Posts by Monique Hammond
OTC Hearing Aids Public Comment Period
OTC hearing aids will be “self-fitting,” non-prescription devices. They will be regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but people can buy them Over-the-Counter without a prescription or the input of any professional help. Would-be users will be on their own when it comes to deciding if they qualify for these devices because they are…
Read MoreThe Phantom Sounds of Subjective Tinnitus
Subjective Tinnitus, the infamous “ringing in the ears” derives its name from the Latin verb tinnire, which means “to ring.” It is said to be a symptom of an underlying process rather than a condition in itself. Usually simply referred to as “Tinnitus,” it is defined as the perception of sound in the absence of an outside noise…
Read MoreHearing Loops & Telecoils Ease Travel
Hearing loops & telecoils create assistive listening systems Travel happens mostly in sound environments that generate serious communication challenges for those with hearing loss. Yet, understanding speech in the least amount of background noise is a major issue for those who are hard-of-hearing. Luckily, hearing loops are gaining in popularity with the travel industry…
Read MoreLazy Ear in Children
A sound processing disorder The technical term for “Lazy Ear” is ambly-audia, which means dulled or blunted hearing. Although the condition can be genetic, it is often acquired during the phases of hearing development and maturation in infancy and throughout the childhood years. Lazy Ear or amblyaudia is lopsided, asymmetrical hearing, which results from sound processing challenges…
Read MoreCytomegalovirus (CMV) and Newborn Deafness and Hearing Loss
The dangers of congenital CMV during pregnancy Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common, non-genetic cause for hearing loss or deafness in newborn babies. If the virus that infects the mother during pregnancy is passed on to the child, he/she will be born with congenital (present at birth) CMV infection. Yet, some 91% of women do not know…
Read MoreEbselen: A Ray of Hope for the World of Hearing Loss?
Phase 3 drug trial – a cause for optimism? Every time that I read about a new drug going into clinical trials for the treatment of tinnitus or hearing loss, I tend to do a contained, internal Happy Dance. Recently, I read that the FDA has allowed Sound Pharmaceuticals to proceed with a Phase 3 (human) trial…
Read MoreHope for Connexin 26 Hearing Loss Gene Therapy?
How come that babies can be born deaf to hearing parents? Congenital hearing loss and Connexin 26 The expression “congenital” means that hearing loss or deafness is present at birth. The reasons of why this happens are often murky. Did something happen during pregnancy? Was the baby exposed to toxic chemicals, drugs or viral…
Read MoreIt’s May, the Time to Take Action on Hearing and Speech Issues
During the month of May, people are called upon to raise awareness on many diverse topics. It is also my birth month. But I never ever thought that May would become important to me as “Better Hearing and Speech” Month. Connections through Communication Every year since 1927, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) dedicates the month…
Read MoreHidden, Silent Disability Travel Woes
Yes, hearing loss is often called a “a hidden or a silent disability.” Invisible to outsiders, it causes all sorts of challenges for daily life but when it comes to travel, it can lead to anxiety and panic situations. Hearing loss has certainly put a serious crimp into my own travel experiences. It all starts…
Read MoreSudden Hearing Loss is a Medical Emergency
Fast, noticeable losses For me, a sudden left-sided deafness became a scary and life-altering event. The longer name for this condition is Sudden SensoriNeural Hearing Loss (SSNHL). “Sensori” refers to damage to the inner-ear cochlear hearing cells and “neural” refers to damage to the hearing nerve. Although both ears may be involved, in most cases…
Read More