/r/audiology

Photograph via snooOG

/r/audiology is a community primarily for Audiologists and students of Audiology. However, we welcome anyone seeking general information about Audiology and related technology or research.

/r/audiology is a community primarily for Audiologists and students of Audiology. However, we welcome anyone seeking general information about Audiology and related technology or research.

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  • Be civil and respectful, and follow Reddiquette. This is a community of professionals and academics. Disrespectful conduct and harassment are not allowed.
  • No medical advice. This includes explicitly asking for a medical diagnosis, or giving one. If you're concerned about your hearing, please see a qualified medical professional.
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/r/audiology

11,209 Subscribers

1

Need help choosing a tympanometer

Hello, my hospital needs to purchase a new tympanometer. We do a lot of pediatric audiology but we also see adults. Right now our three options would be :

  1. GSI Tympstar pro
  2. Interacoustics AT235h
  3. Inventis Clarinet

Any experiences with those tymps? How robust and easy to use are they for children?

Thank you in advance for your insight on this matter

3 Comments
2024/12/04
18:50 UTC

9

CAEP testing for auditory neuropathy

Hi, our three month old daughter was diagnosed with bilateral auditory neuropathy a few weeks after birth. She had a pretty traumatic nicu stay after being born with congenital pneumonia but otherwise has no risk factors. We will be getting genetic testing done.

We have a lot of confusion surrounding her diagnosis because she reacts appropriately to sound (startles to loud or soft noises, smiles when she hears our voices saying her name even if she can’t see us, coos, turns to sounds, etc) and her second ABR showed slightly more synchrony than her initial. However, the audiologist told us to prepare for cochlear implants and basically dashed all hope we had.

I’ve done research on diagnostic tools and saw CAEP can be used for infants before they are ready for behavioral testing. Our audiologist said she usually sends kids when they are a bit older but we can start now if we want. Otherwise, she has offered us no information.

Is there any benefit to doing it now or should we wait? We would like to get as much information as possible to support our daughter.

10 Comments
2024/12/04
17:26 UTC

2

First Audiology Appointment!

I’ve got my first appointment on the 10th of Dec, I’m 17, is there anything I should know/ make sure to bring up? Any questions that they’ll likely ask me that I should prepare for? I had a very basic hearing test at my GP last month, and that made them refer me audiology for further/better testing. I know what the tests will be like but is there anything else I should know or make sure to talk about? What were your guys experiences like?

8 Comments
2024/12/04
14:26 UTC

0

Opinions and options please!

Hi everybody just found this sub and seeking some support/guidance/real life experiences. Took my 3 year old for a hearing test today after noticing at times he doesn’t hear or respond to me. These are the results. Was advised that the top line shows his hearing isn’t permanently affected but more likely from fluid in the middle ear (confirmed with the pressure test they do and by visually checking his ears).

I guess I’m just wondering if anybody has had this with their children and been able to resolve without the need for grommets. Not against surgery if it helps my child but also wanting to support him and potentially help him drain the fluid (if that’s even possible) while we wait 3 months for our ENT appointment.

Any advice, suggestions or real life experiences in resolving middle ear fluid is really welcomed and appreciated.

As some additional info - he doesn’t have a current ear infection and in his lifetime has only has 2 or 3 (that we are aware of) in total. Never complains about a sore ears but has a constant dripping nose and is constantly picking up new viruses from daycare.

6 Comments
2024/12/04
09:08 UTC

3

Could you ELI5 what the image means?

Hello, could you tell me if it is a bad reading or if not what the chart of the left ear means?

6 Comments
2024/12/03
21:37 UTC

0

Is microsuction wise post acoustic shock?

Hiya!

Following what I believe is an acoustic shock which correlated with the onset of reactive tinnitus and muscle spasms in the ear to moderate noise levels I am in need of having my ears cleared for an audiological assessment. Historically I have had microsuction and it has been well tolerated but given the relatively short period of 1 months since the incident I am unsure if it wise to put something moderately loud next to my eardrum even for a short duration.

