NEWSLETTER

OF THE

NAPIER HEARING

ASSOCIATION hear here

this issue

Tinnitus, Hearing Loss & Aids P.1

How long should my batteries last? P.2

Tinnitus Coping Strategies P.4

President’s Annual Report P.6

Ear Buds Vs Headphones P.7

M a y 2 0 1 6

I S S U E

Napier Hearing Centre

Civic Court Mall

Dickens Street, Napier

(next to Café DMP)

9am - 2pm

Monday to Friday

Phone: 835 7790

www.napierhearing.org.nz

Email: naphear@xtra.co.nz

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/

napierhearing

Post to:

PO Box 4019

Marewa, Napier 4143

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

President: Brian Cottle

Treasurer: Diana Clift

Secretary: Angela Moloney

Volunteer Co-ordinator:

Ann Bain

Committee: Janice Cram,

June Chorley, Jacqui Lee,

Maree Hallamore, Joy Kelly,

Br. Joe Lamb, Robert Vance

02

Tinnitus,

Dr Searchfield is Associate Professor in Audiology at the University of Auckland, director of their Hearing and Tinnitus Clinic, and scientific director of TinnitusTunes (www.tinnitustunes.com).

We are delighted that he has agreed to come to Napier for a once-only talk.

Join us to find out all the latest information and research about tinnitus, hearing loss and hearing aids.

Dr Grant Searchfield

hearing loss & hearing aids

An Autumn Lunch with

Wednesday 25 May Heavey Hall, 92 Wycliffe Street Onekawa

Arrive: 10.30am Tickets: $9 / $11 (non-members)

Transport is available - contact the Hearing Centre on 835 7790.

hear here Issue 02 April 2014 hear here Issue 02 May 2016

How Long Should my Batteries Last? It’s an often asked question at the Hearing Centre: how long should my hearing aid batteries last? There are several factors that determine the life of a hearing aid battery. Below we look at 6 important factors and why battery lifetime can be so variable.

Many people are surprised at the short lifespan of hearing aid batteries, but it is important to remember that they are powering highly sophisticated technology!

Factor #1: The Extent of the Individual’s Hearing Loss

As the severity of hearing loss increases, more amplification is required from a hearing aid. This requires greater power, which in turn reduces battery life.

Factor #2: The Size of the Battery

Hearing aids are becoming smaller and smaller to meet the demand for more discreet, cosmetically appealing instruments. However, small hearing aids come at a price. They require small batteries and the smaller the battery, the shorter the battery life. The reason for this is that small batteries include fewer components than large batteries, which impacts how long the battery can last.

Factor #3: An individual’s hearing aid usage

How many hours a day is the hearing aid worn?

How many days a week is the hearing aid worn?

The more usage a hearing aid gets, the shorter the life of the battery.

Factor #4: The Features activated

Today’s hearing aids are feature-packed and each feature has different power demands for a battery. Benefits like noise cancellation and multi-channel processing can reduce battery life by 20 percent. Other premium features like FM, Tinnitus Sound Generators and Wireless/Bluetooth streaming can also increase the current and shorten battery life.

Factor #5: The Environment

Humidity, temperature and altitude all effect how long a battery will last:

When humidity is low, batteries can dry, out reducing battery life. When humidity increases, batteries can take on moisture, resulting in swelling or leakage and reducing battery life. As temperatures get lower, the battery voltage is also lowered and reaches its end point earlier, reducing battery life. As altitude increases, the percentage of oxygen level in the air is reduced, lowering the hearing aid battery voltage. This causes the battery to reach the endpoint earlier, reducing battery life.

Continued next page ...

OTO-Ginkutan:

The skin in and around the ear of hearing-aid wearers (as well as those who wear glasses) can become irritated by the constant contact with synthetic materials. Hearing aids can also interfere with the natural ventilation of the outer auditory canal. This can cause annoying itching. Applying OTO-Ginkutan to these sensitive spots can significantly reduce skin irritation.

The healing properties of the ginko tree have long been recognized in traditional Asian medicine, and modern research proves it: no other plant in the world contains the same beneficial ingredients.

