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Did you know that your hearing and balance are connected? The vestibular system, which contributes to your balance and spatial orientation, helps you coordinate movement. The vestibular system and auditory system are an interconnected network of labyrinths in your inner ear.In a new study, Professor Kathleen Cullen of Johns Hopkins University’s Biomedical Engineering department, finds that our vestibular system owes something to our evolutionary past – which means that our auditory and vestibular systems can be traced back hundreds of millions of years!

From the Primordial Soup to Land: How Our Vestibular System Evolved

In an interview for Quirks and Quarks (LINK: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/canadian-broadcasting-corporation/quirks-and-quarks-segmented-show-from-cbc-radio/e/part-of-your-ear-is-millions-of-years-old-20161119-48294647?autoplay=true), a science-based show on CBC Radio of Canada, Dr. Cullen traced our vestibular systems back to 300 million years ago, when terrestrial habitats (including plants and trees) began to emerge from the primordial oceans flooding continents. During this time, life began to emerge on land; this includes insects, spiders, and lizards. From that period until now, many changes happened evolutionarily for us to become the intricate life-forms we are today!Dr. Cullen conducted balance research at the Department of Physiology at McGill University in Montreal. Our vestibular system, which gives us our balance, can be found in the inner ear. As Dr. Cullen explains, “If you look in the inner ear, there are two components: one that we’re all very familiar with – the auditory component that we use to hear and the cochlea, which is a sensory organ and auditory component. Within the inner ear, there are five other sensors which people are generally less familiar with. We have three looping canal structures called the semi-circular canals, and they tell us how your head is moving, rotating through space, organized at right angles to each other and represent all different rotational motions you could generate.”In addition to these sensory organs, Dr. Cullen tells us that “there are two otolithic organs on each side of the head, and they sense linear motion. So, if you’re driving away from a stoplight or stop sign, you’d be activating the otoliths. This is a system that is very important for us to keep sense of how we move through space in terms of our rotation and translation, and we use it to keep our gaze stable as we walk through our environment.”The vestibular system plays a huge role in our ability to maintain balance, and it is very closely tied to our ocular system – in other words, how we see. “If you didn’t have a vestibular system, your eyes would sort of bounce around like a GoPro on your head,” says Dr. Cullen. “But because we have this vestibular system as we walk through the world, for every head movement we generate, there’s a very short reflex of three neurons that move our eyes in an equal and opposite direction. If we are walking down the street and slip on ice, or any other unexpected head motion, our vestibular spinal pathways make compensatory head and body motions to keep us upright.”

How the Vestibular System Evolved the Way It Did

Consider the way that life was lived in the “primordial soup” and how it had to adapt to life on land. Dr. Cullen tells us that in the vestibular system, “there are two types of receptor cells, one which is conserved in animals such as fish who lived in the primordial soup and ones in animals that came out, like reptiles, and ultimately primates and humans. So, there’s more recently evolved receptor cell is preferentially hooked up to a type of wire – in the nerve – and what we found is that the nerves hooked up to the recent-type of receptor cells encode head motion in an unexpected way.”Dr. Cullen’s specific interest lies in how the vestibular system “takes a sensory input that it generates and performs these reflexes and gives us our sense of balance, and how does the brain take that information and determine the appropriate way to activate your muscles.”In her study at McGill University, Dr. Cullen looked at “the very precise timing of the action potentials – the way neurons encode information, an all or nothing event. We found that if you look at the normal movements that people or animals generate, most of the frequency of our movements is below 20 hertz. But if you look at the way neurons in the new pathway are encoding information, they are encoding at up to 100 hertz.”This means that “the slower channel is the old channel – great for representing the actual stimulus you’ve been experiencing (shaking your head back and forth),” while the new channel was “good at the precision of when you start to move – a very precise channel that extracts the transient feature.” These two channels work together as a by-product of evolution 300 million years ago, when animals left the sea and moved onto land. Dr. Cullen points to the vast differences between life in the sea and life on land, and the different requirements to adapt.“In water, there is a viscous environment. As animals moved onto land, the air is much less viscous, and the development of long necks,” says Dr. Cullen. “Between these two more recent developments among animals - humans and monkeys – there are much different mechanical abilities to generate much more transient high acceleration head movement. Evolution of the nervous system needed to come up with a new way to come with the most optimal way for our vestibular system to tell the brain that we have some sort of movement we’ve experienced.”In other words, a fish does not have to worry about tripping or falling over – but it still does require a clean communication channel between its suspension in the water and its ocular system! As a result, Dr. Cullen says, “The bigger surprise? “It’s fascinating that these two channels evolved so cleanly to represent the information in such different and distinct ways.”

Here at Arizona Balance and Hearing Aids, we treat vestibular disorders. If you have any questions about the vestibular system, or if you believe you’ve been experiencing difficulties in balance, contact us today!

The new year is upon us, which means it’s time to break out the champagne--and also a pen and paper for making our annual list of resolutions. Exercise more, eat a healthier diet, make new friends, start saving for that trip...some of our goals will be kept, and some will be broken, as always seems to be the case.But one resolution that you should keep--particularly if you are age 50 or older--is to schedule an annual hearing exam. If you suffer from undiagnosed hearing loss, this single step has the potential to make a significant positive impact on your life, and even prevent future illness and injury.

How common is hearing loss?

]Many people postpone having their hearing checked, often for years after first noticing a decline in their hearing. Perhaps they are afraid to receive confirmation that their hearing is not what it used to be, or they think that they are alone with this condition. But they needn’t feel this way--hearing loss is not only treatable, but also incredibly common. Let’s take a look at some surprising facts about hearing loss in America:-The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) estimates that 15 percent of Americans between the ages of 20 and 69 suffer from noise-induced hearing loss.-Age-related hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting older adults: 1 in 3 people in the United States between the ages of 65 and 74 has hearing loss, and nearly half of those older than 75 have difficulty hearing.-Work-related hearing loss is also incredibly common: according to the CDC, four million workers go to work each day in damaging noise, ten million people in the U.S. have a noise-related hearing loss, and twenty-two million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise each year.So, whether your hearing loss is related to noise exposure, age or another cause, the facts speak for themselves: you are not alone.

