Stone's Hearing Aid Service
Where Your Hearing is Our Concern
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Spring Cleaning; It is not just for your home….It is for your Hearing Health
| Posted on March 11, 2015 at 11:22 PM |
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Spring Cleaning; It is not just for your home….It is for your
Hearing Health  Window washing, dusting,
yard work, car washes, organizing, cleaning out the cabinets; these are all activities
that seem to emerge every spring. The spring season is an important time of
the year that allows us to clean up some of the dirt and grime, that has
accumulated during the winter months, and start again, clean and fresh. As spring rolls around, we often take on the dirtier nooks and
crannies of our homes and vehicles. However, you may not realize your hearing
aids could use the same attention. Proper hearing aid care helps maintain
optimum hearing, extends the life of your hearing aid and ensures healthy ear
hygiene. Dirt, oil, moisture and earwax can build up on your hearing devices,
clogging the tube that sends sound to your ears. This can affect the hearing
aid’s performance which is why it is important to clean them daily and if it
has been more than three months since you have had a professional cleaning,
they probably are due for a good spring cleaning. Whether you are a current
patient of Stone’s Hearing Aid Service or you have never been to our office
before, please come in to receive a FREE hearing aid cleaning and check and if
you wish a FREE hearing evaluation as it is important to occasionally check
your hearing to determine if your needs have changed since you last visited our
office. Start spring off fresh
with a cleaning, new tubes, new battery or maybe even a new set of hearing aids!
We offer many upgrade and trade-in deals for our hearing aids. Bring your hearing aids
in for a professional cleaning and don’t miss any of those spring sounds. No
appointment is needed; walk-ins are always welcome as our doors are always open
with Mark and Matt always “home” at Stone’s Hearing Aid Service, where your
hearing is our concern. Stone’s Hearing Aids 51 High Street Pottstown, PA 19464 610-326-1250 |
Do NOT Let Winter Wipe Out Your Hearing
| Posted on February 3, 2014 at 10:36 PM |
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Do NOT Let Winter Wipe Out Your Hearing With the impending storms arriving, Stone’s Hearing Aid
Service wishes to reiterate the importance of ear protection and noise induced
hearing loss. Because Your Hearing is Our Concern  Winter is a time to pay attention to protecting our hearing
during activities that are most common during the season. Whether your hearing is
normal or you wear hearing aids to hear effectively, it is important to take
precautionary measures while you're outside enjoying the season.  Though you can barely hear snow falling to the ground, the sound of snow
blowers and snowmobiles can be dangerously loud. This winter, whether you are
blowing snow off your sidewalks or sledding through it in the wilderness, please make
sure your family’s hearing is protected. While fun to use, the noise levels of
these machines can measure over 106 DB! Although you cannot lower the volume of
a snow blower or snowmobile, you can move away from the noise or wear hearing
protectors, such as earplugs or earmuffs. Here are some instances where you could suffer noise-induced
hearing loss (NIHL), as well as some tips on how to protect against it: • Using a
snow blower can cause hearing loss because they can emit sounds as loud as 106
decibels, which are only safe for exposure up to three and 3/4 minutes at a
time. If you must use a snow blower rather than a shovel to clear your sidewalk
and driveway, make sure to only use it in short bursts of time and to wear
proper, high-quality hearing protection to prevent against NIHL. • Another
snow-geared machine - a snowmobile - can also be the cause of NIHL. While
snowmobiling is a fun winter sport, it is also very loud. Snowmobiles today can
be as loud as 78 decibels at a distance of 50 feet. Please make sure to purchase
the best hearing protection you can afford before trying snowmobiling. Please make sure
to step away a few times to take a "hearing break" and let your ears
rest a bit while using ANY loud noise inducing device. Signs of hearing
damage  How do you know if your ears have had enough? Here are some
signs that the noises you are listening to are just too loud:• Ear pain • Buzzing
feeling in the ears • Tinnitus,
which can involve ringing, whooshing or other noises • Hypersensitivity to noise • Difficulty
hearing in noise • Loss of
sensitivity to loud noises Types of hearing
protection • Custom ear molds, which are made to personally fit your ear canals can be fitted and purchased directly at Stone's Hearing Aid Service. • Expanding
foam ear plugs • Capsule ear
protection, including headphones and earmuffs that go over the ears, rather
than inside them If you experience a hearing loss or notice any continuous
buzzing or ringing in your ears, a check-up with with us at Stone's Hearing Aid Service for us to help ensure you are not suffering from NIHL or tinnitus. Hearing health professionals believe one of the major causes
of hearing loss among Americans is noise induced. The National Institute on
Deafness and Other Communication Diseases (NIDCD) says as many as 26 million
Americans have noise induced hearing loss. What is a safe noise level? The Occupational Health and
Safety Administration (OSHA) sets acceptable decibel levels in the work place
at 85 Db or less. Employers (example: landscapers and the Department of
Transportation, Borough/City/Township municipalities) are required to issue
hearing protection in environments that register noise levels louder than that. There are several ways you can protect your hearing while
you are enjoying the great outdoors. Drug store earplugs are inexpensive and
can reduce the level of noise by as much as 30 Db. They protect your ears
against NIHL as well as from the ringing and aching often
caused by loud and consistent noise. Noise reducing ear muffs and headphones
may be more comfortable to wear, although they are typically more expensive. If you wear hearing aids, consider wearing noise reducing
headphones or ear muffs when you know you will be in a noisy environment. Your hearing
aid amplifies sound, it is important to protect your ears from further damage.
