NEXT ON "CYCLE OF HEALTH."

>> TONIGHT'S TOPIC, PROTECTING AND IMPROVING OUR HEARING.

HEARING IS AMAZING BUT ABOUT ONE IN FIVE OF US OVER THE AGE OF 12 REPORT SOME HEARING LOSS.

JOIN OUR EXPERTS DISCUSSING HOW HEARING LOSS CAN AFFECT US, HOW TO PROTECT OUR HEARING AND THE LATEST IN HIGH TECH DIAGNOSIS AND DEVICES TO HELP US KEEP SENSING SUPERLATIVELY.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ HELLO AND WELCOME TO CYCLE OF HEALTH, I'M YOUR HOST DR. RICH O'NEILL.

TONIGHT'S TOPIC: PROTECTING AND IMPROVING OUR HEARING.

ABOUT 61 MILLION AMERICANS OVER 12 REPORT HEARING LOSS.

WHILE AGE IS THE STRONGEST PREDICTOR OF HEARING LOSS FOR ADULTS, IT IS ON THE RISE FOR ALL AGES.

NOW THE THIRD-LEADING CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITION IN THE COUNTRY.

WE'LL DISCUSS HOW HEARING LOSS IMPACTS US, HOW TO PROTECT OUR HEARING, AND NEW OPTIONS IN ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS OVER THE COUNTER HEARING AIDS.

JOINING US TODAY ARE DR. KAREN DOHERTY, PROFESSOR OF COMMUNICATION SCIENCES AND DISORDERS AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY; MR. DAVID DEFRANCIS, DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH FOR HEARING AND VISION SERVICES AT AURORA OF CNY; AND DR. NICOLE ANZALONE, DOCTOR OF AUDIOLOGY AND OWNER OF SYRACUSE HEARING SOLUTIONS.

NOW SOME 20 YEARS AGO I WAS GOING TO MY ANNUAL PHYSICAL AND MY WIFE SAID "YOU HAVE SOME TROUBLE HEARING.

PLEASE GET IT TESTED."

SO, I TOLD MY DOC AND HE SAID WHENEVER SOMEONE SAYS THEIR PARTNER SAID GET TESTED, I AM REALLY SKEPTICAL.

ALL THE SAME HE GOT OUT HIS TUNING FORK, GAVE IT A BANG AND HELD IT UP TO MY EARS.

DIAGNOSIS?

NO PROBLEM.

SO DR. DOHERTY, YOU ARE A FULL PROFESSOR DOING RESEARCH ON PROFESSOR, WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE BEEN PUBLISHING HEARING RESEARCH FOR SOMETIME.

WHAT CHANGES HAVE YOU SEEN OVER THE YEARS FROM THE TUNING FORK ERA?

>> QUITE A BIT.

THERE IS A LOT OF CHANGES.

THERE ARE TWO AREAS YOU CAN THINK OF THAT CHANGES OCCUR.

ONE IS IN THE DIAGNOSTIC AND THE SECOND IS TREATMENT FOR HEARING LOT.

IN TERMS OF DIAGNOSTIC IN THE PAST, WE USED TO HAVE PEOPLE LISTEN TO BEEPS AND SAY YES, YOU HAVE A HEARING LOSS OR NOT.

>> I DID A BUNCH OF THOSE TESTS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

NOW WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT HOW DO YOU HEAR IN BACKGROUND NOISE AND HOW IS THIS AFFECTING YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE?

AND WE LOOK AT ALL THOSE ISSUES AND THEN USE THE TREATMENT, WHICH TYPICALLY IS HEARING AIDS, WHICH ARE ADVANCED FROM ANALOGUE HEARING AIDS TO DIGITAL HEARING AIDS WHERE YOU CAN FINE TUNE THE HEARING AID TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THAT PERSON'S HEARING LOSS AND WE CAN NOW COUPLE THEM TO PEOPLE'S TELEPHONES AND OTHER BLUETOOTH TECHNOLOGY.

SO THEY'VE COME A VERY LONG WAY SINCE YOUR TUNING FORK DAYS.

>> AND I KNOW FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE WITH MY GRAND KIDS THAT EVEN BABIES GET TESTED NOW BEFORE THEY LEAVE THE HOSPITAL.

