Question: What is the best way to help someone who is in denial regarding their hearing loss? The statement, “You need to get hearing aids” just doesn’t work!—J. D. Answer: It sounds to me that the real question you are asking is, “How do I knock some sense into a hard of hearing person so […]
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Ototoxicity—The Hidden Menace. Part II: Ototoxicity and the Practice of Audiology
Part I of this series presented an overview of the hundreds of ototoxic drugs currently available and how their potential side effects relating to hearing and balance turn countless lives upside down. Part I also detailed risk factors that predispose people to ototoxic effects and concluded with what individuals can do to reduce their risk. […]
Caroverine—A New Treatment for Tinnitus?
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A lady asked me about a reported new drug cure for tinnitus. She wrote, I wonder if you’ve heard anything about Caroverine? What are your thoughts? She referred to an article published in Hearing Review on January 19, 2012 (1). This was in turn picked up from an article published back […]
Are Generic Drugs the Same as Brand Name Drugs?
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. I am sometimes asked: “Are generic drugs the same as brand name drugs?” The simple answer is “yes” and “no”. Let me explain. To receive FDA approval, generic drugs must meet a variety of criteria, including: A generic drug must have the same active ingredient or ingredients as the brand-name […]
51% of USA Children Have Some Degree of Hearing Loss
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. I came across an alarming statistic recently—37 million children in America have hearing loss. (1) That’s a lot of our kids that can’t hear well. The 2000 census counted 72.3 million children in the USA under the age of 18 (2) and no doubt that figure is even larger now. 37 […]
Using the Music Links to Make Phone Calls with a Smart Phone
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A lady asked, I was wondering if I can make phone calls using the Music Links? If not, can I listen to music using the T-links. I don’t want to buy both, I just want to buy one. Can you help me with this? The Music Links are designed as their […]
Here’s How to “Force” People to Be Willing to Meet Your Communication Needs
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A man asked, What are some reliable methods and words I could use to find the self-confidence I need to be a better self-advocate for my hearing loss? This is an excellent question. Too often, people with hearing losses find it very difficult to advocate for their needs. Thus learning about […]
How Loud Is That Sound?
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. You are in a noisy venue and say to yourself, “Wow! It sure is noisy in here. I wonder just how loud it really is?” Few people own sound level meters to measure the volume of sounds around them, but wait—you have a smart phone don’t you? With the right app, […]
Is My Hearing Loss Due to Otosclerosis or a Virus?
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A lady explained, I am a 41 year-old woman who was diagnosed with otosclerosis in my left ear during my first pregnancy at age 35. (My grandmother was fully deaf in her left ear by age 20, and hard of hearing in her right ear, so it wasn’t a total shock.) […]
Why Do Drugs Have So Many Different Side Effects?
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. If you have ever looked at the numerous side effects that can result from taking a given prescription drug, perhaps, like me, you have wondered how one drug, such as the antidepressant Sertraline (Zoloft), for example, can, in addition to causing a number of psychiatric side effects, also cause diverse side […]