

- using another vendor would void the warranty on a device

- repair costs are reasonable and or minor in nature

- addressing the specialized accommodation needs of a client (eg. client requiring the services of an audiologist with sign language expertise)

- device is a high technology mobility device as Shoppers Home Care is the vendor for Centralized Equipment Pool (CEP) mobility devices

* (list is not exhaustive)

The ministry has been in contact with the Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (OSLA). The intent of the discussion was to reach an understanding of the issue from both sides and come away with a mutual appreciation of the challenges each party faces with respect to this matter. The ministry also provided further information to the OSLA that offered additional insight into the measures being taken to improve customer service for ODSP clients while continuing to be accountable to the taxpayers of Ontario. The discussion was positive and ended with an agreement that the ministry will work collaboratively with the OSLA.

Q: What is considered an unreasonable cost? Are there guidelines that audiologists/clinics can follow to ensure they operate within the guidelines?

A: At this time, there are no fee guidelines set out in the ODSP policy, however, options are currently being explored by the ministry to address both service and costs associated with the delivery of the Hearing Aid policy to ODSP clients.

Q: What is the appeal process? One caregiver was told by her MPP that "the rules are the rules".

ODSP clients have the right to request an internal review of any decision that affects their eligibility for or the amount of income support that they receive. This includes whether they are granted or denied a hearing aid benefit. Once an internal review decision has been rendered, clients who disagree with the result may appeal to the Social Benefits Tribunal.

Q: What is the Ministry's position on the fact that disabled Ontarians are refused the right to choose their caregivers, that privacy laws are being breached and caseworkers are choosing health providers for patients?

A: Clients may obtain quotes from any vendor, including their preferred vendors. While there is an importance placed on ensuring value for money, cost is not the only consideration when a quote is approved. In order to make sure that we are meeting ODSP clients’ needs while still being accountable to taxpayers, Caseworkers will review both quotes based on a number of factors, including the client's circumstances and individual needs. If the client needs a better model, this may be approved over a lower priced/inferior hearing device. In some cases, it may be necessary to follow up with vendors for an explanation of the quote.

To ensure fairness and protect the privacy of individuals in the 2 quote process, each quote should be provided independently. Caseworkers have been directed that the 1st quote should not be shared with the 2nd vendor. Further, Caseworkers have been advised that they must not forward a quote that includes a client's health information which was provided to a health professional as this violates the Personal Health Information Privacy and Access Act (PHIPA).

Q: How does the ODSP compensate audiology clinics for spending time in performing their own test and the HAE for the purpose of providing a quote? Does the ODSP reimburse the first clinic if their quote is not successful or let them know why they have not been selected?

Local ODSP offices may pay the costs if a fee is charged to obtain a second quote for hearing or mobility devices or for a test/assessment related to obtaining a second quote.

Under ODSP, the Hearing Aid benefit will cover:

· the portion of the cost for a hearing aid/appliance not covered by ADP

· the cost of the dispensing fee when it is not covered by ADP, based on the dispensing fee rate approved and listed by ADP

· the cost of a hearing test if the person does not have access to an appropriately qualified physician(hearing tests are covered by OHIP when performed or supervised by appropriately qualified physicians or administered by qualified persons they employ, including audiologists)

· the cost of the hearing aid evaluation (or re-evaluation if one is necessary) is not covered by OHIP and can be covered by ODSP if it is not covered under another resource (a hearing aid evaluation is necessary to determine the most suitable hearing aid where a hearing aid or hearing appliance is recommended)

Only the selected vendor is contacted. Audiology clinics should contact their local ODSP office to discuss reimbursement.

How does the ODSP evaluate the quote if an audiologist quotes for more expensive hearing devices if they determine that is what is needed to meet the patient's needs? I'm thinking pocket talkers or FMs or digital versus analog? Isn't this comparing apples and oranges?

There are a range of hearing devices and the decision regarding the appropriate make and model of hearing device for the client must be left up to the ADP registered authorizer, as they have the required expertise to make such a determination.

While there is an importance placed on ensuring value for money, cost is not the only consideration when a quote is approved. In order to make sure that we are meeting ODSP clients’ needs while still being accountable to taxpayers, ODSP caseworkers will review both quotes based on a number of factors, including the client's circumstances and individual needs.

If the client needs a better model, this may be approved over a lower priced/inferior hearing device.Each situation is reviewed on its own merits and in some cases, it may be necessary to follow up with vendors for an explanation of the quote.

Q: Also, do you know how many clients the CSS serves in terms of hearing loss patients who need rehabilitation services and devices?

In fiscal year 2011-12, there were about 8,000 ODSP cases in receipt of the hearing aids/batteries. It’s important to note that our database cannot separate the number individuals in receipt of hearing aids devices, or individuals who have received funding for repairs or replacement batteries. The number above is a combined total of the number of individuals who have received funding for hearing aids devices, repairs or replacement batteries.