Do's and Do Not's of Ear Care

Have you ever heard the saying, “Don’t put anything smaller then your elbow in your ear”? It sounds like advice like you grandmother yells at you when she catches you sticking something in your ear. If you are anything like me, you replied “ok”, walked out of her view and continued what you were doing. If you’re not supposed to stick things in your ears, then why does it feel so good sometimes? Like right when you get out of the shower or when there’s a really bad itch. Well as it turns out like many things grandmothers say, this statement is true. For the sake of your ears, nothing smaller than your elbow should go in you ear. Here are some helpful Do’s and Don’ts of ear care brought to you by someone other than your grandmother.

Do Not...

· Stick random things in your ears. This includes bobby pins, matches, pen tips, pencils and keys

· Use Q-Tips too deep. Q-Tips are great for cleaning the outside of your ear and right inside the canal. It is just not safe to aggressively dig a stick with cotton on the tip into your ear. I know it feels good (yes I am talking to you Mom) but it is NOT SAFE to go too deep. If you actually look at the Q-Tip box, ears aren’t even a suggested use.

· Let very hot or very cold water run into your ear canals when you are in the shower. You can let water run in your ears but make sure the water is warm.

Do...
· Let wax come out of your naturally. Wax is secreted by the body to keep dust, dirt, hair and other things AWAY from the eardrum. If you go sticking things into your ear, you could push the wax back too far.

· Use drops to soften hard plugged wax. You can use over-the-counter drops like Debrox or something found at home like olive oil.

· Use an easy flush of you want to keep your ears clean. You can use a solution of one part warm water and one part vinegar or hydrogen peroxide. Using a bulb syringe (the kind you use on infants) suck up the solution and flush your ears. You want to tilt your head down on the side you are flushing so the solution shoots up and falls back out of the ear.

· Go to a professional for wax removal if the wax becomes impacted (plugged).

There you have it. Some simple Do’s and Do Not’s about ear care. Told to you by a professional, and not your grandmother.

Have You Heard The News?

Have you ever been so excited to share such exciting news that it's hard to know where to start? Well that’s how we feel. Last week Dr. Swander was invited to Audibel headquarters in MN to learn about Audibel's new line of products. The most exciting development introduced at the conference was a brand new style of hearing aid, the Invisibel.

The Invisibel is the first custom Invisible in the Canal (IIC) hearing aid of it's kind! It fits so deeply in the canal that it truly is invisible. Really, it is! Check out the picture. It is fully digital and completely programmable.

The Invisibel boasts Audibel's top rated Whistle-Free Feedback Cancellation feature that virtually eliminates any buzzing or whistling. It also utilizes the brand new Active Noise Control feature. This exciting feature was designed and tirelessly tested and perfected to seek out speech sounds in noise. Imagine being able to truly hear someone speaking to you even in the midst of background noise. We're pretty excited about this new feature.

Of course, the Invisibel also has some pretty cool telephone features such as the Automatic Telephone Response. Yes- that is basically how it sounds. When you put the phone to your ear, the hearing aid recognizes the phone and automatically changes to the pre-programmed telephone setting for optimal hearing. When you take the phone away, the hearing aid will automatically change back to the appropriate setting. Finally, the Invisibel is equipped with the T2 Remote Control feature. This handy feature allows the hearing aid wearer to adjust the programs or volume of the hearing aid with any touch-tone phone, including cell phones. It’s like having a remote control by using something you already carry around.

The Invisibel hearing aid is custom made for each patient. It is not meant to be an extended wear hearing aid like some similar aids out there. It is actually much healthier for your ears to take the hearing aids out at night. You don't sleep with your glasses do you? Then why commit to sleeping with your hearing aids in? Trust us- everyone sees and hears perfectly in their dreams!

Bottom Line: the Invisibel is a high quality, digital hearing aid that is packed full of cutting edge technology and features that is custom-made to fit so deeply in the canal that it's invisible! How much better can you get?

We can hardly wait to start fitting the Invisibel and hearing all the wonderful feedback we are positive this hearing aid will bring.