The product has been tested for long-term use and many hearing aid users report that OTO-Ginkutan can make the insertion and removal of aids considerably easier.

OTO-Ginkutan is available at the Hearing Centre.

Members price: $14.50

hear here Issue 02 May 2016

XX

Our Grocery Raffle was drawn on 31 March. Congratulations to D. Geenty, with ticket no. A 66 (yellow). The raffle raised $354.00 - thanks to all of you who purchased tickets and helped with ticket sales. Our special thanks to Mary Tait for her generosity in providing the prize for this raffle, and her ongoing enthusiasm and support for our fundraising initiatives.

Grocery

Raffle Winner

How Long should my Batteries Last? (continued)

Factor #6: Battery Life Expectancy

Batteries have ranges of expected life (in days) depending on the size of the battery. On average you could expect:

It is important to note that there are some quality differences in hearing aid battery brands. At the Hearing Centre we stock quality brands Rayovac (British) and PowerOne (German), and also slightly more price conscious Zenipower.

The bottom line is that there is no one answer that is going to work for all hearing aid wearers. The best way for you to understand the battery life you can expect is to benchmark your individual battery performance over time.

Our tips for getting the most from your batteries:

1. Monitor how long your batteries are lasting, and consider using quality brands. The sticker on the back of the battery can be adhered to your calendar or diary to provide an easy check on your battery lifetime.

2. In humid or wet conditions there are a number of drying solutions which could help. The Napier Hearing Association has an Ultravac machine which removes moisture buildup - free for members! Drying solutions such as drying boxes or drying capsules can also be used at home to reduce moisture build up.

3. Research has shown that removing the sticker from the battery and leaving it 5-minutes before putting it in your hearing aid can improve battery lifetime up to 20 percent - give it a try and let us know your results!

4.

Got a battery-enhancing tip? Let us know!

(Originally published at http://www.gnresoundinyourear.com/)

Tickets are now on sale for our Women’s Gift Hamper, containing a stylish handbag and shopping bag filled with a variety of beauty products and treats. $2 each, or 3 for $5. Drawn 25 May.

Batteries: suburban agent & postal orders

Women’s Gift Hamper Raffle

Do you sometimes find it difficult to get into town to buy your hearing aid batteries? Our Battery Agent or Postal Order service could be the answer.

Suburban Battery Agent: Please phone before visiting to make sure they are home: Don Wilson, 15A Eton Street, Taradale Ph: 844 0055

Postal Orders: We can post batteries out to you, for an extra charge of $1.00. Simply:

1. Phone, email (naphear@xtra.co.nz) or order by mail, then 2. Pay by mail or internet banking:

Westpac Napier Account 03 0698 0976071 00 (Use your surname as reference)

Post to: PO Box 4019, Marewa, NAPIER 4143

hear here Issue 02 May 2016

hear here Issue 02 April 2014 hear here Issue 02 May 2016

Tinnitus: it’s all in your head Do you hear buzzing, ringing or clicking noises in your head? This is a condition known as tinnitus, the perception of sound when there is no actual external sound present. Hawkes Bay Psychologist Lea Woodward looks at strategies which have helped her live with her own tinnitus.

Tinnitus is the brain trying to make sense of what’s coming from the ears. Having lived with tinnitus for over twenty-one years I have learnt that after mentioning my tinnitus, responses commonly fall into 2 categories:

“OMG, that is so terrible, I can’t think of anything worse” “I had tinnitus once for half a day three years ago, it drove me mad”

The reality is that while the causes and symptoms of tinnitus have been well researched there is no clearly well-trodden treatment path for those with tinnitus to follow. My research into tinnitus has however led to many Internet articles offering various treatment. I was interested to note that one site in particular used the word suffer(ing) 9 times in the first 3 pages. The word crazy was repeated three times alongside this graphic image.

With this subconscious, but not too subtle messaging, we are lead to believe that tinnitus is unbearable and can be cured by purchase of a product. This is not to say that tinnitus is not an irritant. I would like to offer a few strategies that have helped me live with tinnitus comfortably and non-intrusively.

