May 17th, 2012 - Categories: News, Press Releases - Tags: better hearing month, community awareness, patient care, personalized solutions, technology, tinnitus - No Comments
The Serenade Tinnitus Treatment System is now available at Advanced Hearing Care!
New customized sound therapy approach with novel treatment sounds
SAN JOSE, California, March 26, 2012. SoundCure Inc., a new tinnitus solution provider, today announced the launch of the Serenade Tinnitus Treatment System at the upcoming American Academy of Audiology Meeting in Boston, March 28 – April 1, 2012. This marks the formal commercial release of a novel advancement in sound therapy based on the development of S-Tones®, customized treatment sounds developed independently by leading hearing researchers at the University of California, Irvine (UCI).
Tinnitus, or “ringing in the ears”, affects approximately 10% of U.S. adults and an estimated 260 million people globally. It can be extremely debilitating, leading to depression, irritability, and difficulty sleeping or concentrating. It is most often related to hearing loss, especially that caused by noise damage.
Serenade is a handheld device that is programmed in the audiologist’s office for each individual patient according to his specific condition. Through the device’s earphones, the patient listens to therapeutic sounds which are designed to address the underlying neurological cause of tinnitus. Four different treatment sounds are available, anchored by advanced, proprietary S-Tones. Long-term relief can be achieved when used in an on-going sound therapy program.
The American Tinnitus Association provided a grant to UCI to develop the technology. Sound therapy as a tinnitus treatment is well-established and effective. S-Tones are low frequency, amplitude modulated tones that are frequency pitch-matched to a patient’s unique tinnitus, representing a significant clinical breakthrough compared to previous approaches. According to Dr. Fan-Gang Zeng, one of the technology inventors, these modulated tones “keep the brain’s interest” thus “inhibiting and reducing the perceived tinnitus sound and bringing relief”. In addition, S-Tones are intended to be “listened to at a volume that is lower than the patient’s tinnitus, reducing the sound burden”, according to Dr. Zeng.
SoundCure CEO Bill Perry states, “This approach was developed by a team with a deep scientific understanding of the neurophysiology of tinnitus and how the brain processes sound. It is an important solution to provide relief to patients and represents a real advance in tinnitus care.”
About SoundCure, Inc.
Established in 2009 to commercialize the technology developed for years at the University of California, Irvine, SoundCure, Inc. is a privately held medical device company whose mission is to revolutionize the treatment of tinnitus and provide relief to the millions of people suffering its effects. SoundCure is an Allied Minds company.
Serenade Tinnitus Treatment System at Advanced Hearing Care!
Advanced Hearing Care is proud to be the first provider in Oklahoma to offer the Serenade Tinnitus Treatment System! This groundbreaking technology has recently received FDA approval for the treatment of ringing in the ears. Studies are beginning to show that Serenade can offer immediate relief from the annoyance of tinnitus symptoms. For more information on the Serenade system, contact our office to schedule a consultation appointment!
April 19th, 2012 - Categories: Advice, News - Tags: advice audigy, community awareness, hearing conservation, patient care - No Comments
By: Bettie Borton, Au.D., FAAA
Doctor of Audiology
Doctors Hearing Clinic
7025 Halcyon Park, Suite A
Montgomery, AL 36117
(334) 396-1635
“Like” Doctors Hearing Clinic | Facebook
www.doctorshearingclinic.com
Have you ever wondered if your children or grandchildren are damaging their hearing by using personal listening devices, cell phones, or by listening to loud music that’s too loud? Most of us look at the noisy environment that envelopes young people today, and can’t help but worry about this as potentially hazardous to their hearing.
We often think of hearing loss as a problem affecting only older Americans. However, a stunning one in five teens has lost a little bit of hearing, and the problem has increased substantially in recent years, a new national study has found. Audiologists and hearing healthcare researchers are urging teenagers to turn down the volume on their digital music players, suggesting loud music delivered through earbuds may be to blame. Although definitive evidence is lacking about the cause, experts warn that slight hearing loss can cause problems in school and set the stage for increased hearing loss in later life.
Our hope is we can encourage people to be careful,” said the study’s senior author, Dr. Gary Curhan of Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Researchers here analyzed data on 12 to 19 year-olds from a nationwide health survey. They compared hearing loss in nearly 3,000 kids tested from 1988-94 to nearly 1,800 kids tested over 2005-06.
