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The Convergence of Mobile Communications and Hearing Instruments? - Part I

As described by Paul Dybala, Ph.D. in the current issue of the professional publication Audiology Today, the mobile phone "has become the worldwide, de facto communications device and with the advent of wireless headsets, it is now ear level". To hearing healthcare professionals and mobile communications device manufacturers, the convergence of traditional hearing instruments and mobile communications devices does not look like an impossible feat anymore. Instead, the industries see it as an opportunity and are actually starting to look ahead to more hearing instrument functionality built into mobile devices.

Over the next week or so, The thinkHealth Report will highlight technologies crossing the line that divides what is viewed as communication devices and hearing instruments. These previously distinct worlds are rapidly morphing into one and it is becoming increasingly difficult to know what is in someone's ear. So the next time you're standing on line at the grocery store, take a look at what's in the ear of the person standing in front of you. Is it a Bluetooth device for the phone? A hearing instrument? Or maybe it's both.

Gennum Corp's Z-E-N

Canada-based Gennum Corporation designs and builds semiconductors and semiconductor-based products for video, audio and data communications. The company has released the Z-E-N, a Bluetooth headset designed to rest over the ear.

Z-E-N looks similar in appearance to other Gennum headsets that are offered at about three times the cost. The HearPhone H3650, for example, retails for approximately $500 and requires customized programming by your hearing healthcare provider based on your hearing profile/ test results.

The Z-E-N incorporates what is known as L-E-A-P Technology, or Local Environment Audio Processing. This allows the user to hear mildly amplified environmental sounds when the phone is not in use. Gennum offers the Z-E-N line in three different models, but only one (the Z-E-N 470) contains L-E-A-P technology. The headset allows for some customization of sound through an eight-band graphic equalizer controlled by pairing the device to any PC.

According to Nathan Robinson, Director of Business Development for Gennum, "The Z-E-N is a great choice for people who do not want to spend a lot of money but are looking for Bluetooth connectivity along with some environmental amplification". One other bit of information to keep in mind: for users looking to achieve a better physical/ acoustic fit, a custom earpiece can be molded by your audiologist to fit the Z-E-N for a more comfortable listening experience.

Stress Management Is Key For Tinnitus Sufferers

Stress has been linked to numerous ailments and according to the American Institute of Stress, it contributes to hypertension, stroke, chronic pain, diabetes, ulcers and other “Diseases of Civilization”. When it comes to tinnitus (ringing or buzzing sounds in the ears/ head) stress plays a major role in the perceived level of severity.

It was originally thought that tinnitus was a disorder centered in the ears. In recent years, studies such as those conducted by Lockwood, et al. from the University at Buffalo, have shown that although it might start with some malfunction of the sensory cells inside the ears, tinnitus is actually a phenomenon that takes place in the hearing and emotional centers of the brain. For most people (approximately 50 million, according to the American Tinnitus Association), although they might perceive some tinnitus now and then, they don’t think much of it and the buzz is pushed into the background. But for approximately 12 million Americans, tinnitus plays a persistent negative role in their lives. Why is it not bothersome for everyone?

If you ask someone suffering from tinnitus when it started for them, many times they can pinpoint the day and what was going on in their lives at the time. Patients describe physical trauma (possibly from loud noise exposure, a concert for example) and/ or emotional trauma (death of a loved one, chronic illness, loss of a job).

Currently, there exist numerous treatments for tinnitus. Some have been studied extensively others are taking advantage of those looking for a quick fix or “cure”. Although a true cure does not yet exist, numerous patients have found success in managing their tinnitus through TRT – Tinnitus Retraining Therapy and Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment. An underlying concept for both treatments is breaking down the fight-or-flight response. Fight-or-flight is an innate response that prepares us to either run away from or defend ourselves from a perceived threat. In the case of intrusive tinnitus, it is believed that one perceives the constant "ear noises" as a threat. In turn, the emotional centers in the brain are put on high alert.

Both TRT and Neuromonics utilize a method to soften that fight-or-flight response. In the case of TRT, directive counseling is provided to educate the tinnitus sufferer. The philosophy: the more you know about a condition the less threatening it becomes. With Neuromonics, spa-like music is used along with a collaborative counseling approach to elicit the relaxation response.

Although not proven effective if used alone, yoga, meditation and progressive muscle relaxation are very important to help slow the mind and body down and undoubtedly play an important role in controlling the effects of the buzz. As with all other health conditions, it is important that you see your licensed healthcare provider to rule out any medically-treatable causes of your tinnitus. If, after comprehensive evaluation, your physician determines there is no medically-treatable cause, formal tinnitus treatments could then be considered. But for those suffering with tinnitus, a good starting point is to pursue any means to deflate stress.

