Cochlear implant vs hearing aids

     

    ● Cochlear implant

A cochlear implant is a gadget that stimulates the central auditory nervous system to sense sounds. It skips damaged portions of the inner ear and can help people who are deaf or have hearing loss.

Cochlear implants are connected to the auditory nerve using a surgically implanted electrode array. A microphone picks up sound, and software within the implant converts it into electrical impulses that travel along nerve fibers to stimulate the auditory nerve. These electrical impulses are then sent to an electrode that stimulates the auditory nerve. This stimulation occasionally leads to certain sounds recorded as vibrations by the electrode, even in people with no hearing damage.

● Hearing aid

Hearing aids have traditionally been used for treating age-related hearing loss but can also be used by those who have some kind of damage to their ears. Specifically, hearing aids may include amplifiers and other sound processing technologies that help translate every sound into an audible format for people with mild, moderate, or severe hearing impairment.

Hearing aids are gadgets that amplify sound and assist people with mild to severe hearing loss in "understanding" the conversation when they are present in the vicinity of their natural ear. They do not cure hearing loss or replace damaged portions of the inner ear but can improve sound discrimination and quality for mild to moderate hearing damage.

 

The significant difference between a cochlear implant and a hearing aid hears aids are designed to effectively only amplify sound; this makes them especially beneficial to those with trouble hearing in certain situations or environments. The cochlear implant simulates sounds instead of just amplifying them.

Attune Hearing clinics provide medical hearing services, including hearing tests. If you need hearing aids or cochlear implants, get in touch with Attune to book an appointment or for more details.

What Does an Audiologist Do?

An audiologist is a health care professional who identifies, evaluates, and manages hearing disorders, balance, and other hearing-related issues.

The general duties of an audiologist include:

● Examining patients with hearing or balance-related problems

● choose, adjust and distribute hearing aids and other listening gadgets

● offer and fit protective devices that will help protect one's hearing

● they educate patients on the impact of noise

● assist in research on prevention, identification, and management of hearing loss and other hearing-related issues, including balance

 

When to see an audiologist?

Several signs indicate it is time to visit an audiologist. The signs are related to hearing loss and could indicate that you are experiencing hearing loss problems. The signs include:

1. You are experiencing ringing in the ears with no external sound present. The sounds come from inside the body, and no one else around you seems to be hearing them.

2. Turning the volume of the radio, television or other electronics higher than necessary.

3. You have difficulty understanding speech when there is background noise, and you tend to tell people to repeat themselves frequently.

4. You cannot hear soft sounds, and it is becoming more and more difficult to listen to women and children speak than men.

5. You avoid social gatherings and public speaking due to hearing

6. You have a lot of earwax

7. You are experiencing sudden hearing loss

8. You are due for a checkup.

Conditions that an audiologist can help you with include:

● Hearing disability

● Amplification

● Auditory processing disorders

● Tinnitus

● Hyperacusis and Misophonia

● Balance disorders

Going to the doctor's office is scary sometimes, especially if you are experiencing signs related to hearing loss. However, you must see an audiologist to ensure that your signs are not associated with hearing loss; if they are, the specialist will advise you on what to do.

If you think it’s time you saw an audiologist, book a hearing test at Attune. Our qualified audiologists perform comprehensive hearing tests. Visit our website to book an appointment.

Can You Wear Hearing Aids While Exercising?

Hearing aids can be used for most sports such as yoga, gymnastics, golf, jogging, or dancing. Hearing aids can improve your training experience in many ways. When doing water sports such as swimming or surfing, it may be best to remove the headphones to prevent the water from damaging the internal components. This only applies if you have hearing aids that are specifically designed for this purpose. In 2012, the Hear-the-World Foundation carried out a study that found that 70 percent of hearing aid users enjoy sports activities more with their hearing aids. 47 percent of users said that exercising is more fun with the headphones you trust. 

Some Reasons If You Want To Exercise With Headphones Include:

• Increased Security, Communication And Connectivity: Headphones Help Keep You Safe When you exercise with headphones, you become much more aware of your surroundings.