Be careful, though. While headphones can keep your ears warm during the cold
winter months, they may cause you to perspire when wearing them before the
weather turns cool – and moisture is damaging to the delicate electronics in
your hearing aid. Another way to protect your hearing during the winter months
is to wear a warm hat that covers your ears. Although scientists no longer
believe we lose more heat through our head than we do any other unprotected
part of our body, they do believe keeping your ears warm can prevent earaches.
Wearing a warm winter hat is also advisable for hearing aid users. According to
Energizer, exposure to heat, cold or moisture can shorten battery life. Duration The duration (how long you are exposed to a noise) can
affect the extent of noise induced hearing loss. The longer you are exposed to
a loud noise, the more damaging it may be. Every loud sound produces a noise
that could damage the ears of anyone in close hearing range. Excessive noise is
present in many situations. Some of the more common ones include occupational
noise (machinery, etc.), loud music, and non-occupational noise (lawn mowers,
snow blowers, etc.). Finally, make sure you eat right and exercise regularly this
season. Hearing health professionals believe that, much like the rest of our
bodies, hearing health is dependent upon good blood flow and proper nutrition.
Even though we’re more likely to develop hearing loss as we age, we can slow
the process down by taking care of ourselves.  How is Noise Induced Hearing Loss Diagnosed?Hearing loss usually develops over a period of several
years. Since it is painless and gradual, you might not notice it. What you
might notice is a ringing or other sound in your ear (tinnitus), which could be
the result of long-term exposure to noise that has damaged hearing. Or, you may
have trouble understanding what people say; they may seem to be mumbling,
especially when you are in a noisy place such as in a crowd or at a party. This
could be the beginning of high-frequency hearing loss; a hearing test will
detect it. If you have any of these symptoms, you may have nothing more serious
than impacted wax or an ear infection, which might be simply corrected.
However, it might be hearing loss from noise. In any case, take no chances with
noise – the hearing loss it causes is permanent. If you suspect a hearing loss, please call or visit Stone’s
Hearing Aid Service for a FREE hearing evaluation, assessing your hearing concern
and recommending the best way to manage it. How Might Noise Induced Hearing Loss Affect My Life? Hearing loss can impact one’s life in many ways. You may be
less able to understand conversation or appreciate music. A ringing in the
ears, called tinnitus, commonly occurs after noise exposure, and it often
becomes permanent. Some people react to loud noise with anxiety and
irritability, an increase in pulse rate and blood pressure, or an increase in
stomach acid. Very loud noise can reduce efficiency in performing difficult
tasks by diverting attention from the job. How can I tell if I am listening to dangerous noise levels? You must
raise your voice to be heard. You can't
hear someone 3 feet away from you. Speech around
you sounds muffled or dull after you leave the noisy area. You have pain
or ringing in your ears (this is called “tinnitus”) after exposure to noise. How can loud noise damage hearing? Understanding how we hear will help you to understand how
loud noise can hurt your hearing. One of the most common bad effects of loud noise on hearing
is a permanent hearing loss. This happens in the following way: The loud
sound is collected by the ear as sound waves. The sound waves travel down the
ear canal toward the eardrum with enough force to disrupt the delicate hearing
system. If the sound is loud enough, it can dislodge the tiny bones of the
middle ear. The loud
sound passes through the middle ear and travels to the inner ear, also known as
the cochlea. The tiny hair cells lining this fluid-filled chamber can be
damaged as the loud sound reaches the inner ear. Only healthy
hair cells can send electrical impulses to the brain. It is in the brain that
the sound is understood and interpreted. Hair cells damaged by loud sound
cannot send the impulse to the brain for interpretation. Intense brief
noises, like a firecracker or an explosion, can damage hair cells, as can
continuous and/or repeated exposure to high levels of noise. Once the hair
cells are damaged, there is no current treatment to repair them. How else can loud
noise be harmful? ·
Loud noise can increase fatigue and cause
irritability. ·
Noise can reduce the ability to pay attention to
tasks. This is a concern at the workplace when it comes to workers' safety: The
ability to detect faulty equipment operation or warning signals can be reduced.
Noise can also reduce productivity. ·
Noisy classrooms can make it harder for children
to learn. ·
Noisy backgrounds can make understanding
conversation harder. The noise can mask or cover up some of the sounds of
speech, making a word like “time” sound like “dime.” More concentration and
energy are needed not only to listen and hear over the noise but also to speak
louder. As a result, voices can be strained, and laryngitis can develop. ·
Another common effect of loud sound on hearing
is tinnitus. Tinnitus is ringing, buzzing, or other sounds in the ear. Loud noise can also cause other physical problems, such as: High blood
pressure Increased or
abnormal heart rate Upset stomach Insomnia or
difficulty sleeping (even after the noise stops) Disruption of
the development of a baby before birth Wear hearing
protection. Cotton in the ears will not work. Hearing protection, such as
earmuffs or earplugs, can be purchased at drugstores, hardware stores, or
sports stores. Custom earmolds can be made to fit your ears by an audiologist.
Learn how to correctly insert the earplugs and earmolds for the best noise
reduction. Earplugs are
placed into the ear canal so that they totally block the canal. They come in
different shapes and sizes, or they can be custom-made by taking an impression
of the ear. Earplugs can reduce noise by 15 to 30 decibels (dB) depending on
how they are made and fit. Earmuffs fit
completely over both ears. They must fit tightly so that sound is blocked from
entering the ears. Like earplugs, muffs can reduce noise 15 to 30 dB depending
on how they are made and fit. Earplugs and
earmuffs can be used together to achieve even greater sound reduction. Use of
earplugs and earmuffs is recommended when noise exposure is particularly high. Do not listen
to loud sounds for too long. If you don’t have hearing protection, move away
from the loud sound. Give your ears a break from the sound. Plug your ears with
your fingers as emergency vehicles pass on the road. Lower the
loudness of the sound. Keep personal listening devices set to no more than half
volume. Don’t be afraid to ask others to turn down the sounds from speakers.
