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NewsletterJuly 2006 |
Hello, everyone! |
 | Happy Birthday to our country — 230 years old! I hope all of you have a safe and enjoyable July 4th! As usual, summer seems to just whoosh by every year. Here, in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, we are so blessed to be able to enjoy beautiful, temperate weather and lush scenery. Summer sure is a wonderful time of year, isn't it?
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| Jim has been extra busy these past few months, fitting the new technology on many of our customers. It's been fun and exciting to be this busy and helping so many folks who are now experiencing sounds they haven't heard in years! |
Noise Level Management in Medical Environments
Noise levels continue to be a concern with all the advanced technology we encounter these days. The culprits aren't just the boom boxes, loud stereos, and iPods. Of all places you would expect to have more respect and care for decibel levels, they seem to have one of the poorest track records: the medical arena! Have you ever had to have an MRI? Claustrophobic they may be, but quiet they are not! In fact, hospitals have a well-earned reputation for noise. Ever think you would get some rest from it all while checked in there as a patient? Not likely!
Recently, there was a newspaper article by Karen Matthews of the Associated Press that addressed the issue of hospital noise. Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, NY has decided to address this situation by conducting an anti-noise campaign to decrease their noise level, which ranged from 113 decibels during changing of shifts (a typical motorcycle is 94 dB) down to the 50-60 dB range (which is quieter than normal speech). I'm sure this is most comforting to their patients.
The Mayo Clinic did a study in 2004 that showed that, just by closing a patient's hospital door, sound was decreased from a peak 86 dB to a 42 dB average, which is quieter than a library!
Roger Ulrich, a professor of architecture at Texas A&M University, is quoted in this article as saying that, "Hospital noise levels are far too high internationally and this has been known for decades." As you probably can surmise, this has a deleterious effect upon the patients: loss of sleep, added stress which causes higher blood pressure — just the opposite of what one needs to achieve while trying to get well!
So, what are some hospitals doing to quiet the cacophony echoing down their halls?
The following are being implemented: rubber wheels on instrument carts, soft-soled shoe requirement for staff, pill grinders instead of pill bangers, computerized drug-dispensing systems so nurses don't have to shout for the key to the medicine cabinet, reducing ring volume on telephones, fitting TVs with headsets, not allowing shouting, no buzzing or paging of staff (beepers instead). Some hospitals are even undergoing structural changes, installing sound-absorbing ceiling tiles, soft vinyl floor tiles, fabric on the walls, curtains in all the rooms. These changes have had a noticeable affect in the Montefiore hospital; the decibel level is definitely lower.
Now what about those MRIs?? Sorry — you're on your own there! But there is something you can do to mitigate the noise level. We highly recommend that you take along some good earplugs and fit them snugly in your ears before undergoing that procedure.
More on the Malady of Tinnitus
In the last Newsletter, I introduced the topic of tinnitus. This problem, that over 50 million Americans struggle with, ranges from being mildly irritating to downright debilitating.
First, we need make it very clear that tinnitus is not a disease. It is a symptom of a problem that occurs somewhere in the auditory system, from in the ear to the brain. The American Tinnitus Association (ATA) defines tinnitus as "the perception of sound when no external sound is present. For some people, tinnitus is just a nuisance. For others, it is a life-altering condition."
It is believed that tinnitus is caused by damage done to the cochlea, which is susceptible to the affects of aging and excessive noise exposure. Age and noise are two common causes; others are head trauma, heredity, vascular abnormalities in the brain, ear, or brainstem, cardiovascular disease, or acoustic neuroma (a rare tumor). Ototoxicity is also a concern. Many drugs and chemicals have an audiological impact, causing hearing loss and tinnitus.
Noise-induced tinnitus may be caused by a sudden loud sound, as with a gunshot, or may occur gradually over time — attending loud concerts, for instance. A person may experience a kind of ringing in the ears for a few minutes after a loud concert. After attending another loud concert, the ringing in the ears may occur again, lasting several hours. Repeated noise exposure may cause tinnitus to become a constant irritating companion. Understandably, most tinnitus cases are accompanied by noise-induced hearing loss. On the other hand, there are some individuals who have a hypersensitivity to sound with tinnitus; these individuals may or may not have a hearing loss.
Research is ongoing. While no cure has yet been found, the Tinnitus Clinic at the Oregon Health & Science University and the ATA have made great strides in attempting to discover the causes, symptoms, and treatments for this troubling symptom. What may alleviate tinnitus for one individual, may have no affect on someone else. Tinnitus is a very personal affliction.
One thing research has shown is that tinnitus rarely occurs in the absence of hearing loss. High frequency hearing loss can creep up on a person. Over time, the intensity of the high frequencies can diminish, but the person doesn't notice the gradual lessening of hearing ability. So, oftentimes, a person may begin noticing the tinnitus and seek help for it, not aware that he has a hearing loss. In fact, in a study of their male patients, the Tinnitus Clinic has noted that noise-induced hearing loss is probably responsible for causing tinnitus in a high percentage of them. They note that an early warning signal of noise-induced hearing loss is the presence of tinnitus.
In subsequent Newsletters, we will explore other facets to this symptom: how to avoid it, various types of tinnitus, what treatment options are available, how to live with it, how to help others who are afflicted with it, and more.
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Fascinating Book!
My mother's doctor, Geoffrey Simmons, M.D., is a very talented author. His most recent work published by Harvest House here in Eugene, OR is entitled, What Darwin Didn't Know. Chapter 8 deals with the hearing mechanism. Jim read this chapter and pronounced, "This is a GREAT book!" There is a wealth of information in this easy-to-read, concise work. Dr. Simmons' portrayal of the workings of the human body is fascinating. If you want to read a most interesting narrative of how wonderfully and intricately we're fashioned, this book will not disappoint you. To learn more and/or order this book, please go to Harvest House Publishers web site.
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As always, your questions and comments are welcome.
Beth Bell |
Quote of the Month
"God gave man two ears, but only one mouth,
that he might hear twice as much as he speaks."
Epictetus the Stoic (philosopher who coined this maxim 2000 years ago) |
Reminders |
| If you last had your hearing instruments cleaned in February, it is time to get them cleaned this month! |
Assisted Listening Devices |
| For Assisted Listening Devices, please visit our online store. We offer many products, including TV Ears, at competitive prices and shipped directly to your door. Satisfaction guaranteed. |
Referrals |
If you know someone who has been thinking about getting some new hearing aids and benefiting from newer technology, please send them our way. If they purchase a set of premium digital instruments, we will gladly supply you with 2 free boxes of batteries. If they purchase a set of basic or advanced digital hearing instruments, we will supply you with 1 free box of batteries.
We appreciate your referrals! As you know, we do not use telemarketing to acquire new customers. We rely upon word-of-mouth and media advertising. Not only will they receive the best care, but we can save them money, too! |
Questions? Comments? |
| Do you have a question, comment, or concern? Do you have a testimonial that you would like us to include in a future newsletter? Please don't hesitate to contact Jim or contact me. |
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How to contact us
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Saturday by appointment only
Address and Phone
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Springfield, OR 97477
Telephone: 541-746-7671
Toll Free: 800-230-1953
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