The prevalence of hearing loss increased from about 15 percent to 19.5 percent. Most of the hearing loss was “slight,” defined as inability to hear at 16 to 24 decibels – or sounds such as a whisper or rustling leaves. A teenager with slight hearing loss might not be able to hear water dripping or his mother whispering “good night.”
Extrapolating this data to the nation’s teen population, that would mean about 6.5 million young people with at least slight hearing loss. Those with slight hearing loss “will hear all of the vowel sounds clearly, but might miss some of the consonant sounds” such as t, k and s, Curhan said. “Although speech will be detectable, it might not be fully intelligible,” he said. While the researchers didn’t single out iPods or any other device for blame, they found a significant increase in high-frequency hearing loss, which they said may indicate that noise caused the problems. And they cited a 2010 Australian study that linked use of personal listening devices with a 70 percent increased risk of hearing loss in children. Theses findings recently appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Loud music isn’t new, of course. Each new generation of teenagers has found a new technology to blast music – from the bulky headphones of the 1960s to the handheld Sony Walkmans of the 1980s. But according to Dr. Brian Fligor, an audiologist at Harvard Medical School, today’s young people are listening longer, more than twice as long as previous generations; older technologies had limited battery life and limited music storage, he points out. And with the Apple iPod, users can set their own volume limits, but parents can use the feature to set a maximum volume on their child’s iPod and lock it with a code.
One of Fligor’s patients, 17-year-old Matthew Brady of Foxborough, Mass., recently was diagnosed with mild hearing loss. He has trouble hearing his friends in the school cafeteria. He ends up faking comprehension. “I laugh when they laugh,” he said.
Fligor believes Brady’s muffled hearing was caused by listening to an iPod turned up too loud and for too long. After his mother had a heart attack, Brady’s pediatrician had advised him to exercise for his own health. So he cranked up the volume on his music while walking on a treadmill at least four days a week for 30-minute stretches. One day last summer, he got off the treadmill and found he couldn’t hear anything with his left ear. His hearing gradually returned, but was never the same.
Often, young people turn their digital players up to levels that would exceed federal workplace exposure limits. In Fligor’s own study of about 200 New York college students, more than half listened to music at 85 decibels or louder. That’s about as loud as a hair dryer or a vacuum cleaner. Habitual listening at those levels can turn microscopic hair cells in the inner ear into scar tissue, and for reasons that we don’t fully understand, some people may be more predisposed to damage than others; Fligor believes Brady is one of them. And remember, once damage is inflicted, it cannot be undone.
These days, Brady still listens to his digital player, but at lower volumes. His sage advice…”Do not blare your iPod,” he said. “It’s only going to hurt your hearing. I learned this the hard way.”
If you or a loved ones are concerned with a teen’s hearing or listening habits, contact Advanced Hearing Care for ideas or a complete audiological evaluation.
April 5th, 2012 - Categories: News, Research - Tags: advice audigy, community awareness, hearing loss, hearing loss and cognitive function, patient care, personalized solutions - No Comments
There are many reasons why having a regular hearing test is a good idea, even if you have normal hearing. Hearing is our most important social sense; it is what allows us to communicate with one another and connect with our friends, families, and loved ones. A yearly test is particularly important if you have other disorders which have been identified as possible causes of hearing loss, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and a history of certain infections, particularly in childhood.
As more research is conducted into the impact of hearing loss, we learn about exactly how insidious the disorder can be.
Hearing loss has also been identified as a risk factor for other disorders, particularly disorders that affect cognitive health. Four of these disorders are particularly important as a person continues to age:
- Dementia – Researchers at Johns Hopkins University recently found that individuals who have untreated hearing loss are significantly more likely to develop dementia time than those people who seek early treatment for their hearing loss. This relationship could be due to a number of factors, such as social isolation, increased cognitive strain or a similar underlying pathology.
- Brain Atrophy – This study was released by the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Researchers found that brain volume decreased among patients with untreated hearing loss, a condition that made it more difficult for those particular subjects to understand complex sentences.
- Depression – In 1999, a National Counsel on Aging survey of 2,300 hearing impaired adults age 50 and older found that those with untreated hearing loss were more likely to report depression, anxiety, and paranoia and were less likely to participate in organized social activities, compared to those who wear hearing aids.
- Risk of Falling – Though some people have issues with their hearing that involve their vestibular (balance) function, this study looks more at the direct nature between even a so-called mild hearing loss and fall risk. All other risk factors aside, a person with hearing loss is three times more likely to fall, and that risk increases dramatically as the hearing loss progresses.
