Q & A

If you have a question or concern, send us an email. A doctor from one of our centers will answer your question in confidence. We may post the Q & A on the blog if space permits to help others who may have the same question, but will not use your name.

I work at a loud club and it is affecting my hearing

Question: I am a bartender at a loud club. Even though I am constantly asking the DJs to turn down the music, we have an old sound system that is not that sensitive to small adjustments, and it is a club after all and people like it loud. Not only do I have trouble hearing people ordering drinks, but I feel that working there has permanently and detrimentally affected my hearing. I wanted to see about getting earplugs that would block out the most harmful frequencies while still allowing me to hear patrons’ orders over the bar. I believe I have noise-induced hearing loss. Do you have any recommendations? Is this something insurance would cover? If not, how much would this service cost? Thank you so much! –

Answer: Noise can definitely affect the hearing. When you have a ringing in the ears after noise exposure, that is a sign of damage to the hearing nerve. Prolonged loud exposure- or even a single loud blast- can cause permanent noise-induced hearing loss. The government regulations (OSHA) limits noise to 85 dB over an 8 hour period- but even that has been shown to cause losses.

Certain things can be done- relatively easily- even at most clubs. We used to see musicians with horrible hearing losses. They typically placed the amps behind them- Today we know that the amps should be placed stage forward, and the musicians can use either small monitors- or in the ear systems to hear themselves.

Clearly, this is not what is going on at your bar- However, changing the placement of the speakers, so that they are away from the bar, or lowering the sound on speakers near the bar can help. Placing a small baffle (soundproof divider) can also significantly lower the noise exposure.

Alternatively, you can have earplugs made professionally, to help. They are molded to your ear canals and can help lower the noise level significantly. They should help further by lessening the high pitches more than the sounds used for speech. Hopefully, they will not interfere significantly with your hearing for speech.

You should probably have your hearing monitored, to make sure you are not developing a significant hearing loss from your job.

We make noise attenuating earplugs at the NY Hearing Center. These are usually not covered by insurance- (?- not sure why) and can run about $200 or so.

I hope this clears things up.

Robert Pincus MD

Q & A

My child has a hearing problem in both ears

Question:

I live in India. My child is three and half year old and is having a hearing problem in both ears.
His Bera Report Says.
Right Ear -: Profound Hearing Loss
Left Ear -: Moderate Hearing Loss.
So we want to know the details for Cochlear implant in your hospital. Please let us know the procedure and costing to visit your country for this medical need.

Answer:

Thank you for your question. As you may have heard, cochlear implantation in deaf children can have a highly successful outcome, but only when careful patient selection and after care takes place. The first steps will be to accurately diagnose the hearing loss to determine if implantation is right for your child. When hearing aids are helpful, an implant is usually not recommended. Cochlear implants can help anyone with profound hearing loss from newborns to octogenarians.

While generally covered by insurance for people from the United States your total cost of care is estimated at 50 -60,000 dollars depending on the length of the after care and audiology programming. Continuity of the care close to home will be a very important factor.

I hope this clears things up.

Neil Sperling, MD

New York Otolaryngology Group

36A East 36th Street

New York, New York

Associate Professor, Dept of Otolaryngology

SUNY Downstate

Brooklyn, New York

Q & A

Runny Ear & Hearing Loss

Question:

I have lost a lot of my hearing. I also have a running ear on one side (liquid comes out of the ear). Are there any cures or surgery out there? Thanks.

Answer:

Ear drainage suggests that there is an ongoing infection or problem. It should be evaluated. There is a good chance that surgery could be a solution.

–Dr. Neil Sperling

Q & A

Can you help recalibrate my father’s hearing aid?

Question: My father purchased a pair of Phonak Solana in China. He really didn’t like how they were calibrated there. Now he is visiting me in New York. I was wondering if one of your doctors could help recalibrate a hearing device.

Answer: Hearing aids are like fine hearing computers today. While many can be bought in large stores and other outlets, to get the best results the hearing aid must be finely calibrated to each individual’s hearing. This is time and labor intensive and takes a hearing specialist who cares and knows about his or her patient and his or her hearing. Some hearing aids, unfortunately, like the ones at Costco are locked and do not allow outside recalibration.

However, we can certainly service your father and recalibrate a hearing device. I included our office coordinator/Liz on this email. Please call 1(212) 884-8283 to schedule an adjustment appointment. The audiologist will discuss the office visit fee at the time of your appointment.

Myra Berenson, Au D

Director of NY Hearing Center

Q & A

Hi, during the removal of a brain meningioma, the surgeon cut my hearing nerve on the left side, I was wondering, is there a procedure that can be done to restore the hearing in my left ear.

Question:

Hi, during the removal of a brain meningioma, the surgeon cut my hearing nerve on the left side, I was wondering, is there a procedure that can be done to restore the hearing in my left ear.