AND WHEN SHOULD YOU GET YOUR HEARING TESTED?

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET YOUR HEARING TESTED AT ANY AGE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE NOTICING CHANGES TO YOUR HEARING.

HAVE YOU TO LOOK FOR THE SIGNS SOME OF THE FIRST SIGNS MAY BE RINGING IN THE EARS OR TINITIS AND OTHER SIGNS MAY BE HAVING TROUBLE HEARING IN BACKGROUND NOISE.

>> ME.

IN RESTAURANTS, YEAH.

>> OR IF SOMEBODY PEOPLE SEEM LIKE THEY'RE MUMBLING OR FAMILY MEMBERS NOTICE YOU ARE NOT HEARING EVERYTHING I'M SAYING OR YOU ARE MISSING SOMETHING.

THAT'S REALLY WHEN IT IS TIME.

>> WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF UNTREATED HEARING LOSS?

I KNOW, DAVE, YOU GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND YOU SEE FOLKS IN THEIR HOUSES.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF PEOPLE HAVING UNTREATED HEARING LOSS?

>> LOSING YOUR HEARING OR ANY SENSE FOR THAT MATTER, YOU START TO GRIEVE.

IT'S LIKE LOSING A FAMILY MEMBER.

AND WHAT HAPPENINGS THEY LOSE THE ABILITY TO COMMUNITY WITH FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS.

THEY STOP GOING OUT.

SOME START TO OVERMEDICATE.

SOME REFUSE TO ANSWER THE TELEPHONE.

SOME OF THEM, YOU KNOW, THE DEPRESSION LEVEL SKYROCKETS.

SO WE WANT TO CATCH THEM AND INTERVENE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE BETWEEN THE AUDIOLOGIST AND THE OTHER ASSISTIVE DEVICES OUT THERE SO WE CAN TEACH THEM TO COPE EARLY.

THE EARLIER THE BETTER.

>> DO YOU FOLKS SEE SIMILAR THINGS YOUR PRACTICES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT DEFINITELY CHANGES PEOPLE'S WHOLE PERSONA, IT CHANGES THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

WE SEE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE DEPRESSED.

SOME OTHER CONSEQUENCES ARE CONFUSION AND EARLY COGNITIVE DECLINE, WHICH ALSO LEADS TO EVEN MORE DEPRESSION.

WE ALSO SEE, AND WE KNOW BY RESEARCH, INCREASED NUMBER OF FALLS CAN OCCUR AS WELL.

AND EVEN INCREASED RISK OF DEMENTIA SO THERE ARE MANY CONSEQUENCES OF UNTREATED HEARING LOSS.

>> I THINK WHAT, WHEN YOU HAVE AN AGE-RELATED HEARING LOSS, IT OCCURS GRADUALLY SO PEOPLE DON'T REALLY REALIZATION THAT REALIZE THAT AND OFTEN TIMES THEY THINK IT'S THE SPEAKER, NOT THEM.

>> I THINK THAT ALL THE TIME.

WHY IS THIS PERSON MUMBLING?

SPEAK UP.

>> ON AVERAGE IT WOULD TAKE 10 YEARS FROM THE TIME SOMEBODY RECOGNIZED THEY WERE HAVING DIFFICULTY HEARING TO THE TIME THEY ACTUALLY ADDRESSED IT.

>> 10 YEARS?

>> THERE WAS A RECENT STUDY DONE IN 2022 AND THEY SAID THE AVERAGE NOW HAS COME DOWN TO BETWEEN FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS.

BUT IT'S STILL A SLOW HEARING LOSS AND YOU KEEP ADAPTING AND ADAPTING AND PART OF THE ADAPTING WAYS ARE TO REMOVE YOURSELF FROM DIFFICULT LISTENING SITUATIONS, WHICH IS GOING OUT-- >> SO YOU WITHDRAW.

>> YOU DO IT GRADUALLY AND THEN OVER TIME, YOU REALIZE YOU HAVE ISOLATED YOURSELF AND THAT IS DEPRESSING.