These are just a few of the ways in which even a so-called mild hearing loss can affect a person’s lifestyle on a larger scale. A yearly hearing test, particularly for those patients with risk factors for hearing loss, can help insure that treatment is sought for the hearing loss when it is needed. Also, yearly tests can serve as valuable tools to monitor the progression of hearing loss over time, allowing any hearing aid prescribed to be appropriately fit to an individual’s hearing needs.
To schedule your yearly or baseline hearing test, call us today for an appointment. Our Four-Step Process is centered around discovering your individual hearing and listening needs, even if you just need a baseline examination. We have appointment times available Monday thru Friday, so we’re sure to have one that’s perfect for your busy schedule. Let us help you keep on top of your hearing health needs!
March 1st, 2012 - Categories: Advice, News - Tags: advice audigy, patient care, personalized solutions, tinnitus - No Comments
By: Bettie Borton, Au.D., FAAA
Doctor of Audiology
Doctors Hearing Clinic
7025 Halcyon Park, Suite A
Montgomery, AL 36117
(334) 396-1635
“Like” Doctors Hearing Clinic | Facebook
www.doctorshearingclinic.com
If it seems like your ears ring constantly, it’s probably not crickets, your imagination or the economy . . . and you’re not alone. You may have tinnitus, an inner ear ailment that affects between 25 million to 50 million Americans — with about 12 million people experiencing such severe symptoms it affects their daily lives. The good news is treatment, including hearing aids, can offer relief to some from the persistent ringing, buzzing or humming associated with tinnitus, according to the Better Hearing Institute.
Tinnitus can be intermittent or constant. Causes range from ear infections and exposure to extremely loud noises, to underlying health problems like allergies or heart and blood pressure problems. Often, sufferers are unable to pinpoint the cause of their tinnitus. “Tinnitus can have a direct impact on a person’s emotional well being,” says Dr. Sergei Kochkin, BHI’s executive director. “Not only can their hearing be affected but also their ability to sleep or concentrate.”
Kochkin and Dr. Richard Tyler, professor and editor of The Consumer Handbook on Tinnitus (Auricle Ink, 2008), published a survey of 230 hearing health professionals in the United States and Canada. Their survey found that six out of 10 patients reported some tinnitus relief when using hearing aids and two out of 10 reported major relief. The symptoms of tinnitus “influence basic life functions such as socialization and relaxation,” the duo wrote. “In severe cases it can interfere with the individual’s ability to perform adequately on the job, or contribute to psychological disorders such as depression, suicide ideation, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety and anger.”
Although tinnitus is actually common and can cause major life disruptions, the number of sufferers who seek treatment for tinnitus is relatively small. One reason may be that they mistakenly believe their condition is untreatable. Unfortunately, many doctors are also unaware of the latest treatment options, and as a result patients may think they simply have to learn to live with the noise.
“No one should ever ignore persistent tinnitus,” Kochkin says. “Not only is every individual entitled to a chance to regain his or her quality of life, but in rare cases tinnitus also can be a symptom of a more serious health issue that could demand medical intervention. What’s more, nearly everyone with tinnitus has hearing loss as well.”
In a recent large-scale survey of the American hearing impaired population, 39 percent (more than 9 million adult Americans) indicated they had not sought help for their hearing loss specifically because they also had tinnitus. “Research shows that untreated hearing loss has its own negative social, psychological, cognitive and health effects on the individual suffering from it,” Kochkin adds. “So those with both untreated tinnitus and untreated hearing loss suffers an even more diminished quality of life than individuals with just tinnitus or just hearing loss alone.”
While hearing aids are not a cure for tinnitus, they may be able to help tinnitus patients by:
- Improving communication and reducing stress, which makes it easier to cope with the condition.
- Amplifying background sounds, which can make tinnitus seem less prominent.
A new type of hearing aid, called the open fit hearing aid, may be particularly useful in alleviating tinnitus. The open fit hearing aid can reduce the effects of the tinnitus ringing sensation while still allowing sounds from the outside to pass into the ear. If you think you have tinnitus have your hearing evaluated by an audiologist and to explore the use of hearing aids to alleviate tinnitus. The American Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO-HNS) and the American Tinnitus Association recommends these additional tips for minimizing the effects of tinnitus on your health:
- Avoid exposure to loud sounds and noises.
- Get your blood pressure checked. If it is high, get your doctor’s help to control it.