• Hearing Aids Help You Stay Connected: In addition, many modern hearing aids come with wireless options that allow you to connect hearing aids and cell phones via Bluetooth so that hearing aid wearers can stream music or incoming calls and messages straight to their ears. So if you enjoy listening to your favorite podcasts or audio books or motivational music while exercising, the headphones will make your workout even more enjoyable. 

How to Secure Your Hearing Aids While Exercising?

Another common problem that can arise when exercising with hearing aids: How do you hold them in your ear and keep them from falling out? During intense exercises such as running, wrestling, and dancing that involve a lot of active movement, the hearing aids can slip out of the ear. To combat this problem, you have several options based on the type of hearing aid you have. For example, if you have behind-the-ear hearing aids (BTE), you can wear a headband that covers the hearing aids to keep them in place or tight-fitting caps so the hearing aids are more securely anchored on your head . Alternatively, you can invest in a headphone clip or lanyard to keep your hearing aids from falling out of your ear.This headphone clip is attached to your headphones and "clips" to your clothing.

If you’re looking to get your hearing tested, look no further than Attune Hearing. Australia’s only independent accredited hearing healthcare provider. Attune’s qualified audiologists conduct comprehensive hearing tests to help you on your hearing journey. Head to their website or contact the team today.

Is There A Difference Between In-ear Headphones And Over-ear Headphones When It Comes To Hearing Loss?

When it comes to using external devices for listening purposes, people are inundated with various options that can be used to plug into their phones, be used wirelessly for music or even Bluetooth for when you’re on the go. If you suffer from hearing loss however, the options can be narrowed and need a little more consideration when choosing a type of headphone or earphone. So what are the differences between the in-ear headphone and over-ear headphones, and which ones suit better for those that have hearing loss?

In-ear headphones

These devices, as the name suggests, goes directly inside the ear and funnels the sound down the ear canal. These are typically very portable and are small in size so you can easily take them with you wherever you go, especially if you use them for exercising. While some in-ear headphones still use cables, a majority of brands use wireless or Bluetooth technology which helps them sync seamlessly with your devices.

In-ear headphones, because a lot of them are cordless, have shorter battery life. This is an important factor to consider before purchasing in-ear headphones. Another key element to consider is comfort. The in-ear headphones usually come with varying sizes of attachable silicone buds to suit your ear size. This can be great because you can customise the in-ear headphones to be more comfortable and secure while you’re using them.

Over-ear headphones

Over-ear headphones are typically more chunky in size. They are designed to completely encase your ear and cover it to ensure no sound escapes and you are getting the best possible experience. A lot of musicians use over-hear headphones as they also tend to have better for noise-cancelling qualities and drown out background sounds. Because these headphones are bigger and usually have more capabilities, they can also be the most expensive option.

While a lot of the over-ear headphones have cords, they don’t need to be charged. However, with a lot of advancements in technology, there are more and more products that have wireless or Bluetooth capabilities while still enjoying the over-ear headphone benefits. These headphones are also quite comfortable. Usually, the headphones are made with a soft cushioning material that is covered with leather for protection and comfort. You also don’t have to worry about sticking anything into your ear.

For people with hearing loss, over-ear headphones might be a good option. They typically have better noise-cancelling capabilities and are comfortable for the wearer. However, it’s always important to consult your hearing aid specialist because they will be able to help find a tailored solution depending on the severity of your hearing loss.

If you’re looking to get a hearing test or would like to see someone about getting hearing aids, contact Attune Hearing. Attune Hearing is Australia’s only accredited hearing health care provider and has hearing clinics nationwide. Attune Hearing Audiologists conduct hearing aid test and can help you live your life to the fullest.

Easy Steps You Can Take To Protect Your Hearing

The ability to hear is vital a sense that we often take for granted, and don’t realise how much we rely on, on a day-to-day basis. Like our other senses like sight and taste, once they are gone, it is extremely difficult and sometimes impossible to regain, which is why it is so important to take care of them and ensure we can still hear as we get older. So what are some easy steps that you can take to protect your hearing?

1. Don’t have the volume too high when listening to music


When you listen to music, particularly with in-ear buds or earphones that surround your ear or go inside, it’s important not to set the volume too high or you could risk damaging your hearing.

2. Get a hearing test to check your hearing


One of the best ways to protect your hearing is to get it checked. Like the rest of your body, going for check-ups ensures that everything is working normally and there aren’t any issues.

3. Avoid long exposure to loud noises

If you work in a noisy environment like a construction site, this can be hard to avoid however you should be taking the right precautions like wearing ear muffs and other hearing protection to minimise the damage to your hearing. Your workplace should have safety measures put in place so ask them for help if you need. Another common place where people have long exposure to loud noises is concerts or music events. Avoid standing next to the speakers if you can.

4. Don’t use cotton buds

Cotton buds and other small instruments shouldn’t be poked into your ears. They can cause significant damage and also push ear wax further into your ear, causing your hearing to be muffled or obstructed.

If you are interested in learning more about hearing, or you need to get your hearing checked, consider going to a clinic that specialises in providing hearing tests. Attune Hearing is Australia’s only hearing healthcare provider and has professional audiologists that perform tests throughout their 60+ clinics nationwide. Book a hearing test at Attune Hearing today!

Does Ear Shape or Size Affect Your Hearing Ability?

Shape

Researcher, Dr Trapeau concluded in 2018 that changing the outer shape of your ear actually has the ability to change the way you hear. He found that adding a piece of silicone moulded to the participant’s ear meant that they heard the sound differently and said that it was coming from a different place to where the sound was originating from. However, when the testers used the silicone for a week and came back for testing, their results were back to normal which means that our brain adapts to our ear shape to help us hear better. So does this mean that the shape of our ears can change the way we hear?

A lot of tests have shown that the answer to this question is quite technical which has a lot to do with neuron activity, sound waves and other factors. However, the research study conducted by Dr Trapeau does, in fact, show that the shape of our ears can affect the way we hear, especially the way we experience spatial awareness.

Size

But it’s not quite that easy to change your ear shape which means the next variable to consider is the size of your ears. So do bigger ears help you hear better?

Essentially, the outside of the ear is called the pinna which serves to protect the inner ear and also guide sounds into the ear canal. However, the size of your ear doesn’t necessarily mean that you have better hearing. After all, what gives you the ability to hear are the little hairs in the inner part of your ear that send signals to your brain when sound waves interact and vibrate with the three tiny bones in the middle ear.

If you are interested in learning more about hearing, or you need to get your hearing checked, consider going to a clinic that specialises in providing hearing tests. Attune Hearing is Australia’s only hearing healthcare provider and has professional audiologists that perform tests throughout their 60+ clinics nationwide. Book a hearing test at Attune Hearing today!

Can you drive if you're deaf or have severe hearing loss?

Hearing loss can heavily impact you or your loved ones’ life. Whether it is simply replying to a question in close proximity, conversing in a group of people at a social event or even at work in a professional environment, hearing plays a vital role in your day-to-day life.

When it comes to driving, that’s a different story. Typically, you’d expect someone who is deaf or has severe hearing loss is not able to drive. According to Deafness Forum, hearing loss, if mild or moderate, doesn’t have a huge impact on your driving ability. People generally take more caution and rely on their other senses to be alert and be able to drive at the same ability as other drivers, however, it is recommended that hearing aids are always worn to improve the conditions for the driver. It is mentioned that there might be difficult for people with hearing loss to hear certain sirens and alerts such as for railway crossings.

If you need to drive for work, it is known that to be able to drive with an unconditional commercial licence, the person must be able to hear equal to or lower than 40db without any assistance from hearing aids.

A conditional licence might be allowed if the person they meet certain requirements like getting approval from an audiologist, passing a practical assessment or even the nature of the job that requires the driving.

However, if you are driving for personal reasons, driving with hearing loss or being deaf is not illegal. There are various steps you can to do improve your driving ability if you do have severe hearing loss. These include

• Having your vision checked by an audiologist at a qualified clinic
• Use wide-angled mirrors to increase the range of your vision so you can see more while you drive
• Minimise the amount of noise so that you can focus on driving with your other senses. This includes keeping the windows closed and radio off so the vibrations from the wind or music aren’t interfering with your driving. 
• Take advantage of in-car technology 

If you want to make an appointment to get your hearing tested, contact Attune Hearing today on 1300 736 702 with one of our qualified Audiologists.

How Humans Prefer Pitch And Music When Hearing

It is more or less easy to predict what kind of movies will please most of the public, and it is not complicated to do the same with books or video games. However, with music it seems that this does not happen so much: we all have musical pieces in mind that, although they do not look anything like what we usually prefer to hear, they catch us. That is why it is interesting that favourite songs, in all their variety, produce a similar effect on the brain of the listener. In fact, music can define, in a way, how we are and how we think as there are different ways human prefer pitch and music when hearing.

What happens in our brain when we listen to our favourite music?

Specifically, strong electrical connections are established between the auditory areas of the brain and the hippocampus, a part related to memory and emotionality. That means that the neuronal processes that a Beethoven fan experiences are very similar to those that occur in the head of an AC/DC fan when both are listening to what they like, no matter how different the vibrations reach the eardrums.

The finding would also help explain why completely different pieces of music can trigger very similar emotional states in different people and the role of music in remembering memories. In addition, it is further evidence of how closely related memories and emotions are when recovering them.

However, the fundamental findings on the study of “how humans prefer pitch and music when hearing” is that it shows how our brain is able to turn around any series of sound stimuli to awaken moods to some extent unpredictable, related to the listener's musical taste. In this sense, it has also been seen that we are able to make music something pleasant by identifying ourselves with what we hear by relating it to our memories and thus helping to give them a satisfactory meaning or use it to better regulate our emotions.

Of course, every moment has its potential "ideal music" and we probably would not get the same results if we force someone to listen to their favourite song longer than desired, for example, or at a time when they don't feel like listening to anything.

However, in most cases there seems to be the paradox that very complex and changing processes (the adaptation of the brain for the enjoyment of virtually any musical piece) result in a stereotypical and predictable activation pattern. It is a test of the brain's ability to reach the same results from different starting situations, and memory plays a fundamental role in this process.

Beyond the laboratory experiments, it is clear that the sensation of listening to music of our liking is unique and to some extent indescribable. However, if we lift the hood of our nervous system and observe what happens in it during this experience, we will realize that after such subjective sensations there is a network of neurons acting meaningfully.

Do you find yourself struggling to listen to lyrics/words or do you find it hard to listen to certain pitches over others? At Attune Hearing, our Audiologists can conduct a Full Diagnostic Hearing Test to determine exactly where your hearing difficulties lie. Call on 1300 736 702 or visit the website today to get back to listening to your favourite sounds again.

Can hearing loss cause headaches?

Headaches are a common occurrence for many people, however very few of us pay attention to a headache when we experience it. Headaches can be a sign of serious problems and conditions, but it can also be associated with stress, tension, lack of sleep and hearing loss. However, if the headache feels extreme, this is a very alarming symptom. The frequency and intensity of a headache may indicate cerebral aneurysm, cerebral haemorrhage or sensorineural hearing loss. If a headache attack occurs for the first time before the age of 5 years or older than 50 – it could be an early sign of a brain tumour. If increased pain occurs with coughing, a change in body position, then this is possibly the result of increased intracranial pressure.

If a severe headache is accompanied by impaired sensitivity and weakness in the arms and/or legs, smoothing of the nasolabial folds and other neurological symptoms - this indicates a violation of the blood circulation in the brain, that is, a stroke. In addition, headaches may also occur due to the frequent use of pain medications. If a person experiences sudden hearing loss, fainting that does not disappear within a few minutes, this may indicate a brain tumour, which in the worst-case presses on the auditory nerve. It is also one of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis or impending stroke, which leads to multiple forms of headaches.

Patients suffering from sensorineural hearing loss are more likely to suffer from tension-type headaches, the most common, which is caused by excess tension in areas of the head and neck, according to a study by the Department of Otolaryngology at the Taipei Hospital (Taiwan). Research conducted by the Swiss journal Audiology & Neuro-Otology analysed the presence of tension headaches in 4,683 patients with diagnosed hearing loss. The results of the study carried out showed that five per cent of those analysed suffered from tension headaches due to their hearing deficit or hearing loss.

The headaches, especially sudden, are among the first signs of hearing loss. Hearing loss does not only affect the elderly or those affected by noise. It can also appear due to certain diseases - such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension - that can accelerate the process of reducing the ability to listen, causing negative consequences for the health of the affected such as severe headaches for instance migraines.

In addition, tinnitus, ringing in the ears, affects about 15% of the population and can quickly become very restrictive in everyday life. Tinnitus is noise (in most cases subjective) that a person can hear, either temporarily or continuously. They can take the form of buzzing, squeaking, snoring or whistling. Tinnitus can cause migraines, headaches and symptoms are often accompanied by dizziness. Most of the time, tinnitus is due to excessive exposure to noise, hearing loss, head trauma or inflammation of the inner ear nerves.

Is your hearing loss giving you headaches? Come into one of our Attune clinics today and speak with one of our highly-qualified Audiologists for solutions. Book on 1300 736 702.

Can Hearing Loss Cause Headaches?

If you or a loved one are suffering from hearing loss, you might have noticed that headaches can be one of the many symptoms going hand in hand with a decline in hearing abilities. There is a range of explanations for this correlation. For one, a feeling of pressure in the ear from a build-up in fluids behind the eardrum or the ringing or buzzing sound experienced by those suffering from tinnitus can be causes for severe headaches.

A new hearing aid could also result in temporary headaches. When you are experiencing hearing loss, your auditory system and brain don’t receive as much stimulation as they once had with normal hearing. Those who first receive a hearing aid, therefore, might experience more or less severe headaches. Their brains simply need some time to adjust to the new influx of information. These symptoms, however, disappear within about a week. If you’re worried that your hearing aid might be the cause for ongoing headaches, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with your audiologist.

The Link Between Hearing Loss And Migraine

But it can also go the other way around: Did you know that migraine is said to be a possible cause for hearing loss? Studies indicate that migraine sufferers are twice as likely to suffer from sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Other studies suggest that changes in the cochlear system and our auditory pathways are associated with migraine. It is quite possible that migraine could be accompanied by a compromise of blood supply of the auditory system, and in doing so, causes a temporary hearing loss.

Hearing loss and headaches can also be symptoms of a range of other health conditions. Ménière's disease for one can cause severe headaches, specifically migraines and a sensation of clogged ears, resulting in sounds seeming distorted and far away.

If you’re experiencing signs of hearing loss and headaches or migraine, don’t waste time and make an appointment with a specialised audiologist at Attune Hearing, as it’s always smart to keep a close tab on your hearing health.

5 Possible Causes Of Ear Bleeding

There are a few possible explanations for unusual bleeding from one or both ears. Some of these can be the reason for serious concern. To help figure out what exactly is happening and to get you the help you need, make an appointment with your doctor or audiologist as soon as possible.

Here are a few of the more common causes for ear-bleeding to help you understand what’s going on!

Why is my ear bleeding?

1.Ear Trauma: A Ruptured Or Torn Ear Drum

One of the more likely causes for bleeding is trauma, caused by head injuries, objects in your ear or very loud noises. It may seem silly, but many people will puncture their eardrum by placing a cotton-tip applicator, to deep into the ear canal. This doesn’t necessarily cause your eardrum to rupture, but a small injury of the eardrum can result in bleeding, especially if you are taking blood thinners.

With a ruptured eardrum, you may have other fluids draining from the ear, which can be clear or filled with pus. You may also experience hearing loss, ear pain that comes suddenly and goes away quickly, ringing in the ear or a feeling like you're spinning, also called vertigo, which can result in nausea and even vomiting.

The good news: Most eardrum tears heal on their own within a few weeks. All you’ll have to do is to be patient. Either way, you should see a doctor who can determine the root cause of the problem.

2.Ear Infection

Ear infections caused by bacteria or viruses can make the middle ear swell up, causing fluid to build up behind your eardrum. When the pressure from the buildup reaches a critical point, it may rupture the eardrum, resulting in ear bleeding. You might also experience other symptoms such as pain in your ear, a stuffy nose, hearing loss and fever.

Ear infections normally don’t last longer than a week and clear up on their own. If you want to play safe, you can rely on the help of over-the-counter pain relievers to help with pain management and relieve your fever symptoms. It is not uncommon that doctors prescribe antibiotics to fight infections.

3.An object in the Ear

We mentioned the infamous cotton swab before, but there is a number of unusual things that have been found in peoples ears, none of which belong there: Cockroaches, teeth, toys, spiders, matchsticks and other curiosities are some of the odd things doctors have to pull out off their patient’s ears on a regular base. Children are most likely to put something into their ear.

If you find that this is the source of your issue, you can try to get hold of the object and remove it with tweezers. If it doesn't want to budge, seek medical help.

4.Changes in Air or Water Pressure

It may seem like nothing, but a sudden change in air pressure can pull your eardrum in and cause feelings of stuffiness and uncomfortable pain. It can lead to serious injuries also called barotrauma. This may occur during the landing of an aeroplane or when scuba diving. Symptoms of barotrauma include ear pain, feeling like your ears are stuffed, dizziness and hearing loss. If the problem persists, your doctor may need to make a small cut in the eardrum to even out the pressure and drain fluid.

5.Head Injury

Have you been hit in the head or were involved in an accident? If you are experiencing ear-bleeding paired with the loss of consciousness, feeling dazed, confused, or disoriented, nausea and vomiting, and a difficulty to speak, you may be bleeding in the brain. This is an urgent medical emergency with an increased risk of brain damage. Do not waste time and immediately go to an emergency room or call 911!

Should I go and see a doctor?

YES! Whatever your situation, remember that for many conditions early detection can lead to better outcomes.

You’re experiencing hearing loss, now what? Here is a  step-by-step guide to looking after your hearing health!

Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your doctor. To make an appointment with any of Attune’s audiologists, call 1300 736 702. You can also request an appointment online.

How to manage swimmers’ ears?

Ears are a delicate and sensitive part of our sensory system that analyze and detect sound. They are incredible as they have natural defences such as cerumen (earwax) or cartilage that regulate, clean and prevent foreign bodies from entering our ear canal. Due to the delicate nature of our ears, however, our hearing can easily be affected by diseases, lifestyle factors and injuries when our natural defences have been overwhelmed. Otitis Externa also is known as swimmer’s ear is an inflammation or infection which runs from your eardrum all the way to your outer ear. It can occur suddenly and can be triggered when water remains in your ear after swimming or accidental cuts are made inside the ear. As the ear canal is dark and warm, it can moisten with retained water or abrasions, allowing for bacteria or fungus to grow. Although Swimmer’s ear is most commonly found in children, it can still affect all ages.

If treated promptly, swimmer’s ear is not serious, however, if left untreated, complications can occur such as temporary hearing loss, deep tissue infection, chronic otitis externa or more-widespread infections. In serious cases, swimmer’s ear can spread to other areas of the ear such as the skull bone which can pose a serious threat to the elderly. That is why it is important to contact your GP when symptoms such as itchiness, redness or swelling in the ear start appearing.

How do I protect myself from getting an infection?

Whether you’re an avid swimmer or love playing in the water once in a blue moon, it is always important to keep your ears safe from foreign waters. To reduce the risk of getting swimmer’s ear, you should not put your fingers, sprays or any objects such as cotton buds or hairpins in your ear in an attempt to dig out earwax or scratch an itch as it can irritate and damage the skin lining of your ear canal causing an infection. You should also keep your outer ears dry after showering or swimming as water stuck in your ear canal can increase the chance of fungus growth. If you are experiencing a blockage in your ear due to retained water, tug your earlobe and tilt your head to the side to help drain the water out of your ear canal. Find yourself struggling often with blocked ears after swimming or showering? The best solution is to wear earplugs to protect your ears, particularly when entering lakes, oceans or swimming pools as the water may be polluted.

