Chronicles of a deaf Audiologist
Rehabilitation beyond hearing aids and cochlear implants: lipreading instruction, brain/auditory training and communication strategies.
Success for Hearing Better
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From the chronicles
What does a live concert sound like with a cochlear implant?
A couple of months after upgrading my cochlear implant processor, I went to a concert. The guy beside me was very engaged and was yelling enthusiastically. On top of the loud music, the yelling put my cochlear implant processor into compression. The sound immediately dropped and slowly came back to full volume. The parameters […]
Are you waiting for a cochlear implant?
Are you waiting for a cochlear implant? Here’s something you can do while you wait. Read some books in print that you can later access as audiobooks (from the library, Audible, Kobo, etc.). After your CI activation, listen to the audiobooks, choosing the reader you find easiest to understand. Listen without re-reading the text, at […]
How to help someone who is hard of hearing
Are you soft-spoken? To make yourself easier to understand, reduce listening effort for the other person: move closer, turn off or move away from background noise. Be expressive: use facial expression, gestures, and body language when they support what you are saying. The intonation rises at the end of the sentence for a question or […]
Tinnitus notably higher in 19-29 year olds!
I’m concerned! The prevalence of tinnitus was found to be notably higher among 19-29 year olds in a Canadian Health Measures Survey. In the 19-29 year old age group, prevalence was 46%, compared to 33% for those aged 30-49, and 35% for those aged 50-70. Approximately 80-90% of people with tinnitus experience some degree of […]
Why you shouldn’t use Qtips for itchy ears
Many people use cotton Qtips because their ears get itchy—but in doing so, make their ears more itchy, because a Qtip will scrape off a protective, sealing layer of skin and wax. The result? Dry, itchy skin. In some cases, vigorous use of a Qtip can result in a ruptured ear drum—a very painful condition. […]
What does “falling on deaf ears” mean?
Do you ever use the expression “falling on deaf ears”? I wonder if people are really thinking about what they are saying when they use this expression. Do they mean that the person appears to have selective hearing? That may be an unfair accusation when applied to someone with hearing loss.
Find out for sure before getting an over-the-counter hearing aid (OTC)
If you are considering an over-the-counter hearing aid, are you sure that your hearing loss is not treatable? Some people have hearing problems due to treatable conditions, like impacted wax. Others may have conditions or diseases that place them at risk for hearing loss. Exclusion criteria from the American Academy of Otolaryngology include ear pain […]
This is important to know before getting over-the-counter hearing aids (OTCs)
Are you considering an over-the-counter hearing aid (OTC)? OTCs are meant for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. Research shows that people are not great at estimating their hearing levels, and they tend to underestimate the severity of their hearing loss (Tsimpida et al, 2020). See a hearing care professional for a hearing test […]
Are you considering an over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid?
Are you considering an over-the-counter hearing aid (OTC)? Make sure you pick one that uses the information from your hearing test in the fitting process. OTCs that are pre-set do not take into account the degree and configuration of your hearing loss. If you have never had a hearing test, see a hearing care professional first. […]
Can you wear your OTCs all day?
Over-the-counter hearing aids (OTCs) are not a custom fit—meaning they are not personalized for the shape of your ear canal. Unlike with traditional hearing aids, you won’t have the benefit of a hearing care professional to look at the fit in your ear canal and suggest modifications if needed. If you can’t wear your OTCs […]