Tinnitus Awareness Week 3-9 February – Useful Therapies for Managing Symptoms from Hidden Hearing

Tinnitus Awareness Week 2014 runs from 3-9 February. The British Tinnitus Association will be raising awareness of the condition throughout the week.

Tinnitus can commonly sound like ringing or buzzing in the ears. It’s not a disease or an illness and it’s generated within a person’s own auditory pathways. For some people it comes and goes and in more severe cases it is present permanently, causing problems with sleep and concentration.

If you are one of the many people who suffer from persistent or occasional tinnitus, here are five useful therapies for managing tinnitus:

Firstly, try not to worry. One of the things that we do know about tinnitus is that stress can bring it on or even make it worse. There is help available and this will probably mean managing the condition – it may even disappear if a symptom of an underlying condition can be treated.

What can be done?

Tinnitus therapies vary and it is important to point out that we can only talk about relieving tinnitus. Most therapies revolve around counselling and using alternative forms of sound as a distraction to the tinnitus.

Suggested Therapies:

*Sound Relaxation Ball – This plays seven sounds of nature and includes a built-in timer and can be used anywhere.

* Sound CDs – A box of four relaxation CDs including Tranquil Horizons, Cloud Dances, Classical Thunderstorms and Harmony can be listened to anywhere you have access to a CD player.

* Tinnitus Masker – A hearing aid device that plays white noise to mask the sound of your tinnitus. Noise exposure is a common contributor to Tinnitus. Tinnitus therapy can involve the sufferer listening to another sound source to serve as a distraction.

* Amplification – Hearing aids themselves have been known to help where there is a hearing loss. Some now even have a dedicated program for tinnitus distraction.

* Tinnitus Counselling – A trained Tinnitus Counsellor can help discuss how to manage the condition.

Anybody who might be concerned about their tinnitus can avail of a free hearing test and consultation at any of the Hidden Hearing branches in Northern Ireland, you can find your nearest clinic here. Or you can book a hearing check free of charge by calling our Freephone number 0800 587 7267 or by visiting www.hiddenhearing.org

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Hidden Hearing Celebrates 10 Years of Hearing Healthcare in Coleraine

Hidden Hearing, Northern Ireland’s premier hearing healthcare provider celebrated its 10^th birthday in Coleraine this January.  Since it opened the branch at 51 New Row, Coleraine it has been offering customers the best professional hearing care, help and advice.

To mark the occasion and to promote better hearing health, Hidden Hearing is offering free one-to-one hearing assessments.  The modern test facilities at are staffed with highly qualified audiologists and offer the latest digital technology to diagnose and treat hearing problems in a supportive environment.

Andrew McPherson, Audiologist with hamper winner Mrs Hart.

Andrew McPherson, Audiologist at the Coleraine Hidden Hearing branch said: ‘We’re delighted to be celebrating 10 successful years at the branch and have remained committed to improving hearing healthcare in Coleraine since we opened our doors.  To mark this milestone we’re providing free hearing consultations for anybody who is in need of assistance.  We take pride in offering world-class hearing healthcare services and life-long support for our patients and encourage anyone who is experiencing problems with their hearing to take action as soon as they notice a problem.  Over the years, technological advancements have seen hearing aids get significantly smaller so while people tend to notice hearing loss they don’t notice hearing aids.’

Hidden Hearing is the only hearing healthcare provider in Northern Ireland to offer customers free no obligation hearing screenings, free wax removal, a 90 day money back guarantee, a five year warranty and free batteries and service for life.

Visit the Hidden Hearing branch at 51 New Row, Coleraine, BT52 1EJ or call 028 – 7032 0301 to make an appointment for a free one-to-one hearing consultation with a qualified audiologist.

Ringing in your ears? It could be a sign you’re just moments from going deaf

The day that changed model and actress Jessica-Jane Clement’s life started ordinarily enough.

The Real Hustle and I’m A Celebrity star — who has been voted one of the world’s most desirable women — was at home in London with her then boyfriend.

