Is your hearing impaired child being bullied at school? According to a recent Swedish study, this is a common complaint among hearing impaired students. This study has revealed that youngsters with hearing loss are more likely to be bullied than their hearing school mates. And this could have serious effects on the development of the child.

One in three of those suffering from hearing loss in addition to another disability report being bullied, while one in five of those without any disabilities complain about bullying students. In comparison, only one in ten youngsters with normal hearing is bullied.

These statistics were revealed after a study of the mental and social issues affecting 15- to-year-olds in the public school system in Orebro, Sweden.

Bullying has adverse effects on any youngster, especially on their self esteem, social, emotional and school performance. With bullying on hearing impaired students increasing, it is likely to impact the outcome of both education and employment, which is cause for concern.

The increase on bullying is just another barrier preventing a positive social, emotional and educational environment for hearing impaired teenagers.

Dentists should be concerned about their hearing while at work. A recent study identified professional groups at risk of suffering from noise-induced hearing loss in the workplace.

Generally, noise levels in a dental clinic are quite low, but there are times when noise levels may damage hearing. This is especially true when dentists make use of drills and other noisy equipment. Some dental drills operate at above the recommended maximum level of 100dB. And prolonged exposure to high levels of noise can have catastrophic effects on your hearing.

Remember that noise-induced hearing loss cannot be restored. Following are some ways to prevent hearing damage at work.

-When busy with patients, keep the greatest possible distance from the patient and the source of the noise.

-Maintain and oil your dental instruments regularly. This will prevent unnecessary noise.

-Wear earplugs or other hearing protection when using loud instruments.

Source: www.hear-it.org

Looking for a treatment for your hearing loss? The female hormone oestrogen may be what you are looking for. According to a recent Swedish study, a simple treatment with the female oestrogen hormone may in future help with hearing loss.

Researchers have found that one of two receptors in the female oestrogen hormone binds together to form a good protection against hearing loss in both males and females.

This study was based on experiments with mice. Barbara Canlon, a professor at the department of physiology and pharmacology at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm said, “We found that the beta (oestrogen) receptor protects against hearing loss”.

The study also stated that the treatment for hearing loss may be possible with a hormone treatment already on the market. This treatment is currently being used to treat breast cancer and other diseases.

Treatment with ER-beta binding drugs seems to protect mice from hearing damage. Researchers have confirmed that this could make it possible for the treatment to work on humans as well. However, much further research is needed before possible development of such a new treatment becomes available.

Being born underweight has more consequences than previously thought: the infant has a higher risk of suffering from sensorineural hearing loss. Underweight fetuses may have ears that are not fully developed. The Folkehelseinstituttet (the National Institute of Health) in Norway did a study that found this link between fetuses’ development and sensorineural hearing loss. Infants who weigh fewer than 1500 grams (3.3 lbs) have the highest risk to suffer from this type of hearing loss.

One of the researchers, Bo Engdahl, said the slow growth of the fetus in the uterus may cause the development of the ears to stop. Infants who weigh above 3500 grams at birth have only a small risk of sensorineural hearing loss; the risk decreases as the birth weight increases.

Engdahl also mentioned it is the fetus’ growth in the uterus that is important; the duration of the pregnancy is of secondary importance. The study emphasised the importance of monitoring fetus’ development in the uterus. The monitoring includes screenings for diseases or illness in the mother. Smoking, abusing drugs or suffering from infections should be reduced or stopped, if possible.

Source: www.hear-it.org

Tinnitus has been affecting Pedro Almodóvar’s life since 2007. He is one of the most famous Spanish movie directors, even abroad. Some of his films include ‘Hable con ella’, ‘Volver’ and ‘All About my Mother’.
He tries to banish the loud ringing from his house by playing music. He calls the ringing “Diabolical”. He says it feels as though the loud noises exist only for him.

Pedro thought the loud noises he heard were symptomatic of some other disease. He had himself tested; he thought he might have a tumour. After many examinations and many tests, it was discovered that he has tinnitus, which is a ringing in one or both ears.

