All About Vestibular Disorders
Keeping your balance is a partnership between the inner ear and the brain. This collaboration is part of the system called the “vestibular.” If this connection becomes harmed, you will experience dizziness, hearing problems, vision problems, nausea, and the inability to keep your balance.
Quite often, simply trying to make it through the day is nearly impossible. A vestibular disorder can cause other health issues, like short-term memory loss, confusion, low self-esteem, lack of confidence, panic attacks, depression, and anxiety. There is help for people who suffer from this ear disorder.
Prevalence of Vestibular Disorders
A vestibular disorder is not immediately diagnosed. Patients may visit a balance specialist due to their inability to stand properly and their feeling dizzy. It is estimated that 40% of Americans will seek medical attention for these symptoms. Senior citizens are among the leading patient group with dizziness, ringing in the ear, and balance issues.
Causes of Vestibular Disorders
Typical causes of a vestibular disorder include:
Brain injuries like a traumatic brain injury
Infections
Inner ear problems
Medications that affect the inner ear canal
Semicircular canal problems
Types of Vestibular Disorders
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
Vertigo is a common balance disorder. A benign positional vertigo is a short-term disorder that lasts just a few minutes but its onset can be categorized as acute or chronic. Calcium crystals form within the inner ear where they can migrate to the inner ear canal. The ear misinterprets these calcium debris particles and tells the brain to protect itself with dizziness, nausea, and more.
Labyrinthine and Vestibular Neuritis
Labyrinthine infarction balance disorder occurs more commonly in the elderly. Inner ear nerve system and a neurological issue with labyrinthine infarction includes a combined loss of auditory and vestibular function. Does not cause hearing loss but it can last for years.
Vestibular Neuronitis
Vestibular neuronitis comes on suddenly with a bad case of vertigo and sickness. It is associated with respiratory tract infections. It can last for several days until it goes away on its own.
Cholesteatoma
A cholesteatoma is an inner ear growth that appears behind the eardrum. It is generally caused by infections that occur on the skin of the eardrum. If not treated quickly, it will grow in size and damage the surrounding bones of the middle ear. Symptoms include severe hearing loss, dizziness, and paralysis of facial muscles.
Labyrinthitis
Labyrinthitis is an inflammatory process caused by a bacterial or viral infection. It is most commonly present with infections like measles and rubella. You become dizzy, nauseas, or a consistent headache.
Meniere’s Disease
Meniere’s disease is an inner ear vertigo disorder that is accompanied with hearing loss that can worsen in time. Patients further experience nausea and vomiting that can last for several hours
Migraine
Migraine headaches are commonly associated with 30% hearing loss, dizziness, tinnitus, and nausea. Blurred vision can also be a symptom.
Mal de Debarquement
Mal de Debarquement sickness makes patients feel like they are moving and rocking back and forth when actually they are standing still. If you like boating or water skiing, Mal de Debarquement or “disembarkment” symptoms may occur after you return to land. Dizziness symptoms appear quickly but only last for a few hours or in severe cases it may last for days. You may or may not feel nauseous, just a rocking movement.
Pediatric Vestibular Disorders
A small number of children can be affected with this disorder. Symptoms include problems with an intent gaze or seeing clearly with head movement, balance issues, and dizziness.
Symptoms of Vestibular Disorders
Vestibular disorders can include a combination of minor and severe symptoms:
Anxiety
Blurred vision
Diarrhea
Dizziness
Fear
Feeling unsteady or that things are spinning and disoriented
Nausea
Rapid heart beat
Treating Vestibular Disorders
Unsteady balance that can cause you to fall or stumble
Vomiting
Seeking Treatment for Balance Disorders with Hart Hearing and Balance Centers
If you suspect you may be suffering from a vestibular disorder, please contact us at Hart Hearing and Balance Centers today. With vestibular disorders, we can determine the cause and work with you to customize a treatment plan. Treatments include medications, lifestyle changes, and rehabilitation or balance retraining therapy. Contact us today to learn more!
Hearing Aids Can Improve Your Sense of Balance
If you have noticed that the words of every one you meet seem to blend together, or you can't understand what is being said if there are other sounds in the background, it may be time to get your hearing checked by an audiologist. Having trouble keeping your balance would be another reason to visit. Untreated hearing loss can result in one feeling separated from friends and family and it can eventually lead to depression.
At Hart Hearing and Balance Centers, we provide both audiological and vestibular services. Vestibular disorders are those relating to dizziness, or balance disorders. What’s the connection between vestibular disorders and audiology? Here, we take a look at how hearing aids can help improve your sense of balance.