What if hearing loss goes untreated?

]While there are numerous benefits that come from treating hearing loss, the opposite is also true. Research shows that letting hearing loss go untreated can have serious consequences, on both the body and the mind.One of the most compelling reasons to seek help with hearing loss is the fact that this condition, when untreated, has been linked to diminished cognitive function. A study at Johns Hopkins recently found that cognitive diminishment was 41 percent greater in seniors with hearing loss. There are two primary reasons for this: the first is that hearing loss can cause increased isolation and loneliness, which in turn increases the risk factors for Alzheimer’s and dementia. The second is that the brain, as it works to understand degraded speech signals, has less energy to put towards other tasks, so things like memory and comprehension begin to suffer.Untreated hearing loss can also have damaging effects on personal relationships. As communication between the hard of hearing person and their friends and family becomes increasingly frustrating, many people with hearing loss react by withdrawing from social activities, which can put even more space between themselves and those around them.Finally, hearing damage that goes untreated has been shown to have a negative effect on general health and well-being, and contributes to the risk of falls and injuries.

Schedule your hearing exam today!

]Fortunately, hearing loss is treatable, and research shows that individuals who treat their hearing loss early with hearing aids have shown significant benefits. Hearing aids, by making it easier for your brain to process and understand sounds, can: reduce mental fatigue, decrease one’s feelings of social isolation and depression, improve memory, attention and focus, and also improve social relationships by greatly aiding in communication.The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine recommends you have your hearing checked at least once a year, so even if you don’t currently notice any signs of hearing loss, an annual exam should be on your to-do list. If you feel tentative about going on your own, ask a friend or family member to go with you for support. With all of the substantial benefits that go along with treating your hearing loss, there’s no reason to delay.Ready to schedule your annual hearing test? Contact us at Arizona Balance and Hearing Aids today!

At home tips for common hearing aid issues

As a hearing aid wearer, you don’t want to rush to your hearing instrument specialist every time something isn’t quite right. Surely you can fix some simple problems on your own? Absolutely! Here’s how to easily fix the most common hearing aid problems from the comfort and convenience of your own home.

My Hearing Aids Seem to be Dead

If your hearing aids aren’t producing any sound, there’s clearly something very wrong. Check to see if your hearing aid is turned on and adjust the settings. Still not working? It’s time to check the battery. It’s a common mistake to insert the battery upside down, or fail to close the door properly, so it could just be a matter of flipping the battery or double checking the battery door to get your hearing aid back to turn on.

My Hearing Aids Are Too Quiet

If your hearing aids are working but the sound seems to be muffled or too soft, there is likely a buildup of wax on the microphone or earmold. Try thoroughly cleaning your hearing aid. It’s surprising how many problems a good cleaning will fix. Your ears are constantly exposed to dirt, dust, debris, and moisture, which cause damage to your hearing aids. To keep your hearing aids in good working order, consider adding a quick cleaning to your daily morning routine.Use a soft, dry cloth, wipe your hearing aids carefully to remove any dirt. Check for earwax so it never has a chance to build up or cause problems. This can greatly prolong the life of your hearing aid. If your ears produce a lot of wax and you’re wearing a behind-the-ear model, you can remove the earmolds and wash them in warm water with a mild soap. Rinse very thoroughly, and make sure they’re completely dry before you reattaching them! Never get your hearing aids wet.Another possible explanation for the low volume is damage or moisture in the tubing. Check them carefully for cracks or fraying that could be diverting your volume away from your ears. If you find damage, come visit us for repairs.If you’ve tried all these tricks for making your hearing aid louder and nothing’s working, it’s possible your hearing has changed. It’s time for a hearing test. We’ll advise you on the next steps, and see if it’s time to upgrade your hearing aids.

The Sound is Distorted

If the sound coming from your hearing aid is distorted, check the battery. Distortions are often caused by corroded or damaged battery contacts. This is the part of the hearing aid that connects to the battery, allowing power to flow to the hearing aid. When the contacts are damaged, the power flow is uneven and the sound will often be distorted.Located inside the battery door, the contacts are easily damaged by dust, debris, moisture or earwax. Remove the battery from the case and clean the contacts thoroughly with a soft, dry cloth. Replace the battery and try again. The sound should have improved. You can also try a new battery, as the battery you’re using may be faulty.

My Hearing Aid Whistles or Has Feedback

If you’re experiencing a lot of whistling or feedback from your hearing aids, the first thing to try is to reduce the volume. Feedback happens when the sound your hearing aid has amplified is picked up again by the microphone. This is often enough to stop the whistling, and leave you hearing clearly in any environment.If that’s not working, take your hearing aids out and put them back in. It’s possible they weren’t inserted properly, and that was causing the feedback. If the feedback persists, your hearing aid or earmolds might not fit you properly. When the hearing aids aren’t sealing your ear, sounds sneak in past the hearing aids and create feedback. Visit us at Arizona Balance and Hearing Aids to check the fit of your hearing aid, and stop that annoying whistling.

Hearing Aid Maintenance and Care

You rely on your hearing aids to make your everyday life a breeze. If they aren’t functioning properly, we know it’s not just an irritation, but a problem that affects your whole day.If you’re having trouble with your hearing aids and these simple fixes aren’t working, we’re always here to help. Drop in anytime with us at Arizona Balance and Hearing Aids, and we’ll take a look at your hearing aids, repair any damage, perform a thorough cleaning, and make sure your devices are in great working order.

