by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A lady asked, I wondered if you knew about the ototoxicity of food products such as decaffeinated tea. I read that tea is high in Salicylates, as are also a lot of fruits. Does this mean that drinking/eating these things can make my existing tinnitus worse? Interesting question. It is true […]
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Hearing Aids Down Through the Years—The New On-line Hearing Aid Museum
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. Are you intrigued by old hearing aids and hearing devices? Have you ever seen a “pen” hearing aid that you wore in your shirt pocket? Or a barrette hearing aid you wore in your hair? Aren’t you glad you don’t have to lug around a heavy table top hearing aid that […]
Personal Communication Assistant—A Rose by Another Name
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. If the chief executive at Phonak, Valentin Chapero, has his way, hearing aids as such will soon be a thing of the past. “Phonak’s new Audeo device comes in 15 fashionable colors, looks more like a sleek ear phone than an old-fashioned hearing aid and is being marketed as a ‘personal […]
Give Yourself the “Gift of Life”—Alerting Systems That Really Work!
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. Here in the United States a house catches fire every 74 seconds! That’s scary. Even more scary for those of us who have hearing losses is the fact that most fires occur at night when we are sleeping, and our hearing aids and cochlear implants are also peacefully “sleeping” on our […]
Which is the Best Cochlear Implant?
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A man wrote: I had sudden hearing loss and need your help. If you had to have a cochlear implant today, which implant would you have, and where would you have it done? Fortunately for me, I live close to one of the best cochlear implant surgeons, Dr. John Niparko at […]
What Can You Reasonably Expect from a Cochlear Implant
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. Several people have asked me to address the issue of cochlear implants (CI). Although I don’t have a cochlear implant, I know hundreds and hundreds of people that do have cochlear implants. My friend Denise Portis is one of them. She also has a way with words. Here is her witty […]
Why Do People Still Have Problems Understanding Speech When Wearing Hearing Aids?
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A man wrote: My question is about hearing aid effectiveness. I notice that some people talk about having hearing aids but still having problems hearing. At the price that hearing aids go for, while I don’t expect to have Superman’s hearing, I thought I would be getting rid of the […]
Hearing In the Classroom or In Other Noisy Places
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A teacher asked, I’m a high school teacher. I have a severe bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. I wear 2 digital hearing aids. I’m trying to find a way to assist myself in my job. I’ve been researching and not having much luck. I’m wondering if you have any suggestions on […]
Amplified Stethoscopes
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. An audiologist wrote, I have a patient who is in the nursing field and has a severe-profound hearing loss (70-90 dB). I have recommended amplified stethoscopes before, but I’m not sure if they would be strong enough for her loss. Another lady asked, Do you have a reference or a source […]
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A lady explained, I’ve been diagnosed with S.A.D—Seasonal Affective Disorder, a depression/chemical imbalance related to the seasons and environment, and also related to serotonin imbalance. I’m still discovering what this is about and getting counseling. I have been recommended a low grade serotonin anti- depressant and wonder if this will […]