Could your child’s toys negatively impact his hearing?

Walk around your local toy store and you’ll see millions of different toys for your child to play with. Many of them include a sound component, which, in addition to being annoying to parents, can also pose a risk to a child’s hearing. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, some children’s toys – like sirens or squeaky rubber toys – can actually emit sounds of 90 decibels. To put that in perspective, adults experiencing that level of noise at work would have to wear ear protection!

Worse, when held up to a child’s ear during play, these toys can actually reach up to 120 decibels – a painful level that can result in permanent hearing loss. The Association suggests that some of the most dangerous toys for hearing include cap guns, vehicles with sirens, walkie talkies, vacuum toys, and even talking dolls. Before buying a new toy, be sure to test out its sound component; if you already have dangerous toys at home, take out the batteries to ensure they stay quiet. Healthy hearing practices begin at a young age, so start protecting your child at all times – even during play time. Talk to a doctor in your discount hearing plan if you have any questions or concerns about toys around your house.

Solutions for hearing loss around the home

Most of us take for granted that we can talk to someone over the phone and open the door when we hear the door bell chime. But for people with hearing loss, these tasks are not so simple. Fortunately, technology has now made it possible for hard-of-hearing people to “hear” the door bell and other alerts in the home, as well as carry on a conversation over the phone. For instance, telephone amplifiers can be coupled with a person’s hearing aid to improve the person’s ability to hear a caller.

For people who still cannot hear well enough for a conversation, they can use Voice Carry Over, which is used with a telephone relay service. In these cases, the operator translates what the other person is saying by converting their words to text on a screen. When it comes to “hearing” the door bell, people can install systems that pick up the signal and cause lights to flash, fans to spin, or a small device to vibrate. The same goes for sleeping alarms, fire alarms, and more. Talk to your True Dental Discounts hearing specialist about the best options for your home to find out more information.

Musicians may need extra hearing protection

Everyone knows it can be dangerous to your hearing to go to noisy concerts or blast music in the car, but did you know it can also be harmful to the one playing the music, as well? According to the American Hearing Research Foundation, the most damage comes from high-frequency sounds, such as those produced by violins and violas. This is especially true for the left ear because it is held close to the instrument during performances. Many violinists face a conundrum because they need to have excellent hearing to adjust the instrument’s pitch levels while playing, yet their hearing is gradually damaged by playing.

For non-string instruments like trumpets, experts recommend musicians use mutes to muffle the sound and protect their hearing. Other musicians, including violinists, have the option of wearing special “vented” ear plugs that help protect the ears without distorting the musician’s perception of the pitch. A doctor on your hearing plan can make specialized recommendations to fit your instrument and situation, so protect your hearing by scheduling an appointment before your next performance.

Turn down the background noise

While hearing aids are an excellent solution to hearing loss, they can sometimes make it difficult for a person to ignore the background noise in busy restaurants and other crowded places. To improve people’s hearing in such circumstances, the Better Hearing Institute developed several strategies that people with hearing loss can employ while out to eat. Better Hearing Institute suggests:

• Picking a quieter restaurant that is carpeted and is decorated with other sound-absorbent materials. Places like sports bars often create lots of extraneous noise that can make it difficult for people with a hearing aid to carry on conversations with their dining partners.
• Dining out on less busy days and avoiding the weekend rush.
• Previewing the restaurant’s menu online to reduce the number of questions for the server.
• Sitting with your back to the window so you can better see the people you are speaking with.
• Indicating choices upfront instead of waiting for the server to ask you which option you would prefer. For instance, order the salad with its dressing, or the sandwich with a particular side dish.
• Informing your dining companions and/or the server that you may have difficulty hearing in that particular environment and asking them to speak clearly. Everyone – even those without hearing aids – has trouble hearing in a loud environment, so don’t hesitate to ask someone to clarify or repeat a comment.

In addition to following these tips, it is important to talk to an audiologist who will evaluate your hearing and give you advice about your individual situation. Many excellent hearing specialists are available at a discount through your True Dental Discounts, hearing plan, so take advantage of it and contact a professional today.

Nurture your baby’s language and hearing skills

It is well-documented that young children learn to speak by listening. And as a parent, you play an integral role in helping your child develop proper speech and language skills – through interactive conversations, repetition, and example. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association recommends several helpful strategies to stimulate your baby’s brain:

• Talk constantly: Tell your baby where you’re going, what you’re doing, what you’re touching, what you’re seeing.
• Elaborate on words your baby uses. If she says “mama,” use it in several different sentences to help her understand context.
• Ask questions: “What’s this?”, “What do you see?”, “Is that a puppy or a kitty?”
• Be expressive. Change the inflection of your voice to indicate a question or excitement. This helps the baby learn tonal distinctions in our language.
• Use gestures. Waving, clapping, and signaling all help you convey your message.
• Reinforce your baby’s attempts at communicating. Repeat the sounds they make and teach them some of your own using consonant-based syllables like “ba” and “da.”

The first two years of your child’s life is a critical time in his language development. If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s hearing or speech, talk to an audiologist on your True Dental Discounts, hearing plan. He or she can evaluate your child and test for any possible hearing loss. The earlier hearing loss is discovered, the quicker a child can begin learning.

How do cochlear implants work?