Thanks to improvements in technology over the past ten years, listening to music has become easier and more comfortable than ever before. However, there is a downside: some of these technological advances, such as ear bud headphones and personal audio devices, are contributing to a sharp rise in noise-induced hearing loss among young people, according to the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).The World Health Organization estimated last year that approximately 1.1 billion teenagers and young adults are at risk, as a result of harmful sound levels from personal audio devices, noisy entertainment venues, and sporting events. Learn more about how this can be prevented.Educating Through Music--The “Listen to Your Buds” Campaign Ten years ago, ASHA launched their creative plan to halt the rise of noise-related hearing loss: The Listen to Your Buds Concert Series. Now it’s back, and touring Philadelphia schools (the concert series was introduced to six elementary schools for the first time this week). This campaign helps to educate grade-school children about using technology safely, by bringing award-winning musicians to each school to perform, and speak with students about how they can protect their hearing now and in the future. This time around, jazz musicians Jazzy Ash & the Leaping Lizards and Oran Etkin will alternate headlining the concerts.Joy Peterson, Au.D., CCC-A, manager of audiology at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, shed some light on this campaign in an interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer this week. Read on to find out more about this exciting initiative.A Generation at Risk, and The Necessity of Early Education According to Dr. Peterson, public polling has revealed that the vast majority of children now use technology devices such as MP3 players, tablets and smartphones--along with ear buds or headphones. While this is not a necessarily a problem in itself, many young people are not familiar with “safe listening practices” and may be inadvertently damaging their hearing every day.Experts believe that the growing popularity of tech devices, combined with the lack of hearing-safety knowledge could be putting a whole generation of young adults at risk.The good news? Noise-related hearing loss is completely preventable, and according to Dr. Peterson, the key is instilling good listening habits early on: “With the Buds campaign, the idea is to get the safe listening message to younger children before they start to develop the bad habits with technology—like cranking the volume for hours on end. So, educating teenagers is important, but let’s start talking to them earlier—when our messages may make even more of an impact.”Safe Listening Tips from the “Buds” Campaign The Listen to Your Buds campaign aims to keep their message very simple by emphasizing two key rules for listening to music with personal devices:1) Turn the volume down.2) Give your ears a rest by taking listening breaks.The campaign leaders have found elementary school-age children to be highly receptive to this simple message, along with the format of the concerts. Dr. Peterson says, of their mission: “We help them to appreciate the fact that their hearing is a gift—and something they wouldn’t want to lose.”How Can Parents Help? Children often look to their parents’ actions as guidance. So, the first thing we must do as parents is make sure we are setting a good example by following safe listening practices ourselves.Many smartphones come with a music volume limit which you can toggle in the settings, making sure that your child isn’t able to increase the volume to a damaging level. You can also provide earplugs and earmuffs designed to protect hearing in loud sound environments.How Does Hearing Loss Affect Children In Particular? Hearing is critical to speech and language development, communication, and learning. Even so-called “minimal or mild” hearing loss can have a significant impact. Those with hearing loss may have difficulty with achieving in reading and math. Children with mild to moderate hearing loss achieve one to four grade levels lower, on average, than their peers with normal hearing. Some children also report feeling socially isolated as a result of hearing loss which can develop into feelings of low self-esteem. All of this points to the importance of preventing noise-induced hearing loss as well as early identification of any type of hearing problem.Schedule an annual hearing test for your child at Arizona Balance and Hearing Aids today!

Social media can be much more than a way to stay in touch with your friends. It allows you to connect with your community, keep up on news and events, and get practical advice. Randi Zuckerberg’s story is for all the naysayers in your life who think Facebook is a waste of time! It helped her figure out a key element to her son’s health.

Hearing Loss at the Zuckerberg Home

Randi Zuckerberg, whom you might know as the New York Times bestselling author of Dot Complicated: Untangling Our Wired Lives, is also a media executive and mother of two young boys. In a recent article published in Today, Zuckerberg shared her story.

The Zuckerbergs’ first son, Asher, was a healthy baby, and Randi and Brent were model parents, watching his development carefully. When Simcha, nicknamed Simi, was born, they relaxed a little bit. Both boys were happy, lovable children, and no one saw any problems. Doubts began creeping in when Zuckerberg realized that Simi’s development seemed a bit slow.

At 20-months-old, he was still not walking or talking, so she reached out to friends on Facebook for advice. The overwhelming response was not to worry about Simi. Everyone thought he was doing great, and just needed a bit more time to catch up.

Facebook Memories: Reliving the Past

Zuckerberg believed her friends, until she saw an old Facebook post. As you know, Facebook will show you memories, or posts you’ve made several months or years ago. These old posts will pop up at the top of your newsfeed so you can share old memories with friends. This memory post was about Asher as a toddler. At 18-months-old, Asher was walking and talking just fine, and was even using full sentences! Zuckerberg realized that Simi must have fallen far behind, and it was time to take action.

They visited an audiologist, who diagnosed Simi with hearing loss caused by an ear infection as a baby. He went through surgery, and was immediately placed in speech therapy. Simi is now two years old, and is loving life! He’s learning to speak in full sentences, and is starting to walk. This is great news, since it means he’ll be able to grow and develop along with his peers.

Support and Social Media

After her son was diagnosed with hearing loss, Zuckerberg turned to social media for support. Zuckerberg dealt with feelings of guilt that she had not recognized his hearing loss earlier, and had allowed her friends to lull her fears. Worried about Simi and his development, she reached out to other moms who had experienced similar struggles, and they helped her through this difficult time.

Zuckerberg credits social media for helping her realize Simi wasn’t hearing normally. The Facebook post jolted her memory, and made all her fears come rushing back. Luckily, she caught it in time. Living with untreated hearing loss, especially as a young child, has life-long consequences. If a child doesn’t have normal hearing while they are developing and growing, their cognitive and social development will be slowed, and their brains may never function normally.

