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Health & Hearing 
Hearing Health 
Do you have hearing loss? 
1-minute self assessment test 
Hearing Technology 
How much do hearing aids cost? 
A guide to the range of financial assistance that is available 
“Nothing like the old days!” 
Virtually invisible and Bluetooth enabled 
Hearing Science 
Importance of early intervention in the 
treatment of hearing loss
Hear the difference 
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and mobile phones, computers and personal music players with 
exceptional clarity and stability. They do this through the ReSound 
Unite™ range of accessories, such as the Unite™ Mini Mic, Unite™ 
Remote Control, Unite™ TV Streamer and Unite™ Phone Clip. They 
send clear, echo-free sound directly into the hearing aid without the 
need of an intermediary device. 
Hear it for yourself! The Art of Hearing and ReSound have partnered to allow people of Perth 
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Call The Art of Hearing today on 08 9390 8811 
to make an obligation free appointment.
> Forward Contents 
Dear Reader, 
Thank you for taking the time to request and read through our magazine, Health 
& Hearing. 
For many of you, this may be a your first step towards addressing hearing loss or 
that of a loved one. In this magazine, we hope to enlighten you about hearing, 
hearing conditions and modern solutions. 
Although there are many causes for hearing loss, the incidence of the condition 
grows steadily as people age. While 30% of adults will be showing signs of 
the condition by the age of 50-years, this will rise to 70% of the population by 
70-years of age. Hearing loss affects lives, lifestyles, relationships, and often 
leads to feelings of isolation. 
Studies have shown that when not managed, the condition reduces the 
effectiveness of people in the workplace and led to decreased household 
income. Even more importantly, people who address their hearing loss earlier 
reported feeling younger, more confident, and eager to once again enjoy the 
social situations that had become tedious. These findings are consistent with 
the experiences of the hundreds of clients who I have helped over the years to 
achieve better hearing and a better quality of life. 
But as you will read in Health & Hearing, there is some great news for Australians 
too. Our government recognises the impact that hearing loss has on both its 
citizens’ lives and the national economy. Subsequently, they provide pensioners 
and veterans with access to free digital hearing aids. Assistance is available 
to all people with hearing loss through tax rebates, health insurance, and 
compensation for hearing loss that has developed as a result of exposure to noise 
in the workplace. 
Who are The Art of Hearing? 
Australians are often shocked to learn that most hearing clinics are actually 
owned by hearing aid manufacturers or global retail chains – and thus are really 
just well disguised vehicles for pushing their own range of hearing aids. In 
contrast, The Art of Hearing is proudly independent. My staff and I will find you 
the best treatments from the full range of available solutions, including tinnitus 
management, rehabilitation, counseling, and hearing aids from all leading 
manufacturers. 
We are accredited to provide free hearing aids to pensioners and veterans under 
the Australian Government Hearing Services Program*. 
We are here to help you at every step of the way and find a solution that works for 
you. If you have any questions, or 
would like to arrange a hearing test or 
trial of the latest digital hearing aids, 
please don’t hesitate to call. 
How the ear works.............................................................. 4 
Understand how the ear works and 
processes sound 
Hearing Loss...........................................................................5 
We all know somebody affected by 
hearing loss 
Tinnitus..................................................................................... 8 
This buzzing in my ears is driving me mad! 
“I’m too young for hearing aids”.............................. 10 
The importance of addressing hearing loss 
early – a scientific perspective 
Hearing Loss & Dementia..............................................11 
New study find links between untreated hearing loss and 
dementia 
Hearing tests....................................................................... 12 
This story explains common types of hearing tests and 
how to interpret the results 
Reading your Audiogram.............................................. 14 
Results of the air conduction and bone 
conduction hearing tests 
Hearing Aids.........................................................................17 
“Nothing like the old days” 
Cochlear Implants............................................................ 21 
How they can help 
How much do hearing aids cost?.............................22 
A common question 
References 
would like to acknowledge 
the following sources in the 
development of this magazine: 
Health & Hearing page 3 
Best regards, 
Ravi Gupta 
Owner and Audiologist 
The Art of Hearing 
* Condtions apply under the OHS Voucher Scheme Health & Hearing 
© - Spinach Effect Pty Ltd 
PO Box 2019, Glenelg SA 5045, Australia 
Ph: (08) 8294 7928 www.spinacheffect.com.au 
Owner and Audiologist 
Listen Hear! – The economic impact and cost of hearing loss in Australia, Access 
Economics 2006 
Cochlear Ltd – www.cochlear.com 
Office of Hearing Services – http://www.health.gov.au/hear 
Spinach Effect – www.spinacheffect.com.au 
The Impact of Untreated Hearing Loss on Household Income – Sergei Kochkin, Ph.D. 
August 2005 
Lin FR, Metter EJ, O’Brien RJ, Resnick SM, Zonderman A, Ferrucci L. Hearing loss and 
incident dementia. Arch. Neurol. 2011; In press. 
Hearing in South Australia: Disability, Impairment and Quality-of-life, Wilson DH (1997) 
Late-onset auditory deprivation: Effects of monaural vs binaural hearing aids. Silman, 
Gelfand, Silverman. (1984) 
Leading manufacturers 
GN Resound – www.gnresound.com.au 
Unitron – www.unitron.com.au 
Other suppliers 
Oticon – www.oticon.com.au 
Bernafon – www.bernafon.com.au 
Phonak – www.phonak.com.au 
Siemens - hearing.siemens.com/au/ 
Other links 
Australian Tinnitus Association - http://www.tinnitus.asn.au/tinnitus.htm 
Ravi
> The Ear 
How the ear works 
In order to better 
understand 
hearing loss and 
what can be done, 
it is first important 
to understand how 
the ear works and 
processes sound. 
Outer Ear 
Sound first enters our ear at the Pinna, which is the visible part of 
the ear on the outside of our head. The Pinna is designed to collect 
sound waves and funnel them down the Ear canal towards the 
Tympanic membrane (eardrum). Together the Pinna and Ear canal are 
referred to as the outer ear. 
Middle Ear 
The middle ear starts with the Tympanic membrane. As sound 
waves travelling down the Ear canal reach the Tympanic membrane, 
it vibrates like a drum. Behind the eardrum is an air-filled space 
containing three tiny bones, the smallest bones found anywhere in 
the human body. The vibrations in turn cause these bones to vibrate. 
The Middle Ear consists of the eardrum these tiny bones (Malleus, 
Incus and Stap-es) and the air pocket in which they reside. 
Inner Ear 
The cochlea and the semi-circular canals are our organ of both 
hearing and our sense of balance. The cochlea, semi-circular canals 
and the cochlear nerve (auditory nerve) comprise the parts of the 
Inner Ear. Sound passes to the Inner Ear via the vibrations of the 
Middle Ear bones, which are connected to the Cochlea at one end. 
Outer Ear 
Thousands of tiny sensory hair cells within the Cochlea convert 
the vibrations into an electro-chemical signal that’s carried by 
the auditory nerve to the brain, where sound is processed and 
interpreted. 
Electron Microscope image of healthy hair receptors 
page 4 Health & Hearing
Hearing Loss 
We all know somebody affected 
by hearing loss, as nearly 
1 in 5 Australians live with 
the condition. Hearing loss 
progresses over time and 
it is best to recognise the 
signs early. 
Quality of life can be significantly 
compromised for people with 
hearing loss and their families. The 
extent of the hearing loss varies too, 
from a mild to a severe hearing loss 
where loud safety signals may not be 
heard. More commonly it is manifested 
as a difficulty with word understanding, 
particularly in the presence of 
background noise. 
Health & Hearing page 5
Your Hearing 
Self Assessment 
Hearing Test 
1. I feel discomfort or embarrassment when 
meeting new people because of my 
hearing 
o Never o Sometimes o Often 
2. I find that following conversations in 
a noisy environment, such as a busy 
restaurant, can be very difficult 
o Never o Sometimes o Often 
3. People seem to mumble more these days 
when they talk, and find myself asking 
them to repeat themselves more often 
than I used to 
o Never o Sometimes o Often 
4. Others comment that I have the radio or 
television turned up too loud for their 
liking 
o Never o Sometimes o Often 
5. If I did not see the source of a sound, 
I find it hard to know what direction it 
came from 
o Never o Sometimes o Often 
6. Family members have commented that 
they think that I may have a hearing 
problem – and they become frustrated 
when I’ve not fully heard what they have 
said 
o Never o Sometimes o Often 
7. Following conversations on the telephone 
is particularly difficult, particularly with 
children 
o Never o Sometimes o Often 
8. I used to be more active in group 
conversations. (E.g. dinner table) 
o Never o Sometimes o Often 
9. I mishear what people have said and 
respond inappropriately 
o Never o Sometimes o Often 
10. Sometimes I experience a persistent or 
prolonged ‘ringing in my ears’ (known as 
tinnitus) 
o Never o Sometimes o Often 
Adding up your score 
Never = 0 
Sometimes = 1 
Often = 2 
If your total score is more than 5, then your 
life is very likely to be affected by hearing 
loss and we would recommend a hearing 
assessment. If your score is more than 10, 
then there is little doubt that your life would 
be significantly improved by addressing 
your hearing loss and adopting a hearing 
solution. 
Signs of 
hearing loss 
In contradiction to many people’s 
understanding, hearing loss is rarely 
similar to the effect of turning down 
the volume on a stereo. It usually 
affects different frequencies of sound 
by varying amounts. This can lead to 
conversations being difficult to follow 
– particularly in noisy environments 
where competing background noise 
“scrambles” speech and conversations. 
Not surprisingly, being able to follow 
conversations is the single biggest 
reason that people seek our help. 
If you feel that your hearing is not what 
it used to be, or are concerned that a 
loved one may be experiencing hearing 
loss – take a couple of minutes to do 
the short self-assessment test provided 
here. 
Types of 
hearing loss 
There are three forms of hearing loss, 
Conductive, Sensorineural and Mixed 
hearing Loss. 
Conductive 
Hearing Loss 
Conductive hearing loss results from 
a problem with the passage of sound 
through the outer ear and/or middle ear. 
Some common examples include:- 
• Excessive cerumen (earwax) in the ear 
canal 
• Perforation of the eardrum 
• Middle ear infection with fluid 
build-up 
However, conductive loss accounts for 
only 10% of all hearing losses, and they 
range from mild to moderate in severity. 
The good news is that conductive 
hearing loss can often be medically 
treated. In many cases hearing can be 
completely restored. 
page 6 Health & Hearing 
• Turning up the volume on the 
TV or radio 
• Asking people to repeat what 
they’ve said 
• Hearing in one ear better than 
the other 
When volume is sufficiently 
increased, clarity and 
understanding are usually intact 
for someone with a conductive 
hearing loss. Other symptoms 
may also be present, such as ear 
pain, drainage from the ears, or a 
feeling of pressure or a blockage. 
Sensorineura l 
Hearing Loss 
Hearing loss that originates 
in the inner ear is referred to 
as sensorineural hearing loss 
or, in laymens’ terms, “nerve 
deafness”. 
The vast majority of hearing 
losses are sensioneural losses, 
and common causes include: - 
• Genetic factors (i.e. hearing 
loss can run in families) 
• Excessive noise exposure - 
either sudden or prolonged 
• Changes in the inner ear due to 
ageing 
Less common causes include: - 
• Reactions to ear-toxic 
medications 
• Auditory nerve tumours 
• Conditions acquired prior to 
birth (congenital) 
• Infections such as meningitis 
and mumps 
• Kidney disease 
• Vascular disease 
Each cause can lead to damage 
to the sensory hair cells or 
nerves. Once damaged, the hair 
cells can’t repair themselves nor 
be medically treated. Therefore, 
90% of hearing losses cannot be 
cured. 
A sensorineural hearing loss 
can be of any degree – mild, 
moderate, severe or profound. 
In more than 95% of cases 
involving sensorineural hearing 
loss, hearing aids or cochlear 
implants are the recommended 
course of treatment. 
Symptoms of 
Conductive 
Hearing Loss 
With conductive hearing loss, the overall 
volume of sound is reduced. 
Signs of conductive hearing loss may 
include:-
Why can I hear low 
pitched sounds 
better than high 
frequency sounds? 
Nerves have different sensitivities 
to deformation of the sensory hair 
cells within the cochlea. A sound that 
has high frequencies of vibration 
will excite receptor cells near the 
opening of the cochlea, while a sound 
mostly containing low frequencies 
will stimulate cells at the end of the 
cochlea. 
Over time the high frequency hair cell 
receptors receive more movement 
by the incoming pressure waves of 
the fluid inside the cochlea. For this 
reason, high frequency receptors are 
more prone to long term damage than 
the low frequency hair cell receptors, 
which are more protected further up 
the cochlea. 
Health & Hearing page 7 
Symptoms of 
Sensorineura l 
Hearing Loss 
While the overall volume of sound 
may be reduced, the clarity of sounds 
or voices is also affected. People 
with sensorineural hearing loss will 
often hear people speaking, but can’t 
always understand all the words, even 
when the volume is adequate. Music 
may also sound distorted, leading to 
decreased enjoyment. 
The symptoms of sensorineural hearing 
loss may include: - 
• Turning up the volume on the TV or 
radio 
• Asking people to repeat what they 
have said 
• Perception of people mumbling or 
not speaking clearly 
• Lack of clarity when listening to 
speech 
• Difficulty hearing in noise. 
Mixed Hearing Loss 
The transmission of sound can be 
blocked in multiple places along the 
auditory path. When a hearing loss 
occurs from conditions in the inner ear 
as well as the outer and/or middle ear, 
this is known as mixed hearing loss. An 
example of a mixed hearing loss may 
be someone with inner ear damage due 
to exposure to noise in their workplace 
over many years, who also currently 
has an infection that has led to a fluid 
build up in the middle ear. 
Causes of 
hearing loss 
While the ageing process is a major 
contributor to hearing loss, it is 
certainly not a condition reserved 
for the later stages of life. Studies 
have shown that exposure to noise 
is thought to be a contributing 
factor in around 37% of cases of the 
condition. Interestingly, around 50% of 
Australians with hearing loss are still of 
traditional working age (i.e. under 65 
years). 
Other contributing factors of hearing 
loss include:- 
• Infection or injury (17.1% of cases) 
• Born with hearing loss (4.4% of 
cases) 
• Other causes (16.8% of cases) 
Noise induced 
hearing loss 
Given the impact of noise, it is not 
surprising that males are considerably 
more likely to have hearing loss than 
women – including being twice as likely 
to have a moderate to severe hearing 
loss. 
These days, people are more aware of 
the damage that noise can do to their 
hearing. This is illustrated through 
mandatory provision of ear protection 
on work sites and within factories. 
Nevertheless, every day millions of 
Australians are exposing themselves 
to noise levels that will surely lead to 
long-term damage to their hearing, 
including the use of personal stereo 
systems. 
The chart below illustrates the time it 
takes to cause permanent damage to 
your hearing when you’re exposed to 
different levels and sources of sound. 
“What is the 
best protection 
against noise 
damage?” 
Noise attenuating 
ear plugs 
Ear protection is extremely important for 
people who are exposed regularly to noise. 
The best form of protection are custom fitted, 
noise attenuating ear plugs. 
These can purchased and fitted at 
a The Art of Hearing clinic
This buzzing 
in my ears is driving me mad! 
Causes of Tinnitus 
Most commonly, tinnitus is related 
to hearing loss. Current theories 
suggest that because the cochlea is 
no longer sending the normal signals 
to the brain, the brain becomes 
confused and essentially develops 
its own noise to make up for the lack 
of normal sound signals. This then is 
interpreted as a sound, tinnitus. 
This tinnitus can be made worse by 
anything that makes our hearing 
worse, such as ear infection or excess 
wax in the ear. 
Other causes of Tinnitus include 
trauma to the ear resulting from: 
• Loud noise exposure 
• Adverse reaction to medications 
drugs such as aspirin, antibiotics 
and quinine 
• A symptom of Meniere’s disease, 
which can also cause dizziness, 
nausea, and fluctuating hearing 
loss 
• A rare cause is a certain type of 
brain tumor known as an acoustic 
neuroma. The tumors grow on the 
nerve that supplies hearing and can 
cause tinnitus. This type of tinnitus 
is usually only noticed in one ear 
page 8 Health & Hearing 
• Pregnancy, anaemia and an 
overactive thyroid can cause 
certain types of tinnitus 
• Benign intracranial hypertension - 
an increase in the pressure of the 
fluid surrounding the brain 
• Jaw joint misalignment or muscles 
of the ear or throat ‘twitching’ can 
cause a ‘clicking’ type of tinnitus 
• Stress and fatigue can sometimes 
worsen the symptoms of tinnitus, 
as can caffeine, smoking and 
alcohol 
> Tinnitus 
At some stage our lives, all of us are likely to 
experience ringing in our ears when there is no 
apparent source of a sound. 
It may be evident coming home from a rock 
concert, or for a short period as a result 
of a sudden extreme noise, such as a gun 
discharging nearby. 
Unfortunately for many people, this buzzing or ringing sound can 
be persistent, intermittent, and prolonged – and this is a condition 
known as tinnitus. It can cause frustration and great distress. 
While it does occur in every stage of life and affects 
both men and women, the condition is most 
common amongst men. According to an 
American study, almost 12 percent of 
men who are 65 to 74 years of age are 
affected by tinnitus. 
Tinnitus is not a disease 
in itself but rather 
a reflection of 
something else 
that is going on 
in the hearing 
system or 
brain.
Unfortunately, tinnitus is 
not a simple problem with 
a simple solution. 
Everybody’s 
tinnitus noise 
is specific to 
them, and 
as a result 
treatments 
need to be 
tailored to the 
individual. 
If you would like to 
discuss your problem or 
arrange an assessment, 
we recommend that you 
call us to arrange an 
appointment with one of 
our experts. 
Health & Hearing page 9 
Treatments 
for Tinnitus 
Most cases of tinnitus should be 
evaluated by an Ear, Nose, and Throat 
physician to be sure that the tinnitus is 
not caused by another treatable problem. 
While research has yet to discover a 
cure, there are a number of treatments 
to help sufferers manage the condition. 
Generally the process begins with trying 
to identify the cause. 
If hearing loss is present, a hearing aid 
is likely to reduce the problem. Some 
wearers report that hearing aids have 
completely alleviated their condition. 
Another option to help people manage 
is the use of a Therapeutic Noise 
Generator, a device which looks like 
a hearing aid and is recommended 
for people with no hearing 
loss. It produces a blend of 
external sounds which 
stimulate fibres of the 
hearing nerve, 
helping deviate 
attention away 
from the 
tinnitus. 
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), 
offered by clinical psychologists, can 
also be effective in alleviating distress 
and adapting to tinnitus. CBT is 
threefold: changing the way a person 
perceives tinnitus; teaching ways to 
focus attention away from tinnitus; 
and achieving control over stress. 
For the vast majority of people there 
is no specific surgical procedure that 
provides a treatment for tinnitus. 
However, following successful 
surgical treatment for some ear 
problems, tinnitus may sometimes 
disappear (e.g. otosclerosis, middle 
ear effusion). Accurate diagnosis and 
treatment of Meniere’s disease 
may also result significantly reduced 
tinnitus. 
There is some school of thought that 
herbal remedies and Vitamin B12, 
taken under medical supervision, may 
be helpful for some people. It really 
depends on the cause of the tinnitus 
and we recommend that you consult a 
specialist to discuss these options. 
Where tinnitus is related to a jaw 
alignment problem, it is treatable. 
If you suspect this is a possible cause, 
it is worthwhile consulting your 
dentist. 
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“I’m too 
young for 
hearing 
aids” 
People often wait many years from the 
time that they first notice that their 
hearing is not what it used to be before 
they take the step to address their 
hearing loss. For most people, hearing 
loss occurs gradually and they often are 
not fully aware how much their hearing 
has changed. 
The thought of wearing a hearing 
aid can cause many people to feel 
a little anxious – they worry (largely 
unnecessarily) about not wanting to be 
perceived as old or a possible stigma 
that may be associated with having a 
‘disability’. Self image and pride are 
great inhibitors to people addressing 
hearing loss – more so than the 
perceptions others truly have about us. 
All around the country there are Aussie 
blokes sucking in their tummies, 
poking out their chests and thinking to 
themselves - “I’m doing alright for my 
age” and “you’re a handsome devil”. 
Unfortunately, hearing loss does not 
discriminate based on how young and 
sexy someone appears to themselves! 
Time and time again our clients tell 
stories about how they wish they had 
done something sooner. They feel 
younger and more confident as a result 
of wearing hearing aids. 
Now, research has revealed two scientific 
reasons to consider wearing hearing 
aids earlier – and these have arisen 
from studies on the topics of Sensory 
Deprivation and Neural Plasticity. 
Sensory Deprivation 
– “Use it or lose it” 
Studies looked specifically at people with 
hearing loss in both ears (binaural loss), 
comparing people who were fitted with 
hearing aids for both ears against people 
fitted with a single hearing aid. 
The research revealed conclusively that 
a person’s ability to understand speech 
in an unaided ear deteriorated over time 
faster than their ability to understand 
speech in their aided ear. For most 
people, this deterioration in the unaided 
ear was reversible if a hearing aid is later 
fitted to this ear. 
However, if the period without a 
hearing aid is long enough, then not 
only is recovery unlikely but other full 
advantages of hearing with both ears 
may never be attainable. That is, if we 
don’t use it, we may lose it. 
This provides the rationale for addressing 
hearing loss sooner and fitting hearing 
aids to both ears, if both are affected by 
hearing loss. 
Neural Plasticity 
– “Use it or it will start 
doing something else” 
In basic terms, the role of a hearing 
aid is to amplify sounds to the amount 
required to restore normal hearing 
levels. Often newly fitted clients would 
say:- “It sounds horribly tinny”. The 
audiologist would then adjust the 
page 10 Health & Hearing 
hearing aids to suit the preferences of 
the wearer – however we now know 
that this may not have been the best 
approach. 
Sounds are processed in the brain by 
neurons that are ‘wired’ to process 
sound at specific frequencies. Research 
has now shown that when those neurons 
are denied those frequencies due to 
hearing loss, the brain will reprogram 
those neurons to do something else. In 
simple terms, this could be described 
as “use it, or it will start doing 
something else”. 
This process can be reversed over time, 
at least to some degree, in most people. 
This has led to three key improvements 
in the field of hearing care: 
1. Someone’s ability to process the full 
range of sounds that make up speech 
is lessened over time by hearing loss, 
so earlier fitting of hearing aids is 
beneficial to the wearer 
2. When introducing a hearing aid to 
someone who has lived with hearing 
loss for a long time, we need for them 
to hear those ‘tinny’ sounds as this 
helps retrain their brain, until the 
sounds no longer seem tinny at all. 
This is known as Aural Rehabilitation. 
3. A client’s expectations need to be 
managed when being fitted with a 
hearing aid. As great as modern 
technology is, hearing aids cannot 
replicate normal hearing. 
> The science 
The importance of addressing hearing loss early 
– a scientific perspective
Dementia 
A research team commissioned by the renowned John 
Hopkins School of Medicine in the United States has 
found a strong link between dementia and hearing loss. 
The research concluded that Seniors with hearing loss are 
significantly more likely to develop dementia over time 
than those who retain their hearing. 
“Researchers have looked at what affects 
hearing loss, but few have looked at 
how hearing loss affects cognitive brain 
function,” says study leader Frank Lin (M.D, 
Phd). “There hasn’t been much crosstalk 
between otologists and geriatricians, so 
it’s been unclear whether hearing loss and 
dementia are related.” 
To make the connection, Lin and his 
colleagues used data from the Baltimore 
Longitudinal Study on Aging (BLSA), which 
has tracked various health factors in 
thousands of men and women since 1958. 
First published in the February Archives 
of Neurology, the research focused on 
639 people whose hearing and cognitive 
abilities were tested as part of the BLSA 
between 1990 and 1994. While about a 
quarter of the volunteers had some hearing 
loss at the start of the study, none had 
dementia. 
These volunteers were then closely 
followed with repeat examinations every 
one to two years, and by 2008, 58 of 
them had developed dementia. The 
researchers found that study participants 
with hearing loss at the beginning of the 
study were significantly more likely to 
develop dementia by the end. Compared 
with volunteers with normal hearing, 
those with mild, moderate, and severe 
hearing loss had twofold, threefold, and 
fivefold, respectively, the risk of developing 
dementia over time. The more hearing 
loss they had, the higher their likelihood of 
developing the memory-robbing disease. 
Even after the researchers took into 
account other factors that are associated 
with risk of dementia, including diabetes, 
high blood pressure, age, sex and race, Lin 
explains, hearing loss and dementia were 
still strongly connected. 
“A lot of people ignore hearing loss because 
it’s such a slow and insidious process as 
we age,” Lin says. “Even if people feel as if 
they are not affected, we’re showing that it 
may well be a more serious problem .” 
Health & Hearing page 11 
Hearing Loss and 
Linked in study 
The findings, the researchers say, could 
lead to new ways to combat dementia, a 
condition that affects millions of people 
worldwide and carries heavy societal 
burdens. The scientists report that their 
finding may offer a new starting point 
for interventions — even as simple as 
hearing aids — that could delay or prevent 
dementia by improving patients’ hearing. 
