Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Cellphone Survey Results

2008-09-04T14:59:00.000-07:00

Last updated: September 4, 2008

Hello everyone - the cellphone survey is closed but we continue to look for information about hearing aid compatible cellphones. We encourage you to send us information about phones that you have tried that work (and don't work) so we can continue to update the information. Phones are constantly changing so some phones listed are no longer available and we will endeavor to sort through the information to keep it current.

As more information becomes available we will add more information to help you find the phone most suitable for your needs. At this time we are presenting the information first by carrier (Telus, Bell, Rogers etc.), then by the manufacturer of the phone, model, the overall rating, and the features that help make it user friendly for connecting with amplification. The rating scale is as follows.
***** = Excellent
**** = Very Good
*** = Good
** = Fair
* = Poor

The final column is the M/T rating (if provided by the manufacturer). An M3 or M4 rating means that the phone is less likely to create interference when it is near a hearing aid. M4 is the best rating. A T3 or T4 rating means the phone should work with a hearing aid on the telecoil setting. T4 is the better of the two ratings. So the best phone would have an M4/T4 rating.

Note: Below the survey results, we have a listing of phones by Manufacturer that have been rated as M4/T4. These phones haven't been rated by consumers.

When a phone has been rated, we will try to provide a link to www.phonescoop.com as this website seems to be quite comprehensive in outlining ALL the features of the phones. Obviously, not all phones are available in each country. We will try to provide more country specific information as it becomes available.

Service Carrier	Brand	Model	Overall rating	Blue tooth	TTY	Headset jack(mm)	M/T rating
Bell	Blackberry
	Audiovox	8100	****			2.5
	HTC	HTC 8125 (Wizard)	**	2.0	No	2.5	No
	HTC	HTC 8925 (Tilt)	**	2.0	No	No	No
	Kyocera
	LG
	Motorola	E815	****	1.1	Yes	2.5	M4/T4
	Nokia	Nokia 6275i	*****	2.0+EDR	Yes	2.5	?
	Novatel
	Palm
	Samsung
	Sanyo
Telus	Audiovox	CDM 8150	*	No		2.5	not rated
	Blackberry
	HTC
	Kyocera
	LG	LG 125	***1/2	No	yes	2.5	M3
	LG	LG 490	****
		LG545	****
		LG 4600	****
		LG 245	****	yes 1.1	Y	2.5	M4
		LG 4750		No	Y	2.5	?
		LG 4750		No	Y	2.5	?
		LG 6070	*****			2.5
		LG 6190	***	No	No	2.5	?
		LG 8100	*****	1.1	Yes	2.5	M3
		LG 8500 Chocolate Flip	****	No	No	?	M3
		LG Migo		No	No	2.5	M3
	Migo
	Motorola	RAZR V3c	*****	yes 1.1	Yes	2.5	M4/T4
		V710	****	yes 1.1	Yes	2.5	M3/T3
		W385		yes 1.1	Yes	2.5	M4/T4
		A840		No	Yes	2.5	M3
		MOTORZR K1m		Yes	Yes	2.5	M4/T4
	Nokia	6165i		yes 1.2	Yes	2.5	M4/T4
	Nokia	6265i		yes 1.2	Yes	2.5	M3/T4
	Palm
	Pantech
	Samsung	SCH-A540	*****	No	No	2.5	not rated
		SCH-A570		No	No	2.5	Not rated
		SCH-A630		No	No	2.5	M3
		SCH-A645				2.5	M3
		SCH-A650	***
		SCH-A870					M4/T4
		SCH-A950		yes 1.2	Yes	2.5	Not rated
		SCH-u510					Not rated
		SCH-u510					Not rated
		SPH-a720		Yes	Yes	Yes	M4/T4
		SPH-m620		yes 2.0	Yes	USB	M4/T3
	Sanyo
Rogers	Blackberry
	HP
	HTC
		LG
	Motorola	V300	****	No	Yes	2.5	?
	Motorola	V360,	**
	Motorola	Razr V3	**	1.1/class 1	Yes	2.5	M3 (1900Hz only)
	Motorola	Moto Q	*****	1.2	Yes	2.5	M3
	Motorola	V361	*****
	Nokia	6061	**
	Palm
	Pantech
	Samsung	SGH-T609	*
	SonyEricsson
Vodacom	Motorola	Motorola BT50	**
Virgin	LG	LG VX-3300	***
	LG	LG 150	***
Verizon	Blackberry	7130e	**
	Motorola	v60	**	No	Yes	2.5	not rated
	Palm	Tre 700P	*****
T-Mobile	Motorola	RAZR	****
AT&T (USA Only)	Apple	iPhone	*

Further info on the iPhones: Hearing aid compatibility is poor. This appears to be due to the large size of the screen. No M/T rating is available but several reports from users is that the iPhones are too noisy with the hearing aid microphone or the the t-coil setting. Also, we have also received reports that the Bluetooth function does not pair well with the Smartlink FM systems. It will pair but it needs to be re-paired for each use.