You can lead a horse to water…

Warning labels are everywhere. There is practically nothing you can purchase that does one have some kind of warning label on it. From cigarettes that can cause lung disease or cancer to hair dryers that warn not get the device wet unless you want to be electrocuted. We see these labels all the time and we make the choice to use the products or not.

There has long been speculation that personal music devices like MP3 player and iPods already has and will continue to contribute to noise induced hearing loss. Just like smoking a cigarettes every day can lead to serious health problems, listening to loud music for long periods of time can contribute to a hearing loss. Almost all personal listening devices sold today have a warning label informing the user that continued exposure over time can damage their hearing and includes education on safe listening habits.

Recently, the US Court of Appeals upheld a 2008 ruling that Apple is not responsible for the hearing loss the 2 plaintiffs suffered from listening to their iPods too loud because Apple warns users of the hazards of listening to music too loud. Everyday, thousands of people are choosing to listen to their music much too loud despite receiving warnings when they purchased their personal listening devices.

We are exposed to loud sounds everyday when we mow the lawn, go to concerts, shoot firearms, vacuum, and set off fireworks without proper hearing protection. Many times, people are too young to care about the hearing education materials included with iPods and MP3 players and by the time hearing becomes an issue; the damage has already been done. People are going to choose to do what they want to no matter how many warnings they get and they must be prepared to deal with the consequences of those choices.

Only YOU can protect your hearing

Everyday we are bombarded with loud sounds. Have you ever left a concert and experienced that high-pitched ringing in your ears? You’ve also probably been at the drug store, seen those foam earplugs and made a mental note to get some before your next concert. Normally people are painfully aware when sounds are too loud. What they may not be aware of is just how damaging those loud sounds can be to their hearing or that custom hearing protection is available and very easy to use.

Drug store foam earplugs are made for the masses. They are a one-size-fits-most quick solution to blocking loud sounds by acting like a plug in the ear. Coming from someone who looks in ears all day long, I can tell you that no two ear canals are the same. Some are wide while others are narrow. Some have deep curves and some are pretty straight. Each canal also has a different depth. Although drug store foam plugs are better than nothing, they just don’t always do the trick. Have you ever tried these foam plugs only to have them fall out of your ears within a short amount of time? Even when they are squeezed down to a thin layer of foam, shoved into the canal and held in place to allow the plug to expand, they can easily work their way out of the ear with jaw movement. Other people may experience soreness in their ears due to inappropriate sizes of plugs.

If you have tried the foam plugs and they seem to work, continue to wear them whenever you are exposed to loud sounds. Like I stated before: any protection is better then no protection at all. For the majority of people who cannot use the foam earplugs, there is a solution: custom hearing protection. Custom hearing protection is made specifically for your ears. They are easy to insert and remove, require minimal care and do not fall out of your ears with jaw movement.

There is custom hearing protection for virtually all situations. Here is a quick description of the most common types of hearing protection:

Concert Plugs- Great for musicians and music lovers. These custom plugs allow the wearer to hear accurately in high noise environments. It takes all sounds and reduces them evenly across the frequency spectrum, so you get to hear everything- just at a quieter and safer level.

Sleeping Plugs- Snore plugs are ideal for those who are often kept awake by a partner’s snoring. They are also great for light sleepers. The comfortable material is designed to promote a full night’s rest without pesky interruptions.

Hunting Plugs- These plugs are designed to allow normal sounds to come through and be heard most of the time. The magic happens in a valve designed to shut and block harmful sounds such as gunshots and other sudden noises from damaging your hearing.


Maximum Plugs- Sometimes you need to block almost everything out. These plugs are made to essentially reduce all sounds and plug up your ears.

iPod/ MP3/Bluetooth Plugs- Ever have to take out your ear buds because they are hurting your ears? Custom molds for your personal listening and Bluetooth devices will resolve that problem. The custom fit ensures comfort and allows these devices to be operated at a lower volume.

Swim Plugs- Swim plugs are great for keeping moisture from accumulating in your ear canals, especially if you or your kids are prone to ear infections. These plugs are brightly colored, easy to put in/take out and they even float!. They can also double as effective sound plugs.

