November was a busy month of learning. I attended the North Carolina Academy of Audiology annual conference held at NC State University. Dr. Mussler attended a tinnitus collaboration in Sarasota Florida.
Before getting into the details of our continued learning experiences, I wanted to give you an update on John’s progress in his hearing treatment. If you have been reading my articles for the past two months you will recall he had made the decision not to proceed with prescription hearing devices after purchasing two sets of over the counter (OTC) hearing aids that did not work well. After a long discussion and building a trusted relationship, he agreed to schedule a Functional Hearing Assessment. He has been wearing prescriptive devices for several weeks and reports that conversation is improved, and his family is enjoying the volume of the television at a much lower level.
Remember that OTC devices are appropriate for perceived mild hearing loss. There is no professional guidance, instruction or confirmation that the devices are programmed properly. If you have purchased a set of OTC devices and need assistance or are considering making an OTC purchase, please let us know as we have options available.
Every fall, the North Carolina Academy of Audiology holds its annual meeting in Raleigh. Dr. Richard Roberts, associate professor for the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center presented a two-hour session on dizziness symptom profile and vestibular migraines. Benign positional vertigo is the number one reason for dizziness…crystals sloshing around where they are not supposed to be. Vestibular migraine is second. You do not have to have headache to have vestibular migraines.
Next on the agenda was a great refresher on cerumen (wax) removal. We use several techniques in our office including removal with a curette (a little scooper), and for stubborn wax or sensitive ears we have a wonderful earigator that washes out wax with warm water. No discomfort and it does the job.
Dr. Linsey Jorgensen is a professor and serves as Department Chair and Clinic Director in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department at the University of South Dakota. Her presentation was titled Sound Decisions: A New Perspective in Audiology Ethics. To maintain my board certification, I am required to complete several hours of continuing education on the topic of ethics. Her perspective included decisions regarding the fitting and dispensing of hearing devices. She made one comment that really hit home: it is unethical to fit hearing aids without performing verification measures.
We have discussed verification in the past. Without measuring how much amplification is present in the ear canals, we have no objective measure to confirm the hearing aids are set properly and prescriptive targets are met. We must ensure that soft sounds are audible and that loud sounds are not too loud. If you wear hearing aids and a small thin tube was NOT placed down your ear canal and measurements were made with your hearing aids in place, then verification was not completed. Unethical. Only 20-30% of hearing healthcare providers complete verification measurements. Unethical!
Dr. Mussler attended a tinnitus (ringing, buzzing, crickets, roaring, music) collaboration like the one I attended last year in Chicago. A group of audiologists gathered to share information. As a member of the cooperative Entheos we have a wealth of knowledge amongst ourselves.
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) estimates that approximately 10 percent of the U.S. adult population — over twenty-five million Americans — experience some form of tinnitus. Of those, 80% are not bothered by the tinnitus, however, the remaining 20% find their tinnitus to be extremely bothersome affecting sleep and concentration. For many of these individuals they also suffer from sound sensitivity (hyperacusis) and find everyday sounds or noises to be painful.
We are excited to provide additional services to help this group in the new year. I will keep you posted as we fine tune our skills and services.
If you would like more information on our tinnitus treatment, verification measures or options instead of purchasing OTC devices, give Jamie or Diane a call at 704-633-0023. Remember to visit our website www.hearingsolutionsofnc.com and like us on Facebook for more information. Dr. Mussler, Jane, Cheryl, Jamie, Diane and I wish you a very happy, healthy holiday season and the very best in the New Year!