by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. Musical Ear Syndrome (MES) is a condition where a person hears phantom, non-tinnitus sounds—typically music, singing, voices or other sounds. Although it is quite common, especially among people with hearing loss, few people openly talk about it for fear of being thought crazy. The good news is that Musical […]
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Fire Safety for People with Hearing Loss
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. In the USA in 2006, there were 412,500 home fires that killed 2,580 people and injured another 12,925 people. That’s scary! On the average, these same fires killed one person with hearing loss every 15 hours, and injured a person with hearing loss every 3 hours. That’s really scary if you […]
Hundreds of Genes Can Cause Deafness
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. From time to time the news media reports that scientists have identified yet another gene that causes deafness, and always there is the statement that this will help end hearing loss, as though a cure for hearing loss was right around the corner. Here’s an example of one that just came […]
Did My Stint in the Navy Cause My Hearing Loss?
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A veteran asked: I have a hearing loss now. In my earlier years after finishing High School I joined the Navy. I spent most of my 4 years in the Navy in an engine room aboard a ship. After the Navy, I spent most of my working life in situations that […]
Potassium Gluconate and Hearing Loss
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A lady asked: Have you heard about potassium gluconate having ototoxic effects? I have been diagnosed with Meniere’s Disease. My ENT put me on a diuretic and a daily dose of 550 mg of potassium gluconate, Almost as soon as I started on it, my tinnitus started to roar and I […]
Loud Music Can Blow Out Your Lungs. Imagine What It Can Do to Your Ears!
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. Did you know that loud music can blow out your lungs? It’s true. I recently came across a scary news item entitled “Loud music lung collapse warning” (1). It explains the cases of 4 young men that literally blew their lungs apart from being too close to big loudspeakers when they […]
Easy Way to Keep Stereo and Mono Jacks Straight
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A lady wrote: I know a stereo plug has two rings, and a mono plug only one. That is easy to see, but, how do you know whether the device you are plugging into has a stereo or mono jack? One manufacturer of assistive devices says in their instructions, “do not […]
Classroom Coping Strategies for Hard of Hearing Teachers
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A new teacher with a profound hearing loss wrote: I am a hearing impaired student teacher. I have a profound hearing loss with a speech recognition of 12 percent. I was wondering if you could assist me with some strategies for teaching normal hearing students in a Middle School environment. I […]
Here’s Why Chronic Anxiety Can Result in Tinnitus and Hyperacusis
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A lady explained: I find that my tinnitus is worse if I am stressed about something. Sometimes the pitch changes and sometimes I can hear more than one sound at a time. My tinnitus is always worse when I’m trying to get to sleep and that’s when I get anxious. I […]
Is the New “Statin” Drug “Crestor” Ototoxic?
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. © Sep, 2009 A lady explained: Because of high blood pressure, some previous mini-strokes and a family history of high cholesterol, I have been taking Lipitor [Atorvastatin]. My doctor feels my cholesterol needs to be under better control and has switched me to Crestor. I cannot find Crestor in your Ototoxic […]