Hearing Aid Client We Dream About! Plus: Aids for Athletes?

I observed a man who had experience with an older hearing but needed an update. He had came in previously to get set up for the hearing aid in his right, better ear. His visit today was to receive the aid. I did not see the beginning part of the aid fitting. I observed the clinician retesting puretones and word recognition for results with the new hearing aid. The thresholds changed a bit in the higher (speech) frequencies. Word recognition was 82%. The clinician did an unaided test for discrim. to show the client the difference in speech reception. The undaided result was 33%, which was quite a difference from 82%. The client was very satisfied! He described how he could now hear "rustles" and sounds he hadn't before.
The next step was for the clinician to teach the client how to operate the aid. The client was informed about taking off and putting on the aid, different cases used for different situations, how to care for aid, and how and when to change the battery. The clinician also informed the client of when to be seen again.
One of the main concerns from the client was exposure to wind creating unwanted results. He informed the clinician that his old aid was rather uncomfortable when exposed to wind. He is an avid golfer. This posed a question for me: Do they make hearing aids specifically for athletes? Some of the main concerns for athletes using hearing aids is moisture exposure and high movement knocking aid around or creating feedback. The website listed in sources below provides great information based for athletes. I learned that they have dry aid kits to use, aids can be sealed to help with moisture exposure, and waterproof aids can be purchased (very pricey!). Modifications can also be made to prevent misplacement of the aid from the ear due to physical activity. Modifications can also be made to prevent feedback (Shafer, 2004).
http://www.asha.org/about/publications/leader-online/archives/2004/041005/041005d.htm

Sources:

Shafer, D. N. (2004, Sept. 21). Game plans for Athletes with hearing loss. The ASHA Leader,
pp.23, 36.

Hearing Evaluation-PE Tube Scarring

I observed a client who, overall, had all normal results as a conclusion for an annual hearing evaluation. During case history, the client revealed that he/she was taking medications for cholesterol, allergies, and acid reflux. No significant changes were noticed with hearing.
The clinician first performed otoscopy. When looking in the right ear, a large amount of scar tissue was noticed. The client revealed that PE tubes were used at a young age in both ears. The results were similiar in the left ear. PE tubes are usually placed when problems with fluid buildup occur in the middle ear space (Martin & Clark, 2006). Tympanometry was normal for both ears.
Puretone results were as follows: Right ear - 250Hz=0dB, 500Hz=5dB, 1kHz=5dB, 2kHz=0dB, 3kHz=10dB, 4kHz=5dB, and 8kHz=15dB / Left ear - 250Hz=0dB, 500Hz=10dB, 1kHz=5dB, 2kHz=5dB, 3kHz=10dB, 4kHz=15dB, 6kHz=10dB, and 8kHz=15dB. The clinician explained the normal results to the client.
The following website contains information dealing with otoscopy and otoscopic results. It also has little quizzes and such! Great resource: www.aap.org/otitismedia/www/vc/ear/rvw/rvw17.cfm

Martin, F. N. & Clark, J. G. (2006). Introduction to audiology (9th ed.). Boston: Pearson
Education, Inc.

Surprising Results for Musician

What results would one expect from a drum musician of say, 15 years? After hearing the case history for this client, I was sure I would see some sort of hearing loss due to noise exposure. Fortunately for the client, no hearing loss was present. Otoscopy and tympanometry both revealed normal results in both ears. The client's puretone results are as follows: Right ear = 250Hz-15dB, 500Hz-10dB, 1kHz-15dB, 2kHz-10dB, 3kHz-0dB, 4kHz-5dB, 6kHz-5dB, 8kHz-10dB / Left ear = 250Hz-10dB, 500Hz-10dB, 1kHz-10dB, 2kHz-5dB, 3kHz-0dB, 4kHz-5dB, 6kHz- -5dB, 8kHz-0dB. As you see, the client's results for puretone thresholds were completely normal. The clinician showed the client the audiogram and thoroughly explained the normal results. The clinician also sent the client home with good hearing protection. Good forms of hearing protection include ear plugs, ear muff, or both ear plugs and muffs simultaneously (ASHA, n.d.). The following website contains links that provide useful information for hearing conservation: http://www.asha.org/about/membership-certification/divs/hearinglinks.htm

Hearing protection. (n.d.). Retrieved November 3, 2007, from http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/disorders/hearing_protect.htm