M4/T4 Rated Cell phones (listed by Manufacturer)

BlackBerry (RIM)
7250
7520
8703e
8830

HTC
XV6800 / PPC6800 / P4000 (Mogul)

Kyocera
K325 / K312 (Cyclops)KX9 (Oystr)
M1000 (Lingo)

LG
AX-145 / AX-140 / LX-140 / 200c (Aloha)
AX-275
LX-160
LX-550 (Fusic)
LX-570 (Muziq)
VX-5300 / UX-245 / AX-245VX-8350
VX-8550
VX-8700
VX-9400

Motorola
E815/816 (Hollywood)
i730 / i733/ i710 / i720 / i740
i720 / i740
i870 / i875
ic402 (Blend)
ic502 (Buzz)
ic902 (Deluxe)
RAZR maxx Ve
RAZR V3m
RAZR2 V9m
ROKR Z6m
W385

Nokia
6255i / 6256i
6315i

Pantech
Ocean
PN-210 / PN-205
PN-215 / CDM-8915 / PN-300 (Snapper)PN-820

Sanyo
Katana DLX
Katan II
M1
MM-5600
SCP-2400
SCP-3200
SCP-7050

Samsung
Fin
Heat
M300
M520
SCH-A870 (Siren)
SCH-R200
SCH-R400
SCH-R500
SCH-U340 (Snap)
SCH-U520SCH-U540
SCH-U620
SCH-U740 Recently rated 3rd in top 10 cellphones by MSN
SGH-D307
SPH-A110 / A120 (Jitterbug)
SPH-M500
SPH-M610
SPH-M620 (UpStage) Recently rated 7th in top 10 cellphones on MSN

Tuesday Tips: Loop Systems

2008-09-02T09:16:00.000-07:00

Now I know the name sounds strange and "loopy" (pardon the pun), but Loop Systems, also known as Induction Loop Systems, are something that may be available at your local place of worship or theatre.

Basically an induction loop is a loop of wire that encircles a room and is connected to the output of an audio amplifier. A person can speak into a microphone that sends their voice to the amplfier which relays the voice to the loop. Loop translates the voice into an electromagnetic field. Some hearing aids have a telecoil, which is a tiny magnetic coil inside the aid, that can take that electromagnetic field and translate the transmitted voice back into sound.

Many places of worship have had their halls "looped," so that hearing aid users can turn their hearing aids to the telecoil/telephone setting and hear the voice of the speaker directly in their hearing aids. The advantage is that the loop transmission helps to reduce the background noise and bring the speaker's voice closer to the listener.

If you are not sure if your place of worship is equipped with a loop system, contact the person who handles the audio-visual equipment and ask. If you are interested in setting up a loop system in your place of worship, you can contact WIDHH's Communication Aids department.

If you are not sure how to use your telecoil, or if you're not sure if you even have a telecoil, contact your audiologist or dispenser and ask them. Almost all behind-the-ear hearing aids have telecoil built inside of them. It's only a matter of the clinic activating them. Some in-the-ear custom models may not have them because they may not fit inside the hearing aid. Again, ask your audiologist or dispenser about your hearing aids. Everyone's situation is unique.

Back to School

2008-08-27T08:54:00.000-07:00

I can already feel the calm before the storm. Driving around town this week and taking the bus, you can feel that things are quieter than usual. With Labour Day next Monday, that means school starts up again next Tuesday and the roads and buses will be packed.

If you're Deaf or Hard of Hearing, you may need to prepare a few things before the semester starts rolling into top gear.

Hopefully by now, you've got all your books in order and tuition is ready to hand in.
Visit your college or university's Disability Resource Centre to make sure you have all your accommodations in place. These accommodations could include sign language interpreters, oral interpreters, notetakers, and/or FM Systems
You may need to get a Verification of Permanent Disability Form for the new school year and get your doctor and audiologist to fill in the appropriate sections.
If you have hearing aids and/or an FM System, you may want to book an appointment with your audiologist or dispenser to check everything over and make sure things are working for the semester. Because once your in the midst of midterms, you're not going to have time to visit the clinic.
Remember to get to your classrooms early so that you can find the right seat for you. It may be the one right at the front or one with the best sightline of the instructor. Use your best judgement.

If you need to get things done, you better get moving. You only have a few more days to get things together. Good luck in the new school year!

Tuesday Tips - Theatres

2008-08-26T09:00:00.000-07:00

Many years ago, we used to cheap ticket Tuesdays in Canada. Well now, the cheap tickets have long disappeared and the Big Sound, Big Movie experience has inflated their prices.

However, going to the movie theatre for a hard-of-hearing person can be difficult. The sound may big and loud, but often it is not intelligible to those with hearing loss. A person may have hearing aids, but the aids sometimes make the sounds louder, but the speech remains unintelligible.

Some movie theatres have equipment to help the hard-of-hearing, but most don't work with hearing aids. The following are the two most common devices used in theatres in Metro Vancouver.

Infrared (IR)
Infrared systems transmit sound in the form of invisible light waves. A transmitter is located at the front of the theatre and individuals can special wireless receivers. The receivers take the light and transform it into sound. The receiver is connected to earphones or headphones that one will place onto one's ears.

If you have a mild to moderate hearing loss, these devices work fine. However, if you have a severe or profound hearing loss, these devices give inadequate amplification.

Theatres like the Queen Elizabeth, Stanley, Orpheum and Arts Club Theatres typically have these available upon request.