Understanding:

Your doctor should be your first ‘go-to’ person to help you access the support that you need. They will be able to provide the first level of information and help with underlying issues associated with tinnitus such as stress levels and lack of sleep. They will also refer you to an audiologist for a hearing assessment giving more detailed information on the possible causes of your tinnitus, which may be hearing loss.

Inner ear damage from noise is the most common cause of tinnitus and hearing loss. There are thousands of minute hair cells in the cochlea that are stimulated by the pressure of sound waves. When a sound is detected in the inner ear these auditory hairs move, discharging electrical impulses through the auditory nerve which the brain interprets as sound. When these hair cells and auditory nerve are damaged, their electrical impulses going to the brain change, which may be interpreted as sound, as the brain tries to fill the gap left by hearing loss, even in the complete absence of sound.

Tinnitus can also be induced by stress in much the same way as noise induced tinnitus. A section of the brain is known as the hypothalamus. This works alongside other organs in the brain to produce essential chemicals to

Continued next page

Finished with your newsletter? Consider passing it on to a neighbour or friend, or perhaps leave it at the doctor’s office or dentist’s rooms. You never know who it might help ...

Welcome to our new members

A warm welcome to Anne Le Quesne, Angela Maxwell, Cherry Robertson, Kerstin Perols, Jenny & Sam Bristow, Dieuwke Wierdsma, Bill Trewheellar, Jim & Marilyn Lorimer, Tu Puna Rangi, Beth Mott and Mike Goodacre.

We hope to see you at the Centre or one of our events soon!

Tinnitus: It’s all in your Head (continued):

help us function normally. When a person is subjected to long periods of shock, grief or stress, these essential chemicals are not produced as easily and tinnitus is one of the conditions that can occur as a result.

An effective hearing aid can assist by increasing the volume of environmental noise, therefore making your tinnitus less noticeable and reducing the stress and tiredness associated with hearing loss. Other relaxing techniques can also include massage therapy, yoga, meditation with music playing in the background, and the mineral magnesium.

Acceptance:

If you think you have tinnitus then the chances are you are probably right. Having lived with tinnitus for 21 years now, it is as much a part of me as the freckle on my arm. I am not going to wake up one morning and find it has disappeared, so I have learned to accept it, but accept it on my terms. And those terms mean that I have rejected the notion of helplessness we are often given by being told “There is no cure” to bring it under my control.

Control:

I do this by: Knowing I can mask it if I choose to, using tapes of nature sounds. Silence is not a friend to

those with tinnitus. If it intrudes during quiet times at night, knowing I can play some soothing sounds generally ensures I don’t need to.

Focussing exercises: At night shifting attention by focussing on external sounds such as cars passing, while deep breathing to relax, puts my tinnitus into the background - where it belongs.

Using a cognitive approach - being aware of my thoughts and self-talk that reflects my attitude towards my tinnitus. I don’t consider myself to be a sufferer: tinnitus lives alongside my otherwise good health. Once you have your tinnitus under control some things may come along (such as writing this article) to spike your awareness. If I notice myself noticing, I tell myself there are things I need to do.

What Resources are available?

The Hearing Association can put you in touch with resources which may help support you. The University of Auckland has a well established research program and a clinic that specialises in tinnitus - they also have a handy website (www.tinnitustunes.com) with lots of information.

The Napier Hearing Association will host Tinnitus expert Dr Grant Searchfield from the University of Auckland at our Autumn Lunch on 25 May. See page 1 for full details.

hear here Issue 02 May 2016

Personal Listener Lending Programme Do you know someone who struggles to communicate at important appointments - perhaps with their doctor, lawyer or advisor? Or notice the frustration when trying to communicate with visitors? The Napier Hearing Association has introduced a Personal Listener Lending Programme to help improve effective communication in situations like these.

Personal Listeners are worn with headphones and are about the size of a mobile phone. They provide clear, amplified sound and are designed to help people hear in small groups and one-on-one situations. These devices are not designed to replace hearing aids – whilst they feature some of the same technology, they don’t contain the same features and are not fitted individually. They can however provide significant hearing improvement for people with moderate hearing loss.

The Lending Programme is open to all Napier residents (Conditions Apply). To find out more, or make a booking, ring the Hearing Centre on 835 7790.

