Hearing Health
If you’ve ever considered getting your hearing tested, finding the right place and expert to consult can be vital. A hearing specialist will offer comprehensive insights into your current hearing condition and provide guidance on potential steps to address any concerns you may have about your hearing.
When scheduling an appointment with your audiologist for the first time, ask about what is their specialty. This will help you to understand their expertise and if it aligns with your specific hearing needs. Asking about their specialties allows you to gain insight into whether they focus on certain age groups, particular hearing conditions, or specific technologies related to hearing healthcare. Understanding their areas of expertise can help you determine if they possess the necessary experience and knowledge to address your concerns effectively. Moreover, discussing their specialization enables you to gauge their familiarity with the latest advancements in hearing care and whether they are well-suited to provide tailored solutions to meet your requirements.
If your audiologist has indicated to you that you need to have hearing aids, it’s always a good idea to ask the manufacturers that they use so that you know where to ask questions if something goes wrong with your hearing aid. Of course, your audiologist is going to be able to talk you through any problems you might have, such as a dead battery, but knowing the supplier will help you to make any calls for a replacement.
Hearing aid models differ in their features, offering a range of functionalities tailored to diverse hearing needs. Some devices come with advanced noise reduction features, ideal for improving speech clarity in crowded environments. Telecoil technology in certain models enables wearers to connect wirelessly to cellphones and compatible audio systems. Additionally, varying levels of water and dust resistance are available, ensuring durability in different conditions. Some hearing aids offer smartphone compatibility for seamless control and customization through different apps, enhancing wearer convenience and accessibility.
Consulting your audiologist about maintaining and caring for your hearing aids is crucial for their optimal performance and longevity. They will discuss proper cleaning techniques, storage methods and maintenance routines ensuring you understand how to best care for your devices. Your audiologist can offer advice on changing batteries or utilizing rechargeable components, helping you prolong your hearing aids’ functionality. Additionally, discussing strategies to protect the devices from moisture, earwax buildup and environmental elements can significantly enhance their durability.
This is good question to ask hearing specialists because they can then take you through every step involved in testing your hearing to ensure that you are getting the very best outcome.
When discussing your hearing loss with your hearing specialist, ask about what styles of hearing aids are available, and which would be best catered to your specific hearing profile. Your audiologist will discuss the various styles like behind the ear (BTE), in the ear (ITE) and in the canal (ITC), explaining their differences, size, placement and functionality.
If you are having difficulty with tinnitus and hearing buzzing or ringing in your ears, you can speak to your audiologist your symptoms. There is no cure for tinnitus, but there are ways like masking features to prevent it from getting worse.
Your audiologist will discuss the different hearing aids, features, size and what severity of hearing loss they would be best for. BTE, ITE and ITC hearing aids are the three most common types, treating various levels of severity ranging from mild to profound.
Ask your audiologist about what happens during follow-up appointments provides valuable insights into the ongoing care for your hearing. They can discuss the purpose of these sessions, which often involve fine-tuning your hearing aids, reassessing your hearing levels and addressing any challenges you might encounter.
When attending an appointment with a hearing specialist, you should take a family member or friend with you. They will be able to pick up on any information you may have missed and have an understanding of your hearing loss.
If you want to learn more about what to ask your audiologist. Get in touch with Hearing Solutions of Northwest Michigan and call us today at (231) 518-4422.
We live in a noisy world. Some noises can damage our hearing, leading to hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and difficulty communicating especially in background noise. Permanent noise-induced hearing damage is incurable. If you cannot reduce your noise exposure by turning down the volume, moving away from the sound, or limiting the time you are exposed, hearing protection is your only option. But hearing protection comes in so many styles, materials, color, and sizes – how can you know which is best for you? National Protect Your Hearing Month is the perfect opportunity to discuss tips for picking the right hearing protector.
Figure 1: Selection of different hearing protection devices – Earplugs, Earmuffs, and Earbands
Obviously, the first consideration in choosing a hearing protector is whether it will block enough noise to reduce your exposure to a safe level. The good news is that most industrial noise exposures are less than 95 dBA, which means most workers require no more than about 10 dB of noise reduction to meet the NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit of 85 dBA. Almost any hearing protector, when fit correctly, can provide 10 dB of sound reduction. If you do not know the noise levels at your worksite, you can measure them with an app such as the NIOSH Sound Level Meter.
Louder environments demand higher levels of noise reduction, but beware of reducing sound too much. Just as too little light can make it just as difficult to see as too much light, too little sound can make you feel isolated and less aware of their surroundings. Overprotection can be counterproductive, as you may feel the need to remove your hearing protector to hear someone speak or listen to your equipment. Aim for just enough noise reduction to bring your exposure down to 75-85 dBA.