IN TERMS OF AUDITORY DEPRIVATION, YOU ARE NOT STIMULATING THE NEURONS THAT WOULD NORMALLY BE RESPONDING TO THOSE SPEECH SIGNALS.

AND THOSE NEURONS WILL NO LONGER RESPOND WELL IF THEY GO TOO LONG WITHOUT HAVING STIMULATION, WHICH IS WHY EARLY INTERVENTION OF AN AGE-RELATED HEARING LOSS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

>> SO YOU REALLY-- WHENEVER YOU HAVE ANY INTEREST-- ANY HINT, EVEN IF IT IS YOUR SPOUSE SAYING, YOU CAN'T HEAR ME.

SHOULD TAKE IT SERIOUSLY AND GO AND GET TESTED.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> I, FOLLOWING THAT ADVICE, WENT OVER TO GET AN EXAM THE OTHER DAY.

AND WE HAD OUR CAMERA CREW COME ALONG SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> THE CLINIC IS PART OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION DISORDERS HERE AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

WE DO A LOT OF HEARING AID WORK WITH PEDIATRIC CASES AND ADULT PATIENTS, MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU WEAR EAR LEVEL DEVICES, YOUR EAR PODS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU RUN THE RISK OF DAMAGING YOUR EARS.

AND WE DO SEE YOUNGER AND YOUNGER INDIVIDUALS WITH NOISE INDUCED HEARING LOSS IN OUR CLINIC.

MOST OFTEN PEOPLE APPROACH THEIR PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR WHO WILL REFER THEM TO AN AUDIOLOGIST FOR TESTING.

>> HOW DOES IT LOOK IN THERE?

>> WE ALSO DO SPECIALIZED TEST ARE FOR PEDIATRICS SO CENTRAL AUDITORY PROCESSING AS WELL AS TESTING THAT ALLOWS TO US ASSESS THE HEARING IN YOUNG INFANTS THAT AREN'T ABLE TO RESPOND TO TRADITIONAL TYPES OF HEARING TESTS.

>> THANK YOU.

THAT WAS INTERESTING AND FUN, ACTUALLY.

>> GLAD TO HEAR THAT.

SO ABOUT 25 AND ABOVE IS NORMAL HEARING.

>> SO I'M NORMAL UP TO THERE AND THEN IT STARTS TO DROP OFF.

>> IN THE HIGHER FREQUENCIES, CORRECT.

SO BASED ON THESE RESULTS, YOU HAVE A HIGH FREQUENCY HEARING LOSS, MILD TO MODERATELY SEVERE IS HOW WOULD I CLASSIFY THIS.

SO WE ARE STARTING TO SEE SOME OF THOSE HIGH FREQUENCIES SHOW A HEARING LOSS.

BASED ON YOUR HEARING LOSS, YOU ARE A CANDIDATE FOR OVER THE COUNTER OR YOU ARE NOT A CANDIDATE AND YOU HAVE TO GO MORE PRESCRIPTIVE.

THE GOOD NEWS IS RIGHT NOW YOU ARE NOT A CANDIDATE FOR A HEARING AID.

>> MY WIFE WILL BE UNHAPPY TO HEAR THAT.

>> AND BEST PRACTICE IS REALLY TO MONITOR YOU EVERY YEAR TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY CHANGES.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE.

I'M GLAD TO KNOW I'M DOING PRETTY WELL.

>> WE SEE PEOPLE COME OUT OF THEIR SHELLS, WE HEAR PEOPLE ALL THE TIME COMING BACK TO THE CLINIC ADMITTING THEY THEY DIDN'T REALIZE HOW BAD IT WAS.

AND THEY FIND THEMSELVES THRIVING AND THAN JOY ENJOYING SOCIAL SITUATIONS AND ENJOYING MUSIC AGAIN AND GETTING INTO THE THINGS THAT THEY PERHAPS SLOWLY OVER TIME, WITHDREW FROM.

>> THAT WAS AT THE GEBBE CLINIC WHERE I UNDERSTAND THAT'S PART OF WHERE YOU WORK, RIGHT.

>> THAT'S WHERE WE TRAIN OUR AUDIOLOGY STUDENTS.

NICOLE TRAINED AT THE GEBBE CLINIC.

