Hearing loss can be a challenging condition but with the help of audiologist, patients can find effective solutions to manage and improve their quality of life. Read on to find out how.
Shelby Stockton (00:00):
Welcome to the South Florida ENT Audio blog, I'm Shelby Stockton. May is Better Speech and Hearing month, so today I discussed hearing loss with audiologist Dr. Sherry Rauh. We talked about the effects of hearing loss and why choosing the right audiologist for you is so important. Dr. Rauh educates us on different treatments for hearing loss, from hearing aids to cochlear implants and other treatments. Healthy hearing is very important as it can lead to depression, isolation, and cognitive decline. So if you or a loved one suffers from hearing loss, take a few minutes out of your day to listen to Dr. Rauh's advice.
Dr. Rauh, how are you today?
Dr. Sherry Rauh (00:43):
I'm doing great, Shelby. How are you?
Shelby Stockton (00:45):
I'm great. I'm really excited to talk to you about the hearing loss, your specialty, and I'm going to get right into it. What are some effects of hearing loss?
Dr. Sherry Rauh (00:54):
So the effects of untreated hearing loss actually fall into two categories. There's those that impact the individual with the hearing loss and then those that impact the people around them. It's actually often the loved ones who first notice an individual's hearing loss. Maybe you're turning up the television too loud or you're asking people to repeat themselves and your spouse kind of cracks a joke you ought to get your ears checked. While hearing loss is not your fault, it can be frustrating to the people that you love. They might feel like you're ignoring them, or they might have to raise their voices constantly. And when you get help for your hearing loss, you're actually helping your loved ones as well.
As for the impact on the person who's not hearing well, we actually have some fascinating research now that shows untreated hearing loss can lead to an increased risk of dementia down the road. There's several theories as to why that is. When you're not hearing well, the brain actually has to work extra hard to fill in the gaps, help you understand what's being said, and that increases your cognitive load. Not hearing well also causes you to withdraw from conversations, from social experiences, and we all know that social isolation can also lead to dementia.
And finally, hearing loss is a form of sensory deprivation. The brain is not receiving one of the vital senses, and in fact, there's some incredible imaging studies that show how the part of the brain that processes sound, the auditory cortex, actually changes in people with hearing loss. One study indicated that those changes can more or less be reversed after six months when somebody uses hearing aids regularly. A very large study that came out last year found people who wear their hearing aids regularly reduce their long-term risk of dementia by nearly 19%. That's huge. It's something that we can do in our everyday life to actually stave off cognitive decline in dementia. So that's a very big deal. So hearing loss, not just about hearing. It impacts your relationships, your quality of life, your brain health, and your overall wellbeing.
Shelby Stockton (03:02):
It's so funny that you say that is when you were telling that story. It reminds me about, I was getting frustrated with my father because he was having... I had to repeat myself many times and I went, "Ah." And he said, "Shelby, how do you think I feel?" And I was like, oh God. We have to remember to be empathetic about these situations.
Dr. Sherry Rauh (03:20):
We really do. It can be frustrating for everyone involved, and it's so important for people to be patient with themselves, be patient with your loved ones, and understand they're not doing this on purpose. It's a medical condition and it's something that you can get help for.
Shelby Stockton (03:35):
Definitely. So can you tell me why work with an audiologist when it comes to hearing loss?
Dr. Sherry Rauh (03:40):
Yes. That's such a great question, Shelby. The real secret to success with new hearing aids is not which specific device you choose, but your relationship with the professional who is doing the fitting and programming of those hearing aids. The first job of an audiologist is to listen. We want to know your hopes, your difficulties, what a typical day is like for you. Where do you go? Who do you talk to? This information is going to help us guide you in choosing a model and style this likely to suit your needs. An audiologist is then also going to take measurements to ensure that your new hearing aid will fit properly. And all of that just takes place during the initial consultation. When you return for the fitting of your new hearing aids, this is when audiologists really work their magic. We're going to verify the physical fit of the hearing aids.
We're going to program the amplification at each frequency according to your hearing loss, and we'll measure the sound level within your ear canal to make sure the correct sound level is reaching your eardrum. This provides an objective way to verify that the hearing aid is working well and giving you what you need. An audiologist will also take into account your personal preferences in adjusting those sound levels, and we can create custom programs for various listening situations. Once you get your new hearing aids, you're going to wear them out in the real world for a week or two, and then you're going to come back and your audiologist will make adjustments based on your experiences. I really want to emphasize that getting hearing aids is not about buying a device. It's about developing a partnership with a professional whose goal is to maximize how well you hear.