Our grateful thanks to the Harold Holt Charitable Trust for funding this vital programme.

hear here Issue 02 May 2016

hear here Issue 02 April 2014

2015 was an outstanding year for the Napier Hearing Association, building on the foundation of past years and forging ahead with some new ideas.

Social Programme: We continued to run our successful social programme, culminating in a wonderful Christmas Dinner with an “Alphabet Quiz” for entertainment. Throughout the year we were privileged to be able to feature talks from a specialist ear nurse, a local audiologist, recipients of a cochlear implant and a hearing dog, and a community legal clinic. We also hosted a fun and informal Sign Language Taster class during NZ Sign Language Week.

Education: Raising awareness of hearing loss, educating the community about their options is one of our core activities. At the beginning of the year we ran a Hearing Warrant of Fitness (WoF) campaign, which encouraged the community to take the first step in addressing their hearing loss, with a fantastic response from the public. We also ran a Communications Course for people with hearing loss with Rhose Shand, the Life Unlimited Hearing Therapist, with excellent feedback from participants. We also had great responses to talks presented by our Hearing Advisor Diana to a number of groups and organisations throughout the year.

With generous funding from the Kingdom Foundation we now have new window signage and pavement signs at the Hearing Centre, banners for expos and events, and new-look brochures. The improved visibility of the centre has already increased enquiries at the Hearing Centre.

Fundraising: Our fundraising efforts also produced good results in 2015. Our Street Appeal in October raised just over $3,200.00, and we have had strong raffle sales throughout the year. For this we have you, our members to thank – without your willingness to get out with a collection bucket, or sell some raffle tickets at the supermarket we would be unable to raise these funds, which is a vital contribution towards our programmes and activities. This year we were very fortunate to have had some very generous benefactors who donated wonderful prizes for us to raffle. Some of them have asked to remain anonymous but we hope they realise their generosity has a huge impact.

Finances: We continue to work with Sportslink, a charitable trust who monitor and report on our finances, and support us with applying for grants. This has been a highly successful partnership, and provided us with much needed regular funds for salaries and rent.

Thanks: Finally, I would like to offer special thanks to those who work extremely hard behind the scenes. Our Committee members do much more than attend meetings – they also find themselves catering for events, doing window displays, carrying out deliveries, selling raffle tickets, running the Hearing Centre and more.

Thank you to our battery agents Don and Betty Wilson and Jan Locke who opened their homes to those of us who find ourselves out of batteries at short notice, and to Jos McIntosh and Chris Cunliffe who compile our newsletters and spend days counting coins during the Street Appeal.

Thanks also to our friends at Age Concern and the Deaf Club for kindly letting us use their space for talks and events.

2016: We are looking forward to a jam-packed year in 2016. Our Hearing Advisor Diana has already started delivering our children’s education programme in schools throughout Napier with a fun and interactive workshop called Dangerous Decibels, and we are planning a series of talks and social events we hope you will all join us for. We are particularly excited that Dr Grant Searchfield from Auckland University has agreed to come and talk to us in May about Tinnitus, hearing loss and hearing aids.

hear here Issue 02 May 2016

President’s Annual Report Brian Cottle, President Napier Hearing Association

Delivered at the Napier Hearing Association AGM held on 31 March

XX

XX

Earbuds Vs Headphones: are you harming your hearing? A recent study has found frequent use of ear buds can cause

you to lose up to 90 percent of your cochlear nerve fibres - even

at low volumes.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School’s Eaton Peabody Laboratory (USA) have found that you can lose up to 90 percent of your cochlear nerve fibres without losing the ability to detect a tone in quiet environments. However, when background noise is introduced the ability to hear drops dramatically. In this case the hair cells in the inner ear may be completely intact, but hearing is lost because the nerve synapses are damaged.

Hidden Hearing Loss

For decades, scientists have looked almost exclusively at the loss of hair cells as an indicator of hearing loss. However a new study released by the Accoustical Society of America reports a “hidden hearing loss”, shedding new light on hearing protection.