Don’t Discredit Your Parental Instincts

While Zuckerberg is thankful that social media helped her recognize Simi’s problem and provided social support, she gives a word of warning. Not everything you are told on social media is accurate, and sometimes you have to trust your gut.

When she first thought Simi might have a problem, she allowed her support network lull her into thinking everything was ok. She says it’s never a good idea to take chances, especially when it comes to your kids. Make sure you do your own research and trust your instincts. They’re probably right. Today, both Simi and Asher are doing great, and Simi is back on track to growing and learning normally.

At Arizona Balance and Hearing Aids, we provide pediatric hearing loss services. Contact us today if you believe your child is experiencing hearing loss.

Holidays can be joyful family occasions, complete with love, laughter, and good conversations. It’s hard to picture the holiday season without seeing a large group of extended family spending lots of quality time together. If you have hearing loss though, thinking about Thanksgiving or Christmas can be daunting. Since large gatherings mean lots of extra background noise, too many conversations happening at once, it is easy to get caught up in it all. Here are some tips we hope you will find help as we approach the holiday season.

If You’re Hosting – Pay Attention to Noise Level and Spaces!

Okay, so maybe you can’t ask everyone to whisper, but there are a few ways to bring down the volume. This will ensure that you don’t have trouble following conversations with all that background noise. The most obvious piece of advice is to turn down the holiday music. Yes, you only get to listen to that holiday CD once a year, but maybe listening to it on full volume at the party isn’t necessary. If it’s too loud, everyone will have a harder time enjoying conversations. Keep the volume soft, and turn the speakers away from where the conversations are happening.Another great tip is to use more than one room for the day. You don’t have to all squeeze into the living room, but can spread out into the dining room, or send the kids upstairs. Smaller groups will be less noisy, with fewer conversations happening at one time. It will make one on one conversations easier, and make hearing loss more manageable. It also allows people to catch up in small groups, with deeper conversations!To reduce noise at the dinner table, consider switching to paper or plastic plates and utensils. Not only will you eliminate all that clinking, you also won’t have to be in the kitchen all evening washing dishes! If you have a round table, use it for dinner. Those with hearing loss will have an easier time reading lips and following the conversation when they can see everyone at the table.

When You’re the Guest

If you’ve been invited to someone else’s home, you have less control over the listening environment. However, there are still a few things you can do to enjoy your time with the relatives, and not feel like you’re missing out on the conversations happening around you. We know you don’t want to make a scene or draw attention to your hearing loss, so here are some subtle tricks to make the evening go smoothly.

Location is Key

The best tip we can give you when you’re a guest is to find a quiet place. If you’re having a one on one conversation with your niece, try to find a quiet corner or somewhere where the music isn’t very loud. You’ll be able to hear what she’s saying, and have a pleasant interaction without straining to hear. Consider the lighting as well. Don’t pick a dark corner, since you won’t be able to lip read or catch the visual cues in the dark.

At the Dinner Table

When it’s time for dinner, find a dinner buddy. This could be someone you don’t have trouble understanding, or someone who gladly fills you in if you do get lost from time to time. Try to pick a seat that points your good ear towards most of the people around the table. Sit at the end of the table, where you can see and make eye contact most of the other guests. This will help you engage in the conversation and follow what’s being said.Finally, don’t be shy! It’s perfectly fine to talk to the host ahead of time, and see if there are ways to accommodate your hearing loss, like turning down the music, or finding a quieter room. Your family and friends will be more than happy to help you get the most out of every holiday gathering.From all of us at Arizona Balance and Hearing, we wish you a happy holiday season!

Does your diet affect your hearing?

We all know that nutrition is incredibly important. Eating well gives us energy and keeps our heart pumping happily by reducing the risk of heart diseases like heart attack and stroke. It also lowers cholesterol and decreases the chances of developing other chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer. What you eat helps you control weight, improve your mood and promotes overall health. Not only that, but did you know that what you eat can affect your hearing as well?

What Does Eating Have to do With Hearing?

According to the Daily Sentinel, the food we eat might actually play a big role in hearing health. Dr. Joe McDermott, Director of Audiology for Colorado West Otolaryngologists, says hearing health is closely linked with your body’s overall health. It’s easy to see how eating healthy foods promotes overall health, which in turn benefits you hearing. Eating certain foods can actually reduce your chances of developing hearing loss, and protect your hearing.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Eating Fish

What are the best foods for your hearing? One of the nutrients closely linked with hearing health is omega-3 fatty acids. They have anti-inflammatory properties that give extra strength to blood vessels throughout the body. This includes the blood vessels in the delicate inner ear. Having healthy blood vessels means all your cells are getting enough oxygen and other nutrients, and your hearing is protected. Foods to eat if you’re hoping to increase your intake of omega-3s include fish like salmon, tuna, or sardines. If you’ve been looking for a perfect excuse to book that fishing trip with the guys, this is it! Those who eat at least two servings of fish each week are 42% less likely to develop age-related hearing loss, as compared to people who aren’t getting enough omega-3 fatty acids.

Antioxidants: Getting Your Leafy Greens

Another important food group for hearing health is antioxidants. Folic acid is the antioxidant you want to get, and it can be found in leafy greens such as romaine lettuce and spinach. Also, look for it in peas, beans, and nuts. Antioxidants like folic acid reduce free radicals, or molecules that cause damage to your body’s cells. Fewer free radicals means less damage in your ear, and clearer hearing. For adults over 50, having a folate deficiency means a 35% higher risk of developing hearing loss.