The Noise Reduction Rating on hearing protector packaging represents the amount of noise the hearing protector blocked when tested in a laboratory, but workers usually get much less noise reduction on the job. The best way to know how much noise reduction you are getting from a hearing protector is by fit-testing. If fit-testing is not available at your workplace, you can check earplug fit by counting out loud while slowly cupping and uncupping your hands over your ears; if you have a good fit, your voice should sound about the same as you cup and uncup your ears. NIOSH QuickFitWeb can also be used to check if you are getting more or less than 15 dB of sound reduction.
If you are exposed to noise levels 100 dBA or greater (such as chainsaws or jackhammers) or if you are exposed to impulsive sounds (such as nail gun or weapons noise), you should wear double hearing protection (earmuffs over earplugs).
Workplace characteristics beyond noise levels also need to be considered in choosing the right hearing protector. For example, do you have to wear other head-level personal protective equipment (PPE), such as eye protection, a hard hat, or a respirator? Eye protection (and even some eyeglasses) can interfere with the seal of an earmuff around the ear, allowing sound to leak into the ear. Earmuffs can interfere with the fit of hardhats or helmets; some muffs have a “low-profile” headband or are designed to be mounted directly onto a hardhat or helmet, eliminating this problem. Make sure that your hearing protection is compatible with other safety equipment you use at work.
Consider also whether the noise at your job is continuous or if it stops and starts at various times during the day. Do you stay in the same place for most of the workday, or move from one area to another? Earmuffs are easier to remove and replace than earplugs, so they may be better for intermittent noise exposures. If earmuffs are not an option due to other issues (e.g., compatibility with other PPE), pre-formed earplugs may be easier to remove and replace than foam plugs. Level-dependent or sound restoration hearing protectors can also be useful for intermittent exposures; these types of hearing protection allow sound to pass through when the background noise levels are low and become protective when noise levels increase.
Do your hands frequently get dirty at work? If so, avoid using foam earplugs which must be rolled down with your fingers before insertion, unless hand-washing facilities are readily available and you have time to wash up each time you need to insert the earplugs. Do you work in a tight space? Earmuffs may not be compatible when working in a confined area. Is it very hot or very cold where you work? Earmuffs can be uncomfortable in hot environments; earmuff cushions can become ineffective in very cold environments.
Finally, think about how frequently you need to hear speech while wearing hearing protection. If spoken communication is common, or if high fidelity sound is important for other reasons (e.g., musicians), flat attenuation hearing protectors may be helpful. Special communication headsets can also improve speech communication in very loud environments.
Once you have narrowed your selection down to hearing protectors that are appropriate for your noise exposure and compatible with your worksite and job tasks, the choice is completely up to you! However, hearing protection only works if you wear it consistently and correctly every time you are exposed to hazardous noise, so choose a protector that is comfortable and convenient.
Many people find earplugs more comfortable than earmuffs, especially when worn for long periods of time or in in hot environments. Earplugs are lightweight, easy to store, and convenient to keep on hand for unexpected exposures. However, earplugs may be harder to learn to fit properly. Some earplugs come in different sizes, so you may need help determining which size is correct for you. If your ear canals are very narrow or very curvy, it may be difficult to find an earplug that will fit. Earplugs are usually inexpensive, but they need to be replaced frequently; some earplugs are designed to be used once only and then discarded.
Earmuffs, on the other hand, are generally one-size devices. Many people find them easier to fit properly and consistently. Earmuffs are easier to remove and replace quickly, so they can be preferable for intermittent use. They are bulkier than earplugs and may be uncomfortable in warm places or tight spaces. They are more expensive, but more durable and last longer than earplugs.
Hearing health relies on knowing how to protect your hearing and how to select the right form of hearing protection. This National Protect Your Hearing Month, take a few minutes to make sure you are using the best hearing protection for your work tasks. Then, wear it every time you are exposed to noise levels above 85 dBA. Your ears will thank you!
CAPT William J. Murphy, Ph.D., is a research physicist with the NIOSH Division of Applied Research and Technology.
Christa L. Themann, MA, CCC-A, is a research audiologist with the NIOSH Division of Applied Research and Technology.
CAPT Chucri (Chuck) A. Kardous, MS, PE, is a research engineer with the NIOSH Division of Applied Research and Technology.
CAPT David C. Byrne, Ph.D., CCC-A, is a research audiologist with the NIOSH Division of Applied Research and Technology.
Additional resources:
NIOSH Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Best practice bulletin: Hearing protection-emerging trends: Individual Fit Testing
Hearing protection – OSH WIKI