Although the study did not investigate 
the cause of the link between the two 
conditions, the researchers propose that 
the strain of decoding sounds over the 
years may overwhelm the brains of people 
with hearing loss, leaving them more 
vulnerable to dementia. They also speculate 
that hearing loss could lead to dementia by 
making individuals more socially isolated, 
a known risk factor for dementia and other 
cognitive disorders. 
“...hearing aids... could 
delay or prevent dementia 
by improving patients’ 
hearing.” 
Footnote: The research was supported by the intramural research program of the National Institute on Aging and results were first published on February 2011 
So maybe you are too young 
not to wear hearing aids! 
There are many reasons to 
address hearing loss early 
- even if you feel that you 
can “manage a little longer 
without hearing aids”. 
As well as feeling the 
benefits to your life and 
lifestyle sooner, you will also 
stop any permanent loss of 
future benefits and positive 
experience that you will 
enjoy when you get around 
to experiencing hearing aids 
for the first time. You could 
reduce risks of a range of 
physiological conditions that 
have been strongly linked to 
‘unaided’ hearing loss. 
> Dementia
Otoscopic inspection 
Before performing a hearing test, 
an Audiologist will first examine 
the health of the Ear canal and 
the Tympanic membrane with an 
instrument called an otoscope. 
This inspection can provide a 
lot of information about what’s 
happening within the middle ear. 
It also identifies if there are any 
visible problems that may influence 
the results of hearing tests, such 
as a perforation in the tympanic 
membrane or compacted build up of 
cerumen (ear wax). 
Tests 
What will happen when I see an audiologist? 
Audiogram and pure 
tone tests 
Air conduction tests 
The most simple and common test 
of hearing ability is called ‘pure tone 
audiometry’ where you listen to a range 
of different pitched beeps (called pure 
tones) and indicate when you can hear 
them, generally by pressing a button. 
The loudness of each tone is reduced 
until you can just hear the tone. The 
softest sounds you can hear are known 
as your hearing thresholds, and these 
are marked on a graph called an 
audiogram. 
When hearing is measured with pure 
tones presented through headphones, 
this measurement is called air 
conduction. The sounds go via the air, 
down the ear canal, through the middle 
ear, and to the very delicate organ of 
hearing in the inner ear—the cochlea. 
page 12 Health & Hearing 
Bone conduction tests 
The sensitivity of the cochlea can also be 
tested by placing a small vibrator on the 
mastoid bone behind the ear and again 
measuring the softest sounds that can 
be heard. 
Sounds presented this way travel 
through the bones of the skull to the 
cochlea and hearing nerves, bypassing 
the middle ear. This type of testing 
is called bone conduction. The air 
conduction and bone conduction hearing 
levels on the audiogram can tell us a 
lot about where a hearing problem is 
originating. 
For example, if bone conduction tests 
indicate less hearing loss than a test 
through headphones, results would 
indicate that at least part of the hearing 
loss can be attributed to conductive 
hearing loss. Reasons could include 
fluid in the middle ear, excessive wax, 
a perforated tympanic membrane, or 
that the bones of the middle ear are not 
functioning normally. 
Speech Tests 
The ability to interpret speech is a 
function of the ability to detect and 
understand the sounds of speech. 
The range of audible sounds, not just 
the degree of hearing loss, varies 
considerably from person to person. 
Unfortunately, when hearing is damaged 
it is usually not just the volume of sound 
heard that is lost, often the quality of the 
sound is also distorted. 
Speech tests are used to determine how 
clearly someone can understand speech, 
when visible cues such as lip-reading 
are removed. They usually involve 
using common lists of words played (or 
spoken) at a constant volume that is 
appropriate to the client’s hearing loss. 
Hearing 
> Tests
Hearing tests are designed to find out what you can and can’t 
hear. Audiologists are skilled at using a range of techniques 
and equipment to assess your hearing health. 
Health & Hearing page 13 
The client responds by guessing the 
word that was spoken and correct and 
incorrect answers are tallied. 
Speech -in-Noise tests 
Given that people with hearing loss 
commonly have the greatest difficulty 
understanding speech in the presence 
of background noise, it makes sense 
that speech discrimination tests are 
also performed with the addition of 
a “noise” stimulus. This is often a 
‘speech babble’ played at different 
volumes relative the loudness of the 
speech (words or phrases). The client 
responds by guessing the word or 
phrase that was spoken in the presence 
of background noise. Again, the results 
are tallied. 
Aided vs Unaided Tests 
Following the fitting of a hearing device, 
a hearing care professional will run 
the tests again to compare how their 
client is able to perform in the speech 
discrimination tests with the benefit of 
a hearing aid compared to when they 
are not wearing a hearing aid. 
Tympanograms and 
Reflex Tests 
Tympanograms measure the movement 
and flexibility of the tympanic 
membrane to identify whether it is 
moving normally. 
Results may indicate a problem in the 
middle ear that can cause a conductive 
hearing loss. When a child has a normal 
tympanogram, it may also be possible 
to test for the presence of a muscle 
reflex (acoustic reflex) in the middle ear. 
The absence of this reflex to different 
sounds gives information about the 
functioning of the auditory system. 
Testing children 
and babies 
The ability to test babies and 
young children has a unique set 
of problems, related to the child’s 
age and ability to understand 
instructions on how to respond. 
Most children will be assessed 
using a combination of behavioral 
and physiological tests. 
Behavioural tests 
(Less than 7-months of age) 
Behavioural tests are based on 
observing a change in an infant’s 
behaviour in response to sound – 
such as startling to loud noises and 
stirring from sleep in response. 
Visual reinforcement 
orientation audiometry 
(7-months to 3-years of age) 
These are used to test the hearing 
of children between seven months 
and three years of age. VROA 
involves the child turning towards 
the loudspeaker when a sound is 
presented. By altering the frequency 
and intensity of the sounds, it is 
possible to find out about the child’s 
ability to hear sounds across a range 
of frequencies. 
Play audiometry 
(Over 3-years of age) 
This involves testing the child’s 
hearing when headphones are worn. 
Play audiometry works the same way 
as pure tone audiometry (person 
indicates when they can hear a tone), 
except when the child hears a tone, 
they put a marble in a marble race, 
press a computer key or put a piece 
in a puzzle. 
Electro-physiological tests 
Physiological tests help determine 
which part of the auditory system is 
involved in the child’s hearing loss. 
Physiological tests measure a physical 
response of a specific part of the 
auditory system and require little or no 
co-operation from the child. 
Oto-acoustic emission testing (OAE) 
Provides an idea about how hair cells 
in the cochlea are working. They 
respond to sound by producing a very 
soft sound of their own called an oto-acoustic 
emission. 
Brainstem evoked response 
audiometry (BERA) 
These look at the electrical activity 
generated in response to sound along 
the Cochlea nerve to the brain. It may 
be carried out while a baby is in natural 
sleep. 
Electro-cochleography 
(ECochG or EcoG) 
This is a medical test performed in 
hospital, under anesthetic. It picks up 
the tiny electrical signals generated 
in the cochlea in response to sound 
and provides information about the 
functioning of the cochlea and cochlea 
(hearing) nerve.
> Your results 
Reading your Audiogram 
The Audiogram is the graphical representation of the results of the air 
conduction and bone conduction hearing tests. 
The vertical lines represent the test 
frequencies, arranged from low pitched 
on the left to high pitched on the right. 
The horizontal lines represent loudness, 
from very soft at the top to very loud at 
the bottom. 
The Audiogram shows the minimum 
volume at which a person can detect a 
tone played at a particular frequency. 
“X” is used for the left ear and “O” 
represents scores for the right ear. The 
scores are compared to results obtained 
from persons with normal hearing – the 
line at 0dB. 
Sometimes the audiogram will also 
show bracket symbols “[“ and “]”. These 
represent scores based on bone conduction 
tests, which as discussed earlier, bypass 
the outer ear and middle ear. 
Interpreting the 
Audiogram 
The Audiologist will use the following 
characteristics of the audiogram to 
explaining the results of the audiogram: - 
This diagram shows the approximate sound levels of some common sounds. Speech and conversation usually falls into 
the yellow shaded area and, not surprisingly, this is commonly called the speech banana. We have placed some vowels and 
consonants within this area to show where those speech sounds fall in conversation at normal levels. 
page 14 Health & Hearing 
Type of hearing loss : 
• Conductive – Normal hearing for bone 
conduction scores ([ & ]), and showing a 
hearing loss for Air Conduction scores (X & 
O) 
• Sensioneural – Hearing loss (equally) for 
both air and bone conduction 
• Mixed - Hearing loss for bone conduction 
score, and an even greater hearing loss for 
air conduction scores 
Severit y of loss : 
• The lower the scores fall on the Audiogram, 
the more severe the hearing loss.
Health & Hearing page 15 
Slope of loss : 
• Flat loss – A hearing loss where hearing 
is relatively even across all frequencies, 
which is more common for conductive 
hearing losses. 
• Sloping loss – Increasing degree of 
hearing loss the higher the frequency. 
This is the most common hearing loss 
that will be shown due to the ageing 
process and noise damage. 
• Other: Less common shapes include 
reverse slopes, cookie bites, corner 
audiogram 
How the ears compare: 
• Monaural loss: Loss is only in one ear 
• Binaural loss: Loss is in both ears 
• Symmetrical: Hearing is relatively even 
in both ears 
• Assymetrical: Hearing loss in one ear is 
significantly worse than the other ear. 
“My hearing is pretty 
good other than FOR 
those high frequencies” 
In interpreting an audiogram, it is a 
common for clients to misinterpret the 
results ~ looking at the good news rather 
than taking in the whole story. Low 
frequencies of sounds found in speech 
(125dB – 1000 dB) are largely responsible 
for a person’s interpretation of the 
volume of speech. High frequencies are 
responsible for the clarity that someone 
interprets speech. 
Some of the high frequency elements 
of speech include those made by words 
containing letters such as “f ”, “ph”, “th”, 
“s” and “t”. Because these sounds are 
difficult for someone with high frequency 
loss to hear, they may often mistake what 
has been said. 
For this reason, many people with greater 
losses in the higher frequencies commonly 
feel that: “I can hear ok, it is just that 
people sound like they’re mumbling”. 
Common Audiograms 
Here we can see the Audiograms of three people: - 
1. Annie (75 years) – Housewife and grandmother of 12 
wonderful grandchildren 
2. Bill (55-years) ~ Carpenter 
3. David (12-years) ~ Great cricketer 
Annie has a moderate hearing 
loss that is known as Presbycusis. 
This results from degeneration 
of the hair receptors within 
the cochlear due to the ageing 
process. Before she was fitted 
with hearing aids, Annie always 
found conversations with her 
younger grandchildren particularly 
difficult - especially when in a 
noisy situation. She also found 
telephone conversations difficult 
and noisy restaurants were the 
“bane of her existence”: 
Bill has been on the tools 
for 40-years as a carpenter 
and admits to rarely using ear 
protection for most of that time. 
His sharply sloping loss in the 
higher frequencies can largely be 
put down to the damage produced 
by electrical saws and other 
equipment that he has used in his 
job. 
David is currently suffering 
from a nasty illness that has led to 
fluid gathering in his middle ear. 
He is not hearing very well at the 
moment and his ears are hurting 
and “feel tight on the inside”. This 
infection is causing a problem 
with the passing of sound through 
his middle ear, as can be seen by 
the Normal hearing scores he has 
from his Bone conduction tests, 
represented by the “[“ and “]”, but 
impaired Air Conduction results.
Rediscovering 
a full world of 
sound 
Although describing his life as fairly relaxed, 
Moshe Bernstein (59) was increasingly frustrated 
by difficulties he was finding in following 
conversations in noisy environments and clearly 
following the dialogue within a good movie. Six 
months on from being fitted with the practically 
“There is no doubt that wearing hearing aids greatly 
enhanced my ability to communicate when in China. I am 
very much looking forward to returning to continue my 
research next year.” Moshe said. 
Being able to give the hearing aids a thorough test and 
assess the difference that they could make to his life, 
before purchase, was also greatly appreciated. While 
reporting that it took a little bit of time to adapt to 
wearing the hearing aids. Moshe concludes: - 
“My wife has also noticed a change in my ability to hear 
and converse more freely with others. I am extremely 
grateful to the team at The Art of Hearing for the 
opportunity to trial the hearing aids and would encourage 
others to do the same.” 
The Oticon Intiga is amongst a range of discreet hearing 
solutions available at The Art of Hearing 
invisible Oticon Intiga hearing aids, Moshe is again 
greatly enjoying the ease with which he can head 
out into the world. 
Fluent in Chinese (Mandarin) and currently working on his 
Ph.D. in Asian studies at the University of Western Australia, 
Moshe noticed that he was finding it increasingly difficult 
to remain actively involved in conversations – particularly in 
noisy settings. Moshe remembers: - 
“It could be extremely frustrating sitting around a table 
participating in seminars... when the fan was whirring and the 
speaker was across from me I often could not understand a 
word. The hearing aids have changed that... sounds are now 
discernible.” 