Rear Window Captioning (RWC)
Rear Window Captioning (RWC) is a patented captioning system that used strictly in Silver City, Colossus, and ScotiaBank Theatres, which are all under the Cineplex family of movie cinemas. Deaf and hard-of-hearing guests obtain a clear plastic panel from the cashier. The panel can then be attached to the drink holder. The panel reflects an LED text display in the back of the theatre. The guest is supposed to adjust the reflective panel until the words are comfortably displayed below or at the bottom of their view of the movie screen.

RWC is handy to catch all of the dialogue of a movie. It works in a style similar to subtitles or captioning for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing on DVDs. Only limitations are that the theatre often has very few panels available. Also, only one theatre in each complex is equipped for RWC. So check your local listings to see what movie has RWC.

Tuesday Tips: Planning Ahead – Visualizing the Scenario

2008-08-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

Imagine you were visiting Montreal and you know some French, enough to get by. However, you haven’t used your French in eons. You want to go to a local boulangerie to buy some fresh baguettes. If you’re like me, you would practice in your head exactly what you want to say (I want one baguette, please – en francais, of course). Then you are going to practice what they might say back to you (That will be $4.95 – again, en francais). Of course, you may want to practice something that’s totally off topic (Where did you get that dress), but that wouldn’t fit the context (or maybe it will).

Visualization is a technique that is often used by athletes in preparation for difficult maneuvers. We can use the same when approaching difficult communication situations.

Envision the scenario that is about to happen. Important visual and aural cues are missing with hearing loss, but the brain can fill in the gaps if you know what is happening.
Anticipate what is going to be said. In a place like boulangerie, there are certain phrases that are commonly used. Practice those phrases. The practice would help your brain to be prepared for what is about to be said.
Different situations means different possibilities. So what you might expect in the bakery would be different from what is said in a doctor’s office from what is said in a restaurant. Context is everything.

Visualize the scenario and anticipate the speech and your brain will be warmed up for each and every difficult situation. Just like many things, planning ahead can help you to avoid unwanted pitfalls.

Tuesday Tips: If you don’t tell them, who else will?

2008-08-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

One of the frustrations of living with a hearing loss is that the vast majority of people do not know how to talk to you. Some assume they just need to yell. Well, that’s just plain embarrassing. Some people just talk normally, but then that can be too fast or too soft for someone who is hard-of-hearing. People just don’t know how best to speak to you.

That’s where you have to step up to the plate and be specific and polite about what works best for you. In general, there are a few pointers you can give to your conversation partner.

Speak clearly and a little slower. A lot of people simply slur and blur their words as they speak, nowadays. Simply slowing down a little and enunciating clearly can make a world of difference between understanding and complete confusion.
Speak a little louder. People don’t need to yell, but they do often need to just speak with a little more volume than they are used to.
Look at me when speaking. There’s no substitute for direct speech. When the voice is going in the other direction or is directed an office desk, it is significantly harder to understand.
Get closer. Did you know that for every metre, that the energy in a sound is cut in half? So it doesn’t take too much distance for sound to start being hard to hear. Don’t forget to remove any barriers to speech. That includes food in the mouth.
Get my attention before talking. If a person starts talking before they have your full attention, then they will likely have to start over from the beginning again. If they get your attention first, there can be less repetition required.

Use your best judgment on how best to phrase these pointers. Don’t forget to use your P’s and Q’s. Nobody likes a bossy tone. But remember, if you don’t tell them how to communicate with you, nobody will.

Tuesday Tips: Your Attention, Please

2008-08-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

People often say, “You have a hearing aid. You should hear me just fine.” Well, sadly enough, it’s not just fine. Hearing aids help you to hear better, but they are certainly not a cure for hearing loss.

It’s important that you get people’s attention and that others get your attention before starting a conversation. If you’ve missed the first few words and then you realize somebody is talking to you, you are already feeling lost.

Others can tap you on the shoulder or flick the lights to get your attention. Then you can face the speaker and hear what they have to say right from the start.
Avoid talking from room-to-room or over barriers. Conversations should be carried out in the same room and, preferably, face-to-face. Voices just don’t carry very well between walls nor down hallways.
Let others know that they will have to face for you to understand better. Explain that you have difficulty hearing and ask them to talk directly to you. There is no substitute for direct speech. Otherwise, you’ll hear the receptionist or cashier talking straight into their computer screens

Tuesday Tips: Lighting

2008-07-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

The amount of light in the room is not the first thing you think about when you talk about hearing. However, you can hear better if you see better. Think of the last conversation you had with somebody standing in front of a brightly-lit window. It wasn’t fun, was it? There are often shadows that can fall on people’s faces. That makes it hard to see their facial expressions and lips, which are important to the context of any conversation. Then there’s that awful glare from staring towards the window too long. I can see imprints of light in my eyes just thinking about it.

Increase the light if it’s too dark. As romantic as conversations in the dark are, it may not be the best for your communication. Turn on the lights and you’ll often have an easier time talking to each other.
Move away from glaring sources of light. So as with the brightly-lit window scenario, it may be best not to stand right by that window. It can be tiring for all talkers involved and harsh shadows on the face just don’t look endearing.
Put your back to the window. If it’s not too bright, then the window can provide just the right amount of light. However, you will likely want your back to the window so that the light falls on the face of those you’re speaking to.

Tuesday Tips: Restaurants

2008-07-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

Restaurants must be the bain of all hearing aids. Hearing aids do well with isolated noises, but with noise from all directions, it becomes quite confusing. A few strategies when dining out, however, can help minimize problems.

