“I purchased a Delta 6000 Oticon set (2) hearing aids from Dr. Clark + Dr. Sims. I can’t compliment both the doctors for their patience & time in working with me with the hearing aids…..I will recommend anybody I know to these two doctors. Thanks to both doctors and (the staff) for there kindness and service. I truly appreciate all they have done.”

“Physician’s Choice Hearing & Dizziness Center has provided me with the best professional service and advice. Their very qualified audiologists, Dr. Clark and Dr. Sims, always offer care and understanding of my hearing problem. They recommend the best hearing aids for me. You could not ask for or get more.”

By Jeanna Bryner, Senior Writer, Livescience.com

The gooey, golden stuff that builds up inside your ears should stay there, according to national guidelines on earwax removal released today.

"[Earwax] is not intrinsically evil stuff, and consequently does not have to be removed merely because it’s present," said Peter Roland, an ear, nose and throat doctor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. "In fact, it serves a function and so if you don’t need to take it out, you should just leave it alone."

Roland chaired a panel of doctors in charge of the new guidelines for earwax removal issued by the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF). The guidelines are intended to serve two purposes: to determine under what circumstances earwax needs to be removed, and to give doctors the scoop on which removal methods work best.

They hope the guidelines won’t fall on deaf ears: About 12 million people a year in the United States seek medical care for impacted or excessive earwax. Impaction, they say, can cause pain, pressure, itching, foul odor, ringing of the ears, ear discharge and, in extreme cases, hearing loss.

Good-for-you goo
So there’s a reason for the goo. Earwax is a self-cleaning agent, with protective, lubricating and antibacterial properties, doctors say.

That’s why tiny glands in the outer ear canal constantly pump out a watery substance, which gets mixed with bits of dead hair and skin and together is called earwax or cerumen. Excess earwax normally treks slowly out of the ear canal, with an extra boost from chewing and other jaw movements, carrying with it dirt, dust and other small particles from the ear canal. Then, dried-up clumps of the stuff fall out of the ear opening.

When this natural earwax train malfunctions, or when individuals poke around in their ears with cottons swabs or other foreign objects such as bobby pins or matchsticks, earwax can build up and block part of the ear canal.

"Then there are lots of people wearing earplugs for one reason or another, either because they’ve got hearing aids or they’re transcriptionists at work or because they’re addicted to their walkman," Roland told LiveScience, "and that can increase the likelihood that the wax doesn’t come out on its own."

Older adults are more prone to earwax buildup then younger individuals.

"The wax gets much thicker and drier, and plus you actually end up with more hair in your ear, when you’re older, and so it traps it," Roland said.

He added, "Unfortunately, many people feel the need to manually ‘remove’ cerumen from the ears. This can result in further impaction and other complications to the ear canal." He said the saying, "Don’t put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear," holds true.

Leave your ears alone
For the everyday individual, the new guidelines suggest you leave your ears alone unless you experience symptoms that you think are associated with too much wax.

"If they’re going to do something at home, they should probably use drops of some sort," Roland said. The panel found no evidence that one type of over-the-counter drops works better than another, or better than just plain sterile water or sterile saline, he said.

The drops help to loosen the earwax and then the ear often can do the rest, he added. The guidelines also state that cotton-tipped swabs or other objects should not be used to remove earwax.  Oral jet irrigators and the alternative medicine technique called ear candling are also strongly advised against.

Ear candling involves making a hollow tube from fabric and soaking that in warm beeswax, which is cooled and hardens. Once cooled and hardened, the beeswax cone is stuck into the ear. The outer end of the tube is lit and burns for about 15 minutes, a process that supposedly draws the wax out of the ear.

Studies have shown, however, that the drawn-out stuff is material from the candle itself. Doctors have also reported seeing patients who have burned the outer parts of their ears with this method.

If the drops don’t relieve your symptoms, or if you dislike drops but still have symptoms, it’s time to see a doctor, Roland said.

The panel found that three common techniques for earwax removal at the doctor’s office work best, with no single method outshining the others. These include flushing the ear out with a water solution; manually removing the earwax under a microscope using medical instruments; and sending the patient home with ear drops.

While at the doctor’s office, Roland urges patients not to be embarrassed by a little earwax.

"I get a lot of people in here who are horrified when I see a little wax in their ear, and then they start apologizing for being dirty and they’re just very upset it’s present at all," Roland said. "And I think the big message there is that it has a physiological function, and unless there’s a reason to remove it, you should just leave it alone. It’s OK."