Tinnitus is usually the symptom of something else, never a disease. Pedro Almodóvar’s doctors were unable to find what causes his tinnitus. So he tries to make the best of his life, and this includes having tinnitus. Music fills his house these days. He calls it an “everyday soundtrack” and he told the Spanish El País newspaper that even banal routines are “transformed into something entirely different” when he plays the music.

Source: www.hear-it.org

Not being able to hear affects everyone who is close to someone with hearing problems. These may include family, friends as well as co-workers and miscommunication, misunderstandings and repeating what was said frustrate everyone involved. Just being aware of the difficulties faced is the first step.

Hearing loss means a decrease in the volume of sounds as well as a decrease in the clarity of speech. This could apply even when someone is speaking loudly. ‘Hearing’ what is said is not the same as understanding the conversation; certain words or sounds may be confusing. Background noises, especially, hamper a hard of hearing person’s ability to interpret sounds correctly. Even someone with normal hearing may experience difficulty when there are many background noises. People with hearing loss experience these same difficulties far more intensely.

Though there are few stigmas attached to being hard of hearing, some people may still feel uncomfortable about this. They may be embarrassed and act as though they understand what was said even when they don’t. This may happen even when wearing a hearing aid; these devices do not restore hearing back to normal. Hearing aids and other assistive listening devices do help, but the person wearing them may still need help to understand what was said.

A new hearing aid takes some getting used to. This is true especially for those who may have been hearing impaired for a long time. Many sounds, most of them forgotten, need to be relearned. The person’s life, which has been quiet until the fitting of the hearing aid, suddenly becomes noisy. It might be overwhelming at first. The first fitting may not be the last; it does take a few of them before the hearing aid sits comfortably and provides good quality sound.

Many people have a hearing assistive device fitted and do not feel comfortable with it. They then remove it and leave it in a drawer somewhere. Should you know someone like this, encourage him or her to give the hearing device another try. Be patient but firm when encouraging him or her.

Try not to mistake hearing loss for senility in older people. A thorough hearing test is needed as part of any health evaluation.

Practice good communication with hearing impaired people

Here are a couple of hints to ease communication. These hints may be used to communicate with anyone, not just those who are hearing impaired. Communication should be enjoyable for everyone; it is a two-way street. Follow these hints to make the experience as pleasurable as possible.

1. Ensure you have the person’s attention before you begin to speak. Being ready to communicate makes i easier; he or she won’t miss out on anything.
2. Do not shout; it is better to speak in a clear voice with good projection. Make sure your voice is not too loud and enunciate clearly.
3. Do not overemphasize your words.
4. Regulate your speech; do not speak too fast or too slow. It helps to keep the tempo of speech slower than normal. Do not, however, speak too slowly.
5. Keep your face visible when speaking. He or she will find it easier to understand you when nothing covers your face. Also ensure there is enough lighting around you. Seeing someone’s lips could help the person who is hearing impaired when trying to understand the conversation – they provide extra clues.
6. Be aware of the noise around you. Many background sounds make it difficult to understand what is being said. If possible, turn off the sources before you attempt a conversation. If that is not possible to do, consider moving somewhere with less noise.
7. Only speak to someone who is in the same room as you. This makes it easier – distance is important. Being far away from the person whom you are talking to reduce the possibility to be heard. Being in the same room should help.
8. Merely repeating a sentence may not work; rephrasing it might be more effective.
9. Misunderstandings may happen so be alert to the possibility. Find out if the person understands by asking questions from time to time.
10. Being relaxed and patient would help you and the person with hearing loss. Try using a kind facial expression as well as an accepting attitude – this helps to relax both parties and to enjoy the conversation. That is the point of having a conversation, after all.

Conductive hearing loss

Conductive hearing loss, whether acquired or congenital, is caused by problems in the outer or middle ear. This causes interference with sound vibration transmission. The causes could be anything from earwax build-ups, infections or growths in the outer ear, eardrum perforations or otosclerosis. Genetics or even a traumatic delivery could cause conductive hearing loss.