Pick your restaurants carefully. Restaurants with a lot of ambience tend to be bad. Ambience in restaurants usually come in the form of low-lighting, background music, and hard, funky surfaces. The best restaurant from an acoustic standpoint is one with upholstered furniture, no background music, good lighting, and low ceilings.
Go early for dinner. You can miss the bulk of the noisy dinner crowd and you usually have your choice of any seat in the house. So pick the potentially quietest corner or table in the restaurant.
Choose your table wisely. If you can choose a table, pick one that’s in the corner. Two walls mean a little less noise. However, make sure you’re not right by the kitchen; otherwise, you’ll hear all the cutlery and chopping emitting from there. If there are booths available, they are often better for communication. The enclosure of your table can reduce the amount of noise that you hear.
If you do get to choose a seat at your table, pick according to where the noise is. If you have hearing aids, you should set the aids to the noise mode and sit with your back to the restaurant while facing the wall. The wall doesn’t make as much noise as your fellow diners, so it’s better to be facing it. If you don’t have hearing aids, then sit beside the wall so that at least you can hear some of the conversation from one ear.

Sometimes, you can do all the above and still have a difficult time in the restaurant. Be patient and have a good humour about misunderstood conversation. Sometimes the misunderstanding can lead to good joke for everyone to share.

Tuesday Tips: Reducing Background Noise

2008-07-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

It doesn’t take too much to make a conversation easier to hear. Just reduce the background noise. I’m not asking you to stop the world from turning and getting all the noise out of the world, but you can do some simple things to reduce background noise.

Turn down or off any unnecessary music or sound. That could be your own TV or the radio. You may have to ask the owner of the device to turn it down. A conversation is lot easier without music covering over all the words
Close the windows. If the windows are open and you get all the traffic noise, shut the sound out by closing the windows. It’s a tough call during a hot summer day, but less noise makes a huge difference
Move away from the noise. If you can’t control the sound, at least move away from it. Just stepping a few feet away, or even out of a room, from the noise, it will be a relief to your ears and your conversation partner.

There’s no one end-all answer to reducing background noise. Use your best judgment and reduce any background noise that you can reduce.

New Weekly Feature Coming Soon - Tuesday Tips

2008-07-10T17:42:00.000-07:00

As part of our ongoing blog, we will be providing a weekly feature called Tuesday Tips. These posts are about communication tips or strategies to help guide the hard-of-hearing along the bumpy road of conversations.

We hope you enjoy this new weekly feature and keep coming back for you. We also hope you can provide feedback as to what works for you and what other topics you think should be covered.

Come back, and come back often. We've got a post waiting for you.

RERC Cellphone Survey and WIDHH cellphone Survey

2008-06-06T08:54:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone, the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Technologies is a research facility in the US. They have committed to doing 3 surveys over three years to collect information from hard of hearing consumers about their experience with cellphones. The following is information about the survey:

The Hearing Aid Compatibility Act of 1988 (HAC Act) requires that landline telephones manufactured or imported for use in the United States after August 1989 be hearing aid-compatible. In 2003, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted rules to make digital wireless telephones (cell phones) compatible with hearing aids and cochlear implants.
The Wireless Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (Wireless RERC) monitors this regulation and is interested in how it impacts the usability of cell phones for people who use hearing aids and cochlear implants.

We invite people who use hearing aids or cochlear implants to participate in the survey regarding your use of your cell phone. We plan to conduct this survey once a year over the next 3 years to track any changes in cell phone and hearing aid compatibility.
Take the survey

We are continuing to collect information on the WIDHH cellphone survey as well. The information from WIDHH cellphone survey is collected and posted on this blog (results)- we update the blog as new user information comes in. The results provide consumers with hearing loss ratings and other information about cellphones to help you make an informed cellphone purchase. We hope you find it helpful. If there is other information you would like to see or share - please send us a message. Thanks!

Announcement for the EAD-GAP Program

2008-05-27T10:57:00.000-07:00

The EAD-GAP Program

ANNOUNCEMENT
An equipment and assistive devices program, for British Columbians’, who are Deaf, Deafened, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing. The EAD-GAP program is no longer accepting applications. We are currently processing the 780 applications we have received. Applicants will be contacted to confirm their application.
Thank you for your patience.

ANNOUNCEMENT

The EAD-GAP Program
An equipment and assistive devices program, for British Columbians’, who are Deaf, Deafened, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing.

The Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, with a one-time grant from the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance (MEIA), is piloting an assistive devices program for residents of British Columbia.

The short-term program will provide free low-tech devices, which can:
Enhance your ability to communicate on the telephone; such as an amplified telephone
Increase your independence and safety; such as visual alerting and alarm devices for the home and/or workplace
Increase your ability to listen in the home environment; such as assistive listening devices for the TV
Increase your ability to hear one-on-one with personal listening devices; such as the PocketTalker (hearing aids are not available through this program)

Start Date
The EAD-GAP program starts on June 1st, 2008. WIDHH will accept applications and will start to process applications on June 1st.

Who is Eligible?
To qualify for the pilot program you must:
Be a resident of British Columbia, and;
Be Deaf, Deafened, Deaf-Blind or Hard of Hearing, and require the use of an assistive device to meet a functional goal, and;
Be able to identify a functional goal you would like to achieve.