At Attune Hearing, we provide the best earplugs, tailored specifically to your lifestyle. Moulded to the shape of your ears, our earplugs are extremely comfortable to wear, easy to insert, hypoallergenic and effective in preventing dirty water from entering your ear canal and middle ear system. In addition, our earplugs are durable and can be upsized, perfect for avid swimmers. A protective case for your earplugs are provided for safekeeping when unused. Looking for custom-made earplugs? Contact your nearest Attune clinic today to speak with one of our highly-qualified Audiologist to discuss options.

How Do You Measure Sound Frequency?

Sound waves are waves of pressure that oscillate between stretching or compressing the medium they move through, which is in our case air, at a certain frequency.  The higher the frequency these waves oscillate at, the higher in pitch the sound is heard when the wave reaches the eardrum. Our brain’s perception of these pitches relies on how many of the compressions our ears can sense in a second. High-frequency sounds, such as a whistle being blown, oscillate at a high frequency and are heard as high pitch sounds by our ears. On the other hand, low-frequency sounds, such as plane taking off, oscillate at a low frequency and emit low-pitched sounds. The human hearing range is an impressive thing—we can hear both in intensity (loudness) and frequency (pitch). The ear is capable of hearing a lot, but surprisingly, it can’t hear everything. Sounds that are on the higher end of the frequency spectrum quickly fade from our hearing range. For example, dog whistles emit a sound at such a high frequency that human ears cannot hear it. Unfortunately, unlike a dog’s ears, our ears haven’t evolved to hear at such a high frequency. Although these sounds are often unthought-of, they are crucial to many processes and professions. Understanding pitch is a necessity to those in music, music engineering, acoustics, and psychoacoustics. So, how do you measure something that might not even be heard? Firstly, let’s understand the unit of measurement used: the Hertz.

The Unit of Measurement

The unit used to measure pitch is Hertz (Hz). Hertz is a measure of cycles per second. When sound waves oscillate, they change in pressure. A sound wave cycle consists of a sound wave reaching high pressure, dropping to low pressure, and then reaching high pressure again. The amount of time a sound wave does this in one second is measured, and this number is called the Hertz. Everyone knows the annoying high pitch sound of a mosquito, but did you know that mosquito is emitting a 400 Hz to create its flight tone? That’s 400 sound wave cycles in one second. Going back to the dog whistle, this emits between 16,000 and 22,000 Hz, which is just out of range for humans.

How are Hertz measured?

Scientists and engineers typically use oscilloscopes to measure frequency. An oscilloscope creates a graphical representation of a waveform. To measure the pitch of a sound, the sound is transmitted by audio cables or a microphone to the device. The oscillator then displays the sound on the screen in moving waves that are a visual representation of the sound. The user then adjusts the setting until the waveform is stationary. The adjustments they make indicate the Hertz of the sound.

Understanding frequency, pitch, and Hertz is critical to understanding how sound and our hearing works. With age, our hearing abilities often diminish, and this includes our sense of sound frequency. If you think your ears might not be picking up all of your surrounding sounds and frequencies, it’s a good idea to consult a professional.

Attune is an independent provider of hearing healthcare in Australia. Established with a formidable medical alliance, Attune provides high-quality services and shows a great understanding of hearing-related conditions. If you’re worried about your hearing, call today on 1300 736 702 to schedule an appointment with an expert.

What are the types of measures I can take to protect my hearing at work?

When you think of severe injuries that happen in the workplace, most people’s first thoughts would be cuts, bruises, broken bones, but have you thought about the importance of protecting your hearing at work? According to Safe Work Australia, industrial deafness accounts for 3.6% of work-related injuries and 1 in 5 people are likely to work in an environment where they are exposed to hazardous noise levels every day. While there are general guidelines on what noise thresholds are above safety levels for an individual worker, it is important to note that long-term exposure to loud noises will result in noise-induced hearing loss. Symptoms include not being able to hear others at arms’ length or ringing in the ears which can reduce a persons’ quality of life leading to isolation from society and mental illness. That is why it is important to take measures to reduce workplace noise and improving strategies for protecting noise-exposed workers.