SHE WAS GOING THROUGH THE PROGRAM.

>> YOU WERE TRAINING AND AND I UNDERSTAND YOU HAD A VERY INTERESTING EXPERIENCE THERE.

>> I GOT ENGAGED THERE.

>> HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

>> MY HUSBAND, AT THAT TIME BOY FRIEND, HE ASKED ME TO PARTICIPATE IN A STUDY.

SO HE PERFORMED A KIND OF A HEARING TEST AS PART OF HIS STUDY ON ME.

AND SO I WENT IN A SOUND BOOTH SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU DID.

AND HE ASKED ME TO MARRY HIM AND THE FIRST THING I SAID WAS WHAT?

>> SO YOU ARE LISTENING THROUGH THE HEADPHONES AND HE... THAT'S WONDERFUL.

SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE COMMON CAUSES OF HEARING LOSS?

I KNOW YEARS AND YEARS AGO NOW I WENT TO A GRATEFUL DEAD CONCERT AND IT WAS MEGA LOUD.

AND I REMEMBER GOING HOME THAT NIGHT AND LYING IN BED AND MY EARS WERE JUST RINGING.

I REMEMBER IT WAS LIKE WHOA, THAT IS SOME REALLY...

I WAS CONCERNED AT THE TIME, DIFFICULT HURT MY HEARING-- DID I HURT MY HEARING?

IS IT POSSIBLE ONE EVENT LIKE THAT CAN DAMAGE YOUR HEARING?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

NORMALLY WITH ONE EPISODE OF LOUD NOISE AND THERE IS DEFINITELY AN INTENSITY IN EFFECT AND DURATION, THE LOUDER THE SOUND, THE SHORTER TIME IT TAKES TO DO HARM TO YOUR EARS OR DAMAGE TO YOUR EARS.

>> THE LOUDER, THE SHORTER TIME.

>> EXACTLY.

>> SO A LOUD CONCERT, THAT COULD BE 120-DECIBELS COULD DEFINITELY DO SOME DAMAGE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

NORMALLY, THE DAMAGE IS TEMPORARY, BUT WITH LONG-TERM EXPOSURE, MORE CONCERTS THAT YOU GO TO, IT CAN DEFINITELY DO MORE PERMANENT DAMAGE TO YOUR EARS.

>> SO I KNOW MY KIDS GOT ME SOME EAR PLUGS THAT SUPPOSEDLY KNOCK THE DECIBEL LEVEL DOWN.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, ALLOW YOU TO STILL HEAR THE FREQUENCIES THAT YOU WANT TO HEAR.

ARE THOSE COMMON?

>> YEAH, WE ACTUALLY MAKE CUSTOMER CUSTOM DEVICES THAT HAVE FILTERS IN THEM.

THIS IS MINE ACTUALLY.

I USE IT FOR DRUMMING.

BUT WHAT IS NICE ABOUT IT, IS THAT IT ALLOWS YOU TO HEAR SPEECH OR SOMEONE SINGING.

BUT IT SQUELCHES OR QUIETS DOWN THE REALLY LOUD JARRING SOUND.

SO IT MAKES IT MORE COMFORTABLE TO HEAR.

>> AND PROTECT YOUR EAR AT THE SAME TIME IT PROTECTS YOUR HEARING.

THOSE KINDS OF THINGS YOU COULD WEAR TO A CONCERT AND NOT HAVE TO BE AS CONCERNED.

>> YEAH FABULOUS.

HOW ABOUT NOISE CANCELING HEADPHONES.

I KNOW I HAVE THOSE DO THEY MASK THE SOUND OR LOWER THE DECIBEL LEVEL AND PROTECT YOUR HEARING?

>> FOR THE NOISE CANCELING, IT WILL TRY TO IMPROVE THE NOISE SIGNAL RATIO.

YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.

YOU WILL SEE PEOPLE WEAR THESE AND BE DOING CONSTRUCTION WORK.

SO YOU STILL-- YOU KNOW, THEY WILL BE TRYING TO LISTEN TO MUSIC WITH THOSE KIND OF NOISE CANCELING HEADPHONES AND MOWING THE LAWN WHICH MEANS YOU STILL HAVE TO CRANK UP THE SOUND.