Shelby Stockton (05:21):
Okay. Let's have the hearing aid talk because some people feel like there's a stigma attached to getting a hearing aid, whatever that might be. So how do you introduce hearing aids to a patient who's never worn one before?
Dr. Sherry Rauh (05:36):
Yeah. This is such another interesting dilemma, like people think that wearing a hearing aid has a stigma or might make them look old or people will really notice that. And actually what's more true is that people notice a hearing loss. When you are asking people to repeat themselves or not keeping up with the conversation, that is much more noticeable than a small device that's in the ear. Modern hearing aids are nothing like what people might have imagined from their grandparents. They're very petite, they're very discreet, they're very modern looking, and now so many people are wearing all kinds of Bluetooth earpieces all the time that I think there's much less stigma involved in having something on your ear.
One of the keys to wearing hearing aids for the first time is to understand that achieving better hearing is a process. It's a little different than putting on a pair of reading glasses and the text in front of you is clear instantly. For people who've developed hearing loss over many years, the brain has actually gotten used to hearing at a lower level. So then when we suddenly try to bring back in all that sound, it can be overwhelming. We sometimes have to go step by step.
We will actually program the hearing aids deliberately below a patient's prescription and let them get used to it over the course of a couple of weeks, come back when they're ready. We can turn it up. We can work towards that goal of getting them to hear what they should be hearing, but without making them feel too uncomfortable during the initial process. Modern hearing aids also allow people to control some of the settings and volume themselves often through a smartphone app. Having that control can make it a lot easier for some people to adapt. Motivation is really important in wearing hearing aids for the first time. If people want to hear, they're going to get over any issues about having a little something on the ear. They'll be able to push through those first couple of weeks when it might sound a little different than what they're used to or what they're expecting. And then the benefits are so worth the effort.
Shelby Stockton (07:45):
Well, what are some other treatments for hearing loss? Are there any others?
Dr. Sherry Rauh (07:49):
There are. As a matter of fact, it's actually one reason it's so essential to have an exam with an audiologist before getting any type of hearing aid. You might be eligible for other treatments. If your audiologist suspects that there's an issue with your eardrum or the middle ear bones that vibrate to send the sound along to the inner ear, you're going to be referred to an ENT. In some cases, medical management or even surgery could improve your hearing. There's also surgical implants that are appropriate for some types of hearing loss. For example, a bone conduction implant might be appropriate for someone who's deaf in one ear, but here's well in the other ear or a cochlear implant is appropriate for people whose hearing loss is so severe that regular hearing aids can't provide enough benefit. And there you want to be evaluated by a team of an audiologist, an ENT, possibly a speech language pathologist to find out if one of these other solutions could be a good help for you.
Shelby Stockton (08:47):
That's great. So before we sign off, could you just maybe give a little bit of advice for anybody who might be afraid or scared or nervous to go visit an audiologist?
Dr. Sherry Rauh (08:56):
Sure. So I think making that call is the hardest part. It's like getting your mind in line with I need this help. I got to dial that number. And then once you go to visit the audiologist, that first appointment, you're not committing to anything. You're getting information. Just think about it as you're on an exploratory mission. You're going to learn about your ears, your hearing, what might be available to help you. It's information gathering, and then may take you some time to absorb what you learn.
And when you're ready for the next step, that audiologist is going to be there to help you each step of the way. It is really important to find someone that you're comfortable working with. If you don't connect with the first person you visit, go ahead and make an appointment with someone else, because this is going to be a long-term relationship. You're going to be seeing that audiologist if you end up getting hearing aids for years to help you maintain the fit and programming of those devices, to keep checking your hearing and make sure nothing else is going on. So this has to be someone that you're comfortable seeing for a long, long time.
Shelby Stockton (10:02):
Doctor, this has been so informative. I learned a lot and I talked to a lot of ENTs and audiologists, so thank you so much.
Dr. Sherry Rauh (10:10):
It's my pleasure, Shelby. I could talk about audiology all day, so anytime.