Obtained from: http://www.livescience.com/health/080829-earwax-removal.html

Have you - or has someone you know - lost the ability to hear on one side? If so, you’re not alone. Over 50,000 individuals are diagnosed with "Single Sided Deafness" (SSD) every year in the U.S.

Single Sided Deafness is characterized by a significant sensorineural hearing loss in one ear, and normal hearing for most speech frequencies in the opposite ear.

TransEar is an elegant, affordable, and effective answer to SSD. It looks like a conventional BTE (Behind-the Ear) hearing aid, but instead of simply amplifying sound, it relies on bone conduction to transmit the sound to the better ear.

TransEar is not the first bone conduction hearing aid, but it is the first to overcome Single Sided Deafness

• without surgery;
• without bulky headbands;
• without having to wear another hearing aid in the "good" ear.

How it works:
Just like a conventional hearing aid, a custom shell is made to fit in the ear canal. However, unlike a conventional aid that would simply amplify the sound, TransEar has a miniature oscillator embedded in the shell. The oscillator is positioned in the shell in such a way that it makes contact with the bony portion of the ear canal. When sound is "received" on the side of the dead ear, it’s converted to mechanical energy that drives the oscillator. Those signals are then transferred via the bones of the skull to the cochlea in the opposite ear.

All of this happens nearly instantaneously, but your brain knows the difference. It learns to distinguish between sounds coming in on the side of the good ear versus sounds coming in from the opposite side.

The ability to determine the specific source of a sound - left side / right side, front / back, and everything in between - is called sound localization, and many TransEar users report that they have regained this ability with TransEar.

Will TransEar work for me?
TransEar’s effectiveness depends on a specific threshold of hearing in the "better" ear, so your hearing healthcare professional will evaluate your hearing in both ears. Each patient’s physiology and medical conditions may also be factors in the fitting.

The following is a link to the TransEar site for a news story featuring this exciting new approach to treating Single Sided Deafness:
http://www.transear.com/files/Albany_News_TE_Flash.swf

Important note: Because there may be an underlying condition requiring medical treatment, it’s important to report the onset of SSD to a medical professional such as an ENT doctor or otologist for a thorough examination. Your doctor may in turn work with a hearing healthcare professional to determine if TransEar is appropriate for your type of hearing loss and medical considerations.

As drummer for the legendary rock group The Moody Blues, Graeme Edge has spent the better part of the last forty years recording and touring, playing hits like Nights in White Satin, Tuesday Afternoon, and Your Wildest Dreams to ecstatic audiences worldwide.

Like many in his profession, however, Graeme found himself with the beginnings of hearing loss. “I’ve been tested regularly over the years, so I knew I was heading towards it,” says Graeme. “I was starting to experience difficulty with conversations, especially in crowded rooms, and sometimes had trouble hearing conversations on the television. ”The problem did not affect Graeme during live performances, thanks to the expertise of his crew. “I get a boost on all my equipment on stage, because I have direct in-the-ear monitoring,” he explains. For Graeme’s offstage listening needs, they directed him to Physician’s Choice Hearing & Dizziness Center, with offices in Tampa and Sun City Center. “The people doing the in the-ear monitoring on stage suggested I get in touch with them,” he confirms. “It was a professional recommendation.”

Hearing is believing
“Hearing aids are so easy to use now and so much better than they have ever been before,” says certified clinical audiologist Jeffrey Clark, AuD. “At Physician’s Choice we pride ourselves on offering the highest quality of care, professionalism, and products, and on ensuring patient satisfaction.” For many hearing aid users Oticon hearing instruments prove the best choice. “Oticon provides revolutionary hearing devices specifically designed for people who find noisy situations challenging at work or when socializing,” explains Dr. Clark. “Never before has a device looked so good and had so much power to improve patients’ understanding in challenging noise environments. “The Oticon Delta fits about eighty percent of people, which is just phenomenal,” reports Dr. Clark. “I’ve been fitting hearing instruments for twelve years now and have never worked with a product that is so successful for so many patients.” “We are finding that the Delta is what hearing aid wearers always hoped hearing aids would be,” adds certified clinical audiologist Scott Sims. “They put them on, other people don’t notice them, and they hear naturally. ”The Delta is a tiny device that fits partly in the ear and partly on top of the ear, basically hidden by the ear. The high-tech triangular design propels hearing devices into the 21st century, setting a new standard for aesthetics. “Speech comes through more clearly,” says Dr. Clark, “whether someone is in a quiet or noisy environment. Thousands of subtle digital adjustments every second keep every listening experience clear and effortless.” “This device offers the most sophisticated sound processing technologies available today,” assures Dr. Sims. “From advanced noise management to voice detection systems, Delta has all that’s necessary to help someone hear better in noise.”