Please return your application to WIDHH as quickly as possible, as the funding is limited. When we receive your application, WIDHH will contact you to confirm the application and answer any questions. Once your application has been processed, WIDHH staff will make an appointment to arrange for the equipment you need.

WIDHH is committed to provide as many people with equipment or devices. As there is limited funding people will be limited to receive equipment to meet one goal only.

If you are interested in participating in the program, please fill out and return the application form to the Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

We're sorry - the application process is now closed. We are currently processing the 780 applications we have received. Applicants will be contacted to confirm their application. Thank you for your patience.

FCC Mandates Cell Phone Compatibility with Hearing Aids- ANSI C63.19

2008-03-14T11:58:00.000-07:00

FCC Mandates Cell Phone Compatibility with Hearing Aids- ANSI C63.19
March 22, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS
Mobile phone manufacturers have one year to comply with a U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandate requiring mobile handsets built or used in the U.S. to comply with the American national standard for cell phone-hearing aid compatibility.
Issued in 2003, the mandate is intended to ensure that new mobile phones available on the market are accessible to individuals using hearing aids.

According to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), mobile phone manufacturers and service providers will have to ensure that at least 50% of all handsets marketed in the U.S. meet the requirements of ANSI C63.19:2006 - Methods of Measurement of Compatibility between Wireless Communications Devices and Hearing Aids by Feb. 18, 2008.

Approved as an American national standard in 2001, ANSI C63.19 was developed by the ANSI Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) C63 on electromagnetic compatibility, a group administered by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

A measurement standard for hearing aid compatibility with wireless communications devices, ANSI C63.19-2006 aims to achieve an acceptable level of performance between cell phones and hearing aids by reducing the interference of radio frequency emissions.

The standard defines emissions and immunity-to-interference requirements, as well as test methods to determine the level of interoperability between the devices. The standard is intended to apply to all types of hearing aids with acoustic output.

According to ANSI, an estimated 28 million Americans have some degree of hearing impairment; by 2030, this number is expected to double. The Hearing Aid Compatibility Act of 1988 (HAC Act) directed the FCC to ensure that all telephones manufactured or imported for use in the U.S., and all "essential" telephones - including phones provided for emergency use, coin-operated phones and phones in the workplace, hospitals, nursing homes and hotel rooms - be hearing aid-compatible.

The increasing reliance on wireless mobile phones for business and personal use, coupled with the growing number of technologically-savvy baby boomers, led the FCC to put pressure on wireless carriers and equipment manufacturers to increase the number of hearing aid-compatible wireless phones available on the market.

IEEE C63.19 2007-JAN-01 • Active/Current •
Methods of Measurement of Compatibility between Wireless Communications Devices and Hearing Aids

This standard applies to both wireless communications devices (WDs) and hearing aids. It sets forth uniform methods of measurement and parametric requirements for the electromagnetic and operational compatibility and accessibility of hearing aids used with WDs, including cordless, cellular, personal communications service (PCS) phones, and voice over internet protocol (VoIP) devices, operating in the range of 800 MHz to 3 GHz. However, this version is focused on existing services, which are in common use. Accordingly, in this version tests are provided for services in the 800 MHz to 950 MHz and 1.6 GHz to 2.5 GHz frequency bands. Future versions may add test for other frequency bands, as they come into more common use.

This standard is intended to apply to all types of hearing aids with acoustic output, including, as examples, behind-the-ear (BTE), in-the-ear (ITE), in-the-canal (ITC), and completely-in-the-canal (CIC) types. Test methods are provided for hearing aids operating in acoustic (microphone input) mode or in T-Coil input mode.

The field levels called for in various places shall be maintained within the limits for radio frequency (RF) safety, set forth in ANSI C95.1-1999.1

EAR CANDLING: QUACKERY OR CURE?

2008-02-20T08:43:00.000-08:00

Earwax is one of the most common topics of conversation in a hearing clinic. We often get asked what the best way to get rid of it is. In this day and age, where it seems that any medical treatment that is non-conventional or natural must be good, ear candling has gained popularity as an alternative method for earwax removal. So what is ear candling anyway? Does it work and is it safe?

Ear candles are long, hollow, cone-shaped candles made of beeswax and cotton cloths. The ear candle is placed in the ear canal and lit at the opposite end. The theory goes that as it burns down, the candle creates a vacuum. Wax, toxins and fungus are supposedly drawn out of the ear canal. The wax is then collected at the bottom of the candle, and shown to the patient as 'proof' of the cleansing. In addition to ear wax removal, other health benefits claimed include cleansing the sinus passages, curing headaches, migraines, ear infections, jaw joint dysfunction, hearing problems, inner ear pressure, imbalance, chronic sinusitis, and even 'cleansing of the brain'.

Is ear candling effective? The simple answer to this question is 'no'. The impressively huge gobs of wax remaining in the candle after a candling session have been analyzed and found to be nothing more than candle wax and burnt cloth. This makes sense, considering that the average ear canal is only 2 1/2 centimeters long and less than 1 cm wide. Even if your ear canal was completely plugged with wax (which in most cases it isn't), it would be physically impossible for the large amounts of wax to come from the ear canal!

