It is Summer now and time for some water-based activities! With options like a lazy float down the Madison on a warm, sunny day, rafting the Yellowstone, or wakeboarding on Flathead Lake, there are countless aquatic pursuits with which to fill one’s free time. While enjoying a peaceful dip, or adrenaline filled rush, it is important to remember that these environments do pose new challenges for hearing device care. Always be prepared and have a plan to protect these important medical instruments while creating amazing memories on the high seas (or soothing river).
Hearing devices are NOT WATERPROOF. It is important to note that hearing devices, just like cell phones, do not currently exists as waterproof electronics. Hearing devices are rated under the same IP rating system that cell phones are. Most newer devices are given a rating of IP68, meaning that they do meet the best water resistance standard that can be had without being totally waterproof. As such, they might come out just fine in a rain, or even the accidental shower if one notices quickly and takes them off early in the process. However, hearing devices are not meant for a dip in the pool or even the occasional water gun fight brought on by the grandchild (you know which one). Protect devices from as much water contact as can be done. Hearing devices encounter liquid daily in the form of sweat. While it was mentioned earlier that hearing instruments are quite water resistant, even this daily contact can make its way into the device and destroy the inner circuitry. This is noticeable as a crackling or intermittence in the sound produced. It is important to protect devices from water so as not to damage them, leaving one without the ability to hear. Keep a watertight box or bag for when participating in water sports or leave the devices in the car to ensure that liquids stay far away. If taking part in a shore activity where it is not expected that one would get soaked, perhaps try a cord or clip to keep devices in place. These often come with a sleeve that fits over the devices and can be worn daily for extra protection against sweat and the elements, like that car that always drives through the puddle soaking the protagonist of the movie right when everything else in their life is going wrong. The next scene is usually the protagonist at their audiologist having their devices sent to the manufacturer due to water damage. Unfortunately, this scene gets cut, probably due to run time or something. Another useful tool in the hearing instrument wearer’s arsenal is the hearing device dryer. Accidents happen and people sweat so it is always good to have this on hand. After an accidental drop in the sink, or toilet if one is really unlucky, or that one friend that thinks it is still funny to push people in the pool (probably a sibling), a dryer can really come in handy. Take the devices off and place them in the desiccant jar, or the dryer/charger combo that many devices are sold with and leave them overnight. This can clear out that moisture and save some major damage to the devices. It is also a good idea to do this nightly to escape that aforementioned sweat. Hearing devices are important, but so is spending time with loved ones and getting out and having experiences. Be sure to take precautions and have a plan in place to keep hearing instruments safe, and dry. There are options to help with this, like a sleeve or clip, as well as dryers to help with daily care and emergencies. If you need any of those supplies, please give us a call at 406-586-0914; we will be glad to provide them to you. Talk to your audiologist if any questions arise, or any advice is needed on care of hearing devices. Sources
Happy 4th of July from all of us at Helton Hearing Care. 😊 We will be closed on Friday, July 3rd in an observance of Independence Day and resume normal business hours on Monday, July 6th.
Please be sure to take necessary safety precautions to protect your hearing and your health while celebrating the 4th of July during a pandemic. See some tips https://www.usatoday.com/…/how-safely-celebrate…/5354732002/ ~ Have a safe and enjoyable holiday. In honor of the joyful holiday season, to allow our staff to enjoy the holidays with their families, our office will be closed as follows:
-- From noon on Tues, Dec 24th - Wed, Dec 25th. -- From noon on Tues, Dec 31st, 2019 – Wed, Jan 1st, 2020. We wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. New research into the “ringing in the ears” condition known as tinnitus points to an alarming level of early hearing damage in young people who are exposed to loud music. The researchers interviewed and evaluated 170 students between 11 and 17 years old, learning that nearly all of them engage in risky listening habits, favoring loud music at parties, in their vehicles and on their personal listening devices.
It is common after listening to loud music to experience tinnitus for the next day or two, and more than half report that it has happened to them. Alarmingly, more than a quarter of the subjects are already experiencing persistent tinnitus, which generally affects people over 50. This brief tinnitus is an early warning sign of vulnerability to the damaging effects of noise exposure on the neurons that transmit sounds to the brain. While some other forms of hearing loss can be repaired, such nerve damage cannot be reversed. The only sure solution is prevention. To that end, developers have created smartphone applications and other devices that help young users – and their parents - to insure that young ears do not exceed their safe “Daily Sound Allowance” (DSA). By tracking the listening habits of users, these applications are designed to never let users exceed their DSA and to prevent them from exposure to harmful levels of listening. For more information, visit www.limitear.com. If you have youngsters in your life, be aware of the significant and permanent damage they may be doing to their hearing. While they may be our potential customers of tomorrow, we would vastly prefer to see them practice safe listening habits today. Need a good pair of custom hearing protection devices, give us a call at 406-586-0914 to schedule an appointment with our doctors of audiology. Adapted from “Increase of Tinnitus in Teens Indicates Early Hearing Damage” hearingreview.com 6/16 When stressed by loud sounds, the hair cells in your ears undergo metabolic changes that can make them more vulnerable to free radicals, according to Jackie Clark, a professor at the University of Texas at Dallas. Fortunately, studies show that some nutrients can help protect these hair cells.