Aged just 20 at the time, she was in perfect health. Jess was sitting on the sofa when she suddenly heard a ringing in her right ear. A few hours later when the ringing wore off, she realised her hearing in that ear had gone.‘It was so quick,’ recalls Jess, now 27, who recently married hairdresser Lee Stafford.

‘When I spoke to my mum on the phone a few hours later, I thought it was broken because I couldn’t hear what she was saying. ‘Then the penny dropped that I could not hear.
‘I didn’t know what to do, so my boyfriend called the hospital and they said, “oh give it six weeks, her hearing should come back by then”. The impression I got was it was just one of those things, and would resolve itself.’

However, her symptoms worsened.Later that evening she felt giddy and was sick. ‘The next morning I felt like I’d been on a really heavy night out — the whole room felt as if it was spiralling,’ says Jess. This continued for two weeks — but embarrassed by the rebuff from the  hospital, Jess didn’t seek medical advice, deciding instead to stay with her mother in Sheffield.

‘I felt so rotten that I went up on the train in my pyjamas with a coat over me,’ says Jess. ‘I looked pale and thin due to the nausea and couldn’t stand upright for long without feeling sick. ‘Mum took one look at me and said: “I’m taking you to hospital.” ’ There, hearing tests revealed Jess had only 10 per cent hearing in her right ear, and her hearing loss was irreversible.

‘I was panicking, thinking “how can I do my job as an actress if I can’t hear?” I felt as if my life as I knew it was over.’

For two years after she lost her hearing, Jessica battled depression.

Sudden loss of hearing can be caused by a blow to the head or a disease such as measles, but in the vast majority of cases the reason is never known.  A common theory is that the hearing loss itself is caused by a lack of blood flow — this can be temporary or permanent. It may also be due to a viral infection — some people report a ‘flu-like’ illness in the preceding days.

‘Other theories gaining more recent popularity are that it may be an immune-related problem  (the body’s immune system attacks the inner ear) or possibly due to a rupture of the membranes that surround the inner ear,’ says Rohit Pratap, a consultant ear, nose and throat surgeon at West Hertfordshire Hospitals and Spire Hospital, Bushey, Hertfordshire.

Whatever the cause, it is a generally poorly-known fact that sudden hearing loss is a medical emergency. The earlier that treatment can be started, the better. Steroids, given orally, intravenously or into the ear, can improve the chance of the hearing getting better if given early enough — generally within 72 hours.

‘The problem is the condition can be difficult to diagnose without specialist advice and equipment,’ says Mr Pratap, ‘because there are no “external signs” of disease such as inflammation of the ear, unlike standard ear infections.

‘Instead, the patient needs to have a detailed audiogram performed by a specialist, where sound is played at various frequencies into a patient’s headphones.’A low-tech option for GPs is to use a tuning fork placed in the middle of the forehead. The patient is asked in which ear the sound is louder — if hearing is normal, the sound will be heard equally between the two.

However, many GPs or non-specialist doctors may not perform this test, or refer a patient on for specialist help. ‘They may think they have a bit of wax or a cold,’ says Mr Pratap.

‘However, I would advise anyone who has sudden profound hearing loss (for example, not being able to hear conversational level voices on the telephone) which persists for several hours, or if they have associated symptoms of dizziness, tinnitus (ringing in the ears) or pressure in the ears, to see their GP or go to A&E immediately.

‘I actually think the number who have sudden hearing loss could be far higher than reported, because it can get missed initially. ’

Jess was told her hearing loss was most probably due to viral labyrinthitis — a swelling of the labyrinth or inner ear, caused by a viral infection.

‘Some people may have flu-like symptoms before they get the hearing loss associated with this, but some don’t — they just suddenly lose their hearing and may also feel giddy,’ says Mr Pratap. In around 65 per cent of cases where the cause is unknown, hearing will return within two weeks. In another 15 per cent, the hearing will improve a little in the same time, while in 20 per cent, the hearing is gone for good.