If you’ve been using a hearing aid but still have difficulty hearing or communicating, cochlear implants may be a great option. Unlike hearing aids, cochlear implants “bypass the damaged inner ear and deliver electrical stimulation directly to the hearing nerve” (American Academy of Audiology). For this reason, cochlear implants are able to benefit people whose ears no longer respond to the amplification offered by hearing aids. Cochlear implants consist of both an external and internal part. The internal part is surgically implanted during an outpatient procedure and cannot be seen from the outside; the external part is similar in appearance to a hearing aid that wraps behind the ear. This external part is fitted and programmed by your audiologist.

According to the Academy of Audiology, everyone responds differently to cochlear implants. Although it does take time to get used to listening with the implant, many people are able to use the phone and even listen to music after a few months. Most implant users also communicate with others and understand speech well. People who receive cochlear implants generally work with a variety of specialists throughout the procedure and trial period, including a speech-language pathologist, who can help restore a sense of normality in everyday conversation.

If you have any questions about cochlear implants or think you could be a good candidate for the procedure, talk to an audiologist on your True Dental Discounts, hearing plan. He or she will evaluate your hearing and help you determine if implants are right for your lifestyle and individual needs.

Signs of hearing loss in school

Many parents of children with hearing loss say they first realized there was a problem when their child started having issues in school. This situation is common because school requires children to integrate all of their senses and adapt them to a variety of activities. It is during this time that parents and teachers may notice a child is having difficulty hearing. According to the Hearing, Speech and Deafness Center, adults should be alert for any of the following signs:

• The child needs instructions repeated often;
• The child has a short attention span;
• The child has trouble recalling a sequence of instructions;
• The child frequently misinterprets a command or set of instructions;
• The child’s vocabulary is behind grade level;
• The child does not always look up when his name is called;
• The child has trouble learning the sounds of letters and phonics;
• The child confuses words that sound alike;
• The child is withdrawn in the classroom and is hesitant to participate;
• The child ignores assignments that are given verbally.

These are only some of the warning signals that indicate a potential issue with hearing loss. If your child’s teacher reports seeing any of these things in the classroom, schedule a comprehensive examination with a pediatric audiologist on your True Dental Discounts, hearing plan. He or she will evaluate your child and help find a potential cause of any existing hearing loss. An audiologist can also offer alternative learning methods help the child learn effectively and efficiently in school. With the help of school staff, parents can get an individualized education plan (IEP) for their child to make sure they have all the tools they need to succeed in the classroom.

Protect your hearing with earmuffs, earplugs

Although it is always best for your hearing to avoid dangerously loud environments, many people are simply not able to escape these situations, particularly in a work setting. In these cases, experts recommend one of two hearing protection options: earmuffs or earplugs. Both of these devices work by lowering the intensity of sound before it reaches a person’s ear drum, but earmuffs are worn outside the ear while earplugs are inserted directly into the outer ear canal. According to the American Hearing Research Foundation, earplugs are only effective when they form a completely air-tight seal in the ear canal. To make sure the canal is sealed, earplugs come in many sizes and shapes. They can also be custom made by an audiologist on your True Dental Discounts membership plan if you have difficulty finding properly fitting plugs. In addition, some people wear special headbands with earplugs attached in order to make sure they do not fall out of their ear while working in a loud environment. The foundation does not recommend substituting cotton balls for earplugs because make-shift plugs typically only work about half to one-fourth as well as a properly fitting earplug.

However, people who prefer not to wear earplugs can find a good alternative in earmuffs. Earmuffs form an air-tight seal around the outside of the ear and are worn on a headband. People who choose to wear earmuffs should be careful not to wear them while wearing eyeglasses or long hair, both of which will cause the muffs to seal improperly. The headband must also be adjusted to a length that allows the muffs to fit snugly around the ear so no loose space exists to let sound in. If all of these conditions are met, the foundation suggests that people who wear earmuffs or earplugs can reduce their nose exposure by 15 to 30 decibels. That’s like the difference between a rock concert and a movie! The two methods can also be combined, and people who wear earmuffs in addition to earplugs can often increase their protection by another 10 to 15 decibels. If you can only choose one, many experts agree that earplugs are more effective at reducing low-frequency noise, while earmuffs are better at reducing high-frequency noise. When in doubt, always ask your True Dental Discounts audiologist. An audiologist can help identify any emerging damage and show you how to preserve your hearing for years to come.

Tips to Improve communication with hearing loss

Hearing loss can be frustrating – not only for the person it affects, but for those around them. To improve communication in families where someone has difficulty hearing well, the Better Hearing Institute developed some helpful techniques speakers can use to talk more clearly. One of the most important tactics is to make frequent pauses while speaking, particularly between key phrases. Pausing gives the listener time to process the message as it is being spoken, instead of in a rush at the end. This is especially helpful in crowded settings or noisy environments. For instance, a speaker may put pauses in the following sentence by saying, “I’m going to the grocery store (pause) to get eggs (pause), and then I’m going (pause) to pick up (pause) my dry cleaning.”

The pauses do not have to ruin the flow of a normal conversation; as long as they are brief and well-placed, the listener will be able to hear more easily. By pausing during the aforementioned sentence, the listener is more likely to understand the entire message instead of trying to figure out “grocery store” while missing the rest of the sentence. Other techniques to remember include slowing down the rate of speech, speaking slightly louder, and taking care to speak with clarity by avoiding mumbling. The speaker does not need to exaggerate his lip movements or shout; simply using patience and speaking meaningfully will help the message get across. If you have any questions about living with someone with hearing loss, or if you are having difficulty hearing, schedule an appointment with an audiologist on your True Care Advantage hearing care plan. Your quality of life could be dramatically improved.