Understanding the Inner Ear
One reason is that the inner ear contains three main sections, the cochlea, the semicircular canals and the vestibule. The cochlea changes sound waves into nerve signals, but the other two sections affect our balance.
The three semicircular canals in each ear are filled with fluid and lined with fine hairs that pick up body movement as the fluid shifts with head movement. Electrical signals are then sent to the brain which tells the body how to stay balanced. If the body moves too quickly, though, the fluid takes a while to settle causing dizziness.
As stated, the sound we hear is due to the cochlea inside the ear. It looks something like a snail shell which is how it got its name since it means snail in Greek. What basically happens is that when a sound is made or someone speaks, the air gets pushed in a wave-like pattern into the ear making the eardrum vibrate. This in turn moves the three bones commonly referred to as the hammer, anvil and stirrup causing the fluid inside the cochlea to move. As the fluid moves so do the tiny hairs inside resulting in the changing electrical signals being sent to the brain and interpreted as sounds.
What is described here is still a simplification of a complex system, so you can see that there really is quite a bit that could go wrong and result in hearing loss as well as a loss of balance.
Recognizing Hearing Loss
Unfortunately, hearing loss is one of those things that isn't always detected as early as possible. For one thing, sometimes it occurs gradually, and for another it's not something that's visible externally. What is more, many consider hearing loss and balance disorders as a sign of aging and don't want to admit it to themselves – much less to someone else. All of these things could keep one from seeking treatment for hearing loss.
It's not only the elderly that suffer from untreated hearing loss. Loud music and earphones are just a couple of things that have lessened younger one’s ability to hear. But the news isn't all bad. Lives are improved all the time by the use of hearing aids and they've gotten smaller and practically invisible.
For those that are younger, a hearing aid can make the difference between failing and passing grades. It can also make communication with parents and friends more peaceful with less misunderstandings.
For older people, treating hearing loss with the use of hearing aids brings significant benefits to their lives as well. Not having to ask the love of your life to repeat his or her self an infinite number of times could make for a happier marriage. And, being connected to the world around them helps to improve their spatial reasoning.
Hearing Aids and Balance
There are many more benefits in seeking treatment for hearing loss, but one that is rarely thought of is an improvement in balance. This is partly because of the way the mechanism for hearing and balance are both set up in the ear, and partly because we use all the visual and auditory information, we get from every direction in our surroundings to determine where we are and where we will go. If this information is disrupted, for instance, by hearing that better in one ear than in the other or perhaps having hearing cues that are different than our visual cues the result could be confusion, dizziness and perhaps a fall.
Hart Hearing and Balance Centers
Have you been struggling with untreated hearing loss or with unresolved balance issues? There’s no reason to put off treatment. Live life with all of your senses as sharp as they can be! Contact us today to learn more about how our hearing and vestibular specialists can help you.
Hearing Loss in Today's Millennials
If you believe that loss of hearing is an issue for the wrinkly, grey, or balding generation, then you better think again. Age is not the primary factor for damaged hearing; it is noise exposure. With the current generation of millennials perpetually hooked onto their earbuds, is it any wonder why many of these young people are plagued with noise-induced hearing loss?
Noise Induced Hearing Loss in Younger Generations
The damage to the eardrums stemming from audio at unacceptable decibel levels is expanding in rapid proportions among younger Americans, especially in the teens and 20s category. Noise comes from many forms such as sounds from heavy traffic, rock concerts, sporting events, noisy restaurants, loud clubs or bars, and super loud music from headphones.
Research indicates that in the 12 to 19 years old category, 17% already exhibit noise-induced hearing loss in one or both ears. To make matters even worse, many of them do not know that their sense of hearing has been affected. This group already had an inability to detect and hear high-pitched sounds.
That being said, there are government regulations in place to protect workers from a too noisy environment. This ensures hearing loss prevention is enforced while they are doing their job. Ironically, however, there are no rules and laws regarding the protection of society from elements that are too noisy. And it gets noisier with each passing year!
Protected parks and animal sanctuaries do not receive any reprieve from this noisy destruction. Noise pollution emanating from a loud volume of traffic and logging and drilling sounds has only multiplied and drowned out the calming sounds of nature like the meandering stream and chirping birds.
Sadly, many young people do not realize that hearing loss is permanent. Once you lose your hearing, you can no longer get it back. When the loud noise ravages the sensitive cells in your inner-ear, then they are gone for good and they do not regenerate again. You can only hope that the damage isn’t too severe, so you won’t get total hearing loss.
Harmful Hearing Practices
Teens ought to know that they have to be more careful and vigilant when it comes to using their headphones because the damage is cumulative. This means that the more the ears are exposed to loud noise, the more cells die leading to a hearing impairment.
The reason why millennials are the likely target of this hearing loss is that the newly invented earbuds sit closer and more deeply into the ear. This is in contrast to the low-tech “Walkman” earphones in the olden days. Add high quality digital sound that offers super pierce audio stylings, then you have indeed got a recipe for disaster.
Earbuds alone are not to blame, however. The younger generation has turned into using them to drown out an already noisy environment. It is used as a shield to tune out noise is a bus or subway. Some use it while mowing the lawn to fight the boredom. Many don’t realize that noisy environment plus noisy earbuds are both a recipe for disaster.
For these youngsters that are in the early years of their life, it is critical to practice hearing loss prevention. If you want the teenagers in your circle to reach the pinnacle of their life with the sense of hearing, then consider following these important tips.
Tip #1: Turn Down the Volume
Make it a habit not to crank the volume up too much, especially in an outdoor setting. You also want to have an awareness of your environment, so if there are problems, you can address them right away. Be sure to keep the volume to max of 50. Any higher than that could be harmful to your hearing.
Tip #2: Noise-Canceling Headphones
Often, people turn up the volume to block out the noise in the surroundings. This could be extremely harmful to your hearing. Instead, go for a pair of noise-canceling headphones. These block out external noise so you don’t have to crank up the volume on your headset.
That being said, it is not recommended to wear noise-canceling headphones when you’re out and about. Be cautious of your surroundings. When you’re outside, you have to be alert to the oncoming sounds, so ditch the headphones until you’re settled in a safe place.
Tip #3: Use Ear Plugs
When the noise becomes too unbearable, plug your ears. It is critical to protect them at all possible cost because once you lose your sense of hearing it is gone forever. For too loud concerts, these are a must. You still get to enjoy the music, but you are not putting your hearing at risk for a night of fun.
Tip #4: Limit Exposure
Fitness classes, clubs, concerts, and other places with loud music can become overwhelming. It is important to use hearing protection, and it’s also important to remember that you can take breaks from the noise. Move out of the line of the speakers and find a quiet place to “rest” your ears.
Hearing specialists recommend following the 60-60 rule: no more than 60% volume for 60 minutes at a time.
Visit Us at Hart Hearing
Hearing loss can affect people of all ages. If you have noticed changes in your hearing, or if you want to establish healthy hearing practices early with a baseline test, it’s important to get your ears checked. It is useless to be in denial because the longer you wait, the bigger the damage will be! Don’t wait until it’s too late – schedule a hearing exam with us at Hart Hearing & Balance Centers today.
September is World Alzheimer’s Month
September is World Alzheimer’s Month! Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), in partnership with Alzheimer’s associations around the world, uses this month to raise awareness of dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease among seniors and to fight the stigma that surrounds Alzheimer’s and other degenerative brain diseases. The ADI provides support to those with Alzheimer’s and their families, and advocates for policy changes to draw more attention to brain health. If you’ve been worried about your brain health, learn more about Alzheimer’s Disease, and how treating your hearing loss could be the key to keeping your brain strong.
Advantages of Rechargeable Hearing Aids
Hearing aid technology has changed a lot in the last ten years. Most hearing aids these days are wireless devices that can connect to your smartphones. Hearing aid wearers can now stream phone calls and listen to music straight from their smartphones without wires to their hearing aids. Some are even leveraging the power of machine learning.
In addition to these conveniences, hearing aids are also driven by very quick processing platforms which enables wearers the ability to understand speech in challenging environments more easily that ever before.
Like many mobile devices of ours, to perform these tasks, hearing aids use up a lot of energy. This results in increased battery consumption, opening up a fresh set of issues for users of hearing aids. Consumers have called for a more sustainable option, and manufacturers have responded with reliable, rechargeable hearing aids!
The limits of traditional disposable batteries
The small size and versatility of disposable zinc-air batteries have made them the battery of choice for the majority of hearing aids. In the past, these batteries did not need to be replaced as frequently because they did not boast the wireless and digital capacities now available.
However, traditional zinc air batteries aren't as long-lasting as they once were with newer hearing aid models, as these tend to carry more sophisticated technology. Battery changes now need to happen a a few times a week rather than once a month.
