Straight Talk from FDA About Hearing Loss and Hearing Aids.The Food and Drug Administration, or FDA FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. , is part of the U.S. government. One of FDA's jobs is to tell Americans what to do about hearing loss. Do You Have Trouble Hearing? If you have trouble hearing, you're not alone. More than 25 million Americans have hearing loss, including one out of four people older than 65. Hearing loss may come from infections, strokes, head injuries, some medicines, tumors, other medical problems, or even too much ear wax ear wax Audiology A yellow secretion from glands in the outer ear–cerumen that keeps the skin of the ear dry and protected from infectionVox populi → medtalk Wax blockage, see there . It can also result from repeated exposure to very loud noise, such as music, power tools, or jet engines. Changes in the way the ear works as a person ages can also affect hearing. For Most People, There Is Help The good news is that, for most people who have a hearing loss, there are ways to fix the problem. So if you have trouble hearing, visit your doctor or hearing health-care professional to find out if you have a hearing loss and, if so, how to treat it. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has rules to make sure that treatments for hearing loss--medicines, hearing aids Hearing Aids Definition A hearing aid is a device that can amplify sound waves in order to help a deaf or hard-of-hearing person hear sounds more clearly. , and other medical devices are safe and really work. You Might Need A Heating Aid If: * people say you're shouting when you talk to them * you need the TV or radio turned up louder than other people do * you often have to ask people to repeat what they say because you can't quite hear them, especially in groups or when there is background noise * you can't hear a noise if you're not facing the direction it's coming from * you seem to hear better out of one ear than the other * you have to strain to hear * you keep hearing a hissing hiss n. 1. A sharp sibilant sound similar to a sustained s. 2. An expression of disapproval, contempt, or dissatisfaction conveyed by use of this sound. v. or ringing background noise * you can't hear a dripping faucet or the high notes of a violin. If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor or heating health-care professional so you can be tested for hearing loss. Hearing' Tests and Treatments To find out what kind of hearing loss you have and whether all the parts of your ear are working OK, your doctor may want you to take a hearing test. These tests are often given by a health-care professional that specializes in hearing, such as an audiologist Audiologist A person with a degree and/or certification in the areas of identification and measurement of hearing impairments and rehabilitation of those with hearing problems. . Audiologists are usually not medical doctors but are trained to give hearing tests and interpret the results. Hearing tests are painless. If the hearing test shows that you have a hearing loss, there may be one or more ways to treat it. Possible treatments include medication, surgery or a hearing aid. Hearing aids can usually help hearing loss that involves damage to the inner ear. This type of hearing loss is common in older people as part of the aging process. But younger people can also have it from infections or repeated exposure to loud noises. Hearing Aids and Cell Phones Cell phones and hearing aids don't work very well together, so you may not be able to use a cell phone while you're wearing a hearing aid. This is because electromagnetic interference See EMI. between the phone and the hearing aid causes buzzing or static. Scientists are trying to find out more about this problem and what can be done about it. Types of Hearing Aids All hearing aids have these parts: * a microphone, to pick up sound * an amplifier, to make sound louder * a speaker, to bring sound to the ear * a battery. Some people only need a hearing aid for one ear. Other people need one for each ear. If you need a hearing aid, your doctor will know whether you need one or two. Here are some of the most common types of heating aids: * Behind-the-Ear: This kind of hearing aid fits behind the ear and carries sound to the ear through a custom ear mold. Hearing aids that are attached to eyeglasses eyeglasses or spectacles, instrument or device for aiding and correcting defective sight. Eyeglasses usually consist of a pair of lenses mounted in a frame to hold them in position before the eyes. are a type of behind-the-ear hearing aid. They are useful for mild to severe hearing loss. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * In-the-Ear: These are custom-made to fit in the outer ear. You can't see any wires because they are inside the aid. They are useful for mild to moderate hearing loss. * In-the Ear-Canal: This kind of hearing aid is custom-made to fit in the ear canal ear canal n. The narrow, tubelike passage through which sound enters the ear. Also called external auditory canal. . There are no outside wires or tubes. These hearing aids are almost impossible to see. They help people with all but the worst hearing loss. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * On-the-Body: These are for very bad hearing loss. They include a case with a larger microphone, amplifier and battery. The case can be carried in pockets or attached to clothing. The case is connected by a wire to an ear receiver that is attached to an ear mold. Cochlear Implants Cochlear Implants Definition A cochlear implant is a surgical treatment for hearing loss that works like an artificial human cochlea in the inner ear, helping to send sound from the ear to the brain. You may have heard about a device to help hearing that is implanted behind the ear during surgery. This device is called a cochlear cochlear pertaining to or emanating from the cochlea. cochlear duct the coiled portion of the membranous labyrinth located inside the cochlea; contains endolymph. cochlear nerve see Table 14. (pronounced COKE-lee-ur) implant. It is only used for very bad hearing loss. It gets its name from the medical term for the inner ear the cochlea cochlea (kŏk`lēə): see ear. . A cochlear implant cochlear implant n. An electronic device that stimulates auditory nerve fibers in the inner ear in individuals with severe or profound bilateral hearing loss, allowing them to recognize some sounds, especially speech sounds. doesn't completely restore hearing but it helps a person hear sounds and conversations better. The device has several parts: * An electronic device placed in the bone of the skull, behind the outer ear. * Wires and electrodes Electrodes Tiny wires in adhesive pads that are applied to the body for ECG measurement. Mentioned in: Electrocardiography inserted into the inner ear, or cochlea. * A microphone and transmitter that are worn outside the body. If your hearing is very bad, your doctor could decide if a cochlear implant could help you. Have Your Hearing Tested Not everyone with a hearing problem can be helped by a hearing aid. Your doctor or hearing healthcare professional is the best person to know if a hearing aid might help you. You should have your hearing tested by a specialist before you buy a hearing aid. It's best to get your hearing test from a licensed hearing health professional. If the hearing test shows that you need a hearing aid, you will get a note or prescription saying your hearing has been tested and you need a hearing aid. The note may also say what kind of hearing aid the hearing healthcare professional recommends. Buyer Beware You may see ads that say that you can buy a hearing aid without being examined. This is--true it's up to you. But if you decide you don't want a medical exam to rule out a medical reason for the hearing loss, you will have to sign a written statement called a waiver. The waiver says that the company or person selling the hearing aid has told you that FDA has determined that it is in your best health interest to have a medical examination by a licensed physician--preferably one that specializes in ear diseases--before buying a hearing aid, but that you decided not to have the medical exam. Ads may also offer money-back guarantees if you're not satisfied with the hearing aid. Make sure you read and understand what the seller is promising. The best place to buy a hearing aid is from a licensed hearing aid dispenser A hearing aid dispenser is a person licensed to prescribe and dispense hearing aids. Hearing Aid Dispensers provide testing for the purpose of supplying hearing aids to individuals with hearing loss. , or seller. To find out if the seller is licensed, call or write your local Better Business Bureau, or your state's attorney Noun 1. state's attorney - a prosecuting attorney for a state state attorney prosecuting attorney, prosecuting officer, prosecutor, public prosecutor - a government official who conducts criminal prosecutions on behalf of the state general. For More Information * American Academy The American Academy in Berlin is a non-partisan academic institution in Berlin. It was founded in September 1994 by a group of prominent Americans and Germans, among them Richard Holbrooke, Henry Kissinger, Richard von Weizsäcker, Fritz Stern and Otto Graf Lambsdorff and opened in of Otolaryngology otolaryngology or otorhinolaryngology Medical specialty dealing with the ear, nose, and throat (see larynx, pharynx). The connection of these structures became known in the late 19th century. -- Head and Neck Surgery (703) 836-4444 http://www.entnet.org * American Speech-Language Hearing Association, Action Center 1-800-638-8255 http://www.asha.org/consumers/ consumers.htm * Better Hearing Institute Hearing HelpLine helpline Noun a telephone line set aside for callers to contact an organization for help with a problem helpline n → teléfono de asistencia al público 1-800-EAR-WELL (1-800-327-9355) http://www.betterhearing.org * International Hearing Society Hearing Aid HelpLine 1-800-521-5247 Do You Have Other Questions About Hearing Loss? FDA may have an office near you. Look for their number in the blue pages of the phone book. You can also contact FDA through its toll-free number, 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332). Or, on the World Wide Web at www.fda.gov. |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion