A Hearing Aid is a device designed to improve hearing by making sound audible to a person with hearing loss. Hearing aids are classified as medical device in most countries, and regulated by the respective regulations.

Modern era hearing aids require configuration to match the hearing loss, physical features, and lifestyle of the wearer. The hearing aid is fitted to the most recent hearing test (Audiometry) and is programmed by frequency. This process called “fitting” can be performed by the user in simple cases, by a Doctor of Audiology, also called an Audiologist/Hearing Doctor.

Types of Hearing Loss-

Who is an Audiologist-

Audiologists are health care professionals who identify, assess and manage disorders of hearing, balance and other neural systems.

What does an audiologist do?

• • • Helps patients ranging in age from newborns to older adults.
    • Selects, fits and dispenses hearing aids and other listening devices.
    • Helps prevent hearing loss by providing and fitting protective hearing devices and educating patients on the effects of noise on hearing.
    • Aids in research pertinent to the prevention, identification and management of hearing loss, tinnitus and balance system dysfunction

Symptoms-

• • • Muffling of speech and other sounds.
    • Trouble understanding words, especially when in a crowd or a noisy place.
    • Trouble hearing the letters of the alphabet that aren’t vowels.
    • Often asking others to speak more slowly, clearly and loudly.
    • Needing to turn up the volume of the television or radio.
    • Staying clear of some social settings.
    • Being bothered by background noise.
    • Ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus

What are the educational requirements to become an audiologist?

• • • Audiologists earn a master’s degree in audiology from an accredited university along with Dissertation Paper for Course completion with 4 scientific paper.
    • Audiologists serve a fellowship or externship year and must pass boards to receive licensing and accreditation from Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI). Further, audiologists enroll in continuing education credits to continue practicing licensing.
    • Typically, audiologists achieve certification from the national association Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI).

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus (“TIN-a-tus” or “Tin-EYE-tus”) is the medical term for the sensation of hearing sound in your ears or head when no external sound is present. In most cases, tinnitus is a subjective noise, meaning only the person experiencing it can hear it. Typically, people describe the sound as “ringing in the ears,” though others describe it as hissing, buzzing, whistling, roaring and even chirping. Tinnitus can be sporadic or constant, with volume ranging from subtle to debilitating.

Symptoms

Tinnitus is most often described as a ringing in the ears, even though no external sound is present. However, tinnitus can also cause other types of phantom noises in your ears, including:

• Buzzing
• Roaring
• Clicking
• Hissing
• Humming

Most people who have tinnitus have subjective tinnitus, or tinnitus that only you can hear. The noises of tinnitus may vary in pitch from a low roar to a high squeal, and you may hear it in one or both ears.

In rare cases, tinnitus can occur as a rhythmic pulsing or whooshing sound, often in time with your heartbeat. This is called pulsatile tinnitus. If you have pulsatile tinnitus, your doctor may be able to hear your tinnitus when he or she does an examination (objective tinnitus).

Common causes of tinnitus-

In many people, tinnitus is caused by one of the following:

• Hearing loss. There are tiny, delicate hair cells in your inner ear (cochlea) that move when your ear receives sound waves. This movement triggers electrical signals along the nerve from your ear to your brain (auditory nerve). Your brain interprets these signals as sound.

If the hairs inside your inner ear are bent or broken — this happens as you age or when you are regularly exposed to loud sounds — they can “leak” random electrical impulses to your brain, causing tinnitus.

• Ear infection or ear canal blockage. Your ear canals can become blocked with a buildup of fluid (ear infection), earwax, dirt or other foreign materials. A blockage can change the pressure in your ear, causing tinnitus.
• Head or neck injuries. Head or neck trauma can affect the inner ear, hearing nerves or brain function linked to hearing. Such injuries usually cause tinnitus in only one ear.
• Medications. A number of medications may cause or worsen tinnitus. Generally, the higher the dose of these medications, the worse tinnitus becomes. Often the unwanted noise disappears when you stop using these drugs.

Medications known to cause tinnitus include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and certain antibiotics, cancer drugs, water pills (diuretics), antimalarial drugs and antidepressants.

Risk factors-

Anyone can experience tinnitus, but these factors may increase your risk:

• Loud noise exposure. Loud noises, such as those from heavy equipment, chain saws and firearms, are common sources of noise-related hearing loss. Portable music devices, such as MP3 players, also can cause noise-related hearing loss if played loudly for long periods. People who work in noisy environments — such as factory and construction workers, musicians, and soldiers — are particularly at risk.
• Age. As you age, the number of functioning nerve fibers in your ears declines, possibly causing hearing problems often associated with tinnitus.
• Sex. Men are more likely to experience tinnitus.
• Tobacco and alcohol use. Smokers have a higher risk of developing tinnitus. Drinking alcohol also increases the risk of tinnitus.
• Certain health problems. Obesity, cardiovascular problems, high blood pressure, and a history of arthritis or head injury all increase your risk of tinnitus.

Complications

Tinnitus affects people differently. For some people, tinnitus can significantly affect quality of life. If you have tinnitus, you may also experience:

• Fatigue
• Stress
• Sleep problems
• Trouble concentrating
• Memory problems
• Depression
• Anxiety and irritability
• Headaches
• Problems with work and family life

Management of Tinnitus-Tinnitus Retraining Therapy-

                                                    Hearing aid-

                                                                    Zen Therapy

                                                                    Notch Amplification Therapy

                                                                    Masker

                                                                    Music Therapy

                                                                    Sound Enrichment Therapy