This creates a sense of unease every time the wearer leaves the house with their hearing aids. Rather than knowing that their hearing aids will keep working throughout the day, they need to remember to take an additional set of batteries, just in case
Benefits of Rechargeable Hearing Aids
Rechargeable hearing aid solutions in hearing aids have been around in some form for the past decade, but it’s only been with the recent introduction of lithium-ion batteries that the technology has finally come into their own. Rechargeable hearing aids are now as easy to use and charge as your smartphone or tablet.
Here are some of the benefits of lithium-ion rechargeable hearing aids.
No Extra Costs
Once you move to rechargeable batteries, you no longer have to contend with the trouble of purchasing hearing aid batteries. Last-minute online purchases or pharmacy trips are not required. Just pop your hearing aids into the charger every night.
They’re more durable
Most rechargeable hearing aids don't have a battery door. Since many rechargeable alternatives have a unibody, there is less chance that humidity, dust and debris will corrupt the hearing aid. With rechargeable hearing aids, they are less likely to be sent out for repair.
An overnight charge for all-day listening
Hearing aids are merely removed from your ears before bed and put overnight in the charging docket. In the morning, they are fully charged and ready for an entire day's use. On average, depending on your use of wireless streaming, a six to eight-hour charge gives 16 to 20 hours of hearing, so you will have enough energy to last the whole day.
A better choice for the environment
You throw out two batteries every few days or once a week if you wear two hearing aids powered by disposable batteries. Since these batteries are not recyclable, if incorrectly disposed of, they run the risk of depositing lead and acid into underground water supplies and becoming a threat to the environment. Lithium-ion batteries, on the other hand, will continue to work throughout the hearing aid's life. For the entire lifespan of your hearing aid, only one battery needs to be used.
Easier to handle
Some consumers of hearing aids do have restricted motor skills may find it difficult to open the casing to change a battery. These batteries are tiny which makes them easy to fall and lose sight of. This can be a real safety hazard if small children or pets are around. This tricky routine is entirely avoided with rechargeable hearing aids. They are very easy to charge and will likely require no battery changes for the life of the hearing aid.
Hart Hearing & Balance
For those who want to know more about rechargeable hearing aid options, contact us today. We offer many of the leading models of rechargeable hearing aids and will help you choose the right model for you. Contact us today at 585-266-4130 to schedule a consultation.
Hearing Aids Keep You Happy, Healthy, and Wealthy
For people with hearing loss, the numbers show that not enough of us are wearing hearing aids. Of those aged 70 and older with hearing loss who could benefit from hearing aids, only one in three have ever used them. The number is even smaller for those who are younger – only a fifth of adults aged 20 to 69 whose condition requires hearing aids has ever used them.
There are several reasons why people might be reluctant to treat their hearing loss immediately. Some have misguided ideas about the way they look, and hearing loss still unfortunately carries with it an air of stigma, though that is changing. But by being aware of the benefits that hearing aids can provide, those who could benefit from them might be persuaded to finally take control of their hearing health.
A new and extensive scientific report has discovered a multitude of benefits to wearing hearing aids across many areas of life. The study was head-authored by Professor Emerita Bridget Shield who works at Brunel University in London.
How they make you happier
This research found that untreated hearing loss can make the sufferer become less socially engaged which put that person in danger of loneliness, social isolation and even depression.
This all changes with the use of hearing aids. They aren't as exhausted, sleep better, and enjoy improved family ties. By helping reduce the danger of social isolation, hearing aids help the wearer stay connected and stay happier as a result.
How they make you healthier
They are also more inclined than those with ordinary hearing to have other long-term diseases and there has also been a recent connection between hearing loss and dementia.
An explanation for this link might be found in the tendency of untreated hearing loss to discourage physical activity. Those who suffer from hearing loss may make a deliberate decision to refrain from physical activity as a consequence because they are worried about injury or their hearing loss being found out. They might refrain from playing their favorite sport because it depends on them being able to understand their teammates calls from across the field.
It’s not just a loss of physical activity though sports that might suffer, even gentle physical activity such as walking is discouraged. Untreated hearing loss reduces spatial awareness, making it appear more dangerous even to leave the house and walk around the neighbourhood or city streets. Hearing loss has been documented to increase the risk of falls and accidents when out, so it’s no surprise that hearing impaired people may feel more uneasy outside their home.
The combination of these two factors helps reduce overall physical activity of those with untreated hearing loss. But with hearing aids, they have the opportunity to improve their spatial awareness and confidence when playing sports, making it them more likely to be physically active.
