Better Hearing Seminar: February 9th, 2012, 3:30 to 5 PM
(Always the second Thursday of the month)
This month's topic:

"Classifying Hearing Loss"
Join us this month as we discuss the problems with the current methods
used to classify hearing loss severity. With many formulas
being used in Oregon and across the country, the same persons' hearing
impairment may be defined differently from place to place. We'll
examine the implications of this issue and look at an alternative
classification method that would produce more consistent data.
This presentation will also be offered by Dr. Leavitt and CHC staff members
at the international conference of the American Academy of Audiology
in Boston, MA, in March 2012

NEW SEMINAR LOCATION!
Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center,
Meeting Room A, Main Hospital Bldg., first floor, near the cafeteria.

We're happy to be back at GSRMC for the monthly Better Hearing meeting!



3600 NW Samaritan Drive
Corvallis, OR 97330
(Map)
Monthly Meetings are always FREE to the public, No Registration, No Sales

    Since 1988 the Oregon Association for Better Hearing has consumer-tested hearing aids from around the world looking for the best hearing aids at the best prices.  OABH volunteer consumer-testers have no affiliation with any hearing aid manufacturer or hearing aid sales organization.  They are not in the market to buy hearing aids, and are not encouraged in any way to do so. As such they are unbiased in their hearing aid reviews. 
     Each month product testers are fit with the newest hearing aids on the market and asked to wear these hearing aids in their own listening environments.  At the end of this testing period they complete our hearing aid report card and discuss those findings at our monthly meetings.  The hearing aids that receive top rankings are those that are recommended in our clinic.

OABH Meeting in 1993

Tinnitus: Research Continues

 Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) is a problem that affects millions of people in varying degrees. Research is being conducted to find the causes of tinnitus and develop more effective treatments.
     Recent research has shown that tinnitus often results from the brain’s attempt to overcome the auditory deprivation caused by hearing loss. In essence, the auditory areas of the brain turn up the volume “searching” for those missing signals, creating tinnitus.
     Approximately half the research subjects with tinnitus who were fitted with hearing aids experienced relief from their symptoms. If the patient is found to have hearing loss, reintroducing the missing sounds to the auditory system seem to quiet the brains' searching mechanism give differing levels of relief to each patient; from completely eliminating the tinnitus in some, to a minor reduction in it's intensity in others. Biofeedback and new prescription drugs being developed may also provide relief.
     Other causes of tinnitus include various prescription drugs, high blood pressure and acoustic tumors.  If you experience tinnitus you should first consult your primary care physician who can check your medications and blood pressure and look for other neurological abnormalities.
After pursing and ruling out a medical diagnosis, a comprehensive audiological evaluation by a Doctor of Audiology is in order to determine the existence and degree of hearing loss. The Audiologist may recommend an appropriate hearing aid for a trial period to see if there is a improvement in the symptoms.
For more information, read this Wall Street Journal article.