Vitamins and Minerals: Don’t Forget the Fruits and Vegetables

For hearing health, vitamins are essential. Vitamin B12 has many functions in the body as well as in the ear. It promotes the production of red blood cells and improved blood flow to the ears. Foods high in B12 are meat, dairy, and eggs. Vitamin C boosts the immune system, and can be found in many fruits and vegetables like oranges, grapefruit, and bell peppers. Vitamin D keeps bones and tissues in the ear strong, and is found in fish and milk. Vitamin E, which can be found in nuts like almonds and peanuts, improves overall circulation.Zinc protects against age-related hearing loss, and can be found in dark chocolate. Yes, chocolate! Indulge in your guilty pleasure, it’s for your health. Just make sure it’s dark chocolate, and doesn’t have a lot of added sugar. Finally, magnesium can prevent noise-induced hearing loss. It’s in bananas, potatoes, artichokes and broccoli.So, the next time you open the fridge, stop to think about what you’re eating and how it might be impacting your health and your hearing. You should have no difficulties finding foods rich in omega-3s, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Making healthy choices isn’t a guarantee that you won’t one day struggle with hearing loss, but including these foods in your daily diet will certainly improve your overall health and hearing.For more information on hearing loss or to schedule a consultation, contact us at Arizona Balance and Hearing Aids!

Hearing Impaired and Police Interactions

You may or may not have heard about the 29-year-old man with hearing impairment who was shot and killed during a police interaction last month in Charlotte, North Carolina. On August 18th of this year, Daniel Kevin Harris was driving down the I-480 highway when an officer attempted to pull him over for speeding. It is assumed that Harris did not hear the police sirens, as he continued down the freeway for about 7 miles. Mr. Harris exited the freeway at Seven Oaks Drive.While an active investigation is still underway, exact details of the incident are unclear after this point. What we do know is that upon exiting his vehicle, only a few hundred meters from his home, an interaction with a police officer led to the shooting and death of Daniel Harris. He was deaf and also had a speech impairment.Mr. Harris was unarmed and left behind a 4-year-old child.To read more on this devastating story, click here.

How can people who are deaf or living with hearing impairment interact with police officers safely?

Although we urge police organizations to provide proper training for their officers to prevent another case like Kevin Harris’ from occurring, there are some things members of the deaf community or those with hearing impairment can do to safely interact with police.Getting pulled over for any reason can be an extremely nerve-wracking experience, and even more so for those who are deaf or live with a hearing impairment. What can you do to stay calm, protect your rights, communicate your needs, and stay safe when interacting with police officers?ACLU has partnered with HEARD and award-winning actress Marlee Matlin (who is also the wife of a police officer) in creating an informative video that answers these questions for individuals with hearing impairment. watch it here.Here is a basic outline of more pertinent topics covered in this video.

If you get pulled over:

1. Be prepared. Permanently keep a card in the visor of the driver’s side sun shade that clearly reads, “I am deaf” or “I have a hearing impairment”. This way, it will be one of the first things the officer sees as he or she approach your vehicle.2. Be aware. Many times, it is not possible to hear a police siren behind you. Check your rear-view mirror periodically for police lights that indicate you have been pulled over.3. Remain calm. Once pulled over, pull the sun visor down so your sign is clearly visible. Then, roll down the window, turn off your car, keep your hands on the steering wheel and wait for the officer to approach.4. Make eye contact and communicate your needs. After eye contact has been established, communicate in a way that works for you that you are hearing impaired. Communicate your needs in writing. Make sure that the officer understands what you need in order to understand the conversation – this can mean paper and pencil or an interpreter.5. Do not touch an officer. Many times, (especially members of the deaf community) use their hands to communicate – and this often involves touching. When interacting with police, it is important to remember to never touch an officer, as it can be viewed as a threat. If you need to get an officer’s attention, wave or vocalize, if possible.6. Do not continue to communicate if you do not understand. If you are not sure what is happening, please stop the conversation and wait for the accommodations you have requested. It is your right to be provided with what you need in order to clearly understand a police interaction.7. Know your rights. You have a right to your requested accommodations due to your hearing loss. You also have a right to refuse a search of your car, person or home. (If police officers believe a gun or other weapon may be present, they have the right to pat down the outside of your clothing).

How can I help?

There are many steps that can be taken to make interactions between police officers and those with hearing impairment safer and less stressful.1. Sign this petition. Urge the Attorney General to provide appropriate training to police officers when interacting with people with hearing impairment. click here to sign.2. Donate to Daniel Kevin Harris’ Memorial Fund. After funeral costs are covered, the rest of the money will be used to set up a foundation in his name – aimed at educating police officers on how to interact with those with hearing and speech impairments.3. Treat your hearing loss. If you or someone you love has hearing loss that can be treated with hearing aids, getting treatment can greatly improve life, relationships, cognitive abilities and even safety when interacting with police.

Three Interesting Facts About Balance and Dizziness

Although Balance Awareness Week has come to a close, September is still Vestibular Awareness Month and Arizona Balance & Hearing Aids is committed to raising as much awareness as possible about balance, dizziness and vestibular disorders throughout the entire month.In a previous post, we overviewed what vestibular disorders are, and the festivities and fundraisers surrounding Balance Awareness Week. We also added new and in-depth information on symptoms, types, and causes of vestibular disorders on our page dedicated to the issue.This week, we have decided to outline 3 interesting facts that you probably didn’t know about balance, dizziness, and vestibular disorders.

1. Your Ears Control Your Blood Flow

You read that right. We’ve learned from previous posts that our vestibular (or balance) system is made up of three semi-circle canals that lie within the “labyrinth” of our inner ear. Each of these three semi-circles are positioned at different angles and contain a liquid called endolymph. The movement of this liquid as we walk, swim, lie down or swing sends signals to our brain as to where we are within our physical environment – and thus helps us to keep our balance and refrain from dizziness.Did you know that the movement of endolymph in our inner ear also sends signals to the part of our brain that controls blood flow? For example, when you move from lying down to standing, these signals trigger your brain to compensate for this change, and send blood to the appropriate areas of your body that won’t automatically get blood due to gravity. When our vestibular system isn’t working correctly, this can also trigger changes and issues with our blood flow.

