Wednesday, July 24, 2019

When Is It Time To Check Hearing?

UMC issued the following story written by Ruth Cummins. 


You’re in a crowded restaurant with a group of friends, it’s pretty noisy and you’re having trouble hearing well enough to follow the conversation.
 

You can hear your coworker speaking to you, but you just can’t make out the words very well, and that low, persistent buzzing in your ears has been going on for months – maybe years.
Some might say you’re having trouble hearing. But would you?
A new study led by Dr. Christopher Spankovich, associate professor of otolaryngology and communicative sciences at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, has found that about half of the people represented in a national hearing health survey report they can hear just fine – although they actually have at least a mild degree of hearing loss.
The study was published online June 6 in the Journal of the American Medical Association Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
“It’s easy to blame external factors: That person was mumbling, or it was really loud in there,” Spankovich said. “But the data showed reports of self-perceived good hearing is pretty high, even though all of the people in the study had some level of hearing loss.”
Spankovich, Dr. Steven Curti, a fourth-year otolaryngology and communicative sciences resident, and Elliott Taylor, a School of Medicine student, analyzed data from a group of adults between the ages of 20-69 who took the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The analysis was conducted between Sept. 4 and Nov. 30, 2018. Joining them was Dan Su, a former UMMC biostatistician.
They came to a number of interesting conclusions from the study group:
    •  Those who didn’t have other health issues, such as diabetes or obesity, were more likely to report they had good hearing, even if they actually had hearing loss.
    •  Women are more likely than men to report they have good hearing despite having mild hearing loss.
    •  Married couples are more likely to report hearing loss and less likely to report good hearing.
“That’s the ‘nag’ factor,” Spankovich joked.
The study also gave insight into the reported use of hearing aids.
“In the United States, there’s a fairly low uptake of hearing aids in people with hearing loss,” Spankovich said. “Only about 30 percent of people in this country who could benefit from hearing aids actually get them.
“The vast majority of those individuals have what’s defined as a mild loss, but they don’t see their degree of loss as big enough for a hearing aid.”
And while some people cite cost as the reason they don’t get a hearing aid, “even if you look at the countries that have health care that is free or low cost, the uptake of hearing aids is similar,” Spankovich said.
Being unaware that you’ve suffered hearing loss “is a big thing, especially with people who developed hearing loss over a period of time,” said Curti, who sees patients in the fourth-floor ear, nose and throat clinic at the University Physicians Lakeland Medical Building in Jackson. “They may not realize they’re losing their hearing.”
Sometimes, family members who accompany patients to an appointment can anecdotally help the patient make the connection that their hearing is not what it should be, Curti said.
“They might say, ‘We have to turn up the TV really loud for him to be able to hear it,’” Curti said.
Spankovich said the data has greater bearing than just perceived loss of hearing.
“Some of the other things related to hearing loss are social isolation and depression, and there are now studies on the relationship between hearing loss and cognitive decline,” he said. “And eating healthy and exercising is good for your body, but also good for your ears.”
He said the conclusions demonstrate that providers need to do a better job of detecting hearing loss early in hopes of averting further damage or so that treatment can begin promptly.
“Just because a person self-reports good hearing doesn’t mean there aren’t any issues,” he said.
When a patient goes to a clinic visit – including to their primary care provider – “we need to extend the question beyond ‘How’s your hearing?’ We need to ask if they have trouble following a conversation in a loud environment or if they have a ringing or buzzing in their ears.
“Those are telltale symptoms of hearing loss.”
Spankovich said a serious medical problem is rarely the cause of hearing loss. Often, hearing loss reflects a person’s life health history, repeated exposure to loud sounds or perhaps genetics.
“But if you have sudden hearing loss, ear pain or drainage or significant ringing, those are medical concerns and you would want to get a referral to an ENT,” he said. “As primary care and family physicians see their aging population is starting to experience small difficulties, it’s a good time to make referrals for those patients to have their hearing checked.
“We want to catch those mild issues before they get too severe.”

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

What?

Anonymous said...

This is why I wear a "puffy shirt" !

Anonymous said...

“We want to catch those mild issues before they get too severe.” Translated?

"We want to pathologize you as soon as we can, and as often as possible in order to maximize billing for unnecessary services because we lost our Blue Cross contract. It's substantially hurting our bottom line, but don't tell anybody."

Anonymous said...

Conversation that may have happened:

WIFE: You need to get your hearing checked!

HUSBAND: No.......I can hear.

WIFE: Beer? I don't want a beer.

Anonymous said...

I kept telling my husband that he mumbles and he kept telling me that I'm deaf. I'm in my mid-60s so I had my hearing checked and it was BETTER than my 33 year old doctor's hearing. When I mentioned this to my mother-in-law, she said well, of course, your husband mumbles - he had speech therapy as a child for his MUMBLING. LOL

Anonymous said...

This is a public service announcement by the American Audiology Association. 1-800-hearing-aid



Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.