What about this theoretical 'vacuum' that is created by the burning candle? First of all, wax is often sticky and moist, and stuck to the skin and/or hair of the ear canal. It is not floating around in your ear canal, ready to be magically sucked out! The amount of force that would be required in a vacuum to suck the wax out would burst the eardrum. In fact, a study performed in 1996 by Seely, Quigley and Langman examining the safety and efficacy of ear candles found that ear candles don't produce a vacuum at all. The study also found that in all cases, there was no removal of wax from the ear canal and that in some cases, candle wax was actually deposited into the ear canal. Their conclusions were that ear candles have no benefit in the management of ear wax, and that they may in fact result in serious injury.

What about the claims of curing headaches, cleansing the sinus passages and brain and curing other health ailments? There has been no evidence whatsoever supporting these claims. The ear canal ends at the eardrum. Unless you have a hole in your eardrum, or a serious anatomical anomaly, there is no connection to the sinuses or the brain from the outer ear canal!

So what if ear candling hasn't been shown to be effective? What is all the fuss about? There are a lot of natural treatments out there that also haven't scientifically been proven to be effective, but some people swear by them.

This leads us to the question of safety. "Is ear candling safe?" The answer, as you might suspect is that not only is ear candling ineffective, but also it can be downright dangerous! The ear canal is lined with a very thin layer of delicate skin. At the end of the ear canal is an even more delicate eardrum. A burning candle in someone's ear is potential trouble. There have been several reported cases of serious burns in the ear as a result of hot wax dripping into the ear. A burn on the eardrum or ear canal can lead to infection and even permanent hearing damage.

The verdict: Ear candling is quackery. Not only is it ineffective, but it can be harmful. If earwax is not causing you any problems, the best thing to do is to leave it there. It's there for a reason; to protect your ears. If the wax is causing problems, a medical doctor is the best person to go to for ear wax removal.

Special thanks to Naomi Smith M.Sc., Aud(C) for this article.

EAR WAX: FRIEND OR FOE?

2008-02-14T08:40:00.001-08:00

Ear wax: It’s on everyone’s mind when they visit an audiologist. When I tell my patients that I am going to look in their ears, I invariably get one of two responses: A sheepish look accompanying the statement, “Oh, I didn’t wash my ears out today”, or, the opposite statement of pride “I cleaned my ears out just for this”.

The question that I often get asked is “What can I do to get rid of ear wax?” The answer is usually the same: Nothing. Ear wax is one of those things that, for some unknown reason, people associate with uncleanliness. The fact is that ear wax, also known as cerumen in the medical community, actually has a purpose. By sticking to the tiny hairs in your ears, it provides a partial barrier and protects the delicate eardrum and ear canal from damage from debris, flying objects, and infection. Our ears are naturally designed to move the wax towards the outer ear, with the gradual shedding of the skin inside the ear. In most cases, they do a pretty good job of keeping themselves clean.

When we try to clean our ears using cotton swabs, or, heaven forbid sharp objects like bobby pins, we disrupt the self-cleaning mechanism of our ears, and potentially cause serious damage to them. A cotton swab typically only pushes the wax further into the ear canal, making it even more difficult for it to come out on it’s own. Over time, rubbing the ear canal with a cotton swab gets rid of the little hairs in the ear canal, again disrupting the natural cleaning mechanism of the ear. By going deeply into the ear with a cotton swab or object, you risk puncturing the delicate eardrum, which is only a couple of centimeters from the outside of the ear canal. The skin in the ear canal is also very sensitive and it can be damaged easily. Because the ear canal is a perfect environment for bacteria (dark and moist), once there is trauma to the skin or eardrum, the risk of infection is extremely high.

So, if you can’t use a cotton swab to clean the ears, how do you clean them? The best way to clean the ears is to use a warm washcloth when in the shower, and gently clean the outer ear up to the opening of the ear canal only. If you happen to be one of those unfortunate people who accumulate so much wax in their ears, that it causes a complete blockage of the ear canal and subsequent hearing loss, you may need to visit your family physician periodically to have the wax removed from your ears. You can also purchase over-the-counter wax removal systems, which typically include a solution to soften the wax, and a water irrigation bulb. This can be effective, however, if done incorrectly, can potentially cause damage to the eardrum. Ear candling, which is an alternative treatment for wax removal has been researched and found to be ineffective and potentially hazardous and it is therefore not a recommended wax removal method.

If you’re still having doubts about the best way to clean your ears, just remember that the age-old adage is true: Never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear.

Special thanks to Naomi Smith M.Sc., Aud(C) for this article.

Hearing Aid Expectations Lead the Way

2008-02-13T09:53:00.000-08:00

“My aunt Gerta paid $6000.00 for her hearing aids!! Was she being ripped off?? Does she really need $6000.00 hearing aids?

If your aunt Gerta went to an audiologist or dispenser and said that she was very active, played bingo, went out to restaurants frequently, went to church, and that it was very important that the hearing aids were ‘invisible’, then a quote of $6000.00 for two hearing aids is certainly within reason. If on the other hand, your aunt Gerta said that she lives alone, is on a limited income, rarely goes out, and really only wants a hearing aid so that she can hear her husband at home, then the $6000.00 hearing aids are likely unnecessary, and she should get a second opinion. You see, a large part of selecting hearing aids has nothing to do with your hearing loss itself, but it has to do with lifestyle and expectations.