Need to get your hearing tested, give us a call today at 406-586-0914 to schedule an appointment with our doctors of audiology. :) Adapted from “Now Hear This”, Newsmax, 06/17 Do you know your hearing aids need to be cleaned and checked every 3-4 months to make sure they are in tip-top shape? For our clients who are under our TLC plans, please come by and see our audiologist assistant, during two convenient walk-in times from Mon - Thurs, 11 - noon and 2 - 3 for the services. We are looking forward to seeing you. :)
Limiting the amount of time you expose your ears to loud noise may be a challenge if you live in a big city. New York City ranked #4 of the noisiest cities in the world. A population of more than 8 million and over 55 million tourists annually are just part of the reason. Taxis, street construction, car alarms, nightclubs, subways and planes all contribute. Discover other top-ranked noisy cities https://bit.ly/1eoL62a When visiting noisy cities, bring a pair of inexpensive earplugs to protect your hearing. If you need a good pair of custom hearing protection devices, give us a call at 406-586-0914 to schedule an appointment with our doctors of audiology. :)
Helton Hearing Care | Hearing Center Interview Contributed by Debbie Clason, staff writer for Healthy Hearing Dr. Will Helton was a college student when his grandfather, a WWII veteran, started having hearing problems. “I saw a normally happy, outgoing and super friendly guy change,” Dr. Helton said about his grandfather. “He withdrew. He wasn’t my grandpa anymore. He saw an audiologist, was successfully fit with hearing aids and by the next week, I had my grandpa back. I said 'Hey, there’s something to this profession.'” The experience was significant enough to prompt him to go back to school and get his doctorate degree in audiology after a 10 year teaching career in the U.S. and Thailand. Helton Hearing Care, staffed by two full-time Doctors of Audiology, a COHC certified audiology assistant and experienced support personnel, differentiates itself from other providers not only by the educational qualifications of its professionals but by practicing “evidence-based” hearing care. “We aren’t afraid to see people who have very challenging losses,” Dr. Helton said. “If it’s a difficult case, we’ll schedule several appointments to fit the patient correctly. We put in the time to solve these tough cases.” They begin the process with comprehensive testing. Then, accessing the best available research regarding the treatment of each specific hearing loss, they will spend as much time as needed to both assure the best solution for the patient’s hearing needs and to personalize their hearing experience based on individual hearing preferences. And this level of care does not end at the fitting. Patients receive four years of professional, in-office service on their hearing instruments, which includes batteries and routinely available follow up appointments. They offer walk-in hours twice a day and stock “top of the line loaners” to lend to patients if their hearing devices need to be sent away for repair. One of Dr. Helton’s favorite hearing device success stories involves a minister who had tried for 20 years to get help with her hearing loss — and spent thousands of dollars on five different pairs of instruments in the process. “I found myself sitting in front of the kindest person who had a very, very difficult hearing loss,” he said. “She had to quit playing the organ and give up some of her ministerial duties at church because of it. It took me four hours to fit her correctly. Afterward, she wrote a testimonial saying she has a 'new connected life full of sounds, friends, conversation and laughter.'” Dr. Helton said making a difference in the lives of others is his favorite part of being a hearing healthcare professional, a sentiment that is shared by his staff which includes Dr. Luke Emberlin, Au.D. FAAA and Crystal Avaro, COHC. One of the ways Helton Hearing Care gives back to the Bozeman, Mont. community is by providing FM systems for local entertainment venues. They also work routinely with the local Lion’s Clubs and Vocational Rehabilitation Services, where they fit patients at or even below cost. While Dr. Helton appreciates how far hearing technology has come, he believes there’s a lot more involved in achieving success with hearing aids than the instruments themselves. “A great hearing device will only work well if it is appropriately chosen, based on thorough and professional testing, and fit precisely to a patient’s individual wants and needs. One size does not fit all,” Dr. Helton said. “Today’s consumers are savvy but they are swimming in a sea of misinformation. It’s so easy to end up losing a lot of money. If I could tell anybody anything, I’d tell them to make decisions regarding hearing instruments the way they would make any other major health care choice. That spur-of-the-moment hearing aid purchase you make at a big-box store from a flyer you received in the mail isn’t likely to be your best solution.” Good hearing choices helped Dr. Helton’s grandfather to understand those around him, to connect with the people and the activities that he loves, and to live his life fully engaged with his community. It is Helton Hearing Care’s mission to help everyone achieve such successful outcomes. “In our practice, we take a Zig Ziglar approach to patient care. His philosophy is if you help enough people get what they want, they’ll help you get what you want. When you take time to look at the whole patient and know where they’ve been, where they are now and what they want to do in the future, then you can fit them with the right technology.” Find more information by visiting the clinic's website at http://www.heltonhearing.com. Want to connect with the clinic on social media? You can find them at: YouTube Q: Our teenage grandson loves his iPod. We’re concerned that he may be playing it too loud. Can this cause a problem? Dr. Helton : Yes. Noise induced hearing loss is the most common cause of hearing problems in young and senior adults. Ask any baby boomer about their hearing difficulties and they’ll tell you it was caused by rock concerts and noise. iPods are the modern equipment of those outdoor rock concerts, but can actually be worse for your hearing due to the increased length of exposure accoutered with portable MP3 plyer. If you own one, limit the volume or exposure time in order to reduce your risk of hearing loss. If you are exposed to external noise in your environment (work or leisure), doctors of audiology recommend hearing protection. We regularly fit hunters, construction workers, firemen, police officers, musicians and wood workers with a variety of custom hearing protection devices. Call Helton Hearing Care today at (406) 586-0914 and we will gladly give the protection you need. |
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