Speak to the movie theater projectionist if the movie sound track is too loud. Be a good
consumer. Look for noise ratings on appliances, sporting equipment, power
tools, and hair dryers. Purchase quieter products. This is especially important
when purchasing toys for children. Be a local
advocate. Some movie theaters, health clubs, dance clubs, bars, and amusement
centers are very noisy. Speak to managers and those in charge about the loud
noise and the potential damages to hearing. Ask to have the noise source
lowered. Can my ears
get used to noise? Don't be
fooled by thinking your ears are “tough” or that you have the ability to “tune
it out”! Noise-induced hearing loss is usually gradual and painless but,
unfortunately, permanent. Once destroyed, the hearing nerve and its sensory
nerve cells do not repair. If you think
you have “gotten used to” the noise you routinely encounter, you may already
have some hearing damage. How loud is too loud? The noise chart below lists average decibel levels for
everyday sounds around you. Decibel Loudness Comparison Chart  Painful• 150 dB =
fireworks at 3 feet • 140 dB =
firearms, jet engine • 130 dB =
jackhammer • 120 dB =
jet plane takeoff, siren Extremely Loud • 110 dB =
maximum output of some MP3 players, model airplane, chain saw • 106 dB =
gas lawn mower, snow blower • 100 dB =
hand drill, pneumatic drill • 90 dB =
subway, passing motorcycle Very Loud • 80–90 dB =
blow-dryer, kitchen blender, food processor • 70 dB =
busy traffic, vacuum cleaner, alarm clock Moderate • 60 dB =
typical conversation, dishwasher, clothes dryer • 50 dB =
moderate rainfall • 40 dB =
quiet room Faint • 30 dB =
whisper, quiet library Facts About Noise-induced Hearing Loss • Approximately
26 million Americans between the ages of 20 and 69 have high-frequency hearing
loss from overexposure to loud noises at work or during leisure activities.
More than 30 million Americans are exposed to dangerous levels of noise on a
regular basis. • Noise-induced
hearing loss is 100 percent preventable. • Symptoms of
noise-induced hearing loss will increase gradually. Over time, the sounds a
person hears may become distorted or muffled, and it may be difficult for the
person to understand speech. Someone with noise-induced hearing loss may not even be
aware of the loss, but it can be detected with a hearing evaluation. • Noise-induced
hearing loss is related both to the decibel level of a sound and to the amount
of time you are exposed to it. Your distance from the sound also matters. • Noise-induced
hearing loss is related to a person's genes. Some people are more likely than
others to develop noise-induced hearing loss when they listen to certain
sounds. Scientists are working to determine which people are more at risk for
noise-induced hearing loss and which are less at risk. • Researchers
who study hearing loss have found that a person who is exposed to noise levels
at 85 decibels or higher for a prolonged period of time is at risk for hearing
loss. • Many
devices that children use today have noise levels much higher than 85 decibels.
For example, an MP3 player at maximum level is roughly 105 decibels. That's 100
times more intense than 85 decibels! • Children
frequently participate in activities involving potentially damaging noise
levels: playing with noisy toys, band instruments, and video games; listening
to personal music players and stereos at high volumes; attending concerts and
movies; operating lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and power tools; and riding off-road
vehicles and snowmobiles. • When we are
exposed to harmful noise—sounds that are too loud or loud sounds that last a
long time—sensitive structures in our inner ear can be damaged, causing
noise-induced hearing loss. These structures, called hair cells, are small
sensory cells in the inner ear that convert sound energy into electrical
signals that travel to the brain. • Scientists
believe that, depending upon the type of noise, the pure force of vibrations
from loud sounds can cause hearing loss. Recent studies also show that exposure
to harmful noise levels triggers the formation of molecules inside the ear that
contribute to hair cell damage and noise-induced hearing loss. These
destructive molecules play an important role in hearing loss in children and
adults who listen to loud noise for too long. • Noise-induced
hearing loss is cumulative, invisible, and permanent. It is cumulative because
the damage can start when we are young and get worse over time. It is invisible
because it can happen without our even noticing it, until it is too late. And
it is permanent because, unlike a broken arm that gets better over time, we
can't "heal" our hearing. Once it's damaged, it's damaged for good. Please call or visit Stone's Hearing Aid Service for your FREE hearing evaluation TODAY  Your Hearing is Our Concern Sources noisyplanet.nidcd.nih.gov; asha.org; american-hearing.org;
healthyhearing.com |
Genetics of Hearing Loss
| Posted on January 12, 2014 at 9:50 PM |
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Genetics of Hearing Loss  Though inherited genetic defects are just one factor that
can lead to hearing loss and deafness, which may occur at any stage of a
person’s lifespan, this is often overlooked as one does not consider probability
in this. 50%-60% or 3 in every 1,000 infants born who suffer from
hearing loss have obtained this through DNA. Although exact data is not
available for the aging it is likely that genetics play an important role in
hearing loss for the elderly as well. Other factors may include: medical
problems, environmental exposure, trauma, and medications. Inherited genetic defects play an important role in
congenital hearing loss. The majority of hearing loss is caused by mutations
("misspellings") in the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) sequence of
genes. There are a number of other factors in the environment that can cause
hearing loss too. 25% or more of hearing loss in babies is due to
"environmental” causes such as maternal infections during pregnancy and
complications after birth. Sometimes,
both genes and environment work together as a team to cause hearing loss. For
example, there are some medicines that can cause hearing loss, but only in
people who have certain mutations in their genes. There are four compounds known as "bases" in a
strand of DNA: adenine (A), guanine (G), thymine (T), and cytosine (C). Each
DNA molecule consists of two strands that form the shape of a double helix,
through the pairing of A with T, and C with G. Thus, knowing the sequence of
bases on one DNA strand automatically gives the sequence on the other strand of
the double helix. Genes contain the instructions that tell the cells of
people’s bodies how to grow and work. For example, the instructions in genes
control what color a person’s eyes will be. There are many genes that are
involved in hearing. Sometimes, a gene does not form in the expected manner.