For two years after she lost her hearing, Jess battled depression as she struggled to adjust. ‘I cried on Mum’s shoulder a lot,’ she says. ‘Trying to locate my phone or hear who said what in crowded areas was impossible.’ She also gave up work as an actress for a year. ‘I found it difficult to hear what the director was shouting. ‘The more people in a room, the harder it was to hear.

‘Then I found out that the actor Rob Lowe is also partially deaf and I thought: “If he can do it, I can.” ’

When she went back to work, she found things difficult. ‘In one scene I had to lie down on my side — on my good ear — and couldn’t hear a thing,’ Jess recalls. ‘I had to put my head up to hear, so they had to change  the lighting.’

It wasn’t just her hearing that went — so too did her balance,  and dancing still leaves her giddy.

Yet over the next year, she learned to cope with her single-sided deafness.

‘I learned to do simple things that make a difference, like choosing my place at a dinner table so I could hear everyone, and slowly I got over the embarrassment of talking about it,’ she says.

But she had never tried hearing aids. ‘I didn’t want to have a visible hearing aid as I knew I couldn’t wear it for work.’

However, shortly after she was in I’m A Celebrity in 2011, someone suggested she try a new one that fits inside the ear canal, and therefore cannot be seen.

‘When I had it fitted I was like “oh my God, I can hear everything” — background noise, and people not just those right up close to me. I was on cloud nine.’

While it has made a real difference, she says she’s also benefited from accepting her hearing loss.

‘I’m now happy to speak out about it, because I know it can happen to anyone at any age. It’s not the end of the world.

‘Just because you can’t hear properly doesn’t mean your life is over.’

If you’re concerned that you may be losing your hearing, contact Hidden Hearing on 0800 587 7267 to arrange your free hearing test or you can find your nearest branch by clicking here: http://www.hiddenhearing.org/contact-us/find-your-local-clinic

Daniel tipped for Oscars!

Veteran director Jim Sheridan has tipped two-time Academy Award winner Daniel Day-Lewis to make movie history and scoop an Oscar hat-trick. The Dublin native praised long-time friend Day-Lewis for his latest performance in historical biopic Lincoln – which yesterday secured him a coveted Golden Globe. ”If you were giving me bookies’ odds, I’d go with Lincoln and Daniel winning the Oscars,” Sheridan said.

The 63-year-old, who directed Day-Lewis in My Left Foot – which won the actor his first Oscar – said the star was “a force of nature”. ”When I was working with Daniel, it was like, this guy is so technically gifted,” he said. ”I don’t think there has ever been an actor like him.” Six-time Oscar nominee Sheridan was at the ticket launch of industry event Digital Biscuit – three days of talks and demonstrations on new digital film-making techniques.

Sheridan first directed Day-Lewis in the 1989 film My Left Foot – in which he played Irish writer and painter Christy Brown, who was born with cerebral palsy. They later worked together on In The Name Of The Father and The Boxer.

“Other actors say to me he’s better than anybody,” Sheridan said. ”I don’t know if he can be better than anybody, but he’s certainly technically so amazing. “Day-Lewis, who lives in Co Wicklow and holds both Irish and British citizenship, won his second best actor Oscar for There Will Be Blood in 2007.He has been nominated for a third gold statuette for his portrayal of US president Abraham Lincoln, who fought for the abolition of slavery during the American Civil War.

Another  of President Lincoln’s many accomplishments was his supportive role in the founding of Gallaudet University, the collegiate department of Columbia Institution for the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind (its original name), which was created by an act of Congress. Its original charter was signed on February 16, 1857, by President Franklin Pierce. On April 8, 1864, towards the end of his first term and during the Civil War (on the same day that part of General Nathaniel Banks’ Union army was defeated by a Confederate force under Richard Taylor’s command at Sabine Crossroads in Mansfield, Louisiana), Lincoln signed the Enabling Act authorizing the Columbia Institution to grant postsecondary degrees—marking the first such opportunity for deaf students in the world. This wasn’t strictly necessary from a legalistic point of view, but was something that E. M. Gallaudet wanted for his fledgling school. To this day, the sitting President serves as patron of Gallaudet University, and Charter Day is celebrated annually on campus with a festive awards banquet.