- Decrease your intake of salt. Salt impairs blood circulation.
- Avoid stimulants such as coffee, tea, cola, and tobacco.
- Exercise daily to improve your circulation.
- Get adequate rest and avoid fatigue.
- Eliminate or reduce some stress in different parts of your life; stress often makes tinnitus worse.
- Experiment by eliminating other possible sources of tinnitus aggravation, e.g. artificial sweeteners, sugar, alcohol, prescription or over-the-counter medications. (Do not stop taking medications without consulting with your health care professional about the possible ototoxic impact of your medications.)
Dr. Bettie B. Borton is a licensed audiologist in Alabama, and was the first audiologist in Montgomery to hold certification by the American Board of Audiology, and is the only audiologist with such certification in private practice in this area. Dr. Borton holds a BS degree with CED Certification in Education of the Deaf from the University of Texas, a Masters degree in audiology from the Louisiana State University Medical Center, and a Doctor of Audiology degree from the the University of Florida. She has served as a Visiting Professor, teaching associate and Supervising Clinical Audiologist at Auburn University, as well as a Supervising Clinical Audiologist at Auburn Montgomery. Dr. Borton was a charter member of the Alabama Academy of Audiology (ALAA), and served as President of this organization. She has also served on the Board of Governors for the American Board of Audiology (ABA), and is the former National Chair of the ABA. Dr. Borton is currently the CEO and Director of Doctors Hearing Clinic, a full service private practice in Audiology. In April of 2010 Dr. Borton was elected to the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Audiology, and will serve a three year term in that capacity. She is the first (and to date, only) audiologist from Alabama to have been elected to the Academy Board. Dr. Borton was honored as a 2010 recipient of the prestigious Oticon “Focus on People” award, which annually recognizes 12 individuals across the nation for their dedication to helping those with hearing impairment.
January 19th, 2012 - Categories: News, Press Releases - Tags: research, tinnitus - No Comments
Tinnitus is the perception of a sound that has no external source.
Washington, DC, December 19, 2011 — People suffering with tinnitus, commonly known as “ringing in the ears,” can find the latest information on their condition and methods for coping with it in the all-new authoritative eGuide, “Your Guide to Tinnitus,” the Better Hearing Insitute (BHI) announced today. Nearly 30 million Americans—or about 10 percent of the U.S. population—suffer from persistent, chronic tinnitus.
Tinnitus is the perception of a sound that has no external source and is commonly described as a ringing, humming, buzzing, and/or cricket-like sound that is either constant or intermittent. Tinnitus can be heard in one ear, both ears, or in the head. Exposure to extreme noise is the leading cause of tinnitus, and people with tinnitus almost always have accompanying hearing loss. Tinnitus is currently the number one service-connected disability of returning military personnel from Iraq and Afghanistan.
“For many who suffer from it, tinnitus can be a source of endless torment and a continual drain on quality-of-life,” says Sergei Kochkin, PhD, BHI’s Executive Director. “Yet most people who suffer from tinnitus don’t seek help. This free, easy-to-download eGuide can provide tinnitus sufferers with accurate, valuable information that will help them better understand and cope with their condition.”
“Your Guide to Tinnitus,” is the latest of seven eGuides for consumers published by BHI on hearing-related topics. It is written by Richard Tyler, PhD, one of the country’s eminent authorities on tinnitus and the editor of three books on the topic, including The Consumer Handbook on Tinnitus (Auricle Ink Publishers). Dr. Tyler is a professor in both the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery and the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.
“Your Guide to Tinnitus” helps readers understand what tinnitus is; what causes it; different types of tinnitus; the impact tinnitus has on sufferers’ lives; the connection between tinnitus and hearing loss; current treatment options that make tinnitus more manageable; and actions people with tinnitus can take to help themselves.
The incidence of both tinnitus and hearing loss is expected to grow as baby boomers age, people continue to listen to portable music players at high volumes, and more soldiers return from combat.
“We need to raise awareness among people who suffer from tinnitus that there is help,” says Tyler. “Although there currently is no cure to eliminate tinnitus altogether, there are things that sufferers can do about it. This eGuide provides information on tried and proven therapies that have helped innumerable individuals reduce the impact that tinnitus has on their lives. I urge anyone with tinnitus to visit www.BetterHearing.org (under Tinnitus) and download the eGuide so they can begin to regain their quality of life.”