This is called a mutation. Some mutations run in families and others do
not. If more than one person in a family
has hearing loss, it is said to be "familial". That is, it runs in
the family. If only one person in the family has hearing loss, it is called
"sporadic". Meaning, it does not run in the family.
About 70% of all mutations causing hearing loss are
non-syndromic. This means that the person does not have any other symptoms. About 30% of the mutations causing hearing loss are syndromic. This means that
the person has other symptoms besides hearing loss. For example, some people with hearing loss
are also vision impaired or blind. The cochlea (the part of the ear that changes sounds in the
air into nerve signals to the brain) is a very complex and specialized part of
the body that needs many instructions to guide its development and function.
These instructions come from genes. Changes in any one of these genes can result
in hearing loss. The GJB2 gene is one of the genes that contains the
instructions for a protein called connexin 26; this protein plays an important
role in the functioning of the cochlea. In some populations about 40% of
newborns with a genetic hearing loss who do not have a syndrome, have a
mutation in the GJB2 gene.
Diagnosis/testing: Genetic forms of hearing loss must be distinguished from
acquired (non-genetic) causes of hearing loss. The genetic forms of hearing
loss are diagnosed by otologic, audiologic, and physical examination, family
history, ancillary testing (e.g., CT examination of the temporal bone), and
molecular genetic testing. Molecular genetic testing, available in clinical
laboratories for many types of syndromic and nonsyndromic deafness, plays a
prominent role in diagnosis and genetic counseling. Genetic counseling: Hereditary hearing loss can be inherited in an autosomal
dominant, autosomal recessive, or X-linked recessive manner, as well as by
mitochondrial inheritance. Genetic counseling and risk assessment depend on
accurate determination of the specific genetic diagnosis. In the absence of a
specific diagnosis, empiric recurrence risk figures, coupled with GJB2 and GJB6
molecular genetic testing results, can be used for genetic counseling |
Understanding the Hearing Evaluation and Hearing Aid Process – Part 4 of 4
| Posted on December 12, 2013 at 8:37 PM |
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Understanding
the Hearing Evaluation and Hearing Aid Process – Part 4 of 4 Optimizing
Your Hearing Aid Experience by Training Your Brain to Listen  Our brains have specific regions devoted to speech,
hearing, and language functions. We do not really hear in our ears; we hear in
our brain. The brain recognizes and interprets sound in our environment through
a sequence of events called auditory processing. “I only need to wear my hearing aids when I go out”
is one of the worst things you can think or do for yourself once you have made
the decision to wear hearing aids. The majority of our hearing is done in the
brain and not with our ears; this is why it is so important to consistently
expose the brain to sound through the use of hearing aids. The ears pick up
sound and deliver it to the brain. When hearing loss is present the brain is
deprived of sound at a normal level (auditory deprivation). This becomes
“normal hearing” to the person with hearing loss but it is not normal hearing.
The brain needs to be consistently exposed to sounds at normal levels to put
them into different categories as it once did. We are retraining the brain to
hear again at a normal level. Unfortunately, you will never hear as well as you
did when you were a teenager and the hearing loss cannot be “cured” but the
hearing will be significantly improved.  Some people with hearing loss feel that their hearing
is fine while they are at home or that they do not need to hear while reading
the paper or watching television. They feel it is not important to hear the
furnace or air conditioning running, footsteps on the floor, people moving
around in the house, etc. Actually, it is very important to hear these subtle
sounds. As you hear more amplified sounds you build a tolerance to the louder
volume levels of sound which helps the amplified sounds seem more natural. More
exposure leads to optimal performance with hearing aids. This is all done by
the brain automatically without people being aware that it is happening. Hearing loss is not only present when you go out
into the noisy world. It may be more noticeable when you are in more demanding
listening environments but the loss is always there. If a hearing aid wearer
only wears the hearing aids occasionally, the brain has no idea what to do with
all of this newly introduced noise and stimuli. This can be overwhelming and
cause people to reject their hearing aids saying, “All I hear is noise”. If
sound is introduced on a regular basis by wearing the hearing aids
consistently, it will be more acceptable when background noise is introduced.