In order to reduce noise in the workplace, a business must work through the hierarchy of controls to help protect workers from long term noise exposure. The hierarchy of controls includes the following with the top being the most effective to the bottom being the least.

The first two control measures to implement in the workplace are eliminating and substituting the noise source. While these two measures tend to be the most difficult to implement in an existing process, they are the most effective at reducing harmful noise levels. Eliminating involves removing the cause of noise completely whether it is avoiding the use of certain machinery, eliminating the impact between hard objects or surfaces, outsourcing the noisy work process or moving the noise source away from other work activities. This stage is the easiest to implement when a business is in its introduction phase. Substituting involves replacing noisy machinery with alternatives, for instance, swapping old machinery for new that produce less noise.

If noise is still unsafe for the ears, then it’s time to implement some engineering controls. This may include using plastic bumpers to prevent metals clashing, installing sound walls/curtains and adding noise barriers with silencers.

The last two control stages are the lowest stages in the hierarchy of controls and should not be used exclusively to control risk. These lower stages assist in the control of risk but are rarely enough if used alone. You may apply administrative controls to limit your exposure to harmful noise levels at work such as organising a schedule for employees so that noise is produced only at a particular time, keeping workers as far away as possible from the noise source, notifying employees that noise will be produced at a certain time frame and properly maintaining equipment to reduce noise.

The final step to controlling noise levels at your workplace is to wear personal protective equipment (PPE). This involves everyone at the workplace, as well as visitors, wearing hearing protection. There are several types of hearing protectors to choose from and each hearing protector is selected based on personal preference and workplace environment. For more information on PPE please read: “Different Types of Hearing Protection”.

Need some help with controlling workplace noise, contact Attune Hearing today to discuss possibilities in protecting your hearing at your workplace: https://www.attune.com.au/workplace-services/education-and-training/

Hearing Loss Treatment

Once one has identified a problem in hearing and has received a diagnosis, receiving treatment right away is essential in order to maintain a healthy and productive lifestyle. Depending on the type of hearing loss you are diagnosed with, treatments can vary.

Hearing loss can generally be classified under three categories: 

Conducive - This is when the outer/ middle ear is unable to deliver sound to the inner ear. 

Sensorineural - This type of hearing loss occurs due to damage/ obstruction in the auditory nerve or when the brain is not able to detect sound waves normally. 

Mixed hearing loss - This could be a result of a combination of different conditions, sensory and conducive, resulting in hearing loss. 

Once your audiologist has determined the root cause of hearing loss, they will be able to provide treatments to help improve your quality of life so you can resume your daily activities.

Treatments include:

Digital Hearing Aids: These are small but effective devices that can easily fit around your ear. It converts sounds into an analogue code. This code is then converted to amplify the frequency of the sounds, allowing you to hear. Behind the ear (BTE) hearing aids, in the ear (ITE) hearing aids and open fit hearing aids are just some types of digital hearing aids used by people suffering from hearing loss.

Cochlear implants: This involves a small surgical procedure where a small transmitter is implanted inside the cochlear. This is connected to an external speech processor in order to transmit sounds. 

Surgical implants: While cochlear implants are the most common, sometimes it isn’t the best fit for some cases. Similar to cochlear implants, however, one can get middle ear/ bone-anchored implants through surgical procedures where the surgeon attaches a small device to the bone of either the middle ear (middle ear implants) or to the bone behind the ear (bone-anchored implants).

Earplugs: Sometimes treatment for those suffering from mild hearing loss could be as simple as using earplugs. These are generally used by people who are exposed to loud sounds often, affecting their ability to hear sounds at a normal decibel during other times.

Attune is Australia's largest independent and only accredited hearing healthcare provider. Not to mention if you are booking in for a general hearing test appointment, we conduct a free 15-minute hearing test to help you determine the type of hearing loss you may have and the type of treatment that would best suit your lifestyle. Contact us today to find out how we can be of service to you.