Answer:

Loss of the hearing nerve (cochlear portion of the 8th cranial nerve) results in profound sensorineural hearing loss. Standard hearing aids cannot overcome this loss. However, there are new technologies that exist to re-route the sound from the deafened side to the functional side. There are several such technologies that may assist you.

We offer all of these options and sometimes, it is best to try each out to know what to expect.

Thank you for your question! I hope this clears things up.

Neil Sperling, MD

New York Otolaryngology Group

36A East 36th Street

New York, New York

Associate Professor, Dept of Otolaryngology SUNY Downstate Brooklyn, New York

Q & A

Will a cochlear implant destroy my mother’s remaining hearing?

Question: My mother was approved through her insurance for cochlear implants, but she decided against it because she didn’t want to destroy what hearing she has, which isn’t much. Could she be a candidate for something else that would not completely destroy her hearing? Are there any cochlear implantation alternatives available? She is hoping for maybe something else like stem cell advances. Is there any hope for her? My mother is 76 years old.

Answer:

Your mother’s question is quite common. It is a bit misunderstood that hearing is “destroyed” from cochlear implants or cochlear implantation. We always aim to preserve residual hearing during surgery, but it really is of little benefit. While it is true that standard hearing aids will not benefit her after implantation, the implant will give her far more benefit than her hearing aids do. When it comes to cochlear implants, often adults benefit immediately and continue to improve for roughly three months after their initial tuning session. Most people with implants can perceive soft, medium, and loud sounds. Allowing them to hear common everyday sounds, such as the sound of a light switch, a door slamming shut, footsteps, and the rustling of leaves. Many people with cochlear implants can regain the ability to make telephone calls, listen to music, understand speech, as well as the ability to watch and hear the television.

However, it is important to realize that improvements can be gradual. A user’s performance can continue to improve for several years after implantation. Nonetheless, when it comes to cochlear implants, the benefits far outweigh the risks in regards to a patient who may lose any remaining hearing in the implanted ear. In other words, nobody ever complains about this after the implant. Any worries quickly vanish once the implant is activated.

Thank you for your question

Neil Sperling MD

New York Otolaryngology Group

Q & A

Do I have otosclerosis?

Question: Recently semi-diagnosed with otosclerosis. History of swimmers ear, right ear, and for over 3 years recurrent ear infections, and one time small staff infection at the beach. It all cleared up. I was fine until Oct 29th of this year, took a mountain trip with sinus trouble, ear popped and now having clogged ear feeling. Right ear only with buzzing and screeching sound now. For about 6 weeks, spent with an ENT in Charlotte after several hearing evaluations at my visit, he is pretty sure it is otosclerosis. Can this come on that sudden? Do I have otosclerosis? The doctor says I am not ready for surgery yet. He will recheck my ear in 4 weeks, and then maybe consider a small hearing device. I have no pain or balance problems. But sometimes, I hear my bones or something in the back if my ear/head make a sound. Help!

Answer :

Thank you for your inquiry. It’s difficult to be sure whether you have otosclerosis or the consequences of prior ear infections. Of course, there is more than one condition that can present with ear stuffiness and hearing loss. It is possible for it to start rather suddenly, or you become suddenly aware of something that has been slowly developing.

Otosclerosis is a problem that causes stiffening of the joints between the little hearing bones (ossicles) in the middle ear. This serves to muffle the sound as it goes from the eardrum, through the ossicles to the inner ear. It usually develops when you’re in the 20s and can cause a significant hearing loss. Otosclerosis is readily treated with surgery to replace these bones (stapedectomy) or with hearing aids.

Usually, the diagnosis becomes clearer as time passes, and with careful examinations. If it worsens, surgery or hearing aids are considered. If you send us a copy of your hearing test, we may be able to give you a better idea.

I hope this helps clear things up.

Best of Luck.

Neil M Sperling, MD

New York Otolaryngology Group

36A East 36th Street

New York, NY 10016

Associate Professor

SUNY Downstate

Brooklyn, NY

Q & A

I have had an ear infection and echoing for 7 weeks

Question: My name is Don, 43 had an ear infection in both ears. Started in my left ear and my family doctor gave me ear drops than my right ear got infected. So the doctor prescribed antibiotics. The infection went down but she prescribed another round of antibiotics. The infection went away now I have a post ear infection echo. She prescribed steroids, but still the echo still there. Then I went to an ENT and she gave me steroid injection. It’s been 4 day now an I’m still have the echo noises. From the day I had an infection it now it’s been 7 weeks. Also, I had no pain during my infection. Please help.

Answer:

Thank you for your question. I wish I could give you an easy answer. There are three different types of ear infections all of which could cause a post ear infection echo. An infection in the outer ear- otitis externa, (ear canal), the middle ear- otitis media (where the hearing bones are) and the inner ear (where the hearing nerve is). Each has a different presentation, a different set of symptoms, a different cause and different treatment.