When the hearing aids are not worn consistently the brain reverts back to the
hearing loss mode which puts hearing aid wearers back to where they
began—having trouble hearing. Consistent hearing aid use will help to eliminate
this over-stimulation effect and sounds become very normal again. We are
immersing the brain with the new sound, desensitizing it to the extraneous
sounds, and allowing it to focus on listening to more important things like
speech.  This whole process does not happen overnight. The
more consistently hearing aids are worn, the faster all sounds, both background
and foreground, will become more natural. The amount of time this process can
take will vary for everyone. For this reason, wearing the hearing aids
regularly throughout the day is critical to “hear” the best you can in multiple
situations. There is no magic number of hours that are given to suggest that
the hearing aids be worn throughout the day but they should be worn as much as
possible. It is recommended to wear hearing aids all of the time; except when
you are sleeping, showering, having your hair done, swimming or when in a
dangerously loud environment. Be patient and give your brain a chance to adapt
to all of the wonderful new sounds of life!Tips
for Hearing Aid Success  ·
Start by wearing the hearing aids in
your home environment.·
Wear the hearing aids only as long as
you are comfortable wearing them the first day, then push yourself to wearing
them longer every day after that.  ·
Accustom yourself to using your hearing
aids while conversing with just one other person.·
Do not be discouraged by background
noise. ·
Practice locating the source of the
sound by listening only.  ·
Practice listening with audio books or
talk radio.·
Gradually increase the number of
situations in which you use your hearing aids. |
Buy Local By Local
| Posted on November 30, 2013 at 4:15 PM |
comments (165)
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Top Ten reasons to Think Local - Buy Local – By Local – Be Pottstown  Why Buy Local? Support yourself: Several studies have shown that when you buy from an independent, locally owned business, rather than a nationally owned, chain, “big box” businesses, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers and farms continuing to strengthen the economic base of the community and lower the tax base. Support community groups: Non-profit and local organizations receive an average 250% more support from local independent business owners than they do from large “big box“, franchised and chain businesses. Keep our community unique: Where we shop, where we eat and have fun, all of it makes our community home. Our one-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character of the Pottstown area. Our tourisum businesses benefit as well, when people go on vacation they generally seek out destinations that offer them the sense of place, not just anyplace, a sense of belonging. Reduce environmental impact: Locally owned businesses can make more local purchases requiring less transportation and generally set up shop in our town or within the surrounding area, as opposed to developing on the fringe. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution. Create more jobs and sustainability: Small local businesses are the largest employer in our community, provide the most jobs to residents. Get better service: Local businesses often hire people with a better understanding of the products they are selling and take more time to get to know customers. Respecting the customer and creating a community family. Invest in community: Local businesses are owned by people who live in our community, whom are less likely to leave, and are more invested in Pottstown’s future. Put your taxes to good use: Local businesses in our Downtown Community require comparatively little infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services as compared to nationally owned, “big box” or chain stores entering our community. Buy what you want, not what someone wants you to buy: A marketplace of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term. A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based not on a national sales plan but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, well informing them of their purchase options, and not misleading, guarantees a much broader range of product choices and satisfaction. Without an individual being bullied or intimidated into a purchase. Encourage local prosperity: A growing body of economic research shows that in an increasingly homogenized world, entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character. Stone's Hearing Aid Service has been family owned and operated, serving the Pottstown Community since 1885 |
Understanding the Hearing Evaluation and Hearing Aid Process – Part 3 of 4
| Posted on November 24, 2013 at 9:37 PM |
comments (129)
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Choosing the Right Hearing Aid  After you have discussed your needs with your hearing care professional at Stone's Hearing Aid Service, you will generally be presented with a few recommended options at different price points. In most cases, you will have the opportunity to wear a demonstration hearing aid for a few days to try out.Once you have made your decision, we will order your selection and schedule you to come back at a later date for you initial hearing aid programming. If you have decided on a custom-fit ITE style or a BTE with ear-mold style, we will take an impression of your ear canal to send in with the order. Initial hearing aid programming  When your hearing aid arrives at Stone's Hearing Aid Service, we will hook it up to the computer and program it according to your hearing loss and preferences. Some professionals choose to do the programming before you arrive, we prefer to do it while you are there to ensure your hearing is to your accurate need. Once the hearing aids are out of the box and on your ears, you will begin to hearing various sounds you have not heard for years. You may even feel like everything is too loud at first. It will take time for your brain to relearn (reprogram) which sounds to adapt to or ignore, like the sound of your own footsteps or the rustle of your clothing. Do not worry—we at Stone's will run tests to make sure that the hearing aid is set appropriately for your hearing loss. You will also be counseled on how to change the battery, use any features, clean and take care of your hearing aid. Adjusting to your hearing aids  Adjusting to hearing aids takes time. Some people only need a day or two but most people need a few weeks or a few months to adjust to using hearing aids. The important thing to remember is to wear them, even if just for a few hours the first day, an hour longer the following day, and so on until you are wearing hearing aids all day. Start in a favorable listening environment (such as one-on-one conversations in quiet) and work towards more difficult listening situations. Let your friends and family know that you are using your new hearing aids.During this time of adjustment, you will want to see us at Stone's for as many follow-up visits as you need to fine-tune the sounds you are hearing, adjust the fit in your ear and talk about the situations that are most challenging for you. Though many hearing aid professionals charge fees for this process, we at Stone's Hearing Aid Service provide all of these services at no cost as Your Hearing is Our Concern and quality is behind our name.  |
Understanding the Hearing Evaluation and Hearing Aid Process – Part 2 of 4
| Posted on November 13, 2013 at 12:01 AM |
comments (96)
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Addressing
the Concern of Hearing Loss  If hearing aids are recommended after your hearing
is tested, we at Stone's Hearing Aid Service will work with you to find the right
hearing aids for you. That selection process, called hearing aid fitting.