When I recommend hearing aids, people often ask me to tell them what they need. This is a very difficult thing to do, unless I know a bit more about their lifestyle and expectations. The fact is that most hearing-impaired people do not need $6000.00 hearing aids. For basic communication purposes, most hearing aids (if fit properly) should perform well in quiet situations. So, the question is not whether or not you need expensive hearing aids, but whether you would benefit from them.

If you are very active, or have high expectations, you will likely benefit from more advanced hearing aids and you may not be satisfied with basic hearing aid technology. Hearing aids are no exception to the rule “you get what you pay for”. Don’t get me wrong. The quality of the hearing aid should be good regardless of the price you pay (unless we’re talking disposable, internet or mail-order hearing aids, which are a whole different ballgame!), but in general, the more you pay, the more features you will get with your hearing aid. Also, the more you pay for a hearing aid, the better it should be in background noise, and the more ‘automatic’ it will be.

During the course of a visit with an audiologist or dispenser to discuss hearing aids, you should be asked some questions about your lifestyle. For example, are you working or retired? Do you go out a lot to restaurants? Are you frequently in group situations? Do you go to meetings? Is background noise a problem for you? The topic of expectations should also come up. What do you want from a hearing aid and what do you expect the hearing aid to do for you? What kind of situations are you having difficulty hearing in? Do you want a hearing aid that is fully automatic, or do you want to be able to adjust the hearing aid manually for volume? Your expectations are what will ultimately guide the audiologist or dispenser into deciding on an appropriate hearing aid for you. There is a direct relationship between your expectations and the quoted cost of the hearing aid. The more you expect, and the more active you are, the higher you will likely be quoted for a hearing aid.

Make sure that you know what you are getting when buying hearing aid(s). Some unfortunate people have paid very high prices, expecting or being told that they are getting digital hearing aids. This may be true, but all digital hearing aids are not the same. Digital hearing aids vary in technology. They can be very basic, similar to analogue hearing aids, or they can be very advanced. Ask what features the hearing aids have. If you cannot afford the quoted price, ask whether there are cheaper hearing aids that will fit your hearing loss, but, be sure to understand that you may have to alter your expectations if you decide to go with cheaper hearing aids.

My final piece of advice is that if you (or someone you know) have purchased hearing aids, and they are not meeting your expectations, do not just tuck them away in a drawer! Regardless of what you paid, you should be given a trial period of at least 30 days (many clinics offer a longer trial period), and if you are not happy, you should return to your hearing clinic and discuss your options with the audiologist or dispenser.

Special thanks to Naomi Smith, M.Sc., Aud(C) for this article

Links to Deaf and Hard of Hearing Issues and Stories in the Media

2008-02-10T19:29:00.001-08:00

This blog will be updated as new links come in. If you have an interesting link to a story please forward it to us.

Coroner warns cotton swabs can pose a danger
Marianne White, Canwest News Service
Published: Tuesday, February 05, 2008
QUEBEC - A Quebec coroner is urging Health Canada to force manufacturers of cotton swabs on a stick to post larger warnings on packaging about the dangers of using them in the ear.
The recommendation comes after the investigation into the death last March of Montrealer Daniel St-Pierre, 43. Coroner Jacques Ramsay found the man died of complications linked to an ear infection likely caused by the use of cotton swabs that pierced the ear membrane.
That prompted Ramsay to urge consumers to be careful with the little cotton buds on a stick.

Pepsi's Superbowl Ad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffrq6cUoE5A

Adapting to Hearing Aids

2008-02-07T08:41:00.000-08:00

Are you considering trying hearing aids for the first time, or have you just started a trial with new hearing aids? For some people, adapting to hearing aids is very quick and easy. For others, it can take several months to adapt to new hearing aids. Everyone is different. – So, if this is your first time wearing hearing aids, or you have not worn hearing aids for a long time, welcome to your world full of new sounds for you to enjoy once again!

Here are some basic guidelines when wearing hearing aids for the first time:

Take it slowly!! This cannot be emphasized enough. We normally recommend that for the first few days, you wear the hearing aids only for 1 to 3 hours per day. As you become more comfortable wearing the hearing aids, increase the length of time by one or two hours per day. This gives your brain some time to adjust to the new sounds. In time, you should feel comfortable wearing your hearing aids for the majority of the day. You should not wear the hearing aids to bed at night (the hearing aids may be uncomfortable in your ear if you lie directly on them, and you may experience feedback or whistling).

Quiet situations first! When you wear hearing aids for the first time, even a quiet room may sound noisy to you! You may hear the hum of the refrigerator, the fan, or the sound of your breathing. The sound of crinkling newspaper, water running, or even your footsteps may seem loud to you at first. Your brain needs some time to adjust to these sounds, and to learn to ignore them (as it did when you had normal hearing). When you first get your hearing aids, use them only in quiet situations, or only when talking to one or two people in a quiet room. If you try to use your hearing aids in noisy situations (i.e. traffic, restaurant, group situations) too soon, you may feel overwhelmed.

Adjusting the volume (if applicable). If you have a volume control adjustment on your hearing aid, it is important that you wear the hearing aids so that the volume is equal in each ear. Many hearing aids now ‘reset’ to the proper start-up volume, otherwise set them at approximately half way on your volume control (unless directed otherwise). Turn on the radio or T.V., and stand directly in front of the speaker. Slowly move your head from side to side, and adjust the volume so that the sound is equal and comfortable for both ears. Another method of balancing your hearing aids, is to put your right hearing aid in first. Increase the volume control as you count from 1 to 5. Stop when you hear your voice in the right ear. Put the left hearing aid in. Count again from 1 to 5, and stop when your voice sounds like it’s in the middle of your head. It is not an exact science! The important thing is that the hearing aids are set at approximately the same volume.