How they make you wealthier
The study shows that on average, individuals with untreated hearing loss earn considerably less than individuals with regular hearing. People with untreated hearing loss are also more likely to be unemployed. Individuals suffering from hearing loss tend to retire earlier and the less competitive jobs also indicates that individuals with hearing loss have a lower average salary than those with ordinary hearing.
By treating hearing loss then, you could help insulate yourself from the higher rates of unemployment and a lower average income associated with untreated hearing loss.
Hearing aids are an investment. They are not always covered by insurance, though more and more offer a discount or plan. Most importantly, consider the long-term financial benefits of using hearing aids.
The treatment of your hearing loss in the long run is cheaper when compared with the long-term costs for both the individual and society of untreated hearing loss. As far as income, job, quality of life and decreased healthcare expenses are concerned, the original expenditure of hearing aids could be shrewdest investment you'll ever make.
Professor Shield agrees. In the conclusion to her paper, she notes that it is “important, for the sake of both the hearing-impaired individual, and society as a whole, that hearing loss is identified early, and appropriate treatment and support provided.”
Hart Hearing & Balance
Are you ready to enjoy the benefits of hearing aids? We have styles to fit every lifestyle and every budget. Call us today to schedule your hearing evaluation. You’ll be glad you did!
Treating Hearing Loss Keeps You Active
It is common for people to avoid treating their hearing loss, and to even cringe at the thought of wearing a hearing aid. This is due to the false notion that hearing aids somehow symbolize being “old” or will slow you down. Many of us remember the oversized, bulky hearing aids our fathers used to wear. The ones that constantly fed annoying feedback sounds and were a total eyesore. Luckily, the hearing aid industry has made leaps and bounds in both style and efficacy of hearing devices.
In fact, treating hearing loss with today’s modern hearing aids has been found to have profoundly positive effects on many areas of life. Hearing aids can improve relationships, increase earning potential, decrease risk of cognitive decline and can even help to keep you more active for longer. If you have been putting off getting hearing aids for fear that they will slow you down or keep you from the active lifestyle you love, it’s time to call your nearest audiologist - because hearing aids can actually improve the experience of exercise and activity!
The Importance of Exercise
We all know it. Exercise is extremely important for overall health and wellbeing. It is recommended by the Department of Health and Human Services that healthy adults get at least 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of moderate intensity or 75 minutes (1.25 hours) of vigorous intensity aerobic exercise each week. The department recommends spreading this out over the course of the week. Moderate intensity aerobic exercise includes: brisk walking, swimming, mowing the lawn, or yoga. Examples of vigorous intensity aerobic exercise are: dancing, running, or indoor cycling. It is important to remember that these numbers reflect only the minimum recommendation and the more aerobic activity you engage in the greater your overall health benefit (https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/expert-answers/exercise/faq-20057916).
It is also important to include strength training exercises into your weekly routine as well. Strength training includes weight lifting, resistance training or the use of weight machines.
Regular exercise can improve your mood, control your weight, decrease anxiety, improve your sex life, improve sleep, increase energy, and can decrease the risk of diseases and health disorders such as: stroke, metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, depression, many types of cancer, arthritis, and falls.
How Hearing Aids Help
Hearing aids can help improve the experience of exercise in many ways.
Enjoy the social aspect of exercise.
For those of us who love exercising with others, hearing aids can make this experience much more enjoyable. Whether it is a Saturday morning hike with your daughter or participating in a yoga class, part of the fun is being able to hear and interact with those around you. Hearing aids are specifically designed to help you enjoy conversations and understand speech, in many different listening conditions!
Hear your music clearer.
Some of us prefer to workout solo, and many enjoy the boost of their favorite jams to keep them motivated. Some hearing aids of today are specifically designed with music lovers in mind. Many hearing aids can actually stream your music directly to your ears, and the technology within the aid will help you hear the sounds and the notes like they were intended to be heard.
Don’t worry about moisture or sweat.
Hopefully, the exercise you do will have you work up a sweat. This can be scary for many hearing aid wearers. Luckily, there are numerous hearing aids on the market with very high IP ratings, meaning they are quite resistant to damage from moisture or debris. Feel liberated to work up that sweat worry free!
Say goodbye to feedback from wind noise.
Some enjoy outdoor exercise such as cycling, running, or kayaking. Oftentimes noise from wind during these activities can cause feedback and annoyance with hearing aids. Luckily, there are now hearing aids that are specifically targeted for those who live an active lifestyle. Many of these aids now employ wind resistance technology, that helps to block wind noise and greatly reduces feedback.
If you think you may be experiencing some of the early signs of hearing loss, reach out to our friendly team at Hart Hearing & Balance today. We look forward to working with you.