SO EVEN THOUGH IT'S MORE FAVORABLE, YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL TO THINK IT'S PROTECTING YOU.

>> THAT'S PART OF WHAT-- I WEAR MINE PARTLY WHILE I'M RIDING MY BIKE ON THE ERIE CANAL.

I LISTEN TO MUSIC AND I HAVE BEEN THINKING MAYBE I CRANK THIS UP TOO LOUD AND IT REALLY ISN'T WORKING.

SO I GOT TO BE CAREFUL.

ARE THERE WAYS YOU CAN SET IT SO YOU DON'T DAMAGE YOUR EARS?

>> DIFFERENT TYPES OF HEARING PROTECTION HAVE AN NRR VALUE, NOISE REDUCTION RATING.

THE HIGHER THE RATING THE BETTER THE PROTECTION.

THAT MEANS IT'S DECREASING MORE NOISE, MORE SOUND.

SO IF YOU ARE IN HIGH NOISE ENVIRONMENT, YOU WANT A DEVICE, AN EAR PLUG THAT HAS A HIGH NRR VALUE.

YOU SEE THOSE ON THE PACKAGES NORMALLY.

>> SO, DAVE I KNOW YOU SUPPLY PEOPLE WITH DEVICES THAT HELP THEM BE ABLE TO HEAR AND YOU BROUGHT THIS OF THEM WITH YOU.

CAN YOU SHOW US WHAT YOU GOT.

>> THESE ARE SOME OF THE STAYS ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT CAN HELP IN VARIOUS SITUATIONS.

FOR EXAMPLE WHEN FOLKS START TO LOSE THEIR HEARING, BIG STRUGGLE IS ON THE TELEPHONE.

SO, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE.

THEY DON'T-- THEY STOP TALKING TO THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS OR THEY HAVE THEIR SPOUSE ANSWER THE PHONE.

>> CAN YOU HOLD IT UP FOR US?

>> SURE THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE REALLY GOOD PRODUCTS THAT'S OUT THERE.

THIS IS A CLEAR SOUNDS 500.

AND THIS PHONE IS WONDERFUL BECAUSE IT JUST WORKS OF TWO TOGGLE SWITCHES SO THERE IS NOT A LOT OF THINGS THEY HAVE TO LEARN TO USE IT.

>> SIMPLE.

>> VOLUME AND TONE.

AS THE OTHER PERSON IS TALKING ON THE PHONE THEY CAN MOVE IT.

IT WORKS REALLY, REALLY WELL.

HAVE I SEEN FOLKS WITH SEVERE HEARING LOSS THAT DO VERY WELL.

>> YOU CAN HEAR ON THAT PHONE.

IT BOOSTS THE VOLUME AND CHANGES THE TONE TO MATCH THE PERSON.

>> EXACTLY.

IT WORKS FOR BOTH TYPES OF HEARING LOSS.

ONE WHERE YOU JUST NEED AMPLIFICATION AND OTHER WHERE YOU NEED CLARITY, LOSING THE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND CERTAIN SYLLABLES.

THAT WORKS REALLY WELL.

AND THIS RUNS ABOUT $50 ON AMAZON.

>> COOL.

>> IT'S AFFORDABLE.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER DOO DAD YOU HAVE HERE?

>> A STROBE DOOR BELL.

THIS CAN BE PLUGGED INTO ANY ROOM IN THE HOUSE.

A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE CAN'T HEAR THE DOOR BELLS THEY LEAVE THE DOORS CRACKED OPEN.

WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.

THEY CAN PLUG IT IN ROOM THEY'RE IN.

WHEN THEY PUSH THE BUTTON, THE LIGHT FLASHES.

IT'S PORTABLE.

THEY CAN MOVE IT TO ANY ROOM THEY WANT.

>> CAN'T HEAR IT BUT YOU CAN SEE IT.

>> IT WORKS OFF THE SAME TECHNIQUE AS A STROBE SMOKE DETECTOR, WHICH IS ALSO OUT THERE FOR THOSE FOLKS THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HEAR A NORMAL SMOKE DETECTOR BECAUSE OF THE HIGH PITCH, THEY'RE OUT THERE, AND IT WORKS WITH THE 177, SAME STRENGTH AS AN AMBULANCE LIGHT.

