In our ears there is a tiny air-filled space (the middle ear) that, in its healthy state, has the same air pressure as our environment.  When the pressure in our ears is different to that of our environment, our eardrums will be pushed outwards (in the case of too much ear pressure) or sucked inwards (in the case of too little ear pressure).  This is generally not a concern for us unless there’s a large movement of the eardrum, in which case there can be accompanying pain.   

Luckily for us, there is a small tube that goes from the middle ear to the back of the nose, called the Eustachian tube.  Its job is to allow air flow between the middle ear and the back of the nose (and therefore to the outside of our bodies), to maintain an equal air pressure between our middle ears and our environment.  When there is a slow and gradual change in ambient pressure, such as if we walk up or down a mountain, the pressure equalisation is usually achieved readily.  However, when there is a rapid change in ambient air pressure, such as in an aircraft taking off or landing, and if our Eustachian tubes are unusually narrow, blocked or inflamed, the pressure cannot equalise in real time and we end up with too much or too little air pressure in our middle ears.  If the condition persists for some time, fluid may accumulate in the middle ear or in some extreme cases the eardrum may burst.

For people who are prone to this, there are some measures that can be taken to prevent or at least reduce the severity of the problem:

• Try not to fly when you have a cold or flu as your Eustachian tube may be inflamed and not working at its full capacity
• If you must fly when you are unwell, see your doctor before hand.  There may be some medications that will reduce congestion, helping to keep your Eustachian tube functioning as well as possible.
• Make sure you are awake during take off and landing as you will be more likely to notice the change in ear pressure earlier and be able to do something about it
• Slowly sip water when ascending and descending.  Swallowing helps to open the Eustachian tube up, allowing pressure equalisation to occur
• If you feel ear pressure when descending, close your mouth, hold onto your nose and gently blow.  This will send air into your ears via your Eustachian tube to equalise the pressure.
• Try using a special set of pressure equalising ear plugs.  These plugs have a special pressure regulating filter that slow down the rate of pressure change at your eardrum, allowing you Eustachian tube time to “catch up” with the rapid ambient pressure changes.  Such plugs are available at Pharmacies for both adults and children.
• Lastly, if you notice any continuing pain, muffled hearing or discharge form your ears for more than one day following a flight, seek medical help.

 Many people with tinnitus also have hearing loss and therefore wear hearing aids.  In a large number of cases, tinnitus sufferers are less aware of their tinnitus whilst wearing their hearing aids.  This is due to the masking effect of the hearing aids: external sounds are amplified by the hearing aids, covering up the sounds of the tinnitus. However, when removing their hearing aids at night before bed, most people with tinnitus become aware of their tinnitus once more.  Often, this is where the tinnitus is most annoying, causing difficulty getting to sleep and staying asleep.

 Thankfully, in the absence of a hearing aid in bed, there are other masking devices available to tinnitus sufferers.  Bedside sound generators have a similar appearance and function to a bedside clock radio.  However, in addition to the clock, radio, alarm and iPod docking features, they can also play soothing nature sounds such as waterfalls, rainfall and ocean sounds to name a few.  These sounds are constant, and when played at a low level, are designed to help distract from the internal sounds of tinnitus and aid the process of falling asleep.

 For those concerned about the noise disturbing their partner, a pillow speaker is an optional extra.  This is a small, slim-line speaker that connects to the bedside sound generator and is placed under the tinnitus sufferer’s pillow. The sound is then delivered directly to the person with tinnitus, without disturbing anyone else nearby. 

 For further information, please contact us or the Australian Tinnitus Association (NSW) on (02) 8382 3331.

Traditionally, this was achieved by each band member having their own sound coming from a speaker positioned in front of them on the stage. However, there are disadvantages to this system. The musician must stand close to the speaker in order to monitor their performance and not that of the band member next to them (which is coming from the next speaker).  This limits the performer’s movement on the stage.  Also, as some instruments are louder than others, there is a tendency for each performer to increase the volume of their monitor in an effort to hear their own sound over the other monitors.  This “competitive monitoring” can lead to too much overlap of sound and a general increase in noise level on stage, which can be a risk to the performer’s hearing.

As IEMs are personal devices worn by each performer they allow total freedom of movement without the risk of overlapping with other performers’ mixes.  They also reduce the need for competitive monitoring as the sound is fed directly into each performer’s ear, rather than out into the open air.  IEMs have another significant advantage.  They also reduce the ambient sounds for the wearer by around 25 decibels thereby acting as hearing protection.