I am experiencing no hyperacusis just dull 2-3 second pains which alternates between both ears that has no correlation with sound exposure in addition to reactive tinnitus which competes with fans, traffic, taps etc. The muscle spasms in the ear seem to have calmed down in the month since, just the reactive T/dull aches are bothersome.

Apologies if this teeters on breaking sub rules in regards to medical advice, my problem is that without having them cleared I can have no medical analysis on which to even gain such advice! Just querying if I would be playing a dangerous game having it done in my current situation. The acoustic shock was just over a month ago and my reactive T is still present, outside of this however I feel back to normal with no obvious hearing changes.

I have had bad experiences with irrigation in my youth and manual extraction is like finding a unicorn. I could always postpone the microsuction and give my ears a few more months, a GP has confirmed that both are completely blocked so in the meantime no evaluation can be made.

My current opinion is that whether I get them tested next week or 6 months from now the reality of situation will not change so it may be safest to wait. On the flip side I am curious to know for myself if the other issues may improve with the wax being cleared, its an individual decision of risk/reward that I am struggling with. If I did aggravate my existing issues I would have a hard time forgiving myself.

The tinnitus sub seems to believe microsuction is the devil incarnate, like most things I assume the truth is somewhere in the middle.

Any level headed insight would be appreciated,

5 Comments
2024/12/03
14:28 UTC

1

Help me understand these results!

Hi

Disclaimer: I barely know much about hearing functionality and only now learning due to this incident.

7 days ago I was exposed to a loud sound for about 5-10 minutes. The sound was over a 100dB. Only my left ear got exposed to it do due to loss of the noise protection. It was a loud motor. At the time I didn’t realize. But after the exposure I did feel some mild pain in my left ear. Waited a whole week due thanksgiving to see the ent. They conducted a bunch of tests: pure tone hearing test, pressure test, reflex test and some test in which i was supposed to repeat the words that I heard. Everything came back normal from what they told me. The ENT’s told me that I probably have some nerve inflammation. I have no other symptoms. No balance issues. No ringing.

My question is that is it normal for the nerves to be inflamed for more than 7 days? I see slight improvement in the pain. The pain itself is very mild but it is constant in the background. He gave me an anti inflammatory. Would this anti inflammatory solve this issue?

My second question is that My left ear was exposed but I see a slight dip in my right ear hearing test. Is that normal? Do I have significant loss? Will this dip in my right ear cause issues in picking up speech? I am not sure why right ear shows some loss despite left ear exposure. Can someone explain this to me?

My last question is that what is the meaning and interpretation of the speech audiometry test? What is SRT (dB) and what does 10 mean there?

12 Comments
2024/12/03
04:48 UTC

5

Am I at risk of deafness?

Am I a good candidate for CI? It's something I've wanted. I know it's not a cure and you have to work hard, but I personally don't feel that hearing aids help me that much. I lose a lot of speech if it's not one to one. I can understand a lot, but it takes all the energy I have. I can sleep from the time I get home until the next day.

15 Comments
2024/12/03
01:00 UTC

1

Heartstrings | Apple Holiday | Hearing Aid feature on AirPods Pro 2

As an audiologist I really appreciate how Apple has incorporated access to sound and sound protection into their products!

0 Comments
2024/12/03
00:55 UTC

1

Can Someone Explain the Difference?

In 2021 I got a hearing test at a high street provider, who declared I had 40/45% loss in or ear ( left, I think ) and around 25% in the other. Given my medical past they advised going to the GP and getting a referral to ENT.

Long story short, the referral was messed up and I ended up seeing Audiology instead - finally having an ENT appointment around Easter this year. The NHS Audiologist I originally saw told me to disregard the hearing test I had previously because “they only completed half the test they should have”. The letter from the ENT Consultant confirmed the NHS grades my hearing loss as, mild-moderate. Not sure if this has any effect but my hearing fluctuates, and I have experienced tinnitus for years before and since.

Is it normal for high street audiologists to give results as percentages? How do the results differ, if at all?

2 Comments
2024/12/03
00:35 UTC

0

Is fucidin (fusidic acid) ototoxic?