IT WILL WAKE YOU UP.

AND THE BEST THING OUT THERE IS THE POCKET TALKER.

AND THIS DEVICE IS STRONGER THAN A HEARING AID.

BUT WORKS WITH HEADPHONES OR WITH AN EAR BUD.

IT HAS JUST A VOLUME WHEEL ON IT.

IT ALSO HAS A TONE WHEEL, WHICH MOST PEOPLE DON'T USE.

IT'S USUALLY JUST THE VOLUME WHEEL.

AND IT CAN BE USED FOR TELEVISION LISTENING SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THE TV VOLUME HIKED UP SO HIGH.

WORKS GREAT ON ONE WHEN HAVE YOU COMPANY OVER.

>> YOU PUT THE HEADPHONES ON AND THEN YOU POINT THAT LIKE A MICROPHONE.

>> OR ON THE ARM OF A CHAIR.

YOU CAN CLIP ON IT YOUR SHIRT, TAKE IT OUTSIDE AND YOU WILL HEAR SOUNDS OUTSIDE YOU PROBABLY HAVEN'T HEARD IN YEARS.

IT'S REALLY, REALLY NEAT AND THIS RUNS A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS, SO IT'S-- RUNS ON TWO TRIPLE A BATTERIES.

>> I HAVE TO SAY, I HAD ONE FOR MY MOTHER WHO PASSED AWAY A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO.

BUT IT WAS WONDERFUL.

SHE HAD HEARING AIDS BUT STILL SHE HAD DIFFICULTY IN SOME SITUATIONS SO WE GOT HER A POCKET TALKER AND IT WAS TERRIFIC.

AND SHE WOULD TAKE IT TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE OR WHATEVER AND SHE COULD REALLY HEAR BETTER THAN.

>> IT IS SO OVER WE HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND SITTING AROUND THE TABLE AND EVERYBODY IS HAVING A GREAT TIME CARRYING ON CONVERSATIONS AND ONE PERSON NODDING UP AND DOWN, DIDN'T HEAR A WORD, WE CALL IT THE HARD OF HEARING NOD.

>> HARD OF HEARING NOD.

>> DIDN'T HEAR A WORD BUT THEY KEEP NODDING THEIR HEAD.

PUT THIS ON THE TABLE, PUT THE HEADPHONES OR EAR BUD THAT COMES WITH IT AND THEY CAN PARTICIPATE.

>> YOU MENTIONED A QUOTE FROM HELEN KELLER THE OTHER DAY THAT I LOVE THAT I THOUGHT TALKED, YOU KNOW, GAVE A REAL SENSE OF WHAT IT IS LIKE TO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO HEAR.

WHAT WAS THAT QUOTE AGAIN.

>> HELEN KELLER'S QUOTE IS BLINDNESS TAKES PEOPLE AWAY FROM THINGS BUT DEAFNESS TAKE PEOPLE AWAY FROM PEOPLE.

>> THAT IS REALLY TRUE.

AND WHAT ABOUT THESE NEW OVER THE COUNTIER HEARING AIDS.

ARE THEY ANY GOOD?

FIRST OFF I KNOW THEY'RE LIKE A TENDS OF THE PRICE-- A TENTH OF THE PRICE.

>> YOU SAY A TENTH OF THE PRICE BUT IT DEPENDS ON THE DEVICE.

IN MY HEARING AIDS CLASS, I TELL THE STUDENTS THE WILD WEST RIGHT NOW OF O.T.C., RIGHT?

THEY JUST CAME OUT IN 2022.

THEY'RE NOT SUITABLE FOR EVERYONE.

>> RIGHT.

AND THE INTERESTING TO SEE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS HOW THEY CAN BE IMPROVED AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO REMEMBER THERE IS OTHER CAUSES OF HEARING LOSS OTHER THAN AGE-RELATED HEARING LOSS AND YOU DON'T WANT TO PUT A HEARING AID ON AN EAR THAT MIGHT HAVE AN ACTIVE PATHOLOGY THAT SHOULD BE SEEN BY A PHYSICIAN.

