Danielle Dupre, AuD, CCC-A

Danielle Dupuis, AuD, CCC-A
Audiologist
UT Health East Texas Physicians Tyler-Three Lakes ENT

June is Men’s Health Awareness Month and a great time to shed light on factors that can lead to hearing loss and signs that hearing aids are needed.

Job occupation can be a significant reason for hearing loss. Occupations such as firefighters, police officers, construction workers, oil field workers, music performers and landscaping workers can all lead to exposure to sounds at harmful levels.

Sound is measured in decibels (dB). A decibel is a degree of loudness or is a unit used to measure how powerful or loud a sound or signal is using a logarithmic formula. Certain tools or equipment can emit decibels at 85 or higher causing permanent hearing damage. Examples of harmful sounds workers may experience include:

· Lawnmower - 90 dB

· Belt sander - 93 dB

· Gunfire - 140 - 165 dB

· Fire sirens - 65 - 120 dB

· Bulldozer - 105 dB

· Chainsaw - 110 dB

· Jackhammer - 120 dB

If you are unable to remove yourself from the situation, then hearing protection is key to prevent hearing loss. However, if hearing protection is not used consistently or correctly exposure can still lead to damage.

Signs you may need hearing aids:

· You hear but do not understand others when they are speaking.

· You think everyone is mumbling or talking too low.

· You often ask for repetition.

· Friends and family tell you that you are not hearing them.

· You do not participate in a conversation, because you are not following along.

· You stay at home rather than enjoying group outings.

· You feel like you need to see the person speaking in order to hear them or you are reading lips.

· You are tired after having a conversation or after a day at work or school.

· You have a hard time hearing the phone.

· You watch the television at a very loud volume.

· You have difficulty hearing background noise.

· You hear ringing, buzzing or humming sounds in your ears.

There are many signs that you may need hearing aids. If any of the above statements are something you experience, it may be time to schedule a hearing test to see if hearing aids can help. Many times others will notice that you have difficulty hearing before you do. Hearing loss often occurs gradually, so you may be unaware of just how much you are missing.

When you listen to speech with a hearing loss, your brain is working hard to “fill in the gaps” because you are missing important speech information. This is why you may find yourself reading lips or searching for context clues in conversation. The longer you go with hearing loss, the more difficult it is for your brain to fill in those gaps. Individuals with long-term hearing loss have increased difficulty understanding, even when speech is loud enough. Because your brain is working harder to understand, you may be more fatigued after long conversation or a day at work.

Therefore, it is important to start wearing hearing aids as soon as hearing loss is identified. Keeping your brain stimulated with sound is imperative and may help prevent increased cognitive decline. Additionally, tinnitus (ringing, buzzing, humming or other sounds that you hear without an external source) can be a sign of hearing loss. Tinnitus may be improved by the use of hearing aids due to the additional sound stimulation to your brain.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above, call 903-747-4098 to schedule an appointment.

Information provided by Danielle Dupuis, AuD, CCC-A. Dr. Dupuis is located at the UT Health East Texas ENT Center in Tyler and is accepting new patients. For more information, visit uthealthtylerhospital.com/services/ear-nose-and-throat.

There are many reasons to have your hearing evaluated by an audiologist. Hearing loss may occur as a result of genetics, aging, medication side effects, pathology of the ear, loud noise exposure, and much more. Hearing loss can happen suddenly or your hearing may slowly worsen over time. If your hearing loss is gradual, others may notice that you are having difficulty hearing before you do. It is important to have your hearing checked as soon as you notice changes in your hearing. Untreated hearing loss may lead to poor understanding, fatigue, depression, and social isolation.