2. The Most Common Type of Vestibular Disorder is Very Easily Treatable

As health care professionals, it is always exciting when we can tell patients that treatment for their concerns is quick, non-invasive, painless and effective. Luckily for doctors that treat vestibular disorders, this most often the case when the cause for patients’ dizziness is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo or (BPPV).BPPV is the reason for approximately 50% of cases of dizziness in older adults. BPPV is caused by some pieces of calcium carbonate crystals or (otoconia) becoming dislodged and migrating into the three semicircle canals within the labyrinth of our inner ear. Treatment is quick and painless, and at AZ Balance and Hearing Aids will be treated the same day. We simply move your head in painless but extremely carefully calculated positions to move the crystals back into their correct locations. Typically, this simple correction alleviates the symptoms of BPPV.

3. Your Diet or a Vitamin Deficiency May be Making you Dizzy

There are many health concerns that we may automatically attribute to diet – but dizziness isn’t typically one of them. However, dieting and dehydration are leading causes of dizziness. It is recommended that adults drink about 8 glasses of water in an 8-ounce container per day. Considering the busy lifestyle most Americans live, consuming this much water typically takes effort. A chronically dehydrated person may not even notice that they are dehydrated, however, it may be the reason you are feeling dizzy. Follow the 8x8 rule for a few weeks to see if some of your symptoms of dizziness correct themselves.A deficiency of vitamin B-12 can also cause dizziness. According to the CDC, about 3% of adults over the age of 51 have a vitamin B-12 deficiency. B-12 can be found in supplement form in many grocery stores or pharmacies and can also be found in foods such as meat and dairy products. Vitamin B-12 also increases energy levels – an added bonus we could all use from time to time!If you feel concerned about balance issues or dizziness in yourself or a loved one, contact us at AZ Balance & Hearing Aids. We are experts in the area of vestibular disorders and our friendly team is eager to take care of you. Remember, September holds Balance Awareness Week – so what better time than now to seek help for your balance concerns?

About 69 million American adults have suffered or will suffer from a vestibular or balance disorder in their lifetime. To help promote awareness, education and resources for people with vestibular and balance disorders, we at AZ Balance and Hearing Aids (ABHA) have partnered with the Vestibular Disorders Association (VEDA) in celebrating Balance Awareness Week. The goal of this year’s Balance Awareness Week is to “Defeat Dizziness TM”, and encourage patients to educate themselves and seek help from a vestibular professional with their balance issues.Although Balance Awareness Week is scheduled for September 12th-18th this year, ABHA will be delving deeper into vestibular and balance issues for the entirety of September.The human body’s process of balancing is also known as the vestibular system. This system allows us to walk, run, swim, and swing without becoming confused – by collecting information that helps our brains to understand our body’s relationship to the environment and gravity.The primary processes of the vestibular system occur within our inner ear. Inside our inner ear lies a “labyrinth” within which the vestibular system operates. Within each labyrinth are three semi-circle canals that lie at different angles and represent our three-dimensional world. Inside each of these canals is a fluid called endolymph. Movement in our bodies causes these fluids to move and “swish around”. The movement of this fluid is the crux of our vestibular system, as it sends signals to our brain that helps us process and understand our body’s location in space.When disease, injury or unknown factors interfere with the vestibular system’s delicate processes, vestibular disorders can occur. Vestibular disorders can cause vertigo (dizziness or a false sense of spinning) and problems with keeping your balance.The symptoms of chronic dizziness or imbalance can have a significant and disabling effect on a person’s quality of life. Including limited ability to groom, or simply move about the house. It is reported that about 11.3% of people with chronic dizziness report symptoms that are severe enough to be considered disabling, and the condition is disabling for 33.4% of adults with chronic imbalance. VEDA reports that, “the painful economic and social impacts of dizziness are significantly underestimated”.The most common vestibular disorder is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). However, labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis, Ménière’s disease, secondary endolymphatic hydrops and perilymph fistula are also quite commonly diagnosed.While most common in older adults, vestibular disorders can affect individuals at any age, including babies and children. Approximately 35% of adults in the United States who are 40 years of age or older have experienced some form of vestibular dysfunction. According to the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), 80% of people over 65 experience dizziness, and BPPV (the most common vestibular disorder) is responsible for 50% of these cases of dizziness.[/cs_text][/cs_column]If you want to help ABHA and the Vestibular Disorders Association spread awareness and increase revenue for resources and research on vestibular disorders, there are many ways you can help by celebrating Balance Awareness Week.1. Sign Up for the Dizzy Dash – The Dizzy Dash is a virtual 5K run, which gives you and your team flexibility on when and where you make the dash. Register your team to begin fundraising and for your Dizzy Dash t-shirt! Click here for more information.3. Help spread awareness – Download a free Balance Awareness Week poster, and “Top Ten Vestibular Facts” sheet to hang up at your work place or other boards throughout your community.4. Make Balance Awareness Week go viral – “Like” VEDA’s and ABHA’s Facebook pages and share the inspiring stories, posts and videos with your friends and family!Are you struggling with dizziness or balance issues? Don’t wait for Balance Awareness Week. Contact AZ Balance and Hearing Aids and schedule your consultation today.