These problems extended to great difficulty in social 
situations and parties, during which Moshe would feel “on the 
outside of conversations.” 
But like many in his situation, it took some time before he 
took the steps to do something about it. He responded 
to an invitation from The Art of Hearing earlier this year to 
undertake a free trial the latest in discreet hearing solutions. 
In addition to tackling the effects of hearing loss, the Oticon 
Intiga also promised to be ‘practically invisible’ to others. 
Moshe recalls: - “I definitely had a vanity issue and preferred 
that other people did not notice that I was wearing hearing 
aids… even my son did not notice that I was wearing the 
hearing aids for a couple of months before I told him!” 
Now life is much easier with the use of his hearing aids. In 
an ultimate test of hearing in noisy environments, Moshe and 
his wife were in China earlier in the year. It was part of his 
research into a 1,000 year old Jewish community living within 
central China in a town named Kaifeng. 
The Art of Hearing is offering free trials of the latest hearing aids 
from all leading manufacturers. To arrange your own free home trial, 
call The Art of Hearing on (08) 9390-8811. 
page 16 Health & Hearing
> Solutions 
Hearing 
Aids 
– “nothing like the old days” 
This time last century, 
the only assistance 
that someone with 
hearing loss could 
use was an ear 
trumpet. 
While ear trumpets increased volume of 
sound, most people would still have major 
issues of clarity. Now 100 years on, there 
have been many advances in both medical 
solutions and hearing aid devices. Hearing 
loss can now be managed to ensure that 
it need not greatly affect the lives of most 
people with the condition. 
In this section we will look at modern day hearing 
aids and medical solutions such as the Cochear 
Implant. 
Health & Hearing page 17
Features of modern 
hearing aids 
If hearing tests demonstrate that you 
have a sensorineural hearing loss, we 
have some great news – modern hearing 
solutions are nothing like the large, noisy, 
clunky and whistling hearing aids of days 
gone by! 
Hearing aids are equipped with many 
incredible features that make even the 
most difficult situations manageable and 
they come in devices so small, that no one 
would ever notice that you’re wearing a 
hearing aid. 
How do digita l hearing 
aids work ? 
The most basic function of a hearing aid 
is to amplify sound. Digital hearing aids, 
which have only been around since late 
1990’s, do this in a rather sophisticated 
way. 
As sound enters the device, it is broken 
into multiple frequency bands. Each band 
is then amplified by the amount necessary 
to return the wearer’s hearing to normal 
levels at that band. 
ITC 
(in-the-canal) Hearing 
aid 
models 
page 18 Health & Hearing 
With digital technology, devices can 
now break sound into as many as 
24 different bands. Given that every 
person has a unique pattern of hearing 
loss, the sound quality provided by a 
modern hearing aid is far better the 
previous analogue technologies that 
were restricted to two bands – base 
(low frequencies) and treble (high 
frequencies). 
Feedback Cance llation 
Historically, one of the greatest 
complaints and a source of 
embarrassment for hearing aid wearers 
is related to feedback – the whistling 
sound created when amplified sound 
is picked up by the hearing aids 
microphone, causing squealing or 
whistling. 
As you would know, sound travels in 
waves. The digital hearing aid can now 
detect the frequency of and the wave 
shape that is causing the feedback 
and counteract it within fractions of a 
second. So, there will be no annoying 
and embarrassing whistling from your 
hearing aid. 
Mild to moderate 
hearing losses 
Very small case 
Fits inside the ear canal, 
making it practically 
invisible 
Size prevents the use of 
directional microphones 
Mild to moderate 
hearing losses 
Fits deep inside the ear 
canal, making it invisible 
Less occlusion 
Not suitable for people 
with narrow ear canals 
Size prevents the use of 
directional microphones 
Mild to moderately- severe 
hearing losses 
Small, one piece case 
Fits inside the ear canal 
Directional microphones 
are possible with this 
model 
CIC 
(completely-in-canal) 
DC 
(deep-canal) 
Hearing aids are 
also available in an 
extensive range of 
colours and sizes. 
This chart shows some 
of the more common 
hearing aid models 
available.
Health & Hearing page 19 
Open fit acoustics 
Improvements in feedback 
management have allowed hearing 
aid manufacturers to develop devices 
that do not obstruct the natural 
passage of sound through the ear 
canal. Previously, wearers of hearing 
aids would complain of a “talking 
in a barrel” sensation, like you can 
experience when using your fingers 
to block your ears and listening to the 
sound of your own voice. 
Open fit hearing aids have very thin 
tubes that enter the ear canal and 
smaller cases that rest behind the 
ear, making them barely visible. 
Additionally, hearing aids that sit 
within the ear canal can now have 
greater ventilation. The end result is 
far more comfort and clarity for the 
hearing aid wearer of today. 
Noise management 
One of the problems with older 
hearing aids was that they amplified 
all sounds equally – whether the 
source of the sound is the person 
who the wearer is listening to, or 
background noises, such as traffic, 
air conditioners, or ambient noise 
from a crowded room. This led to 
discomfort and did not help the user 
to follow conversations in difficult 
environments. 
Now digital hearing aids can actually 
tell the difference between speech 
and background noise and do this 
individually for every 
frequency band. The 
hearing aid then amplifies 
the speech sounds and 
reduces the amplification 
of background noise. 
Now consider the size 
of a hearing aid and the 
number of computations 
that it must perform every 
few milliseconds across 
up to 24 frequency bands and then 
deliver the enhanced sound into 
the ear canal. The mind begins to 
boggle! 
It may be easier to simply enjoy 
the results of noise management – 
greater listening comfort and clarity. 
Mild to severe losses 
Fully featured hearing aids 
Larger case can be easier 
for wearers with dexterity 
considerations 
Case contains all features 
and sits behind the ear 
Many colour options 
Mild to moderately-severe 
hearing losses 
Ear canal is open for a 
natural sound quality 
Very small case that sits 
behind the ear, making it 
practically invisible 
Many colour options 
Mild to moderately-severe 
hearing losses 
Ear canal open for a natural 
sound quality 
Smallest external hearing 
aid, as the receiver is located 
in the end of the tube inside 
the ear 
Very small case that sits 
behind the ear, making it 
practically invisible 
Many colour options 
Profound hearing losses 
More powerful 
solutions that provide 
the greatest levels of 
amplification 
Larger case worn behind 
the ear 
BTE 
(behind-the-ear) 
Open 
(open ear) 
Power 
(high powered) 
RIE 
(receiver in the ear)
Directiona l Microphones 
Most people with hearing loss find that 
trying to follow a conversation in a noisy 
place can be a tremendous struggle. 
Logically, most conversations are 
with people who we are facing, while 
distracting background noise will come 
from the sides and behind us. 
A modern digital hearing aid can actually 
pinpoint the location of sounds. It does 
this by using more than one microphone 
and gauging the difference in time that it 
takes sounds to reach each microphone – 
even though the microphones are only a 
few millimetres apart! 
It will then provide the greatest 
amplification to sounds coming from in 
front of the wearer and less amplification 
to sound coming from the sides and 
behind. Directional microphones can be 
extremely beneficial in difficult situations, 
such as restaurants. This feature 
provides the greatest benefit in regards 
to improving a hearing aid wearer’s 
ability to follow conversations in noisy 
environments. 
Connectivit y to 
mobi le devices and 
entertainment 
Wearers are increasingly looking for 
solutions to improve the effectiveness 
of hearing aids in partnership with their 
mobile phones, digital radio, plasma 
televisions, and personal stereos (i.e. 
iPods and MP3 players). 
In response, manufacturers have 
developed streamers that connect 
wireless devices to the user’s hearing 
aid. The benefit is that this delivers 
improved performance in terms of 
speech intelligibility and sound quality 
Two ears are better 
than one 
We were born with two ears for a reason: it helps with 
sound location and provides much clearer ‘stereo quality’. 
Advanced features such as directional microphones are 
far more effective when applied with two hearing aids. 
For these reasons, The Art of Hearing strongly 
recommend that our clients are fitted with hearing aids 
in each ear affected by hearing loss, as this will lead to a 
vastly improved benefits and client satisfaction. 
page 20 Health & Hearing 
as signals from the external devices are 
streamed directly into the hearing aid, 
without background noise and the need 
for the hearing aid to first process a 
sound signal. 
Multiple and automatic 
programming 
Different listening environments 
often call for different settings within 
hearing aids in order to maximise their 
effectiveness. 
For example, when listening to music, 
the user would prefer to turn off features 
that may misinterpret elements of the 
music as noise. When in a quiet room, 
a wearer will not need the benefit 
directional microphones and noise 
reduction to the same extent they would 
in a crowd at the football. 
Advanced hearing aids allow the user 
to change the settings by pressing a 
small button on the device. The most 
advanced hearing aids will even listen to 
the environment and change the hearing 
aids settings automatically, without the 
wearer needing to touch or think about 
their hearing aids.
> Medical 
Cochlear Implants 
A Cochlear Implant is an electronic medical device 
that replaces the function of the damaged inner 
ear. Unlike hearing aids, which make sounds 
louder, Cochlear Implants do the work of damaged 
parts of the inner ear (cochlea) to send sound 
Call The Art 
of Hearing 
to arrange a 
consultation 
and 
assessment 
If you would like to know if 
you would benefit from a 
Cochlear Implant, call The 
Art of Hearing to arrange 
an appointment and a 
comprehensive assessment. 
Health & Hearing page 21 
Cochlear Implants can help people who: 
• Have severe to profound 
sensorineural (inner ear) hearing loss 
in both ears 
• Receive no real hearing benefit from 
hearing aids 
• Have poor speech recognition 
Children in particular stand to gain 
significant benefit in hearing performance as 
a result of the increased sound stimulation 
during the developmental “window” that 
occurs during early childhood. 
How do they work? 
Many people suffer hearing loss because 
they have damage to hair receptor cells in 
the inner ear (or cochlea). If some hearing 
nerves still work, a Cochlear Implant can 
allow you to hear. Here’s how: 
1. An external sound processor captures 
sound and converts it into digital code 
2. The sound processor transmits the 
digitally-coded sound through the coil 
to the implant 
3. The implant converts the digitally-coded 
sound into electrical impulses 
and sends them along the electrode 
array, which is positioned in the 
cochlea (inner ear) 
4. The implant’s electrodes stimulate 
the cochlea’s hearing nerve, which 
then sends the impulses to the brain 
where they are interpreted as sound. 
What factors can affect 
these benefits? 
• How long has the patient lived with 
hearing loss 
• How severe their hearing loss is 
• The condition of the cochlea (inner 
ear) 
• Other medical conditions 
• Practice using their cochlear implant 
system 
signals to the brain. 
Grace Tern 
Listening to 
11 year old 
Grace’s piano 
performances 
and energetic 
conversations, it’s hard 
to believe that she is 
profoundly hearing 
impaired. 
Grace’s mother shares her 
inspirational story: “When we first 
discovered Grace was profoundly 
hearing impaired we despaired 
about her future. We thought she 
would be confined to just signing 
as a means of communication. Then 
a friend told us about cochlear 
implants. 
We went ahead with the operation 
when Grace was 1 year old. In the 
days after switch on, I knew she 
understood me because she would 
give actions to familiar nursery 
rhymes. Speech followed and, 
within a year, she was tracking like 
a normal child. 
Reproduced courtesy of Cochlear Ltd 
Now, at 10 years, 
she’s as normal as a 
normal child can be. 
“My life would be very different 
without cochlear implants because 
without them I can only hear very 
loud sounds like thunder. Without 
my implants, I can’t hear voices 
and that makes it very hard to 
communicate!” - Grace
> Costs 
How 
While entry level hearing aids are 
free to pensioners, a ‘privately 
funded’ client can spend up to 
$12,000 on a pair of premium 
hearing aids with all the latest 
advanced features. 
But what will be the true ‘out of 
pocket’ investment for a client will 
come down to a number of factors, 
such as: - 
Assistance with the 
cost of hearing aids 
• Is the client a pensioner or an 
active or retired member of the 
armed services (i.e. Army, Navy or 
Air Force)? 
• Does the client have private 
health insurance? 
• Does the client have a taxable 
income and lodge a tax return? 
• Has the client’s hearing 
loss occurred as a result of 
occupational exposure to noise? 
Personal factors 
• Does the client have a binaural 
loss (two ears) or monaural 
hearing loss (one ear) 
• The severity and pattern of the 
hearing loss will influence the 
hearing care professional’s 
recommendation 
• The client’s budget 
FREE hearing aids 
for pensioners and 
veterans 
Ensuring that every Australian has 
access to better hearing is one of 
the federal government’s key health 
priorities. The Office of Hearing 
Services Voucher Scheme provides 
free hearing tests and hearing aids 
to pensioners and veterans, which 
are available through accredited 
providers, such as The Art of 
Hearing. 