ENT found staph aureus infection in my sinuses and prescribed me to use fucidin cream twice a day, for 2 weeks with a break of 7 days after the first week. I used it for 7 days, miscounted and did a break for 4 days, then used it for 4.5 days. When I used the cream, I felt it reaching my ears through the airways. Now, for 3 days I feel buzzing and pressure inside of my ear, could this be a side effect of using fucidin? Is temporary?

Edit: I GP and pharmacist told me that fucidin is not ototoxic and the ringing, feeling of pressure in the air might be caused by ETD related to my sinnus infection. Now I'm using Ginko biloboba extract 3 times a day to fix it.

2 Comments
2024/12/02
23:54 UTC

2

CounselEAR + ERP?

What accounting system does your practice use? Any integrations to CounselEAR?

My practice uses CounselEAR and is looking to partner with a new ERP. Hoping to choose one with integrated reporeporting or at least ease of import/export.

1 Comment
2024/12/02
21:13 UTC

19

Can anyone break this down to me like I’m a child?

I have always been hard of hearing. My family always tells people “she’s deaf” but obviously, I have some hearing. I don’t like wearing hearing aids because my left ear aches from the volume and I feel I can hear everything that is annoying. I found my old results and they are very similar to my new results, which I didn’t get a print out of.

How much hearing loss do I truly have according to this?

Thank you in advance!

36 Comments
2024/12/02
19:08 UTC

3

Tinnitus

Is there anything that can be done if you’ve been a HA user for decades then develop tinnitus? The last 7 months ive really been struggling with understanding people, constantly asking them to repeat. Im using the loudest volume (this HA is 7 yrs old.) Recent hearing test said no change in hearing. I read having the wrong setting can cause tinnitus. I have an appointment next week but im hoping someone here can give me hope. Im tired of crying every damn day. (I have loss in both ears but only wear one HA.). It seems HAs only help if you weren’t previously wearing them before. Is my brain spazzing out because its struggling to hear? Im going on 6 weeks of tinnitus now.

23 Comments
2024/12/01
22:23 UTC

1

Any Experience with SCDS Post op?

Hi All! Im an audiology student at MSU and im currently doing a Project on Superior Canal Dehiscence Syndrome. Ive read 3 or 4 research papers now about prevalence, population, Dx. Criteria and Procedure, what ways are best to confirm etc etc etc. Part of our assignment is to create a fake case study with what you’ve learned, and i have everything up to the post op audiometric thresholds and resolution of most but not all symptoms. I was just wondering if anyone had experience with this and would be willing to share from a clinician standpoint if any pt. really felt their quality of life improved after surgery or if there were any more complications and you saw them again! Any info is appreciated!

2 Comments
2024/12/01
21:24 UTC

2

Question about real ear measurements

Hi everyone I currently have phoank hearing aids with a custom ear mold. they definitely help me and I would be worse off without them. But I still miss words and I still find some people difficult to understand. I have been doing research and came across many studies and articles supporting real ear measurements. I have never had it done before my audiologist doesn't do it. Do you think its worth it to go to another audiologist and pay to have it done it's 250 dollars in nyc where I live. Any advice would be appreciated thanks.

18 Comments
2024/12/01
21:10 UTC

3

doing otoscopies with motor skill/finger dexterity issues

hi all! i'm a first year AuD student coming up on the end of my first semester. For one of my class finals, in lieu of a final exam, we have to basically do a full hearing test (tymp, otocopy, AC/BC tests, etc.) on one of our classmates or a CARL head. I have a hard time doing otoscopies because I shake a lot when i'm nervous and I have horrible motor skills and finger dexterity issues caused by Cerebral Palsy, and because of that i pretty much failed the otoscopy portion of the "exam" and didn't even finish it because i took more than 60 minutes (we're given 60 minutes to do the whole exam). i explained my motor skills issue to my professor in the beginning of the semester and they've taken that into account during the exam and agreed to let me redo it. how can I improve for next time so that I don't fail again?

5 Comments
2024/12/01
20:59 UTC

1

Quick question

So lately I've been hyperfocused on thinking I have hyperacusis after one day I thought something sounded loud. I can be in a crowded room loud, kids yelling and laughing with no problem, I can vacuum, listen to music and everything. But when it's quiet and little things seem so much louder...it's very weird. I'm guessing I'm just hyperfocused on it. Please give me your input

4 Comments
2024/11/30
23:06 UTC

0

Widex Moment - do I have an M or P receiver?