Think back to the last time you had a deep and fulfilling conversation with a friend or loved one. What made it so memorable? Where were you, and what did you talk about? Now consider how many times you asked your friend or loved one to repeat themselves, or couldn’t understand what was being said.It’s likely that your most fulfilling conversation with a loved one didn’t include you asking them to repeat themselves, or to speak up. Connection, after all, usually happens when things flow naturally and we are able to focus our energy on what is being shared with us.For those that experience hearing loss, the realities of more difficult and tense conversations is very real. Age-related hearing loss most often affects our ability to understand speech, so we often find ourselves struggling to keep up with conversations or in social environments.So, can a hearing aid improve our relationships with friends and family? The answer is an overwhelming yes. Here are just some of the ways that hearing aids help us lead richer and more fulfilling lives with our loved ones.Those that suffer from hearing loss often find they are exhausted after challenging sound environments, including restaurants and social gatherings. It can be difficult to simply understand what one person is saying, much less an entire group! As our hearing deteriorates, we often find that we withdraw from social situations that would leave us exhausted and embarrassed.Finding a hearing aid that can not only amplify sounds used in speech – but also help amplify speech coming from a certain person or group of people – can prevent this withdrawal. Those that begin using a hearing aid will often find that they feel more social and happier around people. That makes not just the hearing aid wearer happy, but their loved ones happy, too!When we lose our hearing, we most often lose our perception of higher-frequency sounds first. Those sounds are common in the voices of children, whose voices are higher-pitched than those older than them. Of course, it is often difficult to explain to children that we have difficulty hearing or understanding them, so those with hearing loss often feel they are missing out on important opportunities to connect with their children and grandchildren.When we use hearing aids, we are able to hear these higher-pitched voices more clearly. There’s no longer a need to ask a child to repeat themselves or to create distance in our connections with them. This is often one of the most profound reasons we seek out hearing solutions. We only get so much time with those that we love!We often spend time with our loved ones outside of our home – often in restaurants, at parties or even outdoor events. When we leave our homes and go to unfamiliar locations, however, we often find that they are more challenging sound environments. Ambient noise and sound interference can make it hard to focus on the sounds we need – like speech or music.A hearing aid means we can filter out these distracting ambient sounds and amplify more important sounds, like conversations in a movie or over a dinner table. Certain hearing aids even connect wirelessly with hand held microphones or have directional microphones we can control with a smartphone app for even more control!If you are finding that your relationships are suffering because of possible hearing loss, now is the time for a hearing test. Contact our team about scheduling a test and starting your journey toward better hearing.

Really, please don’t panic. It might be distressing to receive a letter from your child’s school stating they have failed their hearing screen. You might feel alone, scared, or even guilty. Firstly, it may be a false positive. You child may have been excited by the break in the normal school routine, trip to the nurses’ office, and the new experience of taking vision and hearing assessments. He may not have understood the directions clearly or taken the assessment seriously. There are many reasons your child could have falsely failed a hearing screen. Even if your child’s hearing seems fine, it is imperative you take the school recommendation seriously and schedule a hearing assessment with us at Arizona Balance and Hearing Aids. At the screening, the doctor will first ask you a series of questions regarding your family and child’s health and history. Be prepared to answer questions regarding what antibiotics your child has taken and at which age linguistic milestones were accomplished.Next, the doctor will look into your child’s ears with an instrument called an otoscope in order to note any physical damage to the canal or eardrum. Then, your child will undergo a series of painless and quick hearing assessments. The type of assessments will vary based on your child’s age and recommendations from the audiologist, but most involve responding to faint sounds while wearing headphones.When the exam is completed, your audiologist will review the results with you and answer any and all questions you may have. If further treatment is necessary, your doctor will discuss your options based on your child’s specific hearing profile, hearing needs, and lifestyle.If recommended by an audiologist, hearing aids are incredibly powerful tools in helping children with hearing loss achieve all the same milestones and accomplishments as their peers without hearing loss. Study after study has shown astronomically positive effects of hearing aid use in all areas of life.It is estimated that about 80% of people who could benefit from hearing aids do not use them. Don’t let your child be part of that 80%. Instead, allow them the opportunity to accurately hear all the beautiful sounds life has to offer, and develop on par with their peers, both socially and academically.It may feel like you’re the only parent on the planet dealing with this news, but you are absolutely not alone. In fact, there are approximately 32 million children living with hearing loss, all over the world.In the US, the Center for Disease Control estimates that about 15% of children aged 6-19 have low or high frequency hearing loss in one or both ears. You and your child are not alone on this journey. If your child does, in fact, have a hearing issue, early identification and treatment are the best ways to ensure your child will develop appropriate social and academic skills and lead a perfectly normal, healthy, and happy life.Hearing loss should not interfere with your child’s ability to do the things they love. Whether your child is an avid swimmer, dancer, chess player or mathematician, he or she will still be able to participate with the right hearing support. However, it is still imperative that you inform the staff at your child’s school and leaders of their activities of their hearing loss and required interventions.It may also be recommended that certain accommodations be made for your child to succeed in the classroom. This could include simple solutions such as preferential seating or providing your child with visuals to accompany information given verbally. If your child is not able to work to their potential with their hearing support and simple accommodations, you may reach out to the school regarding their process on obtaining a 504 Plan or IEP for your child.Some students with hearing loss need more intervention and support, such as weekly sessions with a speech therapist or alternate modes of taking assessments. If needed, these types of supports will be provided by the school district completely free-of-charge to you.