Who is eligible? 
You are eligible if you are an 
Australian citizen or permanent 
resident, 21 years of age and over, 
meeting one of the following criteria: 
• Centrelink Pensioner Concession 
Card 
• Gold Health Repatriation Card 
• White Health Repatriation Card 
(specifying hearing loss) 
• Centrelink Sickness Allowance 
You may also be eligible if you are: 
• Dependant of a person in one of 
the above categories 
• Active member of the Defence 
Force 
• Client of CRS Australia 
page 22 Health & Hearing 
How do you apply? 
If you believe that you may be 
eligible, call The Art of Hearing and 
we will provide you with, and assist 
you to complete, an application form 
for the Office of Hearing Services. 
much? 
A common question from people who call 
The Art of Hearing is: 
“How much do hearing aids cost?”
Insurer Rebate Phone Website 
MBF $1000 per aid every 3 years 131 137 www.mbf.com.au 
Medibank Private $800 per aid every 5 years 132 331 www.medibank.com.au 
HBF $650 for first aid and $325 for second 
Compensation for 
occupational hearing loss 
Health & Hearing page 23 
aid every 4 years 
Private health funds 
Many private health funds offer rebates 
on the cost of hearing aids for their 
extras and premium plans. At the time of 
printing, the rebates above applied to five 
of Australia’s largest health insurers on 
their premium plans. 
Tax rebates on 
hearing aids 
The government has exempted hearing 
aids from GST and provide a tax rebate 
of 20% on annual medical expenses in 
excess of $1500. 
This could 
lead to a rebate 
of over $1,500 for 
advanced hearing 
solutions for 
clients who lodge 
a tax return. 
133 234 www.hbf.com.au 
NIB $800 per aid every 3 years 13 14 63 www.nib.com.au 
HCF $800 per aid every 5 years 13 14 39 www.hcf.com.au 
The Art of Hearing recommend that you check with own 
health insurer to learn what benefits are available. 
Until recent times, the damage 
caused by working in noisy 
environments was not fully 
appreciated by many companies. 
As a result, Australians working 
in factories, the building industry, 
mining industry, and other 
noisy workplaces were rarely 
provided with ear protection and 
hundreds of thousands of people 
have subsequently incurred 
occupational hearing loss. 
The state government provides a 
scheme for employees who have 
incurred occupational hearing 
loss with access to compensation. 
This scheme is administered by 
WorkCover WA. 
If you would like advice regarding a 
claim for occupational hearing loss, 
call The Art of 
Hearing and we 
will be happy to 
assist.
Call now or drop in for more information and to 
book a consultation with the audiologist at the top 
SOUTH STreet 
hearing healthcare centre in Perth. 
Gilbertson Rd 
NORTH LAKE RD 
Kardinya 
Shopping 
Centre 
IGA 
N 
Brophy St 
Gibson Avenue 
N 
Warburton Avenue 
Shopping 
Centre 
We are here! 
Brookton Hwy 
Albany Hwy 
Ecko Rd 
Armadale 
Health 
Service 
N 
We are here! 
Head Office & Permanent Clinic 
2/2 Ecko Rd, Mount Nasura WA 6112 
(08) 9390-8811 
f: (08) 9390-4592 
e: info@artofhearing.com.au 
w: www.artofhearing.com.au 
Suite 6, Kardinya Commercial Centre 
(Next to IGA), 
Kardinya 6163 
2/73, Gibson Avenue 
(Next to Padbury Family Practice), 
Padbury 6025 
Peel Crt 
We are here! 
Chisham Ave 
Meares Ave 
Gilmore Ave 
Kwinana 
Town 
Centre 
N 
Robbos Pl 
Chisham Avenue Medical Centre, 
1 Chisham Avenue, 
Kwinana 6167 
We are here!

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hearing test for children

  • 1. Health & Hearing Hearing Health Do you have hearing loss? 1-minute self assessment test Hearing Technology How much do hearing aids cost? A guide to the range of financial assistance that is available “Nothing like the old days!” Virtually invisible and Bluetooth enabled Hearing Science Importance of early intervention in the treatment of hearing loss
  • 2. Hear the difference ReSound Alera® hearing instruments are light, comfortable, practically invisible and are unsurpassed in providing natural sound quality. They ‘listen’ to the environment and automatically adjust to optimal settings as you move between different environments, so you don’t have to think about adjusting your hearing instruments. ReSound Alera® can connect wirelessly to digital televisions, landline and mobile phones, computers and personal music players with exceptional clarity and stability. They do this through the ReSound Unite™ range of accessories, such as the Unite™ Mini Mic, Unite™ Remote Control, Unite™ TV Streamer and Unite™ Phone Clip. They send clear, echo-free sound directly into the hearing aid without the need of an intermediary device. Hear it for yourself! The Art of Hearing and ReSound have partnered to allow people of Perth to hear the difference for themselves. You can be fitted with the ReSound Alera® today, so that you can appreciate the difference these remarkable devices will make to your life. Call The Art of Hearing today on 08 9390 8811 to make an obligation free appointment.
  • 3. > Forward Contents Dear Reader, Thank you for taking the time to request and read through our magazine, Health & Hearing. For many of you, this may be a your first step towards addressing hearing loss or that of a loved one. In this magazine, we hope to enlighten you about hearing, hearing conditions and modern solutions. Although there are many causes for hearing loss, the incidence of the condition grows steadily as people age. While 30% of adults will be showing signs of the condition by the age of 50-years, this will rise to 70% of the population by 70-years of age. Hearing loss affects lives, lifestyles, relationships, and often leads to feelings of isolation. Studies have shown that when not managed, the condition reduces the effectiveness of people in the workplace and led to decreased household income. Even more importantly, people who address their hearing loss earlier reported feeling younger, more confident, and eager to once again enjoy the social situations that had become tedious. These findings are consistent with the experiences of the hundreds of clients who I have helped over the years to achieve better hearing and a better quality of life. But as you will read in Health & Hearing, there is some great news for Australians too. Our government recognises the impact that hearing loss has on both its citizens’ lives and the national economy. Subsequently, they provide pensioners and veterans with access to free digital hearing aids. Assistance is available to all people with hearing loss through tax rebates, health insurance, and compensation for hearing loss that has developed as a result of exposure to noise in the workplace. Who are The Art of Hearing? Australians are often shocked to learn that most hearing clinics are actually owned by hearing aid manufacturers or global retail chains – and thus are really just well disguised vehicles for pushing their own range of hearing aids. In contrast, The Art of Hearing is proudly independent. My staff and I will find you the best treatments from the full range of available solutions, including tinnitus management, rehabilitation, counseling, and hearing aids from all leading manufacturers. We are accredited to provide free hearing aids to pensioners and veterans under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program*. We are here to help you at every step of the way and find a solution that works for you. If you have any questions, or would like to arrange a hearing test or trial of the latest digital hearing aids, please don’t hesitate to call. How the ear works.............................................................. 4 Understand how the ear works and processes sound Hearing Loss...........................................................................5 We all know somebody affected by hearing loss Tinnitus..................................................................................... 8 This buzzing in my ears is driving me mad! “I’m too young for hearing aids”.............................. 10 The importance of addressing hearing loss early – a scientific perspective Hearing Loss & Dementia..............................................11 New study find links between untreated hearing loss and dementia Hearing tests....................................................................... 12 This story explains common types of hearing tests and how to interpret the results Reading your Audiogram.............................................. 14 Results of the air conduction and bone conduction hearing tests Hearing Aids.........................................................................17 “Nothing like the old days” Cochlear Implants............................................................ 21 How they can help How much do hearing aids cost?.............................22 A common question References would like to acknowledge the following sources in the development of this magazine: Health & Hearing page 3 Best regards, Ravi Gupta Owner and Audiologist The Art of Hearing * Condtions apply under the OHS Voucher Scheme Health & Hearing © - Spinach Effect Pty Ltd PO Box 2019, Glenelg SA 5045, Australia Ph: (08) 8294 7928 www.spinacheffect.com.au Owner and Audiologist Listen Hear! – The economic impact and cost of hearing loss in Australia, Access Economics 2006 Cochlear Ltd – www.cochlear.com Office of Hearing Services – http://www.health.gov.au/hear Spinach Effect – www.spinacheffect.com.au The Impact of Untreated Hearing Loss on Household Income – Sergei Kochkin, Ph.D. August 2005 Lin FR, Metter EJ, O’Brien RJ, Resnick SM, Zonderman A, Ferrucci L. Hearing loss and incident dementia. Arch. Neurol. 2011; In press. Hearing in South Australia: Disability, Impairment and Quality-of-life, Wilson DH (1997) Late-onset auditory deprivation: Effects of monaural vs binaural hearing aids. Silman, Gelfand, Silverman. (1984) Leading manufacturers GN Resound – www.gnresound.com.au Unitron – www.unitron.com.au Other suppliers Oticon – www.oticon.com.au Bernafon – www.bernafon.com.au Phonak – www.phonak.com.au Siemens - hearing.siemens.com/au/ Other links Australian Tinnitus Association - http://www.tinnitus.asn.au/tinnitus.htm Ravi
  • 4. > The Ear How the ear works In order to better understand hearing loss and what can be done, it is first important to understand how the ear works and processes sound. Outer Ear Sound first enters our ear at the Pinna, which is the visible part of the ear on the outside of our head. The Pinna is designed to collect sound waves and funnel them down the Ear canal towards the Tympanic membrane (eardrum). Together the Pinna and Ear canal are referred to as the outer ear. Middle Ear The middle ear starts with the Tympanic membrane. As sound waves travelling down the Ear canal reach the Tympanic membrane, it vibrates like a drum. Behind the eardrum is an air-filled space containing three tiny bones, the smallest bones found anywhere in the human body. The vibrations in turn cause these bones to vibrate. The Middle Ear consists of the eardrum these tiny bones (Malleus, Incus and Stap-es) and the air pocket in which they reside. Inner Ear The cochlea and the semi-circular canals are our organ of both hearing and our sense of balance. The cochlea, semi-circular canals and the cochlear nerve (auditory nerve) comprise the parts of the Inner Ear. Sound passes to the Inner Ear via the vibrations of the Middle Ear bones, which are connected to the Cochlea at one end. Outer Ear Thousands of tiny sensory hair cells within the Cochlea convert the vibrations into an electro-chemical signal that’s carried by the auditory nerve to the brain, where sound is processed and interpreted. Electron Microscope image of healthy hair receptors page 4 Health & Hearing
  • 5. Hearing Loss We all know somebody affected by hearing loss, as nearly 1 in 5 Australians live with the condition. Hearing loss progresses over time and it is best to recognise the signs early. Quality of life can be significantly compromised for people with hearing loss and their families. The extent of the hearing loss varies too, from a mild to a severe hearing loss where loud safety signals may not be heard. More commonly it is manifested as a difficulty with word understanding, particularly in the presence of background noise. Health & Hearing page 5
  • 6. Your Hearing Self Assessment Hearing Test 1. I feel discomfort or embarrassment when meeting new people because of my hearing o Never o Sometimes o Often 2. I find that following conversations in a noisy environment, such as a busy restaurant, can be very difficult o Never o Sometimes o Often 3. People seem to mumble more these days when they talk, and find myself asking them to repeat themselves more often than I used to o Never o Sometimes o Often 4. Others comment that I have the radio or television turned up too loud for their liking o Never o Sometimes o Often 5. If I did not see the source of a sound, I find it hard to know what direction it came from o Never o Sometimes o Often 6. Family members have commented that they think that I may have a hearing problem – and they become frustrated when I’ve not fully heard what they have said o Never o Sometimes o Often 7. Following conversations on the telephone is particularly difficult, particularly with children o Never o Sometimes o Often 8. I used to be more active in group conversations. (E.g. dinner table) o Never o Sometimes o Often 9. I mishear what people have said and respond inappropriately o Never o Sometimes o Often 10. Sometimes I experience a persistent or prolonged ‘ringing in my ears’ (known as tinnitus) o Never o Sometimes o Often Adding up your score Never = 0 Sometimes = 1 Often = 2 If your total score is more than 5, then your life is very likely to be affected by hearing loss and we would recommend a hearing assessment. If your score is more than 10, then there is little doubt that your life would be significantly improved by addressing your hearing loss and adopting a hearing solution. Signs of hearing loss In contradiction to many people’s understanding, hearing loss is rarely similar to the effect of turning down the volume on a stereo. It usually affects different frequencies of sound by varying amounts. This can lead to conversations being difficult to follow – particularly in noisy environments where competing background noise “scrambles” speech and conversations. Not surprisingly, being able to follow conversations is the single biggest reason that people seek our help. If you feel that your hearing is not what it used to be, or are concerned that a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss – take a couple of minutes to do the short self-assessment test provided here. Types of hearing loss There are three forms of hearing loss, Conductive, Sensorineural and Mixed hearing Loss. Conductive Hearing Loss Conductive hearing loss results from a problem with the passage of sound through the outer ear and/or middle ear. Some common examples include:- • Excessive cerumen (earwax) in the ear canal • Perforation of the eardrum • Middle ear infection with fluid build-up However, conductive loss accounts for only 10% of all hearing losses, and they range from mild to moderate in severity. The good news is that conductive hearing loss can often be medically treated. In many cases hearing can be completely restored. page 6 Health & Hearing • Turning up the volume on the TV or radio • Asking people to repeat what they’ve said • Hearing in one ear better than the other When volume is sufficiently increased, clarity and understanding are usually intact for someone with a conductive hearing loss. Other symptoms may also be present, such as ear pain, drainage from the ears, or a feeling of pressure or a blockage. Sensorineura l Hearing Loss Hearing loss that originates in the inner ear is referred to as sensorineural hearing loss or, in laymens’ terms, “nerve deafness”. The vast majority of hearing losses are sensioneural losses, and common causes include: - • Genetic factors (i.e. hearing loss can run in families) • Excessive noise exposure - either sudden or prolonged • Changes in the inner ear due to ageing Less common causes include: - • Reactions to ear-toxic medications • Auditory nerve tumours • Conditions acquired prior to birth (congenital) • Infections such as meningitis and mumps • Kidney disease • Vascular disease Each cause can lead to damage to the sensory hair cells or nerves. Once damaged, the hair cells can’t repair themselves nor be medically treated. Therefore, 90% of hearing losses cannot be cured. A sensorineural hearing loss can be of any degree – mild, moderate, severe or profound. In more than 95% of cases involving sensorineural hearing loss, hearing aids or cochlear implants are the recommended course of treatment. Symptoms of Conductive Hearing Loss With conductive hearing loss, the overall volume of sound is reduced. Signs of conductive hearing loss may include:-