Such hearing loss might result in muffled sounding conversations and an inability to discern faint sounds.

Medical or surgical treatment could correct the hearing loss, but hearing instruments could be used when this is not possible.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Up to 90% of hearing loss is due to problems in the inner ear, which may be either in the cochlea or the hearing nerve. Sometimes, it may be both – nerve deafness. Head injuries, birth defects, diseases or certain powerful drugs may be the cause of this type of hearing loss; however, deterioration of the hair cells is the most common cause. Ageing or exposure to loud sound may be the cause of this deterioration.

There are no medical remedies for this type of hearing loss and hearing instruments are relied on.

Mixed hearing loss

Mixed hearing loss is a combination of conductive and sensorineural problems. Someone with this type of hearing loss is a good candidate for hearing instruments. Not all frequencies are affected equally; hearing loss patterns are unique to all individuals. Loss of high-pitched sounds is greater than for lower-pitched sounds.

The ENT department of Puerta de Hierro Hospital in Madrid tried to find out what effect loud noise has on musicians. Loud noise can be one of the numerous causes of hearing loss, determined Jose Maria Verdaguer and colleagues. Being a rock or pop musician may be every boy’s dream, but it may be as risky as being a fireman or industrial worker. The risk to musicians’ hearing is high; some experts reckon it has become an ‘occupational injury’.

The Spanish study tested the hearing of 120 young people whose average age was 26. They were divided into two groups: 60 musicians and 60 others who formed the control group. After the conclusion of the study, the researchers found a connection between being a musician who is exposed to loud noises, and suffering from noise-induced hearing loss.

Other findings among the musicians were the following: they did not suffer from hearing loss, but around seven per cent suffered from permanent tinnitus and 17 per cent experienced temporary ringing sounds in their ears. Hearing loss does not happen overnight; but develops gradually. Researchers also suspect certain instruments such as drums and the electric guitar cause more damage than others, but more research is needed on this.

At the 58th National Conference of the Spanish Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Neck and Head Pathology, the team suggested musicians wear hearing protection and have regular breaks from the loud music as this should make a difference for professional musicians.

Sudden Hearing Loss is a common condition experienced by at least 4000 Americans each year. Even some well-known celebrities have admitted to suffering from the condition, including popular talk show host Rush Limbaugh, rap star Foxy Brown, and singer Phil Collins.

Collins developed the condition in 2000 when he suddenly lost his hearing during a recording session, while Foxy Brown was left with sudden hearing loss in 2005. The scary thing is that SSHL develops without warning. Some report experiencing a loud ‘pop’ before their hearing disappears, while others report going to bed with their hearing intact, only to wake up the following morning with sudden hearing loss.

So what is sudden sensorineural hearing loss? It is a complex and mysterious condition whereby the patient suffers from sudden hearing loss in 3 days or less. Due to the mysterious nature of the condition, there is no exact universal definition for SSHL.

Sudden Hearing Loss can happen to an individual all at once, or over a period of three days. A large majority of those suffering from sudden hearing loss are only affected in one ear. According to research, much of the condition is still a mystery, and even though thousands of people suffer from the condition, only 10-15% will ever learn the exact causes. The condition has been linked to various factors, including infectious diseases, trauma, drug reactions, and auto-immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, circulatory or vascular problems and vital infections.

Another mysterious factor is the recovery process. About one third of people suffering from sudden hearing loss regain their hearing. The rest either never gets their hearing back or only partially regain function. And doctors will not be able to tell you if you are one of the lucky few to fully regain your hearing. Those who do regain their hearing, however, often continue to experience ringing in their ears and have difficulty discerning speech.

Sudden Hearing Loss should be seen as a medical emergency, and anyone experiencing this should seek immediate treatment. Not many people are aware of SSHL’s symptoms, and will simply view it as a sinus condition, blocked ears, wax buildup, or age-related hearing loss. Due to this misconception, many people put off visiting the doctor.

Both Limbaugh and Foxy Brown have had cochlear implants to improve their hearing; however, this procedure is only given to a small number of candidates. Collins has been given steroid injections, but according to a recent post on his website, stated that his hearing has neither improved nor deteriorated.