>> ACTIVE PATHOLOGY DOESN'T SOUND GOOD.

WHAT KIND OF THINGS IS THAT?

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY LIKE A GROWTH IN YOUR MIDDLE EAR MIGHT BE ATTENUATING SOME OF YOUR HEARING, RIGHT?

>> YOU COULD IMPACTED WAX, SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS IMPACTED WAX.

NOT AS DANGEROUS AS THE OTHER BUT IT WOULDN'T BE APPROPRIATE TO JUST PUT A HEARING AID ON SOMEBODY FOR THAT.

>> SO BEFORE YOU GO OUT AND BUY THOSE, YOU WANT TO GET AN EXAM?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO GET YOUR EARS CHECKS AND YOUR HEARING CHECKED BY A PROFESSIONAL, JUST TO RULE OUT ANY SORT OF, YOU KNOW, PATHOLOGY OR SOMETHING GOING ON WITH YOUR EAR THAT SOMETIMES IS MEDICALLY TREATABLE.

YOU MAY NOT EVEN NEED A HEARING AID AT ALL.

SO THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET THAT CHECKS OUT FIRST.

>> NOT TWO WEEKS AGO A FRIEND OF MINE CALLED ME AND SAID HE JUST CAME FROM THE DOCTOR BECAUSE ONE OF HIS EARS HE COULDN'T HEAR ANYTHING OUT OF AT ALL ALL OF A SUDDEN.

HE WENT THERE AND THEY SAID, YEAH, YOU HAVE JUST A GIANT BLOB OF WAX IN YOUR EAR.

THEY TOOK IT OUT.

HE SAID I COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW BIG THIS THING WAS.

HE HAD BEEN, YOU KNOW, A Q-TIPPER AND PARENT GENERALLY HIVE TELL BUS Q-TIPS.

OR COTTON SWABS.

>> NO, NO, NO.

THEY DON'T BELONG IN THE EAR.

DON'T BUT ANYTHING SMALLER THAN YOUR ELBOW IN YOUR EARS.

THAT'S TRUE THOUGH IT SOUNDS LIKE.

>> COTTON SWABS AND CUE Q-TIPS PUSH THE WAX IN DEEPER, SOMETIMES PEOPLE DO SOME SERIOUS TRAUMA TO THEIR EARS.

THEY CAN PUNCTURE OR RUPTURE THEIR EAR DRUM.

I HAVE SEEN A COUPLE CASES OF THAT IN MY OFFICE.

>> OUCH.

>> AND SOMETIMES THAT CAN CAUSE SOME PERMANENT DAMAGE TO YOUR HEARING, TOO.

SO DEFINITELY I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND THEM.

>> WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU GET ITCHY EARS LIKE OCCASIONALLY MY EARS ARE PRETTY ITCHY INSIDE.

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THAT?

>> I WOULD GET IT CHECKED OUT JUST TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NOTHING GOING ON WITH YOUR EARS.

AGAIN, THAT COULD BE MEDICALLY TREATABLE.

I ALSO RECOMMEND OVER THE COUNTER EAR DROPS.

THEY WORK PRETTY WELL.

JUST A COUPLE OF DROPS IN EACH EAR, MAYBE ONCE A WEEK, CAN POTENTIALLY HELP BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS, DEFINITELY SEE A PROFESSIONAL.

>> SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA.

SO, NOW, MY MOM IS, AS A MENTIONED, PASSED AWAY SIX OR EIGHT YEARS AGO NOW AND SHE HAD HEARING AIDS, $5,000 SHE SPENT ON THEM.

CAN YOU REUSE THOSE?

CAN PEOPLE REUSE THOSE?

WHAT DO DO YOU WITH THEM?

>> WELL, IT DEPENDS.

, THERE ARE SOME HEARING AIDS THAT ARE CUSTOM MADE FOR YOUR EAR THAT REALLY CAN'T BE USED IN ANYBODY ELSE'S EAR.

THEY'RE MADE SPECIFICALLY FOR YOU AND EACH YEAR IS DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE.