  • 7. Why can I hear low pitched sounds better than high frequency sounds? Nerves have different sensitivities to deformation of the sensory hair cells within the cochlea. A sound that has high frequencies of vibration will excite receptor cells near the opening of the cochlea, while a sound mostly containing low frequencies will stimulate cells at the end of the cochlea. Over time the high frequency hair cell receptors receive more movement by the incoming pressure waves of the fluid inside the cochlea. For this reason, high frequency receptors are more prone to long term damage than the low frequency hair cell receptors, which are more protected further up the cochlea. Health & Hearing page 7 Symptoms of Sensorineura l Hearing Loss While the overall volume of sound may be reduced, the clarity of sounds or voices is also affected. People with sensorineural hearing loss will often hear people speaking, but can’t always understand all the words, even when the volume is adequate. Music may also sound distorted, leading to decreased enjoyment. The symptoms of sensorineural hearing loss may include: - • Turning up the volume on the TV or radio • Asking people to repeat what they have said • Perception of people mumbling or not speaking clearly • Lack of clarity when listening to speech • Difficulty hearing in noise. Mixed Hearing Loss The transmission of sound can be blocked in multiple places along the auditory path. When a hearing loss occurs from conditions in the inner ear as well as the outer and/or middle ear, this is known as mixed hearing loss. An example of a mixed hearing loss may be someone with inner ear damage due to exposure to noise in their workplace over many years, who also currently has an infection that has led to a fluid build up in the middle ear. Causes of hearing loss While the ageing process is a major contributor to hearing loss, it is certainly not a condition reserved for the later stages of life. Studies have shown that exposure to noise is thought to be a contributing factor in around 37% of cases of the condition. Interestingly, around 50% of Australians with hearing loss are still of traditional working age (i.e. under 65 years). Other contributing factors of hearing loss include:- • Infection or injury (17.1% of cases) • Born with hearing loss (4.4% of cases) • Other causes (16.8% of cases) Noise induced hearing loss Given the impact of noise, it is not surprising that males are considerably more likely to have hearing loss than women – including being twice as likely to have a moderate to severe hearing loss. These days, people are more aware of the damage that noise can do to their hearing. This is illustrated through mandatory provision of ear protection on work sites and within factories. Nevertheless, every day millions of Australians are exposing themselves to noise levels that will surely lead to long-term damage to their hearing, including the use of personal stereo systems. The chart below illustrates the time it takes to cause permanent damage to your hearing when you’re exposed to different levels and sources of sound. “What is the best protection against noise damage?” Noise attenuating ear plugs Ear protection is extremely important for people who are exposed regularly to noise. The best form of protection are custom fitted, noise attenuating ear plugs. These can purchased and fitted at a The Art of Hearing clinic
  • 8. This buzzing in my ears is driving me mad! Causes of Tinnitus Most commonly, tinnitus is related to hearing loss. Current theories suggest that because the cochlea is no longer sending the normal signals to the brain, the brain becomes confused and essentially develops its own noise to make up for the lack of normal sound signals. This then is interpreted as a sound, tinnitus. This tinnitus can be made worse by anything that makes our hearing worse, such as ear infection or excess wax in the ear. Other causes of Tinnitus include trauma to the ear resulting from: • Loud noise exposure • Adverse reaction to medications drugs such as aspirin, antibiotics and quinine • A symptom of Meniere’s disease, which can also cause dizziness, nausea, and fluctuating hearing loss • A rare cause is a certain type of brain tumor known as an acoustic neuroma. The tumors grow on the nerve that supplies hearing and can cause tinnitus. This type of tinnitus is usually only noticed in one ear page 8 Health & Hearing • Pregnancy, anaemia and an overactive thyroid can cause certain types of tinnitus • Benign intracranial hypertension - an increase in the pressure of the fluid surrounding the brain • Jaw joint misalignment or muscles of the ear or throat ‘twitching’ can cause a ‘clicking’ type of tinnitus • Stress and fatigue can sometimes worsen the symptoms of tinnitus, as can caffeine, smoking and alcohol > Tinnitus At some stage our lives, all of us are likely to experience ringing in our ears when there is no apparent source of a sound. It may be evident coming home from a rock concert, or for a short period as a result of a sudden extreme noise, such as a gun discharging nearby. Unfortunately for many people, this buzzing or ringing sound can be persistent, intermittent, and prolonged – and this is a condition known as tinnitus. It can cause frustration and great distress. While it does occur in every stage of life and affects both men and women, the condition is most common amongst men. According to an American study, almost 12 percent of men who are 65 to 74 years of age are affected by tinnitus. Tinnitus is not a disease in itself but rather a reflection of something else that is going on in the hearing system or brain.
  • 9. Unfortunately, tinnitus is not a simple problem with a simple solution. Everybody’s tinnitus noise is specific to them, and as a result treatments need to be tailored to the individual. If you would like to discuss your problem or arrange an assessment, we recommend that you call us to arrange an appointment with one of our experts. Health & Hearing page 9 Treatments for Tinnitus Most cases of tinnitus should be evaluated by an Ear, Nose, and Throat physician to be sure that the tinnitus is not caused by another treatable problem. While research has yet to discover a cure, there are a number of treatments to help sufferers manage the condition. Generally the process begins with trying to identify the cause. If hearing loss is present, a hearing aid is likely to reduce the problem. Some wearers report that hearing aids have completely alleviated their condition. Another option to help people manage is the use of a Therapeutic Noise Generator, a device which looks like a hearing aid and is recommended for people with no hearing loss. It produces a blend of external sounds which stimulate fibres of the hearing nerve, helping deviate attention away from the tinnitus. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), offered by clinical psychologists, can also be effective in alleviating distress and adapting to tinnitus. CBT is threefold: changing the way a person perceives tinnitus; teaching ways to focus attention away from tinnitus; and achieving control over stress. For the vast majority of people there is no specific surgical procedure that provides a treatment for tinnitus. However, following successful surgical treatment for some ear problems, tinnitus may sometimes disappear (e.g. otosclerosis, middle ear effusion). Accurate diagnosis and treatment of Meniere’s disease may also result significantly reduced tinnitus. There is some school of thought that herbal remedies and Vitamin B12, taken under medical supervision, may be helpful for some people. It really depends on the cause of the tinnitus and we recommend that you consult a specialist to discuss these options. Where tinnitus is related to a jaw alignment problem, it is treatable. If you suspect this is a possible cause, it is worthwhile consulting your dentist. Your investment is protected iSolateTM nanotech from Resound ReSound hearing aids are light and comfortable that people often forget that they are wearing them - even before they take a shower! With our 360o iSolate nanotech protection, offered on all modern ReSound hearing instruments, your investment will be protected from water, humidity, perspiration, shock and general ‘wear and tear’. To find out more, call The Art of Hearing today on 08 9390 8811 or visit www.gnresound.com.au
  • 10. “I’m too young for hearing aids” People often wait many years from the time that they first notice that their hearing is not what it used to be before they take the step to address their hearing loss. For most people, hearing loss occurs gradually and they often are not fully aware how much their hearing has changed. The thought of wearing a hearing aid can cause many people to feel a little anxious – they worry (largely unnecessarily) about not wanting to be perceived as old or a possible stigma that may be associated with having a ‘disability’. Self image and pride are great inhibitors to people addressing hearing loss – more so than the perceptions others truly have about us. All around the country there are Aussie blokes sucking in their tummies, poking out their chests and thinking to themselves - “I’m doing alright for my age” and “you’re a handsome devil”. Unfortunately, hearing loss does not discriminate based on how young and sexy someone appears to themselves! Time and time again our clients tell stories about how they wish they had done something sooner. They feel younger and more confident as a result of wearing hearing aids. Now, research has revealed two scientific reasons to consider wearing hearing aids earlier – and these have arisen from studies on the topics of Sensory Deprivation and Neural Plasticity. Sensory Deprivation – “Use it or lose it” Studies looked specifically at people with hearing loss in both ears (binaural loss), comparing people who were fitted with hearing aids for both ears against people fitted with a single hearing aid. The research revealed conclusively that a person’s ability to understand speech in an unaided ear deteriorated over time faster than their ability to understand speech in their aided ear. For most people, this deterioration in the unaided ear was reversible if a hearing aid is later fitted to this ear. However, if the period without a hearing aid is long enough, then not only is recovery unlikely but other full advantages of hearing with both ears may never be attainable. That is, if we don’t use it, we may lose it. This provides the rationale for addressing hearing loss sooner and fitting hearing aids to both ears, if both are affected by hearing loss. Neural Plasticity – “Use it or it will start doing something else” In basic terms, the role of a hearing aid is to amplify sounds to the amount required to restore normal hearing levels. Often newly fitted clients would say:- “It sounds horribly tinny”. The audiologist would then adjust the page 10 Health & Hearing hearing aids to suit the preferences of the wearer – however we now know that this may not have been the best approach. Sounds are processed in the brain by neurons that are ‘wired’ to process sound at specific frequencies. Research has now shown that when those neurons are denied those frequencies due to hearing loss, the brain will reprogram those neurons to do something else. In simple terms, this could be described as “use it, or it will start doing something else”. This process can be reversed over time, at least to some degree, in most people. This has led to three key improvements in the field of hearing care: 1. Someone’s ability to process the full range of sounds that make up speech is lessened over time by hearing loss, so earlier fitting of hearing aids is beneficial to the wearer 2. When introducing a hearing aid to someone who has lived with hearing loss for a long time, we need for them to hear those ‘tinny’ sounds as this helps retrain their brain, until the sounds no longer seem tinny at all. This is known as Aural Rehabilitation. 3. A client’s expectations need to be managed when being fitted with a hearing aid. As great as modern technology is, hearing aids cannot replicate normal hearing. > The science The importance of addressing hearing loss early – a scientific perspective