An outer ear infection (otitis externa) is an infection of the skin lined tube which makes up the ear canal. This is often called swimmer’s ear. There will frequently be pain when you pull on your ear lobe. It is generally treated with ear drops and keeping the ear dry.

A middle ear infection (otitis media) is caused by a blocking of the tube that drains fluid from the space behind the ear drum. This is common in children, or in adults after flying with a cold. There is usually a hearing loss associated. It is frequently, but not always painful, and pulling on the ear does not cause discomfort. It is usually treated with antibiotics and nasal sprays or decongestants to open up the eustachian tube that drains the middle ear.

An inner ear infection is usually caused by a viral infection of the nerve. It can cause a sudden hearing loss, spinning vertigo, or both. There usually is no pain It is generally treated with steroids- either by mouth or now by injection into the ear. (trans-tympanic steroid injection)

I am not sure which type of infection you have- or perhaps a combination of more than one. If you had a steroid injection, it sounds likely that this was an inner ear infection. I would speak to your ENT doctor further so that you can get a better understanding of what has been going on and what your treatments for your ear infection echo.

Of course, if you’re in the area, we would be more than happy to see you here at the NY Otolaryngology Group and help clear things up. Bringing any hearing test you might have had would be quite helpful.

Robert L Pincus MD

NY Otolaryngology Group

Q & A

My granddaughter has a hearing loss

Question:

My granddaughter is 3 months old. she did not pass the hearing test in the hospital and she have not passed 2 more since the original. They say she can hear high tones in one ear and the other ear has a retracted eardrum and she is not responding at all in that ear. She was born 3 weeks early but had no problems or issues other than this hearing problem. Is this normal? And can the retracted eardrum be corrected with a possibility of her hearing being restored completely? Thank you for any information regarding this situation.

Answer:

It is advantageous to you and your granddaughter to be pro-active when it relates to congenital hearing loss. The earlier the investigation, the better. It sounds as though you are already doing the right thing and are connected to an experienced pediatric hearing center. They should guide you through a stepwise investigation and treatment plan, which may include surgery for eardrum repair and/or cochlear implantation. These decisions are individualized based on the details of each case.

Where is she being treated? If you are in NY and wish an evaluation, I would be happy to help.

Best of luck

Neil M Sperling, MD

New York Otolaryngology Group

36A East 36th Street

New York, New York

www.NYOGMD.com

Associate Professor

Department of Otolaryngology

SUNY-Downstate College of Medicine

Brooklyn, New York

Q & A

Surgery for hearing loss

Question:

I’ve been wearing hearing aids for about 5 years n I still have trouble hearing people clearly, I’m 30 years old and was told as I get older my hearing would get worse. I would like to know am I eligible to have surgery to restore hearing?

Answer:

Thanks for your question. Today, luckily, there are many options for those of us with hearing losses. However, I cannot answer your individual question without knowing what kind of hearing loss you have.

Sensori-neural hearing losses involve damage to the nerves that control our hearing. This can be anywhere from the cochlea in the inner ear- into the brain where the impulses are decoded for us. Hearing losses of this kind are quite common- Most often, this type of loss is treated with the use of hearing aids. Newer digital aids offer exceptional improvements from older ones in terms of clarity. They should be matched to the needs of the individual by a hearing professional- for optimum results.

For those with severe or profound losses, today we are using cochlear implants. These transmit nerve impulses directly to the cochlea to improve hearing in those whose hearing losses can’t be well treated with hearing aids.

Conductive hearing losses are those involving the mechanical transference of sound waves to the inner ear. This can be caused by anything from wax, to holes in the ear drum, to problems with the hearing bones in the middle ear to fluid in the middle ear. These losses usually can be fixed- by removing the wax, repairing the hole in the ear drum, draining the fluid or by surgery to repair the hearing bones in the middle ear (stapedectomy).

Our website www.nyogmd.com has a section that explains how the ear works and hearing disorders in greater depth. Dr. Neil Sperling is the Director of Ear Care at NYOG.

Robert L Pincus MD

hearing loss Archives - Page 2 of 2 - The New York Otolaryngology Group

I work at a loud club and it is affecting my hearing

My child has a hearing problem in both ears

Runny Ear & Hearing Loss

Can you help recalibrate my father’s hearing aid?

Hi, during the removal of a brain meningioma, the surgeon cut my hearing nerve on the left side, I was wondering, is there a procedure that can be done to restore the hearing in my left ear.

Will a cochlear implant destroy my mother’s remaining hearing?

Do I have otosclerosis?

I have had an ear infection and echoing for 7 weeks

My granddaughter has a hearing loss

Surgery for hearing loss