Hearing aid fitting starts with an assessment of your needs and ends with
follow-up visits after the customized programming of your device. Assessment
of needs  Our process will begin the
selection process by conducting an in-depth consultation with you to learn more
about your lifestyle, your expectations, your personal preferences and your
thoughts on any previous experiences with hearing aids. Your hearing evaluation
results, along with this information, will help the us pull together some
options for you to review.Hearing
evaluation results  The degree of your hearing loss will determine which
styles may work best for you, with smaller models generally suited for milder
losses. Larger models of hearing aids will work for any degree of hearing loss,
including severe or profound. The shape of your hearing loss may also determine
the best model for you. For example, a mini-BTE with an open fit works very
well for gently sloping losses that mainly affect the higher frequencies, while
a BTE with an ear-mold is a good option for a steeply sloping loss. The level
of technology that you need can also be dictated by the degree and shape of
your hearing loss. If your hearing loss is worse in the mid-frequencies than it
is in the lower and higher frequencies, then you may need some advanced hearing
aid features to best accommodate your hearing loss. Lifestyle  When considering your lifestyle, it is important for
us to get a picture of the lifestyle you desire. You may have
gradually avoided certain environments and social situations as your hearing
loss worsened. Now is the time to think about what you’d like to be able to do
with the help of your new hearing aids! For example, if you spend your evenings
talking on to family and friends on the phone, you will want a hearing aid that
works well with your phone. Lifestyle
and preferences are considered when selecting hearing aids.  Generally, more advanced digital hearing aids are
designed for people who encounter many different listening situations with
varying degrees of background noise. For sedentary people who are mostly at
home with little background noise, basic models may be recommended. Preferences  There are many different types of preferences that
can affect hearing aid selection. Do you want hearing aids that are nearly
invisible, or would you rather have something large enough that allows you to
pick a bright color and show off your style? Do you prefer to have control over
the volume of your aids or would you prefer to have automated technology that
changes it for you? Do you want gadgets, like remote controls and wireless
accessories for your hearing aids? Your preferences may be affected by your
level of manual dexterity. Will you be willing and able to change a small
battery more often or would it be better for you to have a larger style that
requires less frequent battery changes? These are just a few of the preferences
that we at Stone's Hearing Aid Service will explore with you.Previous
experience  Finally, it is important to consider any prior
hearing aid experience when selecting a new hearing aid. Did you love your last
set of hearing aids? Why? Did you like the style, the sound quality or
something else? What did you have difficulty hearing with your old hearing
aids? What new features would you like to try? This type of insight will help
us determine what you will need in your new hearing
instruments to maintain—or improve—your level of satisfaction. 'At Stone's Hearing Aid Service; Your Hearing is OUR Concern |
Understanding the Hearing Evaluation and Hearing Aid Process
| Posted on October 24, 2013 at 5:37 PM |
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|
Understanding
the Hearing Evaluation and Hearing Aid Process – Part 1 of 4 How often should I get a hearing evaluation? Hearing
evaluations should be conducted once every ten years through age 50 and at 3-year
intervals thereafter. If you have any risk factors, particularly occupational
or recreational noise exposure, they should be screened as needed, required by
law in the workplace (OSHA, 1983), or if you suspect that you might have a hearing
loss. In addition to noise exposure, other risk factors for hearing loss in adults
can include heredity; viral or bacterial infections; medications, such as
aspirin and chemotherapy drugs; and head injuries.  A
hearing evaluation is no doubt very useful for those who have even a trivial
uncertainty about the accuracy of their hearing. If you have a distressing
feeling that one or both of your ears may have a problem, please contact us at
Stone’s Hearing Aid Service for your free hearing evaluation. What
is an audiologic screening program? An
audiologic screening program consists of 3 simple, fast procedures to determine
if a person may have or is at risk for hearing loss: 1.
Screening for hearing loss (impairment) 2.
Screening for ear disorder 3.
Screening for hearing-related disability The
entire audiologic screening process does not usually take more than 10 minutes.
When these three components of an audiologic screening program are completed, you
are identified as either having normal hearing or being at risk for or suspected
of having a hearing loss, and referred for comprehensive audiologic evaluation.
Ten minutes is a small investment of time and energy to help protect your ears
and possibly your future communication ability. A
medical evaluation may be recommended if the screening indicates a medical condition
requiring evaluation, monitoring, and/or treatment. A medical referral will be
made, for example, if the visual inspection of the ear reveals that the ear
canal is blocked by cerumen (ear wax), or if pain or drainage is present. Your
ears are one of your most important “natural resources” to protect and conserve.