  • 11. Dementia A research team commissioned by the renowned John Hopkins School of Medicine in the United States has found a strong link between dementia and hearing loss. The research concluded that Seniors with hearing loss are significantly more likely to develop dementia over time than those who retain their hearing. “Researchers have looked at what affects hearing loss, but few have looked at how hearing loss affects cognitive brain function,” says study leader Frank Lin (M.D, Phd). “There hasn’t been much crosstalk between otologists and geriatricians, so it’s been unclear whether hearing loss and dementia are related.” To make the connection, Lin and his colleagues used data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging (BLSA), which has tracked various health factors in thousands of men and women since 1958. First published in the February Archives of Neurology, the research focused on 639 people whose hearing and cognitive abilities were tested as part of the BLSA between 1990 and 1994. While about a quarter of the volunteers had some hearing loss at the start of the study, none had dementia. These volunteers were then closely followed with repeat examinations every one to two years, and by 2008, 58 of them had developed dementia. The researchers found that study participants with hearing loss at the beginning of the study were significantly more likely to develop dementia by the end. Compared with volunteers with normal hearing, those with mild, moderate, and severe hearing loss had twofold, threefold, and fivefold, respectively, the risk of developing dementia over time. The more hearing loss they had, the higher their likelihood of developing the memory-robbing disease. Even after the researchers took into account other factors that are associated with risk of dementia, including diabetes, high blood pressure, age, sex and race, Lin explains, hearing loss and dementia were still strongly connected. “A lot of people ignore hearing loss because it’s such a slow and insidious process as we age,” Lin says. “Even if people feel as if they are not affected, we’re showing that it may well be a more serious problem .” Health & Hearing page 11 Hearing Loss and Linked in study The findings, the researchers say, could lead to new ways to combat dementia, a condition that affects millions of people worldwide and carries heavy societal burdens. The scientists report that their finding may offer a new starting point for interventions — even as simple as hearing aids — that could delay or prevent dementia by improving patients’ hearing. Although the study did not investigate the cause of the link between the two conditions, the researchers propose that the strain of decoding sounds over the years may overwhelm the brains of people with hearing loss, leaving them more vulnerable to dementia. They also speculate that hearing loss could lead to dementia by making individuals more socially isolated, a known risk factor for dementia and other cognitive disorders. “...hearing aids... could delay or prevent dementia by improving patients’ hearing.” Footnote: The research was supported by the intramural research program of the National Institute on Aging and results were first published on February 2011 So maybe you are too young not to wear hearing aids! There are many reasons to address hearing loss early - even if you feel that you can “manage a little longer without hearing aids”. As well as feeling the benefits to your life and lifestyle sooner, you will also stop any permanent loss of future benefits and positive experience that you will enjoy when you get around to experiencing hearing aids for the first time. You could reduce risks of a range of physiological conditions that have been strongly linked to ‘unaided’ hearing loss. > Dementia
  • 12. Otoscopic inspection Before performing a hearing test, an Audiologist will first examine the health of the Ear canal and the Tympanic membrane with an instrument called an otoscope. This inspection can provide a lot of information about what’s happening within the middle ear. It also identifies if there are any visible problems that may influence the results of hearing tests, such as a perforation in the tympanic membrane or compacted build up of cerumen (ear wax). Tests What will happen when I see an audiologist? Audiogram and pure tone tests Air conduction tests The most simple and common test of hearing ability is called ‘pure tone audiometry’ where you listen to a range of different pitched beeps (called pure tones) and indicate when you can hear them, generally by pressing a button. The loudness of each tone is reduced until you can just hear the tone. The softest sounds you can hear are known as your hearing thresholds, and these are marked on a graph called an audiogram. When hearing is measured with pure tones presented through headphones, this measurement is called air conduction. The sounds go via the air, down the ear canal, through the middle ear, and to the very delicate organ of hearing in the inner ear—the cochlea. page 12 Health & Hearing Bone conduction tests The sensitivity of the cochlea can also be tested by placing a small vibrator on the mastoid bone behind the ear and again measuring the softest sounds that can be heard. Sounds presented this way travel through the bones of the skull to the cochlea and hearing nerves, bypassing the middle ear. This type of testing is called bone conduction. The air conduction and bone conduction hearing levels on the audiogram can tell us a lot about where a hearing problem is originating. For example, if bone conduction tests indicate less hearing loss than a test through headphones, results would indicate that at least part of the hearing loss can be attributed to conductive hearing loss. Reasons could include fluid in the middle ear, excessive wax, a perforated tympanic membrane, or that the bones of the middle ear are not functioning normally. Speech Tests The ability to interpret speech is a function of the ability to detect and understand the sounds of speech. The range of audible sounds, not just the degree of hearing loss, varies considerably from person to person. Unfortunately, when hearing is damaged it is usually not just the volume of sound heard that is lost, often the quality of the sound is also distorted. Speech tests are used to determine how clearly someone can understand speech, when visible cues such as lip-reading are removed. They usually involve using common lists of words played (or spoken) at a constant volume that is appropriate to the client’s hearing loss. Hearing > Tests
  • 13. Hearing tests are designed to find out what you can and can’t hear. Audiologists are skilled at using a range of techniques and equipment to assess your hearing health. Health & Hearing page 13 The client responds by guessing the word that was spoken and correct and incorrect answers are tallied. Speech -in-Noise tests Given that people with hearing loss commonly have the greatest difficulty understanding speech in the presence of background noise, it makes sense that speech discrimination tests are also performed with the addition of a “noise” stimulus. This is often a ‘speech babble’ played at different volumes relative the loudness of the speech (words or phrases). The client responds by guessing the word or phrase that was spoken in the presence of background noise. Again, the results are tallied. Aided vs Unaided Tests Following the fitting of a hearing device, a hearing care professional will run the tests again to compare how their client is able to perform in the speech discrimination tests with the benefit of a hearing aid compared to when they are not wearing a hearing aid. Tympanograms and Reflex Tests Tympanograms measure the movement and flexibility of the tympanic membrane to identify whether it is moving normally. Results may indicate a problem in the middle ear that can cause a conductive hearing loss. When a child has a normal tympanogram, it may also be possible to test for the presence of a muscle reflex (acoustic reflex) in the middle ear. The absence of this reflex to different sounds gives information about the functioning of the auditory system. Testing children and babies The ability to test babies and young children has a unique set of problems, related to the child’s age and ability to understand instructions on how to respond. Most children will be assessed using a combination of behavioral and physiological tests. Behavioural tests (Less than 7-months of age) Behavioural tests are based on observing a change in an infant’s behaviour in response to sound – such as startling to loud noises and stirring from sleep in response. Visual reinforcement orientation audiometry (7-months to 3-years of age) These are used to test the hearing of children between seven months and three years of age. VROA involves the child turning towards the loudspeaker when a sound is presented. By altering the frequency and intensity of the sounds, it is possible to find out about the child’s ability to hear sounds across a range of frequencies. Play audiometry (Over 3-years of age) This involves testing the child’s hearing when headphones are worn. Play audiometry works the same way as pure tone audiometry (person indicates when they can hear a tone), except when the child hears a tone, they put a marble in a marble race, press a computer key or put a piece in a puzzle. Electro-physiological tests Physiological tests help determine which part of the auditory system is involved in the child’s hearing loss. Physiological tests measure a physical response of a specific part of the auditory system and require little or no co-operation from the child. Oto-acoustic emission testing (OAE) Provides an idea about how hair cells in the cochlea are working. They respond to sound by producing a very soft sound of their own called an oto-acoustic emission. Brainstem evoked response audiometry (BERA) These look at the electrical activity generated in response to sound along the Cochlea nerve to the brain. It may be carried out while a baby is in natural sleep. Electro-cochleography (ECochG or EcoG) This is a medical test performed in hospital, under anesthetic. It picks up the tiny electrical signals generated in the cochlea in response to sound and provides information about the functioning of the cochlea and cochlea (hearing) nerve.
  • 14. > Your results Reading your Audiogram The Audiogram is the graphical representation of the results of the air conduction and bone conduction hearing tests. The vertical lines represent the test frequencies, arranged from low pitched on the left to high pitched on the right. The horizontal lines represent loudness, from very soft at the top to very loud at the bottom. The Audiogram shows the minimum volume at which a person can detect a tone played at a particular frequency. “X” is used for the left ear and “O” represents scores for the right ear. The scores are compared to results obtained from persons with normal hearing – the line at 0dB. Sometimes the audiogram will also show bracket symbols “[“ and “]”. These represent scores based on bone conduction tests, which as discussed earlier, bypass the outer ear and middle ear. Interpreting the Audiogram The Audiologist will use the following characteristics of the audiogram to explaining the results of the audiogram: - This diagram shows the approximate sound levels of some common sounds. Speech and conversation usually falls into the yellow shaded area and, not surprisingly, this is commonly called the speech banana. We have placed some vowels and consonants within this area to show where those speech sounds fall in conversation at normal levels. page 14 Health & Hearing Type of hearing loss : • Conductive – Normal hearing for bone conduction scores ([ & ]), and showing a hearing loss for Air Conduction scores (X & O) • Sensioneural – Hearing loss (equally) for both air and bone conduction • Mixed - Hearing loss for bone conduction score, and an even greater hearing loss for air conduction scores Severit y of loss : • The lower the scores fall on the Audiogram, the more severe the hearing loss.
  • 15. Health & Hearing page 15 Slope of loss : • Flat loss – A hearing loss where hearing is relatively even across all frequencies, which is more common for conductive hearing losses. • Sloping loss – Increasing degree of hearing loss the higher the frequency. This is the most common hearing loss that will be shown due to the ageing process and noise damage. • Other: Less common shapes include reverse slopes, cookie bites, corner audiogram How the ears compare: • Monaural loss: Loss is only in one ear • Binaural loss: Loss is in both ears • Symmetrical: Hearing is relatively even in both ears • Assymetrical: Hearing loss in one ear is significantly worse than the other ear. “My hearing is pretty good other than FOR those high frequencies” In interpreting an audiogram, it is a common for clients to misinterpret the results ~ looking at the good news rather than taking in the whole story. Low frequencies of sounds found in speech (125dB – 1000 dB) are largely responsible for a person’s interpretation of the volume of speech. High frequencies are responsible for the clarity that someone interprets speech. Some of the high frequency elements of speech include those made by words containing letters such as “f ”, “ph”, “th”, “s” and “t”. Because these sounds are difficult for someone with high frequency loss to hear, they may often mistake what has been said. For this reason, many people with greater losses in the higher frequencies commonly feel that: “I can hear ok, it is just that people sound like they’re mumbling”. Common Audiograms Here we can see the Audiograms of three people: - 1. Annie (75 years) – Housewife and grandmother of 12 wonderful grandchildren 2. Bill (55-years) ~ Carpenter 3. David (12-years) ~ Great cricketer Annie has a moderate hearing loss that is known as Presbycusis. This results from degeneration of the hair receptors within the cochlear due to the ageing process. Before she was fitted with hearing aids, Annie always found conversations with her younger grandchildren particularly difficult - especially when in a noisy situation. She also found telephone conversations difficult and noisy restaurants were the “bane of her existence”: Bill has been on the tools for 40-years as a carpenter and admits to rarely using ear protection for most of that time. His sharply sloping loss in the higher frequencies can largely be put down to the damage produced by electrical saws and other equipment that he has used in his job. David is currently suffering from a nasty illness that has led to fluid gathering in his middle ear. He is not hearing very well at the moment and his ears are hurting and “feel tight on the inside”. This infection is causing a problem with the passing of sound through his middle ear, as can be seen by the Normal hearing scores he has from his Bone conduction tests, represented by the “[“ and “]”, but impaired Air Conduction results.