“Brightness and sparkle”
Graeme appreciates what Physician’s Choice Hearing & Dizziness Center was able to do for him. “I worked with Jeff, and it was all very quick, very efficient. He tested my ears, saw the problem, and I walked out with my new hearing aids that same day.” Like others, Graeme had been unimpressed with “old school” hearing instruments and was pleased to see what the newest technology can deliver. “Up until now, hearing aids had always been large and cumbersome, and to be frank, I hadn’t found them very effective,” he says. “All they seemed to do was just turn things up louder, which is not what I needed. “With these new ones, I’m finding brightness and sparkle in everything!”

FHCN–Michael J. Sahno

Tampa Health Care News | Fall 2008 | North Tampa Edition

Jeff Clark, Au.D., CCC-A, F-AAA specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing and balance disorders and has successfully treated thousands of patients. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from Penn State University. He obtained his Doctoral degree from the University of Florida and has been practicing Audiology in Hillsborough County for over 12 years. Dr. Clark is clinically certified in Audiology by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Audiology and the Florida Academy of Audiology. Dr. Clark is dedicated to helping those with hearing and balance disorders.

Scott A. Sims, AuD., CCC-A, F-AAA has been trained to diagnose and treat hearing impairment, tinnitus, and vertigo. Dr. Sims has been practicing in Tampa and Sun City Center for 12 years. Dr. Sims received his graduate education at the University of Tennessee and performed his doctoral work at the Arizona School of Health Sciences. He is Board Certified in Audiology by the American Board of Audiology and he is clinically certified in Audiology by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Audiology, the Florida Academy of Audiology, and the Florida Speech-Language Hearing Association. Dr. Sims enjoys improving people’s lives through better hearing.

Michael McCandless, Au.D., CCC-A, F-AAA specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss and balance disorders. He was awarded his Bachelor of Science degree by Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA and he performed his Doctoral work at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry School of Audiology. Dr. McCandless completed his clinical fellowship at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Audiology and he is clinically certified in Audiology by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. Dr. McCandless is committed to providing the best care for each of his patients.

_

By TARA PARKER-POPE

Published: April 15, 2008

A device, called the Lyric, is being used in only 500 patients, it appears to have overcome many of the problems associated with traditional hearing aids — without the expense and uncertainty of surgery and anesthesia.

The Lyric, made by InSound Medical of Newark, Calif., is hidden deep inside the ear canal, just four millimeters (about one-sixth of an inch) from the ear drum. While doctors for years have been implanting hearing devices in the middle ear, the Lyric is not an implant: it can be removed with a small magnet. It is worn 24 hours a day, and its batteries last one to four months.

Typically, anything that clogs the ear canal would trap moisture and pose an infection risk, but the Lyric is surrounded by a spongy material that allows moisture to escape. Because it sits so close to the ear drum, doctors say that it works more efficiently and that sounds are more natural because they don’t have to be amplified as much.

When the Lyric’s battery dies, the entire device is replaced. Patients do not pay for a new device every time; instead, they pay an annual subscription fee of $2,900 to $3,600 for both ears (less if the hearing loss is in only one ear). Insurance plans typically do not cover the cost of the Lyric, or any other hearing device.

A magnet is used to control the volume, turn it on and off and remove it when the battery runs out. It takes only a few minutes for a doctor to insert a replacement device.

The Lyric does not work for everyone. In particular, some ear canals are too narrow to accommodate it, and the company estimates that it is not suitable for up to half of potential patients. A planned newer version should work for about 85 percent of patients, it says.

Still, it is already getting an enthusiastic reception from patients and from hearing specialists not connected with the company. “There are a certain number of patients who just can’t get over having something in their ear, just as there are a certain number of patients who can’t wear contact lenses,” said Dr. Chester F. Griffiths, chairman of the department of surgery at the Santa Monica U.C.L.A. Medical Center. “But that’s the minority. The patients that have them love them.”

Dr. Griffiths says he has no financial ties to the Lyric, nor does he receive a commission for referring patients.

One patient who swears by the device is Mike Waufle, the 53-year-old him. Using a traditional hearing aid, he found it difficult to control his own voice.

“I teach a lot in a classroom as a coach, but when I would wear a hearing aid my voice pattern wasn’t very good,” he said. “It was all over the place. I just took it out most of the time. I missed an awful lot.”