One Mother’s Concern Leads To Safer Earphones For Kids

Like many parents, Christine Ingemi became increasingly troubled about the potential damage mp3 players could inflict on the hearing of her children. The New Hampshire mother of four decided to take matters into her own hands.

With the explosion of the portable media device industry, pretty much anyone who uses mp3 players and other devices is potentially placing themselves at risk for permanent hearing damage. Mrs. Ingemi “saw a need and set out to create a solution”. The result: the patented iHearSafe earbuds.

What makes this product special is the fact that it places an upper limit on the volume entering the user’s ears. That limit is 80 decibels, just below industry thresholds where potential hearing damage can occur. The inventor-mom also notes one other important feature that might be an added bonus for frustrated parents. The fact that the earbuds do not occlude the ears and volume stays low, children are still able to “hear everything going on around them, including a parent calling them from the other room”.

Because Mrs. Ingemi does not have a background in electronics, acoustics or hearing science she wanted to make certain her product performed as advertised. She recruited scientists at Quest Technologies, a company that manufactures sound level measurement equipment, to put the iHearSafe product through its paces. She admits she did not “get it right the first try” but the prototypes that followed achieved the desired outcomes.

Since the release of the iHearSafe earbuds, her company, Ingemi Corporation, “has been flooded with orders from around the world”. The interest in the product has gone “beyond her wildest dreams”, Ingemi says. Now she spends her days passing out free sets of the earbuds to school children and developing the next products in the iHearSafe line including a Bluetooth device.

Ingemi hopes that one day the manufacturers of portable media devices will supply visible labeling on their product packaging regarding the potential hazards associated with careless use. “Kids don’t understand the consequences of turning up the volume”, according to Ingemi. She concludes, “If we start educating at a young enough age, we can get them into the lifelong habit of safe listening.”

Taking The "Bite" Out Of Frostbite

With temperatures across the country plummeting below the freezing mark, the risk for cold-weather related health issues increases. The American Academy of Dermatology defines frostbite as, "frozen tissue, usually skin but sometimes deeper, due to prolonged exposure to temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit". The most common parts of the body affected? The feet, hands, ears and nose are often left feeling the pins and needles and discoloration commonly associated with frostbite. Although anyone who is exposed for an extended period of time to subzero temperatures is at risk, experts warn that people with peripheral vascular disease, diabetes and those taking beta-blockers (which have a tendency to decrease the blood flow to the skin) are more susceptible. The best way to avoid frostbite is to wear appropriate clothing on the harshest of days. Simply dust off the hat, scarf and gloves and bundle up. If you believe you might have frostbite, healthcare professionals suggest moving to a sheltered environment, using warm (not hot) cloths on the area(s) of concern and see your physician as soon as possible. When the mercury drops during the winter, being mindful and covering up exposed skin will help take the bite out of those frosty days.

Candles are for Celebrating Birthdays, Not Cleaning Ears

For many people the thought of earwax instantly evokes a cringe of disgust. And why not, it is “dirty” right? Well believe it or not that yellowish material (also commonly known as cerumen) does serve a very real purpose. Cerumen is a normal secretion produced by the body that helps to maintain the health of our ear canals. It also serves to discourage bacterial and fungal infections in the canal due to its slightly acidic nature.

Q-Tips and other cotton swabs provide what is thought to be a perfect solution to remove the buildup. But if you take a closer look at the size of the swab in relation to the normal ear canal opening, they’re usually fairly close in circumference. The cotton swab often acts more like a plunger forcing the debris further down the canal.

Another option for cerumen management is the popular ear candle or cone. With this procedure a long, hollow candle is lit and placed in the opening of the ear canal. Manufacturers of these products claim that negative pressure is created inside the candle and any wax inside the ear is gently drawn out of the canal. Despite peer-reviewed research demonstrating the hazards, one study dating back to 1996 from Seeley, et al., and the FDA maintaining that “ear candles are sold for unsubstantiated medical intended uses that have no scientific basis for safety and effectiveness” the products continue to be sold. The FDA report also identified a number of injuries resulting from ear candles including burns to the ear and ruptured ear drums.

So what is the best way to manage the wax? Let nature take its course. The ear canal is designed to promote the natural migration of wax outward. By letting the body do its work, your ears should remove what is not needed on its own. For those who are over-accumulators, have your ears evaluated and cleaned on a regular basis by your licensed healthcare professional.