by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. © June, 2014 A man asked, Am I able to use the different loop systems or will my pacemaker prevent my using them?” An audiologist questioned, “Have you ever run into a person who can’t use a loop system due to pacemaker issues? We have some clients that have […]
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Latest Research on Enlarged Vestibular Aqueducts
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. Not much was known about enlarged vestibular aqueducts (EVA) when I first wrote about it in 2002. Back then, it was called Large Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome (LVAS). Now it is more-commonly referred to as EVA, but it is the same condition. In the intervening years, researchers have done a number of […]
Speech Speed vs. Understanding What Was Said
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A man wrote, Have you addressed the issue of “speech rate” as a factor in hearing loss and comprehension? As I recall, the “optimal” speech rate is approximately 180 words per minute (wpm). Yet I find that the broadcast industry (radio and TV) are hiring commentators who speak at least 210 […]
Sound Delay When Using Assistive Devices with Your TV
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A man asked, All wireless sound systems I have tried to date have a slight delay that creates an echo effect with the TV speaker sound. Does the TV Sound Box have this problem? Not according to my wife. She’s the one that uses the Sound Box in our house. (I […]
Turning on the Captions on TVs in Public Places
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. Doesn’t it just irk you when you go into a coffee shop and the TV is on, but there are no captions so you can’t understand what is going on? Maybe you are in the breakfast area at a motel and they are showing the weather for the day—but you can’t […]
Removing Ear Protectors Slowly
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. © May, 2014 A man wrote, I am having to have a MRI scan done this week and when I went to look for ear plugs to wear under the muffs provided by the Imaging Clinic there was a pair that were a reusable gel type that had a protection […]
Visual Triggers That Can Cause Balance Problems in People with Damaged Vestibular Systems
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. If your balance (vestibular) system has largely been destroyed by taking various ototoxic drugs, by viral attacks on your vestibular system, or from conditions such as Meniere’s disease, you typically have to work hard to keep your balance. However, certain movements, “busy” scenes and other situations can, without warning, […]
Learning to Speechread (Lipread)
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A lady explained, I am new to the world of hearing loss. I want to know if there is a way to learn lipreading. How did you learn? Did you just watch people? I am trying to do that but getting frustrated. I am sure that is normal. My problem lies […]
Low-Level Music and Tinnitus
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A man asked, Does listening to music at low volume levels, but for 5-6 hours or more every day, make tinnitus worse? Is it better to listen via speakers or headphones? Listening to music at low volume levels should not bother your tinnitus (or make it worse). That’s a general rule […]
Am I Hard of Hearing, deaf or Deaf?
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. with Dave Myers, Ph.D. and Marjie Anderson Dave Myers wrote, The inspiring news stories about Seattle Seahawks’ ‘deaf’ player, Derrick Coleman, raises an interesting question. Do those of us who can hear and participate in conversation, albeit only with hearing aids (HAs) or cochlear implants (CIs), similarly regard ourselves as ‘deaf’? […]