As it happened, a team doctor was one of a handful of physicians test-marketing the Lyric, which has been available for about 16 months. Mr. Waufle tried it, and he says it has changed his life.

“My voice pattern is so natural, and I hear so much better,” he said. “Obviously, it’s easier to carry on normal conversations without having to always say, ‘Huh? What did you say?’ And it helps just enjoying life over all and being able to hear the simple things like birds and other sounds you take for granted.”

Mr. Waufle says he has no financial ties to the company and receives no benefit for talking about his experience with the device. (The company says none of the people featured in testimonials on its Web site, www.lyrichearing.com, receive any form of compensation for their endorsements.)

Right now, the Lyric is offered only through a dozen clinics in California, Florida and New Jersey, but it should be available at about 100 sites by the end of the year. Some patients who don’t live near a clinic simply fly or drive to a site four or five times a year. InSound is a privately held firm, although the pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson is a major investor.

Dr. Robert A. Schindler, a co-founder of InSound and chairman emeritus of the department of otolaryngology at the University of California, San Francisco, says he has had hearing loss most of his life and has worn a Lyric since 2005. He says he remembers listening to an orchestra and hearing the light ping of the triangle.

“I realized I hadn’t heard it before,” he said. “That was a very exciting moment for me.”

Thanks to 21st century technology, even those with nerve-related hearing loss can find a resolution for an age-old challenge.

“I’ve had a hearing problem for several years,” reports retired grocery executive Ken Fletcher. “I used to go into staff meetings and not be able to hear clearly, and it was very frustrating. “I wasn’t able to hear a lot of particular sounds,” he adds. “Sometimes it sounded like people were speaking a foreign language, where I could hear the sounds but couldn’t distinguish the words.” Ken searched for an answer, but without results. “I’ve been in and out of different hearing clinics and doctors’ offices in Texas, Virginia, and Florida,” he recalls. “I have a nerve type hearing loss, and there was nothing any of them could do. I never had any kind of hearing aids, because I was always told that hearing aids wouldn’t help me. It was very disheartening.”

The right solution

Ken finally found help when he consulted Jeffrey Clark, a certified clinical audiologist and founder of Physician’s Choice Hearing & Dizziness Center. “Hearing aids are so easy to use now and so much better than they have ever been before,” says Dr. Clark. “At Physician’s Choice we pride ourselves on offering the highest quality of care, professionalism, and products, and on ensuring patient satisfaction. ”Oticon hearing instruments proved the best choice for Ken. “Oticon provides revolutionary hearing devices specifically designed for people who find noisy situations challenging at work or when socializing,” explains Dr. Clark. “Never before has a device looked so good and had so much power to improve patients’ understanding in challenging noise environments. “The Oticon Delta fits about eighty percent of people, which is just phenomenal,” notes Dr. Clark. “I’ve been fitting hearing instruments for twelve years now and have never worked with a product that is so successful for so many patients.” “I’m finding that the Delta is what hearing aid wearers always hoped hearing aids would be,” adds certified clinical audiologist Scott Sims. “They put them on, other people don’t notice them, and they hear naturally.” The Delta is a tiny device that fits partly in the ear and partly on top of the ear, basically hidden by the ear. The high-tech triangular design propels hearing devices into the 21st century and sets a new standard for aesthetics, says Dr. Clark. “Speech comes through more clearly, whether someone is in a quiet or noisy environment. Artificial Intelligence inside Delta makes thousands of subtle digital adjustments every second to keep any listening experience clear and effortless.” “This device offers the most sophisticated sound processing technologies available today,” says Dr. Sims. “From advanced noise management to voice detection systems, Delta has all that’s necessary to help someone hear better in noise.”

“Absolutely wonderful”

Ken says his experience at Physician’s Choice was first rate from the first day. “The entire staff is exceptionally friendly,” he assures, “and they just bend over backwards to help you. I’ve never witnessed anything like it in any other hearing center I’ve visited. The place is just phenomenal.” And the results of his Oticon instruments surpassed his expectations. “It’s been three weeks since I got them, and I’m still euphoric,” marvels Ken. “I’m hearing sounds I haven’t heard in years. It’s wonderful.” Unexpected benefits for Ken. “I’ve had tinnitus [ringing in the ears] for over twenty years, and that can drive you crazy. I was also having dizzy spells. Since I’ve gotten my hearing aids, all that has stopped! “I just can’t say enough about how absolutely wonderful these hearing aids are.” FHCN–Michael J. Sahno