  • 16. Rediscovering a full world of sound Although describing his life as fairly relaxed, Moshe Bernstein (59) was increasingly frustrated by difficulties he was finding in following conversations in noisy environments and clearly following the dialogue within a good movie. Six months on from being fitted with the practically “There is no doubt that wearing hearing aids greatly enhanced my ability to communicate when in China. I am very much looking forward to returning to continue my research next year.” Moshe said. Being able to give the hearing aids a thorough test and assess the difference that they could make to his life, before purchase, was also greatly appreciated. While reporting that it took a little bit of time to adapt to wearing the hearing aids. Moshe concludes: - “My wife has also noticed a change in my ability to hear and converse more freely with others. I am extremely grateful to the team at The Art of Hearing for the opportunity to trial the hearing aids and would encourage others to do the same.” The Oticon Intiga is amongst a range of discreet hearing solutions available at The Art of Hearing invisible Oticon Intiga hearing aids, Moshe is again greatly enjoying the ease with which he can head out into the world. Fluent in Chinese (Mandarin) and currently working on his Ph.D. in Asian studies at the University of Western Australia, Moshe noticed that he was finding it increasingly difficult to remain actively involved in conversations – particularly in noisy settings. Moshe remembers: - “It could be extremely frustrating sitting around a table participating in seminars... when the fan was whirring and the speaker was across from me I often could not understand a word. The hearing aids have changed that... sounds are now discernible.” These problems extended to great difficulty in social situations and parties, during which Moshe would feel “on the outside of conversations.” But like many in his situation, it took some time before he took the steps to do something about it. He responded to an invitation from The Art of Hearing earlier this year to undertake a free trial the latest in discreet hearing solutions. In addition to tackling the effects of hearing loss, the Oticon Intiga also promised to be ‘practically invisible’ to others. Moshe recalls: - “I definitely had a vanity issue and preferred that other people did not notice that I was wearing hearing aids… even my son did not notice that I was wearing the hearing aids for a couple of months before I told him!” Now life is much easier with the use of his hearing aids. In an ultimate test of hearing in noisy environments, Moshe and his wife were in China earlier in the year. It was part of his research into a 1,000 year old Jewish community living within central China in a town named Kaifeng. The Art of Hearing is offering free trials of the latest hearing aids from all leading manufacturers. To arrange your own free home trial, call The Art of Hearing on (08) 9390-8811. page 16 Health & Hearing
  • 17. > Solutions Hearing Aids – “nothing like the old days” This time last century, the only assistance that someone with hearing loss could use was an ear trumpet. While ear trumpets increased volume of sound, most people would still have major issues of clarity. Now 100 years on, there have been many advances in both medical solutions and hearing aid devices. Hearing loss can now be managed to ensure that it need not greatly affect the lives of most people with the condition. In this section we will look at modern day hearing aids and medical solutions such as the Cochear Implant. Health & Hearing page 17
  • 18. Features of modern hearing aids If hearing tests demonstrate that you have a sensorineural hearing loss, we have some great news – modern hearing solutions are nothing like the large, noisy, clunky and whistling hearing aids of days gone by! Hearing aids are equipped with many incredible features that make even the most difficult situations manageable and they come in devices so small, that no one would ever notice that you’re wearing a hearing aid. How do digita l hearing aids work ? The most basic function of a hearing aid is to amplify sound. Digital hearing aids, which have only been around since late 1990’s, do this in a rather sophisticated way. As sound enters the device, it is broken into multiple frequency bands. Each band is then amplified by the amount necessary to return the wearer’s hearing to normal levels at that band. ITC (in-the-canal) Hearing aid models page 18 Health & Hearing With digital technology, devices can now break sound into as many as 24 different bands. Given that every person has a unique pattern of hearing loss, the sound quality provided by a modern hearing aid is far better the previous analogue technologies that were restricted to two bands – base (low frequencies) and treble (high frequencies). Feedback Cance llation Historically, one of the greatest complaints and a source of embarrassment for hearing aid wearers is related to feedback – the whistling sound created when amplified sound is picked up by the hearing aids microphone, causing squealing or whistling. As you would know, sound travels in waves. The digital hearing aid can now detect the frequency of and the wave shape that is causing the feedback and counteract it within fractions of a second. So, there will be no annoying and embarrassing whistling from your hearing aid. Mild to moderate hearing losses Very small case Fits inside the ear canal, making it practically invisible Size prevents the use of directional microphones Mild to moderate hearing losses Fits deep inside the ear canal, making it invisible Less occlusion Not suitable for people with narrow ear canals Size prevents the use of directional microphones Mild to moderately- severe hearing losses Small, one piece case Fits inside the ear canal Directional microphones are possible with this model CIC (completely-in-canal) DC (deep-canal) Hearing aids are also available in an extensive range of colours and sizes. This chart shows some of the more common hearing aid models available.
  • 19. Health & Hearing page 19 Open fit acoustics Improvements in feedback management have allowed hearing aid manufacturers to develop devices that do not obstruct the natural passage of sound through the ear canal. Previously, wearers of hearing aids would complain of a “talking in a barrel” sensation, like you can experience when using your fingers to block your ears and listening to the sound of your own voice. Open fit hearing aids have very thin tubes that enter the ear canal and smaller cases that rest behind the ear, making them barely visible. Additionally, hearing aids that sit within the ear canal can now have greater ventilation. The end result is far more comfort and clarity for the hearing aid wearer of today. Noise management One of the problems with older hearing aids was that they amplified all sounds equally – whether the source of the sound is the person who the wearer is listening to, or background noises, such as traffic, air conditioners, or ambient noise from a crowded room. This led to discomfort and did not help the user to follow conversations in difficult environments. Now digital hearing aids can actually tell the difference between speech and background noise and do this individually for every frequency band. The hearing aid then amplifies the speech sounds and reduces the amplification of background noise. Now consider the size of a hearing aid and the number of computations that it must perform every few milliseconds across up to 24 frequency bands and then deliver the enhanced sound into the ear canal. The mind begins to boggle! It may be easier to simply enjoy the results of noise management – greater listening comfort and clarity. Mild to severe losses Fully featured hearing aids Larger case can be easier for wearers with dexterity considerations Case contains all features and sits behind the ear Many colour options Mild to moderately-severe hearing losses Ear canal is open for a natural sound quality Very small case that sits behind the ear, making it practically invisible Many colour options Mild to moderately-severe hearing losses Ear canal open for a natural sound quality Smallest external hearing aid, as the receiver is located in the end of the tube inside the ear Very small case that sits behind the ear, making it practically invisible Many colour options Profound hearing losses More powerful solutions that provide the greatest levels of amplification Larger case worn behind the ear BTE (behind-the-ear) Open (open ear) Power (high powered) RIE (receiver in the ear)
  • 20. Directiona l Microphones Most people with hearing loss find that trying to follow a conversation in a noisy place can be a tremendous struggle. Logically, most conversations are with people who we are facing, while distracting background noise will come from the sides and behind us. A modern digital hearing aid can actually pinpoint the location of sounds. It does this by using more than one microphone and gauging the difference in time that it takes sounds to reach each microphone – even though the microphones are only a few millimetres apart! It will then provide the greatest amplification to sounds coming from in front of the wearer and less amplification to sound coming from the sides and behind. Directional microphones can be extremely beneficial in difficult situations, such as restaurants. This feature provides the greatest benefit in regards to improving a hearing aid wearer’s ability to follow conversations in noisy environments. Connectivit y to mobi le devices and entertainment Wearers are increasingly looking for solutions to improve the effectiveness of hearing aids in partnership with their mobile phones, digital radio, plasma televisions, and personal stereos (i.e. iPods and MP3 players). In response, manufacturers have developed streamers that connect wireless devices to the user’s hearing aid. The benefit is that this delivers improved performance in terms of speech intelligibility and sound quality Two ears are better than one We were born with two ears for a reason: it helps with sound location and provides much clearer ‘stereo quality’. Advanced features such as directional microphones are far more effective when applied with two hearing aids. For these reasons, The Art of Hearing strongly recommend that our clients are fitted with hearing aids in each ear affected by hearing loss, as this will lead to a vastly improved benefits and client satisfaction. page 20 Health & Hearing as signals from the external devices are streamed directly into the hearing aid, without background noise and the need for the hearing aid to first process a sound signal. Multiple and automatic programming Different listening environments often call for different settings within hearing aids in order to maximise their effectiveness. For example, when listening to music, the user would prefer to turn off features that may misinterpret elements of the music as noise. When in a quiet room, a wearer will not need the benefit directional microphones and noise reduction to the same extent they would in a crowd at the football. Advanced hearing aids allow the user to change the settings by pressing a small button on the device. The most advanced hearing aids will even listen to the environment and change the hearing aids settings automatically, without the wearer needing to touch or think about their hearing aids.
  • 21. > Medical Cochlear Implants A Cochlear Implant is an electronic medical device that replaces the function of the damaged inner ear. Unlike hearing aids, which make sounds louder, Cochlear Implants do the work of damaged parts of the inner ear (cochlea) to send sound Call The Art of Hearing to arrange a consultation and assessment If you would like to know if you would benefit from a Cochlear Implant, call The Art of Hearing to arrange an appointment and a comprehensive assessment. Health & Hearing page 21 Cochlear Implants can help people who: • Have severe to profound sensorineural (inner ear) hearing loss in both ears • Receive no real hearing benefit from hearing aids • Have poor speech recognition Children in particular stand to gain significant benefit in hearing performance as a result of the increased sound stimulation during the developmental “window” that occurs during early childhood. How do they work? Many people suffer hearing loss because they have damage to hair receptor cells in the inner ear (or cochlea). If some hearing nerves still work, a Cochlear Implant can allow you to hear. Here’s how: 1. An external sound processor captures sound and converts it into digital code 2. The sound processor transmits the digitally-coded sound through the coil to the implant 3. The implant converts the digitally-coded sound into electrical impulses and sends them along the electrode array, which is positioned in the cochlea (inner ear) 4. The implant’s electrodes stimulate the cochlea’s hearing nerve, which then sends the impulses to the brain where they are interpreted as sound. What factors can affect these benefits? • How long has the patient lived with hearing loss • How severe their hearing loss is • The condition of the cochlea (inner ear) • Other medical conditions • Practice using their cochlear implant system signals to the brain. Grace Tern Listening to 11 year old Grace’s piano performances and energetic conversations, it’s hard to believe that she is profoundly hearing impaired. Grace’s mother shares her inspirational story: “When we first discovered Grace was profoundly hearing impaired we despaired about her future. We thought she would be confined to just signing as a means of communication. Then a friend told us about cochlear implants. We went ahead with the operation when Grace was 1 year old. In the days after switch on, I knew she understood me because she would give actions to familiar nursery rhymes. Speech followed and, within a year, she was tracking like a normal child. Reproduced courtesy of Cochlear Ltd Now, at 10 years, she’s as normal as a normal child can be. “My life would be very different without cochlear implants because without them I can only hear very loud sounds like thunder. Without my implants, I can’t hear voices and that makes it very hard to communicate!” - Grace
  • 22. > Costs How While entry level hearing aids are free to pensioners, a ‘privately funded’ client can spend up to $12,000 on a pair of premium hearing aids with all the latest advanced features. But what will be the true ‘out of pocket’ investment for a client will come down to a number of factors, such as: - Assistance with the cost of hearing aids • Is the client a pensioner or an active or retired member of the armed services (i.e. Army, Navy or Air Force)? • Does the client have private health insurance? • Does the client have a taxable income and lodge a tax return? • Has the client’s hearing loss occurred as a result of occupational exposure to noise? Personal factors • Does the client have a binaural loss (two ears) or monaural hearing loss (one ear) • The severity and pattern of the hearing loss will influence the hearing care professional’s recommendation • The client’s budget FREE hearing aids for pensioners and veterans Ensuring that every Australian has access to better hearing is one of the federal government’s key health priorities. The Office of Hearing Services Voucher Scheme provides free hearing tests and hearing aids to pensioners and veterans, which are available through accredited providers, such as The Art of Hearing. Who is eligible? You are eligible if you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, 21 years of age and over, meeting one of the following criteria: • Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card • Gold Health Repatriation Card • White Health Repatriation Card (specifying hearing loss) • Centrelink Sickness Allowance You may also be eligible if you are: • Dependant of a person in one of the above categories • Active member of the Defence Force • Client of CRS Australia page 22 Health & Hearing How do you apply? If you believe that you may be eligible, call The Art of Hearing and we will provide you with, and assist you to complete, an application form for the Office of Hearing Services. much? A common question from people who call The Art of Hearing is: “How much do hearing aids cost?”
  • 23. Insurer Rebate Phone Website MBF $1000 per aid every 3 years 131 137 www.mbf.com.au Medibank Private $800 per aid every 5 years 132 331 www.medibank.com.au HBF $650 for first aid and $325 for second Compensation for occupational hearing loss Health & Hearing page 23 aid every 4 years Private health funds Many private health funds offer rebates on the cost of hearing aids for their extras and premium plans. At the time of printing, the rebates above applied to five of Australia’s largest health insurers on their premium plans. Tax rebates on hearing aids The government has exempted hearing aids from GST and provide a tax rebate of 20% on annual medical expenses in excess of $1500. This could lead to a rebate of over $1,500 for advanced hearing solutions for clients who lodge a tax return. 133 234 www.hbf.com.au NIB $800 per aid every 3 years 13 14 63 www.nib.com.au HCF $800 per aid every 5 years 13 14 39 www.hcf.com.au The Art of Hearing recommend that you check with own health insurer to learn what benefits are available. Until recent times, the damage caused by working in noisy environments was not fully appreciated by many companies. As a result, Australians working in factories, the building industry, mining industry, and other noisy workplaces were rarely provided with ear protection and hundreds of thousands of people have subsequently incurred occupational hearing loss. The state government provides a scheme for employees who have incurred occupational hearing loss with access to compensation. This scheme is administered by WorkCover WA. If you would like advice regarding a claim for occupational hearing loss, call The Art of Hearing and we will be happy to assist.
  • 24. Call now or drop in for more information and to book a consultation with the audiologist at the top SOUTH STreet hearing healthcare centre in Perth. Gilbertson Rd NORTH LAKE RD Kardinya Shopping Centre IGA N Brophy St Gibson Avenue N Warburton Avenue Shopping Centre We are here! Brookton Hwy Albany Hwy Ecko Rd Armadale Health Service N We are here! Head Office & Permanent Clinic 2/2 Ecko Rd, Mount Nasura WA 6112 (08) 9390-8811 f: (08) 9390-4592 e: info@artofhearing.com.au w: www.artofhearing.com.au Suite 6, Kardinya Commercial Centre (Next to IGA), Kardinya 6163 2/73, Gibson Avenue (Next to Padbury Family Practice), Padbury 6025 Peel Crt We are here! Chisham Ave Meares Ave Gilmore Ave Kwinana Town Centre N Robbos Pl Chisham Avenue Medical Centre, 1 Chisham Avenue, Kwinana 6167 We are here!