I need to replace a receiver for my moments, but the sticker alas is no more. Are there distinguishing features that will tell me whether I have an M or P? There are what appear to be serial numbers indelibly etched on them, fwiw.

19 Comments
2024/11/30
21:16 UTC

0

Hearing aids & tinnitus

Do any of you have clients whose tinnitus calms down once they remove their HAs? I only wear one & taking it off makes it worse. If i get a second pair for the other ear will it help my brain chill out?? (I have loss in both ears but only wear one.) Or is that wishful thinking?

0 Comments
2024/11/30
16:40 UTC

4

Notched hearing loss

I have tinnitus around 7500hz and a hearing loss at this same frequency in my left ear. The Audiologist didn't seem concerned as it is only considered mild. Any ideas as to what might of caused it? I was suprised that he wouldn't put forward any reason.

19 Comments
2024/11/30
16:39 UTC

2

Sweaty ear canals

I have a patient who lives in Michigan and Florida. I am in Michigan. He complains his ear canals get sweaty, and things sound like gurgling, like under water. He asked about sponge domes. He wears RICs. It use to be moisture in the hearing aid, that is easy to dry. With rechargeable moisture is not as much of an issue. Sweat and moisture in the ear canal? How do I advise him? When he gets sweaty he removes them resulting in hearing aids in the charger not the ears. I know he wears them and wants to wear them more. His charger was waxy and I also had to clean the contacts because he was not getting a good charge connection. Thank you.

1 Comment
2024/11/30
15:07 UTC

0

ABCC11 Gene - Anything to Know for Ear Health?

Hello! I am curious if there is anything that differs with ear/hearing health for people with or without the ABCC11 gene or if it is actually a non-factor.

I'm Korean (American) and never considered that there was an inborn reason people had goopy earwax and body odor until social media kind of hooked into it a bit ago.

Now that I know most people actually have goopy earwax, I'm wondering if thete is anything different with risk factors or thibgs to know for hearing health.

Thanks for entertaining my curiosity!

0 Comments
2024/11/29
21:42 UTC

0

Where is audiology/Otology going? Is it going anywhere?

After a recent eye test, that included fully objective imaging and tests + now a range if treatments, it made me reflect on how embarrassingly poor Audiology and the treatment of hearing issues are by comparison. It's like 1979 meets 2025. This is a common conversation people have been having more and more recently.

However big companies want to market or wrap it up, it's a speaker to put in your ear canal. Same dorito, different wrap. The basic audiogram is about 150 years old. Tinnitus and Hyperacusis are 'sympathetically' blamed on the patients and wrapped up with advice to see a counsellor, and some loose guess is made as to the physiology of the diseases.

What is wrong with the profession? Is it lack of funding or just attracting poor researchers?

22 Comments
2024/11/29
18:11 UTC

0

Being paid fairly?

I work at a large chain on full commission(no salary, no hourly wage). We have a system where my normal pay is 17% of the total sale price and we have a $2,000 floor price. For example, our top of the line aids go for $11,990 MSRP. I can cut the price down to $9,990 without a pay cut. If I go any lower than that, my commission is cut to 10%. I had someone come in and they had a benefit of 4k from an insurance we don’t work with. So I matched the insurance and took 4k off of the price. So from $11,990 to $7,990. My boss asked me if I was really okay with doing that, I said yes. He said he’s taking a huge loss on it.

I’m not sure what the aids cost, but am I being ripped off for pay here? I’m getting paid $790 to take care of this guy for the next 5+ years on that alone

34 Comments
2024/11/29
17:46 UTC

27

Transferable Skills

I’m curious, if you left audiology, what career did you move to? What is a good career path to transfer to?

6 Comments
2024/11/29
03:48 UTC

0

What's going on with my eardrum?

Sorry for the potato quality. I've had these two circles (bubbles?) on/behind my ear drum for a month now. Both have a little red dot??

5 Comments
2024/11/28
23:34 UTC

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