Manufacturers and researchers are constantly on the hunt for the next big advancement in hearing aid technology. And every year, their hard work pays off with incredible advancements in hearing aid performance and functionality.This year is no different, with 2016 bringing some truly incredible hearing aids onto the market. From digital connectivity to super-fast sound processing, these hearing aids are the ones changing the game this year.Early this year, Signia unveiled what they call their most advanced hearing aid platform yet with the Primax aid. It was the first with technology clinically proven by independent studies to reduce the effort required in listening – plus providing “better than normal” hearing in tough listening environments. That means an easier time understanding what’s being said in busy restaurants and cocktail bars, where disruptive sounds are a continuous problem.Using the binax platform, the Primax provides a binaural experience for easier listening. Plus, Primax boasts the SpeechMaster system, which is specifically designed to enhance speech by orchestrating digital noise reduction, directionality and amplification for a fuller, richer and more intuitive listening experience.Music lovers will love the Signia Primax as well, since it has an HD Music platform to make music even better through the aid. Pair that with EchoShield to soften echoes, and Signia Primax wearers will find a whole new world in hearing with this state-of-the-art aid.Just like the Starkey Halo, ReSound’s LiNX 2 is the perfect aid for the perpetually connected. It’s made for iPhone technology isn’t its best feature, though. The LiNX 2 boasts Binaural Directionality II and Spatial Sense.Binaural Directionality allows the brain to pick up the right sounds when you need them, and Spatial Sense hones in on the direction that the sound comes from for more context. Both work with the brain’s natural ability to process sounds. That means more effortless hearing that leaves a wearer less tired or taxed after a challenging sound situation.Additional SureFit receivers pairs more comfort with better sound quality, and iSolate nanotech coating repels dust and water to keep your hearing aids working better for longer.Powered by the Synergy platform, the Starkey Muse takes its promise of “Made for Life” seriously. Part of a family of wireless hearing instruments new from Starkey, the Muse offers high-quality sound without sacrificing comfort and personalized listening.Like other wireless hearing aids from Starkey, the Starkey Muse connects with SurfLink to connect with phones, music players and other media players to stream sound directly to the aids. The Muse offers a high-definition music listening experience as well, which makes it the perfect aid for musicians and music aficionados.Feedback cancellation and excellent speech intelligibility makes it a great hearing companion for challenging sound environments. An enhanced radio sensitivity also means a streaming range that’s double that of older Starkey models, too. Last but not least, Starkey’s Multiflex Tinnitus Therapy is perfect for those who experience tinnitus as well as single-sided deafness – a unique feature of the Muse.Oticon’s OPN uses Oticon’s exclusive BrainHearing technology, which works in harmony with your brain to provide sound solutions that are more intuitive than other aids. The OPN aid uses a scanner operating at 100 scans per second to analyze a sound environment and adjust accordingly. This hones in on individuals sounds and adjusts levels as needed.At 50 times faster than previous technology, the OPN aid is distinct in its processing ability. The OPN means improved speech recognition by 30%, and listening effort reduction by 20%. That means an easier time listening to conversations in noisy environments, with an aid that can easily separate between noise and sound. Pair that with Bluetooth connectivity for digital devices and the OPN is one of the top aids in 2016.Ready to take 2016’s best aids for a test drive? Contact our team to learn about how you can start your path toward better hearing with one of these groundbreaking hearing aids.

Oticon OPN Hearing Aid Demo DayAugust 26th, 2016! Sometimes there are new advancements in hearing aid technology that you just have to see (or hear!) to believe. That’s exactly the case with the new OPN hearing aid, Oticon’s latest in the BrainHearing line of aids. While every hearing aid has the ability to transform your life for the better, Oticon’s new aid is a breakthrough in hearing aid chip technology that’ll provide the best possible solution for hearing loss.On Friday, August 26th from 8am to 12pm, Lisa Huston of Oticon will visit our office to help you experience the difference in Oticon OPN. This exclusive demo day is your chance to see how this state-of-the-art technology could change your life for the better.What makes Oticon OPN such an event for AZ Balance and Hearing Aids? It’s all about the massive steps forward this new aid brings to challenging sound environments. Before you attend our demo day on August 26th, here’s what you should know about Oticon OPN.

What Makes the Oticon OPN different from other aids?

OPN uses Oticon’s exclusive BrainHearing technology, which works in harmony with your brain to provide sound solutions that are more intuitive than other aids. That’s because OPN is constantly working to analyze your sound environment. This aid scans sounds in your environment 100 times per second, and uses this data to adjust for each individual sound.It wasn’t without a lot of hard work that Oticon developed this game-changing technology. OPN comes from 10 years of research and development, and is 50 times faster than previous technology.

How Will Oticon OPN Help Me?

Oticon OPN is designed to do a couple of things: improve your speech recognition by 30%, and reduces your listening effort by 20%.First up, speech recognition. The OPN is different in how it focuses on how our brains are meant to process speech with background noise. When it scans your environment, it decides what sounds are most important to understanding speech and adjusts accordingly.Plus, it adjusts sound in a way that closely matches how your brain perceives particular sounds, which makes the hearing experience more natural. This reduces listening effort by up to 20%, which is simply to say that hearing in challenging environments becomes less tiring. You can enjoy conversations in restaurants, parties and other noisy environments thanks to the OPN’s more advanced processing technology.The best part of OPN’s technology, however, isn’t just its processing ability. OPN is different in how it processes sound all around you – not just sound right in front of you. You’ll be able to switch between different speakers easily, which means you’re more likely to join into conversations with multiple people.Oticon OPN knows how to separate noise from sound, and works with your brain to make sense of even the most complicated sound environments. Using more advanced processing as well as its TwinLink technology for your aids to communicate ear-to-ear, these hearing aids are transforming hearing aids.

How Will Oticon OPN Fit Into My Lifestyle?

Oticon OPN follows in the footsteps of other Oticon aids by staying connected to your devices. They can connect to your iPhone and even has downloadable apps via the App Store and Google Play so you can take control of your hearing with the swipe of a finger.Plus, OPN connects to the internet via If This Then That, a web service that automates web-based functions. That means that these aids can connect to things we use in every day life, including baby monitors, thermostats, door bells and other devices. Find out what products are compatible over at IFTTT.com.Don’t miss the chance to find out about this game-changing hearing aid! Visit our office on Friday, August 26th from 8am to 12pm for an exclusive chance to demo Oticon OPN for yourself! To reserve your spot, please call call us at 602-265-9000 (or contact us via "LiveChat").

Stay Tuned forFuture Demo Days atAZ Balance & Hearing Aids!

AZ Balance and Hearing Aids offers state-of-the-art hearing aids from many leading manufacturers. We are excited to share the many diverse options available on the market. Our Oticon Opn Demo Day is just the first in a series of Demo Day events! Stay tuned for our upcoming Demo Day featuring Siemens and Signia hearing aid products.