In a live performance situation, a sound heard through IEMs has come from a sound engineer who has mixed the optimal sound necessary for the performer.  This will include a mix of the performer’s own voice and/or instrument and that of other performers, and it may also include a direct feed from staging crew (for instructions, security etc).  The mixed sound is usually sent wirelessly via a transmitter at the mixing desk, to a receiver that is worn on the body and connected via a cord to the IEMs.

IEMs can be customised to the shape of the individual’s ear. An audiology appointment is necessary for impressions of the ears to be made.  These are then sent to the IEM manufacturer where they are made to the exact shape of the wearer’s ear.  Custom IEMs are more comfortable than “off the shelf” monitors, and they have the added advantage of being able to reduce the ambient sounds enough to provide significant hearing protection.

For further information about IEMs see www.uniqemelody.com.au.  Please contact Melbourne Audiology Centre for an appointment if you require impressions for IEMs.

The human body has over 200 different types of mature cells (eg. inner ear hair-cells), each with their own specialised function (eg. sensing that a sound is present).  Once these cells are damaged they are often no longer able to perform their special function, and many of them cannot regenerate resulting in a permanent disability.  Stem cells however, are different to mature working cells in that they are able to replicate and even form into different types of mature cells. This is why they are considered potentially very important in the future of medical science.  If we can harvest the stem cells, develop them into the type of cells or tissue that is damaged, and deliver them to the site in the body where they are needed, it is hoped they will be able to perform the function that is lost as a result of the damage.

In recent studies, animal models treated with cord blood stem cells have shown significant healing to the damaged sensory hair cells of the inner ear.  As a result of this there is now a trial looking at the use of cord blood in children with hearing loss that was acquired or present at birth.

Source: Cell Care Newsletter – October 2011

Over the years, hearing aid manufacturers have struggled to reduce acoustic feedback.  The first approach was to turn down the sounds that are more likely to cause feedback.  The trouble is, high frequency sounds which are more likely to cause feedback, are also the sounds that most people with hearing loss have difficulty hearing.  In turning them down, less feedback resulted, but also less clarity from the hearing aid was experienced.

Then hearing aids became smarter and started to be able to identify and analyse sounds within the amplified signal that were more likely to be feedback.  Once these were identified and analysed it was easier to eliminate them specifically.  This was done by applying an equal and opposite sound to the feedback signal (phase cancellation), but again, high frequency volume reduction was often an unwanted side effect, and sometimes other important sounds were incorrectly identified as feedback and eliminated (such as music).

In more recent times, hearing aids have begun to identify, analyse and monitor feedback sounds much more accurately.  Now there are feedback reduction systems that manage to eliminate feedback in most cases before it is even heard by the hearing aid wearer without compromising the comfort or clarity of the hearing aid.  This means in many cases high frequency sounds can be increased to meet the patient’s requirements without the annoying and sometimes embarrassing whistling of the hearing aids.

This technology has now been incorporated into hearing aids. Bluetooth compatible hearing aids can be connected via a streaming device to mobile phones that have Bluetooth connectivity.  Incoming phone conversations are sent wirelessly to your hearing aids, which are then amplified for a direct and clearer sound. This system avoids any interference caused by holding the mobile phone up to your hearing aid.  It also allows the use of two ears simultaneously, rather than just one, to help improve the clarity of phone conversations. Music from your mobile phone or MP3 player can also be played through your hearing aids in the same way. Other Bluetooth accessories are also available to connect your hearing aids to landline phones and televisions.

• Here are some tips to improve communication at noisy celebrations:
• Choose a setting which is well lit with soft furnishings if possible
• Reduce any unwanted background noise if possible
• Select a seat where you can easily see those who you wish to speak with
• Try to have your back to the greatest noise source
• Find out the topic of conversation
• Ensure your hearing aids are working optimally

For more information, speak to your audiologist at Melbourne Audiology Centre. Our clinics re-open on Monday 10th January 2011. Until then, enjoy the festive season!

Please view more information here –> Melbourne Audiology Centre

Not only is ear candling an ineffective way to remove ear wax, but it can be dangerous too. There is a serious risk of burns injury to the ear, face, neck and hair. This can be caused by the candle’s flame; heat from the procedure; or from the melted, hot wax. In extreme cases there have been reports of hot wax dripping down the ear canal and onto the ear drum, requiring treatment and surgical removal.

It’s getting harder to get though to adolescents. Hearing loss in 12-19 year olds has jumped in the US by a third in the past 20 years, and it’s likely to be the same in Australia. One in 20 of this age group has at least mild hearing loss, and in-ear headphones are considered to be a major contribution factor. Getting the message through can be difficult! Frequent loud noice damages hearing permanently, better to buy low power headphones.

Journal of the American Medical Association