The inability to hear at a consistent
level as it happens in MD makes it difficult to accept and
understand the hearing loss. Some attribute the hearing
difficulties to external factors such as background noise,
“mumbling speakers”, poor environmental acoustics,
and bad reception of telephone, TV or radio amongst other
things. Many also believe that the tinnitus is responsible
for their hearing difficulties. The reality is that the
excessive levels of endolymph fluid damage the cochlea,
causing a hearing loss. The hearing handicap is worse if
both ears are affected but even one impaired ear can be
very disruptive.
Hearing loss is a major source of
stress, anxiety and depression. Most people do not realize
the impact of a hearing loss in family, social and work
life.
Hearing Aids &
Meniere's Disease
There is still a misconception that hearing aids are of
little, if any, help for those with MD. Hearing losses caused
by MD are certainly very difficult to be dealt with, but
not impossible as some may believe. With the advent of digital
sound processing incorporated into hearing aid technology,
the possibilities of enhancing hearing in MD have also significantly
improved. Modern hearing aids amplify the sounds to match
the hearing loss very precisely and also reduce loud sounds
to comfortable levels.
When successfully fitted an individual with MD can expect
that the hearing aid will minimize the impact of the hearing
loss making every-day sounds clearer, reduce the discomfort
of recruitment by compressing uncomfortably loud sounds
to a more tolerable volume, and reduce the tinnitus perception
to a less distressing level.
When considering a hearing aid the
first step is to visit a suitably qualified audiologist
with experience in Meniere’s disease. There are more
than 300 hearing aids from more than 10 manufacturers available
in Australia. They come in different sizes, shapes, colours
and prices. It should however, be kept in mind that hearing
aids are medical devices and not fashion items. The quality
of the hearing aid is extremely important for those with
MD. The natural hearing is typically distorted due to the
cochlear damage and needs to be compensated by the best
possible amplified sound quality.
The existence of a fluctuating hearing
loss needs to be established based on a series of hearing
tests performed at different times of the day over a period
of time. Only then can a suitable hearing aid be selected.
All hearing aids need to be fine tuned for an individual’s
hearing loss and even more so in MD. Successfully fitting
a hearing aid to someone with MD is an ongoing process requiring
several sessions with the audiologist.
A hearing aid may sound perfect
when it is first tuned for someone with MD but next day
the hearing may drop or improve and the hearing aid will
sound too weak or too loud or simply distorted. Hearing
fluctuation means that sometimes the hearing may be better
for the trebles and other times it may be better for the
bass sounds. The hearing aid needs to be selected based
on the pattern of the hearing fluctuation. A hearing aid
with a volume control may be sufficient if there is very
little or no fluctuation. A multiple memory hearing aid
may be selected if the pattern of fluctuation can be established
and predicted.
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