Ordering your custom hearing protection only takes 2 office appointments. In the first appointment we will decide what custom plug is right for your needs and take an impression of your ears. The next time you come into the office your custom hearing protection will be waiting for you. We make sure the plugs fit properly and are comfortable. We also tell you how to take care of your custom hearing protection. It’s that simple to get your custom hearing protection!

For more information and to make your appointment, please contact us at our Longmont or Boulder offices:

Longmont 303.776.8748 Boulder 303.499.3900

We look forward to meeting with you soon.

Do as I say and not as I do?

When someone is doing something that they know is wrong, they usually utter, “do as I say and not as I do” to whomever they are trying to justify their behavior to. A recent study conducted by Hear the Word, an organization created to raise awareness of hearing-related issues globally, found that hearing aids were coupled with “old age” more than any other accessory included in the survey. These other accessories were wheelchairs, glasses, crutches and canes for the blind.

Interestingly, 93% of people surveyed claimed they would wear a hearing aid if needed, however, previous research shows that people who have a hearing loss do not wearing hearing aids. The survey also found that one of the top three reasons for not wearing hearing aids is the person does not want to admit having a hearing loss.

With all of the amazing advancements in hearing aid technology, hearing aids are smaller and better then ever before. But the stigma that hearing aids are for “old people” is keeping many of the 700 million people worldwide living with hearing loss form getting the help they need. It has been proven over and over again that when hearing loss is left untreated, it can lead to feelings of frustration and isolation, reduced earning power and disruptions in family life among other things.

So essentially, this study is shows how the mentality of hearing aids being for “old people” is hurting the quality of life for people with hearing loss.

Helen's Hearing Aid Story

When it came to the idea of wearing hearing aids, Helen Yager, was not convinced they were for her. “I hated the idea of needing to get hearing aids, but many members of my family seemed to be mumbling when they were speaking to me,” she said. They started encouraging her to at least get her hearing tested. Like so many people, the fear of missing out on a major family event had magnified the troubles she had been experiencing for years. So with the support of her family, Yager got a hearing evaluation in 2003. The event propelling her to do something about her hearing was her first granddaughter’s wedding happening that summer. Her family insisted she would enjoy the occasion more if she were really able to hear.

“My audiologist insisted I try a pair of hearing aids. That was several years ago and I did get along with them [her hearing aids] very well.” She and her family noticed that she was more responsive in conversations and interacting more then she had been in a long time. Yager was truly able to enjoy her granddaughter’s wedding in a way she simply could not have without her hearing aids. It also prepared her well for many celebrations in the future because she attended 3 more of her grandchildren’s’ weddings over the next 4 years.

One way Yager was able to measure the benefits of her hearing aids came from a common household item. An old clock, which chimes every quarter-hour, has been on display in Yager’s home for nearly fifty years. Although Yager had long suspected that the clock was losing it’s boisterous chime, she did not mention this to her family. It was not until she started wearing her first set of hearing aids that she realized the clock chimed as loud as it did when she first got it.

With the programming capabilities of digital hearing aids, Yager was able to have separate settings for the different situations she found herself in daily. There was a setting programmed so that she could listen to the TV at a comfortable level for those around her as well as for normal conversations. A second setting helped to reduce the level of background noise she experienced regularly. A third setting was compatible with the telephone, which she uses regularly to talk to her family around the country.
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After about 6 years, “the old set had started to lose their effectiveness so I now have a new set. I find I really need them all time and especially for use on the telephone. I cannot hear without them in place.” Yager’s new hearing aids are part of Audibel’s Anthem technology. The Superior Speech Locator feature allows her to hear even better in crowds and with background noise and the Automatic Feedback Intercept feature takes care of whistling she used to occasionally get on the phone.

At ninety years old and recently widowed, Yager lives alone in the big house she and her husband shared for over 60 years. Even though she lives alone, she wears her hearing aids every single day so she can hear the phone ring, the oven timer ding, and all the other little sounds that help her be aware of her surroundings. Now that her hearing aids are part of her daily routine, Yager does not feel like she is ready to start the day until they are in her ears.

Yager is so pleased with her audiologist and the company where she has purchased her hearing aids. “I feel like I can really trust my Audiologist, Whitney Swander, who owns Hearing HealthCare Centers. And it’s not just because she’s my granddaughter.”