While this type of hearing loss can affect people of any age, middle aged to older people are more commonly diagnosed.

Reading the Signs – Is my Child Ready for Sign Language?

How early can I start signing with my child?

Why not start today? Sign ‘milk’ to your newborn when you’re about to nurse or offer a bottle. At bedtime, sign ‘sleep’. When you’re feeding the baby, take the little one’s hands to help them sign ‘more’ in-between spoonfuls. By doing this, you will get them used to signing and make it part of your daily routine. Before long, you will see that the repetitions and reinforcements occur naturally as your infant grows. Even better, it will help your infant to realise that crying might not be the best means of communication.

Should I teach my child who is already talking, SL?

There are many reasons why learning a second language should be encouraged, and learning SL is great for stimulating a child’s learning through different senses. Children who others see as ‘visual’, ‘spatial’ or ‘tactile learners’ can learn a lot from sign language. Some believe that learning a second language, including SL, can raise a child’s IQ. Hearing loss may be more common than you think; one in ten Americans suffer some degree of hearing disability. If you are familiar with some of the signs, you can give your child the confidence to interact with a deaf child. This would ensure that both children feel comfortable around each other.

I’m worried that learning SL will delay my child’s speech.

You share this concern with many other parents. They are worried that signing will either delay or stint a child’s speech. We are pretty confident that our experience has been the opposite. Your child’s communication needs should be met by learning SL, even if it is done before teaching the child speech. Sign language is as much a language as English or Spanish.

Should I become fluent in SL?

This is your decision. It will certainly be a great achievement if you become fluent in SL, but knowing the basics should suffice. Sign language, like any other second language, will require time, patience and plenty of practice. So surround yourself with others who are fluent.

Why can’t I just use made up signs?

You are taking time to teach and reinforce signs that have meaning to millions of SL users. Would it not make more sense, therefore, to involve your child in a language that has international recognition? Your child’s caregivers (who might include doctors, preschools, daycare centres, etc.) may prefer using SL and not a made up language consisting of different signs for each child in their care.

If a hearing child starts out as a ‘baby signer’, he or she can communicate with deaf children and adults. This child can also take advantage of other SL materials, which may include videos or SL playgroup. The foundation for the study of SL as a second language later in life exists and this may be made possible by using SL signs instead of made up signs.

A very valid point, brought up by some of our Deaf customers, is that made up signs may mean something completely different in SL, which could lead to potentially humorous and/or embarrassing situations.

My child is struggling with the SL signs. Is that ok?

Some children may struggle with the signs, and adapt to whatever they are physically able to do. Eventually, when their motor skills have had more chance to develop, their signing should improve. Compare this so speech development, where ‘Da-da’ becomes ‘Daddy’ or ‘Dad’ over time.

How long will it take my child to learn SL?

This will depend on when you start signing with your child. Newborns may not be able to sign until they are 8 to 14-months-old. Should you start signing with your 2-year-old, you’ll notice the uptake is slow. The child may not respond immediately, and it may take a couple of months. Any physical, mental or developmental delays should be taken into consideration.

Why should my hearing child learn SL?

There are children who are not developmentally ready to speak until they are two years old. Signs are far easier to learn, especially for babies. There are studies that show children who are as young as 6-months-old understanding and communicating with limited signs.

Being unable to communicate may cause frustration and anger tantrums, so very small children benefit from SL as they can express themselves.

Would signing help with tantrums and ‘The Terrible Twos’?

Tantrums and ‘The Terrible Twos’ are about frustration and the inability to communicate. Children who can communicate show less frustration. Verbal skills take a backseat to motor skills in the early years, so signing can be a tremendous help.

Is it a good idea to teach my 6-year-old SL?

Children of all ages can learn to love SL. It proves to be a valuable tool at any age and your six-year-old will be quick to learn all the signs, perhaps even picking up additional signs that will impress deaf playmates. And older children love using SL as their own ‘secret language’.