Have of your hearing screened today. At Stone’s Hearing Aid Service, “Your
Hearing is Our Concern”. That is why we offer free hearing evaluations both in
office with our state of the art stationary audiometer and sound proof room or,
for those whom are unable to come to our office, we offer free in home
evaluations with our portable audiometer system. Stone’s Hearing Aid Service has been Family
Owned and Operated since 1885 serving the Pottstown and surrounding
communities. |
Occupational and Routine Life Hearing Loss (Pt 4 of 4)
| Posted on August 8, 2013 at 8:46 PM |
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Occupational
and Routine Life Hearing Loss (Pt 4 of 4) PREVENTING NOISE-INDUCED HEARING LOSS Humans,
Noise, Deafness Different
types of noise and sounds  can equally damage one's hearing. For example, your
ears may sustain the same amount of damage after you have enjoyed a concert and
after you have spent an hour close to a construction worker handling a
jackhammer. Basically, every sound, regardless of where it comes from, if it
contains the sufficient amount of intensity, appearing repeatedly and continuously,
can easily lead to hearing damage, ringing in the ears, partial or complete
hearing loss, dizziness and numerous other health problems.Today, more
than 10 million Americans suffer from hearing loss or damaged hearing triggered
by excessive exposure to noise. Therefore, noise is considered to be the main
culprit behind both temporary and permanent hearing loss . Acoustic
Trauma and Noise-Induced Hearing Loss  Acoustic
trauma is a condition which manifests once a great amount of
sound energy strikes the inner ear of a human being, such as when one goes to a
loud music concert. After the concert, he/she may hear ringing in the ears for
several hours or may be bothered by a temporary decrease of his/her hearing
function. If the symptoms linger
for a couple of days, the sufferer may have oral steroids prescribed in order
to stimulate the regeneration of the inner ear. Unfortunately, if the
medications fail to help, hearing loss may be permanent and the noise threshold
of the ear shifted beyond repair.Moreover, if
the sound is excessively loud and sudden, it may lead to hearing loss or even a
ruptured eardrum. Hearing loss in this case may take place hand-in-hand with
dizziness. Then, a surgical intervention may be a must. Risk
Factors regarding Hearing Loss  Certain
factors such as duration of exposure and closeness of the sound
source may amplify the amount of damage done. Namely, since portable music
devices such as MP3 players have taken the world by storm, there has been a
significant increase in hearing impairment due to the proximity of the
earphones to the eardrum.Also, shooting
guns without protecting your ears may have the same effect. Finally, people
with blue eyes, light skin, history of hearing loss in the family, diabetes
mellitus, Meniere's disease, iron and vitamin A deficiency, old age,
atherosclerosis and a tobacco smoking addiction are
all in danger of losing this sense more easily than other people. How
to deal with noise emergency  We live in a modern world which is constantly
advancing. However, we rarely think about the fact that all our means of
advancement are quite noisy. Namely, all the construction machines, means of
transportation, many devices we use in our household and many others out there,
all generate quite high levels of noise. All this has an influence on our
well-being as well as the well-being of our planet as a whole. Recent studies
have realized that birds in large cities sing in a higher-pitched tone
nowadays, since they are unable to conduct their message due to all the
background noise cities have. If birds are having problems, imagine what we,
people are going through. Silence, for us, has become obscurity, since; we are
so rarely exposed to it. When two people are together and are saying nothing,
it is awkward to us. Moreover, when a person who lives in a city visits the
quiet countryside, he or she feels strange and uncoordinated due to the lack of
wild noise. All in all, our noise has changed us drastically, even more than we
are capable of perceiving.Is
Noise a Problem?  Researchers conducted in Europe claim that one
quarter of the whole population of this continent lives in such noisy
surroundings, that their health is impaired by the noise. Loud and high-pitched
sounds are constantly in our ears, whether we are at home or at work. What is
more, in all our free time in between, we listen to loud music from our
player's earphones, go to clubs where the music is so loud that we cannot
possibly hear each other or indulge into some other, unavoidably noisy
activities. This results in numerous diseases and conditions like depression,
anxiety, insomnia, memory problems, and others. All these, in the long run,
evolve into something more serious. Thus, we need to protect our precious ears
from noise so as not to expose our lives to greater threats. City noise is also
one of the main causes of high blood pressure in people.  Possible Solutions Simply, no noise is better than noise. Thus, we need
adequate sound isolation in our households and offices. This way, at least
while we are working and resting, we will not be exposed to this damaging
factor. As for noisy factories and similar object, noise isolation would take
them out of the whole lot of annoying buzzing, screaming, roaring, screeching
and other noises we are exposed to daily. Just as pollution filters are
important and obligatory, so should sound filters be. This way, we will ensure
better health of our ears, as well as our whole selves. What
to expect from a complete hearing evaluation  A hearing evaluation performed by a specialist, such
as us at Stone’s Hearing Aid Service, is needed in order to asses one's hearing
abilities and to confirm or rule out hearing loss. The evaluation can also
provide with information whether hearing loss is conductive, sensorineural or a
combination of the two. Hearing evaluations are performed by an audiologist or
a licensed hearing aid fitter, such as Mark and Matt at Stone's Hearing Aid Service. What
Happens First?  Once the person has come to the audiologist or
fitter's office, a professional first asks specific questions regarding the
condition and patient's medical history. The history of hearing loss is also
investigated. For example, a person may be asked if he/she has been exposed to
noise, what medications he/she was or is taking and whether he/she has had any
ear infections or been operated. Complete
Hearing Evaluation  The person is placed in a soundproof room and given
headphones. The first of several further tests includes a series of sounds
administered via headphones. The sounds are of different pitch and quality. The
person is asked to indicate each time he/she hears a tone. Conformation is
achieved either by raising a hand or pressing a specific button. This is a
pure-tone hearing test. After pure-tone hearing test a person undergoes SRT
test. This test determines the lowest level a person can repeat half of the
words he/she was asked to repeat by the examiner.MCL test determines the level
at which a tested individual feels comfortable to hear sounds. And finally, UCL
test gives insight in the loudest level one could tolerate when it comes to
listening sounds. Any sound beyond the level determined with UCL test leads to
painful sensations. Final part of hearing exam includes a test with a
small oscillator. The oscillator is placed on the bone behind the ear and
stimulated. By doing so the examiner evaluates the bone conduction of the