If any of the following applies to you, you should make an appointment with an audiologist:

• You have difficulty hearing or understanding speech
• Others often have to repeat themselves for you
• You notice changes or fluctuation in your hearing
• You hear better in one ear than the other
• You “hear” but you do not “understand” what is being said
• Family and friends are frustrated because you do not seem to listen
• You have trouble following the conversation when multiple people are talking
• You hear ringing, buzzing, hissing, or other sounds that are not heard by others
• Family members tell you that you turn the radio or TV too loud
• You have a hard time hearing in noisy environments
• Your ears feel plugged or full
• You find yourself having to focus harder or read lips to understand speech
• You respond inappropriately because you mishear what is being said
• You find that many people mumble or do not speak clearly
• You avoid social situations because you do not want to feel left out of conversation
• You have family history of hearing loss
• You have a known hearing loss that should be monitored annually for stability

Consider having your child’s hearing evaluated if you notice any of the following:

• Your child struggles to hear in noisy environments
• Your child frequently says “what?” or “huh?”
• Your child does not seem to listen or has difficulty following directions
• Your child returns home from school unusually tired or irritable
• Your child has academic difficulty
• Your child focuses intently on your face while you are speaking
• Your child has speech or language delays
• Your child’s teacher reports that your child seems “bored” or they are not paying attention
• Your child shows signs of stress or anxiety in the classroom

The audiologist may recommend hearing aids or refer you to another provider, like an otolaryngologist, for treatment of your hearing loss and other symptoms. If it is determined that you have hearing loss, it is important to have your hearing rechecked every year.

Information provided by Danielle Dupuis, AuD, CCC-A, an audiologist at the UT Health East Texas ENT Center on Three Lakes Parkway in Tyler. Call 903-747-4098 to schedule an appointment or visit uthealtheasttexasdoctors.com/services/ear-nose-and-throat/audiology.

Tinnitus is a ringing, hissing, buzzing or roaring sound perceived by an individual in the absence of an actual external sound source. Though some are unbothered by tinnitus, many find it burdensome or even debilitating. Tinnitus is not a disease, but is instead a symptom of an underlying health problem. In fact, there are around 200 different health disorders that can cause tinnitus. In most cases, it is not a sign of a serious illness or condition.

It is best to see your hearing health provider or your family physician to determine if there are any underlying health issues that may cause tinnitus.

What causes tinnitus?

Tinnitus may be a result of hearing loss, stress, side effect of medication or other underlying diseases of the ear or brain. Underlying causes of tinnitus are quite varied, but the most common reason for tinnitus is damage to the tiny sensory hair cells of the cochlea in the inner ear. Risk factors include sustained or continuous exposure to loud sounds, including in the workplace or at a concert. Other causes of tinnitus may include:

• Obstructions in the middle ear
• Head and neck trauma
• Ear infections
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Diabetes
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Ménière’s disease
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
• Sinus pressure and barometric trauma
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Tinnitus prevention

One way to try to prevent tinnitus is to limit your exposure to loud noises. Sounds above 85 decibels are considered loud and any continuous exposure could lead to hearing loss and possibly tinnitus. To give you an idea of how loud that is, a leaf blower is about 85 dB, while a motorcycle sits at about 100 dB and a music concert is about 110 dB.

Four ways to prevent tinnitus:

1. Step away from any loud sounds.
2. Use hearing protection like earplugs or earmuffs.
3. Turn down the volume on your electronic devices like your smartphone or headphones.
4. Consider downloading an app that measures noise levels and sets a limit on how loud you can listen to audio and video content on your devices.

How is tinnitus treated?

Tinnitus can sometimes be relieved by listening to white noise, nature sounds or music. Tinnitus is most commonly reported as bothersome when an individual is in a quiet setting. For example, many patients complain of tinnitus when trying to fall asleep at night. If tinnitus keeps you awake at night, try using a white noise machine or a box fan to “mask” the tinnitus. If tinnitus is a result of hearing loss, hearing aids often help to diminish the perception of tinnitus because the brain is stimulated with sounds that it does not usually hear.

Tinnitus can create undue stress. We want to help patients to understand their tinnitus and develop lifestyle strategies to better manage it. It is important to check with your doctor if you experience tinnitus; particularly if it is a new symptom, if it is heard only in one ear or if it is pulsatile (sounds like a heartbeat).

Information provided by Danielle Dupuis, AuD, CCC-A, an audiologist at the UT Health East Texas ENT Center on Three Lakes Parkway in Tyler. If you are suffering from tinnitus, call 903-747-4098 to schedule an appointment.