Hearing loss happens gradually you may not even notice what you’re missing. The best thing you can do for yourself and your family is getting a free hearing evaluation from an audiologist to determine if you even have a hearing loss. If you do, at Hidden Hearing our friendly staff will guide through the path to better hearing.

 

We’re being left out of the big society, say the deaf

Thousands of deaf people are socially excluded because of a lack of adequate services for sign language users, campaigners say.

Up to 70,000 people, many of whom cannot lip-read or have poor English skills, use British Sign Language (BSL) as their first language. But half of them leave doctors’ appointments feeling confused because of the poor quality, or absence, of interpreters, research suggests.

Action on Hearing Loss has called for improvements in healthcare access and standards for the hearing impaired. A survey by the charity, formerly the Royal National Institute for Deaf People, found that half of BSL users left medical appointments confused. “We are talking about vital information on medication or even traumatic diagnoses,” said Helen Arber, the charity’s head of capacity development.

It also wants the Government to set a minimum standard for communication for deaf people throughout society. Of the 10 million Britons who have some form of hearing loss, more than 800,000 are severely or profoundly deaf. “There is still a huge way to go to ensure any kind of level playing field for them,” Ms Arber added.

“We are proud citizens but we are treated as lesser citizens,” said Jeff McWhinney, a former head of the British Deaf Association, who campaigned for the formal recognition of BSL as a language.

Activists have also complained to the BBC that sign language interpreters were not shown on screen during big events such as the Olympics, the Diamond Jubilee and Barack Obama’s election victory speech. Television broadcasters are legally required to provide subtitles for 80 per cent of programmes and sign language in 5 per cent of programmes.

Caroline Hurley, an IT manager who is deaf, said subtitles were often inadequate: “They are, on average, seven seconds slow and frequently stop when live speakers talk too fast, so we miss important information.”

Source:  The Independent: Read More >

Hearing loss happens gradually you may not even notice what you’re missing. The best thing you can do for yourself and your family is getting a free hearing evaluation from an audiologist to determine if you even have a hearing loss. If you do, at Hidden Hearing our friendly staff will guide through the path to better hearing.

We could hear them from 12 Miles away!

Thirty-two-thousand fans watched the musicians perform at Tennent’s Vital.

The two-day festival was held at Boucher playing fields in the south of the city for the first time.

Belfast City Council received about 120 calls of complaint. It is also believed the police received 20 calls.

A spokesman for the council said half of callers made a formal complaint about the concert sound being heard in other parts of the city. He said the remaining callers were content with the 23:00 BST curfew.

He also said the council had agreed sound levels with organisers in adavance of the event, but had worked with the promoter to reduce the sound levels when it became aware the noise could clearly be heard around the city.

“In advance of the concerts, the promoters wrote to residents in the immediate vicinity, advising them of the events. There were no objections to the granting of the entertainments licence,” he added.

The council spokesman said the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau had confirmed that every hotel bed in the city was booked for both nights of the festival.

“It is regrettable that people were inconvenienced by last night’s event but we hope they can see the bigger picture,” he said.

Exceptionally loud

The Stone Roses will be joined by English band Florence and the Machine, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Gerard i2 and Maverick Sabre when they head line the event on Wednesday.

SDLP councillor Claire Hanna said she had received calls from constituents last night.

“It was exceptionally loud. I welcome that we have concerts of this level… but we do have to balance it with the right of people to enjoy a quiet night at home,” she said.

“I understand that the noise carried partly because it was a very still and cloudless night.

“Most residents understand that people want to enjoy a night out but a second night at the same level might provoke a few more calls.”

Eileen Fee who lives about a mile away from the concert venue in Osborne Park, Belfast, said it was so loud the “windows shook”.

“I just thought I was at the concert, that’s how loud it was. It was really impossible to do anything else at home,” she said.

“It was just a really dreadful situation. I’m not against the concert but there is an acceptable level of noise.”