SO SOME BEHIND THE EAR HEARING AIDS, YOU CAN POTENTIALLY MAYBE DONATE TO SOMEONE, ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER.

THEY'RE A GREAT DONATION PROGRAMS I KNOW THAT YOU WORK WITH AS WELL.

>> SO PEOPLE CAN DONATE THEM TO AURORA?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THE ONES THAT CAN BE REIF YOU ARE-- REIF YOU ARE BISHED ARE DONATED TO THE LIONS CLUB AND SENT BACK OUT TO LOCAL AUDIOLOGISTS WILLING TO DO A COUPLE YEAR FOR FOLKS THAT CAN AFFORD IT.

AND THEY SAVE THE COMPONENTS.

THEY DO SOMETHING WITH THE COMPONENTS SO THERE IS A USE FOR THEM ALL.

>> REDUCE, REUSE RECYCLE.

ONE OF MY MOTTOS.

THANKS SO MUCH.

THAT'S ABOUT ALL THE TIME WE HAVE AND I WANT TO THANK OUR GUESTS DR. KAREN DOHERTY, PROFESSOR OF COMMUNICATION SCIENCES AT SU-- AND THE ONLY SU FACULTY AND THE ONLY S.U.

FACULTY MATCH MAKER THAT I KNOW OF.

MR. DAVID DEFRANCIS, DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH FOR HEARING AND VISION SERVICES AT AURORA OF CNY AND DR. AND DR. NICOLE ANZALONE, DOCTOR OF AUDIOLOGY AND OWNER OF SYRACUSE HEARING SOLUTIONS FINALLY, WE HAVE A TRADITION HERE CALLED 'LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE'.

SO HERE.

•..WE GO.

• WHAT'S ONE GOOD REASON TO LEARN SIGN LANGUAGE?

A WIFE WAS TRYING TO CONVINCE HER HUSBAND TO GET A HEARING AID, AND HE DOESN'T WANT TO.

THE HUSBAND WAS RESISTANT AND THEY HAD THE SAME DISCUSSION OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

THE HUSBAND KEPT SAYING IT'S NOT MY HEARING.

YOUR HEARING IS WORSE THAN MINE.

IT'S YOUR HEARING.

>> THIS IS A FAMILIAR DISCUSSION.

>> YES, YES.

HAPPENS A LOT.

SO ONE DAY SHE IS IN THE KITCHEN WASHING DISHES AND STANDING IN THE HALLWAY 10 FEET AWAY AND SAYS THIS IS MY CHANCE.

HE SAID HONEY CAN YOU HEAR ME?

NO RESPONSE.

SHE STANDS AND FINISHES THE DISHES.

HE IS LIKE, AHA, MOVES FIVE FEET CLOSER, HONEY CAN YOU HEAR ME.

STILL NO RESPONSE.

SO HE IS THINKING I GOT HER NOW.

STANDS RIGHT BEHIND HER, HONEY CAN YOU HEAR ME.

SHE SAID FOR THE THIRD TIME, YES!

>> I GOT ONE, TOO.

>> WHAT IS A GOOD REASON TO LEARN SIGN LANGUAGE?

>> IT COMES IN HANDY.

[LAUGHTER] TO HEAR OUR NEW COMPANION COMMUNITY FM RADIO SHOW, CHECK UP FROM THE NECK UP, VISIT WCNY .ORG/COMMUNITY FM AND FOR ONLINE EXTRAS INCLUDING OUR MINI CHECK UP FROM THE NECK UPS, VISIT WCNY.OORG/"CYCLE OF HEALTH."

FOR 'CYCLE OF HEALTH,' I'M PSYCHOLOGIST DR. RICH O'NEILL.

THANKS FOR CHECKING IN, AND IT'S WE LOVE HEARING FROM YOU.

>> NEXT WEEK ON "CYCLE OF HEALTH."

>> TONIGHT'S TOPIC, BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY SKIN.

A PROMINENT SYRACUSE DERMATOLOGIST DISCUSSES SKIN HEALTH WITH THE PLASTIC SURGEON WHO REMOVED MY OWN POTENTIALLY DEADLY SKIN CANCER.

AND SEE HOW PARAMEDICAL TATTOO IS A COSMETIC OPTION.