The sound waves travel through the middle ear into the cochlea (inner ear), where they stimulate hair cells. The organ of Corti (inside the cochlea) then transforms the physical motion of hair cells into electronic pulses for the brain. It’s here that the discovery has been made.

Nerve Damage

Ear bud headphones deliver stronger, more damaging waves straight to the cochlear - even when playing at low volumes. They can increase the sound delivered to your ears by as much as 6 to 9 decibels - that’s about the difference between a household vacuum cleaner and a motorcycle!

With no known treatment for cochlear nerve damage, researchers strongly recommend exercising caution. “Nerve fibres will never reconnect,” said Charles Liberman, Director of the Eaton Peabody Lab. “They no longer respond to sound, and within a few months or years, the rest of the neuron will disappear.”

Remember the 60/60 Rule: To help reduce the impact of these devices, it is recommended using over-the-ear headphones in preference to earbuds. They provide a more natural delivery of sound, softening the blow to the inner ear. Experts also recommend following the 60/60 rule: No more than 60 percent volume for no more than 60 minutes at a time.

Encourage them to Turn It Down

With the increasing popularity of music players and other devices amongst young people the message about protecting your hearing against dangerous noise levels is more important than ever. Do the young people in your life listen to music through a device? Encourage them to consider using headphones instead of ear buds.

First published in the newsletter of Christchurch Hearing Association

Dangerous Decibels: Workshops for Children about Noise Prevention

Napier Hearing is currently running Dangerous Decibels, a series of workshops for primary and intermediate students in schools throughout Napier. These interactive workshops aim to teach children to Protect their Ears, Turn it Down, or Walk Away!

If you are involved with a school or youth group that would benefit from a Dangerous Decibels presentation, contact Hearing Advisor Diana Clift to find out more on 835 7790.

hear here Issue 02 May 2016

Centre Happenings Communications Course with Rhose Shand

By popular demand we are repeating the Communications course for people with hearing loss and their families. Life Unlimited Hearing Therapist Rhose Shand will present a 5-week course highlighting the best communication strategies for people who have hearing loss. The course arms people with hearing loss with tools to be proactive and assertive when communicating with other people, and also gives families and friend great tips to get the most from their time with loved ones.

The 5-week course starts on Thursday 1 September, 1.30pm - venue to be confirmed. This course is highly recommended, and spaces are limited. Ring 835 7790 to book your space.

Membership Renewals

Thank you to all those members who have paid their subscriptions for 2016. Your subscriptions provide much-needed funds for our support programmes and community awareness initiatives. For those of you who haven’t yet renewed, a reminder is included with this newsletter - payment options are outlined on the form, and we are also happy to establish a payment plan.

Home Safety and Alerting Devices

For people with hearing loss living alone there is an increased risk of social isolation, and in some cases hearing loss can compromise personal safety. It is crucial for both safety and general well being that people with significant hearing loss are alerted to the telephone and doorbell, and smoke alarms. In many cases standard smoke and home alert alarms are unsuitable due to the severity of hearing loss.

The Hearing Centre now displays a suite of home-alerting safety devices to demonstrate to our members and the wider community. These include:

A smoke alarm with flashing lights, a bed shaker and connectivity to a flashing alarm clock

A doorbell with extra-loud ring and powerful flash alerting, including a flash alert to the telephone ringing

We aim to raise awareness of the need for adequate safety measures, and encourage people with hearing loss to take steps to ensure they remain safe in their homes, and connected with family and friends.

If you have concerns about home safety for you or someone close to you, drop into the Hearing Centre to discuss your home alerting needs and see what products are available. In some cases we can help you work with funding bodies to obtain the most suitable solution, depending on your eligibility, budget and living arrangements.

We are extremely grateful to the Higgins Bequest Trust for their support in funding this important initiative.

Services available at the Hearing Centre:

FREE to Members

Independent

information and

advice

Funding

information

Communication

strategies

Wax checks

Hearing Aid

cleaning and

drying

Hearing Tests

Free trials of

equipment

Discounted Prices for Members Hearing Aid

batteries

Amplified phones, TV headphones

personal listeners and other devices

Napier Hearing Association

hear here Issue 02 May 2016