Businesswoman Grainne McGarvey said she, too, could hear the music from her home about four miles away.

“I pretty much heard every ooh and ah and beat of the drum,” she said.

Foo Fighters front man Dave Grohl entertained the crowd at the Tennent’s Vital festival

“I was actually offered a ticket for the concert but I turned it down as I’m not a big fan of the Foo Fighters but I still managed to hear the entire thing.

“I can’t wait for Florence and the Machine as I’m a big fan and I think it’s fantastic that the bands are here. Tonight I will be sitting with my windows open and a wee glass of wine and not have to worry about getting soaked.”

People on BBC Newsline’s Facebook page claimed they heard the concert in locations such as Gilnahirk and 12 miles away in Ballygowan in County Down.

Hidden Hearing Northern Ireland carry out FREE hearing tests in there clinics and branches if you have any questions check out www.hiddenhearing.org

London 2012 Olympics: boxing and cycling experienced a new level of noise

The Olympic Stadium, the velodrome and the boxing venue at the Excel all generated unforgettable noise:

In another part of the pool, Tom Daley elicited a curiously deep concern after imploding in mid-round in the men’s 10m platform synchronised diving with Peter Waterfield.

All the expectation of the last four years seemed to be twisting his spirit and his dives. But after a nervy start to the individual event, Daley came through to win bronze, and dedicated it to his late father, who died from brain cancer last year.

Paula Radcliffe was forced to give up her quest for an Olympic medal when injury kept her out of the women’s marathon but Farah took distance running to new heights.

By Paul Hayward, Telegraph

Read More …

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Westmeath nominations sought for Hidden Hearing Heroes Awards

Athlone Advertiser, August 10, 2012.

Westmeath entries are now being sought for the 2012 Hidden Hearing Heroes Awards – an all-Ireland awards initiative to highlight the achievements of those who are deaf or hard of hearing.

The Hidden Hearing Heroes Awards, created by one of Ireland’s premier hearing healthcare providers Hidden Hearing in association with the Irish Deaf Society, is seeking nominations for those who are deaf or hard of hearing and have made a significant contribution to society, their community, workplace, family, or through sporting excellence.

Nominations can be submitted online at www.hiddenhearing.org or at Hidden Hearing branches around the country including John Broderick Street, Irishtown Central, Athlone.

A right royal din!

King of Sweden almost deafens spectator as he roars his support for Olympic handball team.

When cheering on your country at the Olympics, it’s important to be in full voice.

But King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden almost took things too far when he appeared to almost deafen a woman spectator while they watched a handball match.

King Carl and wife Queen Silvia, like the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge before them, were pictured in dress-down mode as they made an animated appearance at the Basketball Arena.

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Read the full article here!

Visit Hidden Hearing’s website here

Hearing alert over Olympic noise

Here’s a warning to Olympic athletes and spectators that they’re at risk of permanently damaging their hearing from the noise in the stadiums.

Olympic officials have admitted that noise levels in the stadia have regularly been over 100 decibels, with the boxing arena hitting 113.7db during a fight involving Irish boxer Katie Taylor.

Exposure to loud noise above 85 decibels over time can cause permanent hearing damage and with the closing ceremony fast approaching, the decibel level is sure to be much higher. The charity is urging Games revellers to pack earplugs, which can protect your hearing by keeping loud noises out without shutting out other ambient noises.

Action on Hearing Loss Audiologist Gemma Twitchen said: “With crowds going wild for Team GB, noise has been recorded at levels in excess of 100db, which is much louder than a jet engine taking off, in fact, it’s 10,000,000,000 times louder than the smallest sound your ears can hear!

“A night in a noisy crowd could cause temporary tinnitus – ringing, whistling, humming or buzzing in your head or ears – or permanent hearing damage. This is not something you’d want to take home as an everlasting memory from the Games.

“You wouldn’t think twice about standing close to a jet engine without hearing protection, so we’re urging people going to the closing ceremony or any of the events in the Olympics and Paralympics to take the very simple step of using earplugs.”

Published on Friday 10 August 2012, Chris White