Adjusting to your own voice. Your own voice may sound different to you with hearing aids. This is partly because there is something in your ears (stick your fingers in your ears and you will get the same affect), and partly because your hearing aids are amplifying your own voice (similar to hearing yourself on an answering machine or tape). Some people describe the sound as ‘echoey’, or ‘booming’, or ‘loud’. You may feel as though you are talking quite loudly, and are unable to monitor the level of your own voice. This is normal. Most people adapt very quickly to the ‘new’ sound quality of their voice, and it soon sounds natural and ‘normal’ to them. If you find that your voice is bothersome to you when you speak, and you are not adapting to it, some adjustments can often be made to the hearing aid.

Special thanks to Naomi Smith, M.Sc., Aud(C) for this article

Income Tax Q and A's. #3: Claiming hearing aid batteries and other tips

2008-02-06T08:20:00.000-08:00

Q: Can I claim my hearing aid batteries under medical expenses?

A: Technically yes you can, but if you don’t have any other medical expenses you aren’t likely to spend enough to get the tax credit (your expenses must be at least 3% of your income or $1926, whichever is less). However, if it is in the year you purchased your hearing aids, it would make sense to keep the battery receipts for that year. Note: Medical may be claimed for any 12 month period ending in the year. It may be more advantageous for example to go from June to May when totaling your medical expenses.

Some useful tips about Line 330 - Medical expenses
Combining medical expenses for the entire family and claiming them on one return may be more advantageous. Medical may be claimed for any 12 month period ending in the year. It may be more advantageous for example to go from June to May when totaling your medical expenses. Medical expenses include premiums paid at work for health and dental plans (but not insurance and disability). Blue Cross and other health plans are also medical expenses. Don't forget to include travel health insurance. Under certain circumstances you may also be able to claim travel expenses as part of your medical expenses. Don't forget about the refundable medical expense supplement on line 452.
The link for the above information is: http://www.taxescanada.ca/tax_tips.html

Income Tax Q and A's. #2: Claiming hearing aids as a medical expense

2008-02-04T15:10:00.000-08:00

Q: Can I claim my hearing aids as a medical expense on my income tax?

A: Yes you can.
You can claim, as a non-refundable tax credit, medical expenses for yourself, your spouse or common-law partner, and your children born in 1990 or later. For 2007, the total expenses have to be more than 3% of your net income, or $1,926, whichever is less.
You may also be able to claim medical expenses for the following persons if they depend on you for support:
you or your spouse or common-law partner's child or grandchild who was born in 1989 or earlier; and
you or your spouse or common-law partner's parent or certain close relatives who lived in Canada at any time in the year.

Q: If I purchased a hearing aid for someone other than myself, can I claim it under my medical expenses on my federal income tax?

A: The Canada Revenue Agency states that:

1. You can claim, as a non-refundable tax credit, medical expenses for yourself, your spouse or common-law partner, and your children born in 1990 or later. For 2007, the total expenses have to be more than 3% of your net income, or $1,926, whichever is less.

You may also be able to claim medical expenses for the following persons if they depend on you for support:
· you or your spouse or common-law partner's child or grandchild who was born in 1989 or earlier; and
· you or your spouse or common-law partner's parent or certain close relatives who lived in Canada at any time in the year (see 2).

The link to the above information is: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/newsroom/taxtips/2008/tt080115-e.html

2. You may claim the portion of eligible medical expenses you or your spouse or common-law partner paid for the following persons who depended on you for support on line 331:
· your or your spouse or common-law partner's child who was born in 1989 or earlier, or grandchild; or
· your or your spouse or common-law partner's parent, grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew who was a resident of Canada at any time in the year.
The claim must be for the same 12-month period that was determined at line 330.
The link to the above information is: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tax/individuals/topics/income-tax/return/completing/deductions/lines300-350/331-e.html

The following is the formula used for Federal Medical and Disability Tax Credits
Medical Tax Credits are calculated as follows, using the formula:

A x B

Where “A” is a prescribed rate and “B” is the eligible amount.

The prescribed rate is subject to change from year to year. It is currently 15.5%.

The eligible amount is more complicated to determine:

Formula Y-Z

Z is the lesser of:
Net Income x 3%
Or
$1,926

Y is the total amount of all eligible medical expenses for the year.

In Example:
If you had a net income of $100,000 and medical expenses for the year of $7,000.

A = 15.5%
B = (Y-Z) = $7,000 - The lesser of: (100,000 x 3%) = $3,000 or $1,926
B = 7,000 – $1,926 = $5,074

A X B = 15.5% X $5,074 = $786.47

Therefore, you would receive a deduction in taxes payable to the federal government in the amount of $786.47.

Disability Tax Credits are also calculated using the formula A X B:

Where “A” is a prescribed rate and “B” is the eligible amount.

The prescribed rate is the same 15.5%

The eligible amount is $6,890 ($7,021 for 2008)

Therefore, someone who is eligible to receive the disability tax credit would receive a deduction in taxes payable to the federal government in the amount of $1067.95 ($6,890 X 15.5%).