Other eGuides published and provided by BHI include “Your Guide to Better Hearing,” “A Guide to Your Child’s Hearing,” “Your Guide to Hearing Aids,” “Your Guide to Care and Maintenance of Hearing Aids,” “Your Guide to Financial Assistance for Hearing Aids,” and “Your Guide to Buying Hearing Aids.”
More About Tinnitus
According to a recent BHI survey, four in ten people experience their tinnitus more than 80 percent of the time; slightly more than one in four describe their tinnitus as loud; and about one in five describe their tinnitus as disabling or nearly disabling.
The study also found that 13 million people report tinnitus but no hearing loss. According to Kochkin, this finding indicates that the population with hearing loss may be much larger than previously believed because tinnitus almost always co-occurs with hearing loss. It’s very likely that these individuals simply were aware of their tinnitus but not their hearing loss.
According to the study, people with tinnitus report that it most often affects their ability to hear (39%), concentrate (26%), and sleep (20%). Yet for many, tinnitus is even more pervasive. Twelve percent of respondents—or 3.6 million people when extrapolated to the general population—say their tinnitus affects leisure activities, social life, personal relationships, and emotional or mental health. Seven percent of respondents—or an estimated 2.1 million people nationwide—indicate that tinnitus affects their ability to work.
The BHI study findings were published in the November issue of Hearing Review. The findings were derived from a nationwide survey of 46,000 households. It is the largest study of its kind.
About BHI
Founded in 1973, BHI conducts research and engages in hearing health education with the goal of helping people with hearing loss benefit from proper treatment. For more information on hearing loss, visit www.betterhearing.org. To take the BHI Quick Hearing Check, visit www.hearingcheck.org. To participate in the discussion forum, visit www.betterhearing.org, click on “Discussion Forum,” and go to “Welcome!” to register.
December 28th, 2011 - Categories: Advice, Events, Greetings, News, Research - Tags: advice audigy, communication issues, hearing conservation, hearing loss, hearing loss and cognitive function, hearing treatment, patient care, personalized solutions, sound void, technology - No Comments
SoundVoids™ can cause unnecessary frustration in visiting with your loved ones.
It’s coming. 2011 is almost over and 2012 is on its way. As the new year approaches, it’s a great time to begin the journey toward better hearing. Here are four great reasons to start today:
- If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it. A common phenomenon, especially among those who let their hearing loss go untreated, is called phonemic regression. Simply put, phonemic regression is when we find a loss of speech discrimination that isn’t proportional to the person’s pure tone thresholds. The most common symptom of this is being able to hear that someone is speaking but simply not being able to understand what is being said, something we call a Sound Void. This is a very frustrating situation, as the problem is not a simple matter of volume. In some cases, phonemic regression could have been prevented simply by wearing hearing aids earlier.
- Keep your brain sharp! In February, John’s Hopkins University released a startling study that linked untreated hearing loss to the development of dementia in elderly populations. While the exact nature of this link remains a bit of a mystery, it is well known that social isolation contributes to dementia. One of the biggest contributing factors to this kind of isolation is the inability to hear well enough to enjoy getting out and being active.
- New technology provides superior sound quality and satisfaction. The king of hearing aids is no longer that big ear plug that your father or grandfather wore (or refused to wear, as the case may have been). There are many styles available for nearly every budget that are designed to treat nearly every type of hearing loss. The possibilities are all but endless, and so is our ability to help people with many different kinds of hearing loss.
- Better hearing has never been easier! Our ultimate goal as hearing professionals is to reintroduce you to a world of sounds that you haven’t been hearing. Our Service Excellence Guarantee provides you with peace of mind knowing that we’ll have your back and make sure that you get the full value of your investment in better hearing. We offer a 75-day trial period, well beyond the 30 days required by state law, with a 100% refund if you’re not completely satisfied. We also offer extended warranties, in-office repairs and service, manufacturer repair if needed, and a wealth of knowledge to customize hearing solutions for every patient, all as part of our Service Excellence Guarantee. We will support you every step along your journey to better hearing.
To start your journey toward better hearing, call us to schedule an appointment for a hearing test. Through our 4-step process, we’ll learn about you and your better hearing goals, examine your ears for any defects or blockages, diagnose your hearing loss, and show you what we can do to help you hear better. Don’t wait to hear what you’ve been missing! Early treatment can make all the difference!
In observance of New Year’s Day, Advanced Hearing Care will be closed on Friday, December 31. We will return for normal office hours on Monday, January 2. Have a safe and happy New Year!