sound. This type of sound conduction can be increased or decreased and the
results can help the examiner determine the actual cause of such changes. Hearing aids are devices designed to help people
dealing with loss of hearing. These devices are able to help patients suffering
from temporary or permanent damage to the hearing, to percept the speech and
hear many other sounds around them. People with mild to moderate hearing loss,
especially in both ears are those who should use hearing aids. Also, if there
is some communication problems caused by the loss of hearing, patients are
advised to use hearing aids. These are not devices recommended for people who
suffer from minor hearing problems, and they won’t be of much help to someone
with a severe loss of hearing, too. Therefore, wearing hearing aid makes some
sense if you have mild hearing loss. For more difficult cases, seeing a doctor
who specializes in hearing loss is suggested. Doctors usually suggest BAHA (bone
anchored hearing aid) or cochlear implants, depending if the problem persists
on one or both ears. Hearing
Aid Types  Every hearing aid should enable the patient, who is
wearing it to hear the speech correctly. Also, it should not catch too much of
the background noise or be too loud. At the same time, the device should
provide both audible and physical comfort and be cosmetically acceptable. It
should be of reasonable price and its size should be adjusted to the ability of
the patient to manipulate small objects with his or her hands. There are many types of hearing aids. Some of the
most common include: hearing aids worn on the body, behind the ear (BTE) or in
the ear (ITE). There are also hearing aids with receiver in the canal/ear or
mini canal, and those which remain invisible in the canal. Additional types of
hearing aids can be: extended wear hearing aids, open-fit, programmable,
disposable and BAHA devices, as well as some eyeglass hearing aids. How
to Choose Hearing Aid  Hearing aid is selected after an evaluation, which
can diagnose the type, degree and frequency slope of the hearing problem. This
evaluation is also very helpful to estimate the benefits the patient should
have from some hearing device. There is also some otologic evaluation, used to
establish the possibility of some medical or surgical therapy, because about 5
to 10% of all hearing problems can be sort out either medically or surgically. Stone's Hearing Aid Service offers FREE hearing evaluations by appointment or walk-in as Your Hearing in Our Concern as we have been Family Owned and Operated since 1885 serving the Pottstown and surrounding communities.  Our patients are Our first concern and priority. That is why we at Stone's offer FREE on-site visits with our portable Audiometer for thorough evaluations (Homes, Retirement Communities, Assisted Living, Nursing Homes) Please always feel free to call us or visit  |
Occupational and Routine Life Hearing Loss (Pt 3 of 4)
| Posted on August 1, 2013 at 7:08 PM |
comments (97)
|
Occupational
and Routine Life Hearing Loss (Pt 3 of 4) PREVENTING NOISE-INDUCED HEARING LOSS How can people
protect their hearing?  The
most obvious way to protect your hearing is to avoid loud noise whenever
possible. At
the workplace, reducing or eliminating the source of the noise is the best way. Obviously
on some jobs that is impossible and earplugs or earmuffs must be worn.PROTECT THE HEARING THAT YOU HAVE NOW! Disposable plugs are placed inside the ear canal to
block out noise. They are commonly made of expandable foam. One size fits most
everyone. They roll up into a thin cylinder for insertion. Once they're inside
your ear canal, they expand to form a good seal. Keep the plugs as clean as
possible by inserting them with clean hands. Always inspect them before
reinsertion. If they are damaged or dirty, throw them away. Sound isolating earphones with universal-fit ear
tips. These earphones provide considerable sound isolation to most people,
therefore the volume on MP3 players may be set lower. Noise cancelling
headphones are also available which do a great job of cancelling steady state
noise such as on an airplane. These devices require little maintenance. The ear
tips may be cleaned as needed; if they become brittle simply replace. Reusable plugs are preformed to fit the ear. They
are usually made of a flexible rubber or silicon. They may be flanged or
cone-shaped and are often joined by a cord so that they're not easily lost.
Reusable plugs can be worn safely for months, depending on the type. They
should be replaced as soon as they become hard, torn, or deformed. Inspect and
clean them often with warm soapy water. Rinse well. Store them in the case
supplied by the manufacturer. Earmuff stereo headphones. The soft plastic
cushions, filled with foam or liquid, should form a good seal against noise. If
you wear glasses with wide temples, you may want to choose another type of
protector. If you're exposed to very loud noise, you can wear earmuffs and
plugs together. Wipe the cushions clean with a damp rag when they become
soiled. Check the cushions often, and replace them if they're stiff, worn, cut,
or torn. Do not modify your muffs in any way. Special purpose headsets. When communication is
required with hearing protection, special-purpose earmuffs may help you
understand speech from co-workers or those transmitting signals to you by
radio. Advances in active noise reduction may be effective in reducing low
frequency noises that can interfere with speech. Care of special-purpose
earmuffs also requires that the internal electronics are maintained.  Musicians Earplugs are sleeves that fit in the ear
canal and a removable filter to change between different levels of attenuation:
9 dB, 15 dB, or 25 dB. Musicians and music enthusiasts may prefer to use a type
of earplug that is designed to match the ear’s natural response, making sound
quieter but not distorted. Filters in these Musicians Earplugs use a
diaphragm that reduces noise levels relatively equally across all frequencies.
These filters can be placed in pre-formed or custom-made earplugs. While these
earplugs may be washed with water and mild soap, the filter should never be
exposed to water. Remove the filter before such washing. Molds should be
replaced when discolored, cracked, or obviously hardened. Never use alcohol or
solvents to clean the sleeves. Custom in-ear monitor, made of a silicone material.
The benefit is a consistently comfortable fit and excellent sound isolation.
Musicians can also use custom in-ear monitors to hear themselves rather than
through the floor "wedge" loudspeaker monitors. This results in lower
levels on stage and if the earpiece is tightly sealed to the ear without
venting, it can serve as a hearing protection device. Used inappropriately,
however, it can be turned up to dangerous levels. A variation for the normal
consumer can be obtained from hearing health professionals for simply listening
to MP3 players; the devices can be made of silicone or acrylic (although
silicone seals in the ear better and most often provides better sound
isolation). Keep the sound ports that fit in the ear canal clear of earwax and
use a “wax loop” tool to remove wax. Do not get these wet and do not use
alcohol or solvents to clean the earpieces. Wipe them with a tissue and store
them in a cool, dry place between use. Consider using a desiccant (moisture
absorber) container if you sweat a lot during performance.  One-third of permanent hearing loss is preventable
with proper hearing loss prevention strategies.Blog to be continued |