18. January 2012 by Cape Cod Chapter HLAA Blog.

Cape Ears, January Newsletter of the Hearing Loss Association of America Cape Cod

“Hearing Loss 101″  January 28th Film Festival 

A good turnout attended our recent meeting to learn about types of hearing loss, available treatments, how to read an audiogram, use of hearing aids, cochlear implants and assistive devices and more through the Hearing Loss Association of America’s video series called “Learn About Hearing Loss.”  A discussion followed led by a board member who confessed to being “in denial”, and lots of informal sharing of ideas went on also.  The video series is available for viewing online at

 http://hearingloss.org/content/video-series-learn-about-hearing-loss

One member said that she just watched a wonderful webinar on the HLAA website that I heard  about a while ago and finally got around to watching. Very worthwhile and may be of interest to the membership–Bluffing 101.

All the webinars are at http://hearingloss.org/content/webinars

Another member shared her very discreet and economical ReSound microphone which can be put on a podium or given to another person to wear and transmits directly to her ReSound hearing aid.  She’s very happy with it and here’s the information she shared:

The ReSound Unite™ Mini Microphone, is an extraordinarily versatile device that transmits speech directly to your hearing aids. It is a discreet “clip-on” or “necklace” type microphone that helps you hear speech clearly. It allows you to enjoy one-on-one communication in difficult listening situations. I have used it at the Thanksgiving dinner table. I attend a lot of classes and workshops. The presenter attaches it to their clothing and the sound goes directly into my hearing aids. It has a range of 20’ to 30’.

ReSound Unite Mini Microphone also functions as a personal, portable audio streamer to help you listen to your iPod or laptop. Or as a travel companion when you’re away from home - just place it front of the speakers of the TV to stream directly to your ears. You can also connect it to your TV or DVD player, which then streams directly to your hearing devices. It comes with a plug in charger, no batteries!! It’s the ultimate, portable voice and sound streamer. Compatible with ReSound Alera® Hearing Instruments.   I know that Oticon offers a similar device. I do not know if other manufacturers offer such at this time. Contact your hearing aid dispenser and inquire.

Lions Help the Hearing Impaired

Saturday, March 24th at 10 am. Come early for coffee & conversation

Gretchen Olney, President of the Hearing Foundation of the Lions Club District 33S, and local Lions Club members will talk about How Lions Help the Hearing Impaired. She will focus on local resources like Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Sandwich and answer your questions about access to services and equipment. Gretchen says “Free and Low cost hearing aids are available to people who need them on the Cape!” 

She asks that anyone with hearing aids they no longer need, even analog hearing aids, to please bring them to the meeting.  The Lions refurbish them so they become new again, or get credit for the analog aids.

The Lions have done a wonderful job providing eyeglasses to those that need them, and we expect the hearing aid program to be equally helpful and perhaps our chapter can help as well. See the website for more information: www.district33s.org/hearing.htm

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16. August 2011 by Cape Cod Chapter HLAA Blog.

Download October “Cape Ears” Newsletter

Download November “Cape Ears” Newsletter

TINNITUS! Some 50 million people suffer from this disorder and it is finally being addressed by both national and international scientists. On October 22^nd, Jennifer Melcher, Ph. D., an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School and Mass. Eye and Ear Infirmary, shared some of the current knowledge in a fascinating and informative talk.

For the uninformed, the term “tinnitus” is described as the perception of sound when no sound is present. Dr. Melcher prefers the term “tinnitus condition” which is not just the sound you hear, but a lot of other stuff that is going on along with that sound. Hyperacusis is a second condition often attached to tinnitus, whereby sounds that are normal to most people become abnormally loud to others. Sufferers of tinnitus are frequently unable to lead a normal life due to depression, disruption of sleep, inability to work and sometimes even suicide. It occurs with hearing loss but also with normal hearing and is rarely curable, but there are ways to treat the symptoms.

After this background information, with the use of slides, Dr. Melcher provided an in-depth description of the auditory system showing how sound moves from ear to brain. Any problems along this path could result in hearing tinnitus, particularly if hair cells are broken.

She also pointed out besides the ear, auditory system and brain there is the somatosensory system to contend with. For instance, if there is a tensing of the head and neck muscles, it will affect your tinnitus. Somehow, the hearing centers use information from these muscles and link directly to the auditory system. Tinnitus causes distress. Distress causes tinnitus.

If the ear is unstimulated by an outside source, it will make sounds up. Tinnitus can be heard as buzzing, whirring, chimes, music, all sounds the brain has heard before and remembers. Tinnitus is the noises of something to fill in. Examining only participants with clinically normal audiograms but chronic tinnitus, Dr. Melcher’s group are studying the condition with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) in order to actually see brain function by putting in sound, raising the sound by degrees and watching the brain responding. By this method, they can distinguish between tinnitus with hyperacusis, tinnitus without hyperacusis, etc.

Because the brain is not separate parts, new tests are discovering just how connected the different brain areas are and the way that affects how you hear tinnitus. (Connectivity analysis) All of the testing shows there are many kinds of tinnitus which will require varied forms of treatment. Dr. Melcher summarized, “the (scientific) field has a sense that there are ways to get at the tinnitus. The question is how to do it for that person.” Or, “no magic bullet” as she says.

There are a few treatment studies in other countries. One, from Germany, called transcranial magnetic stimulation, involves a coil placed in different locations in your head which excites the cortex (currently not understood) and may result in a reduction of tinnitus. Another extremely new treatment from Belgium puts a little stimulator on the vagal nerve, which controls neurotransmitter release in the brain. This is mostly done for depression and is FDA approved. A fairly minor surgery, there appears to be some benefit.

During the robust question and answer period we learned that yes, tinnitus and migraine headaches are connected as well as Meniere’s disorder, biofeedback is questionable and acupuncture has been some help. Scientists are working on regrowing cochlea hair cells as well as the auditory nerve fibers that connect the hair cells to the brain. At present, loud noises will probably, if not definitely, cause hearing loss and hearing aids cannot be fitted for tinnitus.

Dr. Melcher was a whirlwind of information and it was indeed a privilege to have her speak to our group.

Coming soon–a summary of our September meeting with Dr. Perry Ebel of Beltone. His talk was called :  “The Future is Now!  Advancements in Hearing Aid Technology”

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17. April 2011 by Cape Cod Chapter HLAA Blog.

Download the May 2011 Newsletter “Cape Ears”

On Saturday, May 28th, at 2 pm at Dennis Public Library, we will be playing games–cribbage, Boggle, cards and learning and using sign language to play Go Fish.  Suggestions are welcomed.  It’s a great chance to make friends and have some fun.  We’ll have refreshments and prizes, too.

And mark your calendars for our June 18th picnic at Grey’s Beach for members and guests.  Have you paid your dues for 2011 yet?

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11. March 2011 by Cape Cod Chapter HLAA Blog.

Saturday, March 26, 2011 : “Advanced Hearing Aid Technology & Connectivity”

Tiffany Pfleger and Leanne O’Neil, licensed audiologists and Co-owners of Advanced Audiology Associates of Mashpee and East Dennis showed a slide program and discussed how technological advances in hearing aids can reduce background noise and connect to televisions and other blue-tooth devices.

 Special Guests:
Moira Hennessey, MassRelay Community Relations Manager
“Making Telephone Communication Possible for Individuals with Hearing Loss and Speech Difficulties”–Relay, Captioned phones and more.She demonstrated the CapTel phone and explained how to obtain one..
June Barrett, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Advocate at CORD   introduced herself and described the help available through CORD for those with hearing impairments and other needs.

View or download March Newsletter — “Cape Ears”.

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