Now
that you've learned some of the
facts about hearing loss and Sound
Voids™. you can take the first
steps toward prevention or
treatment. The following
questionnaire has been adapted
from a self-assessment tool
created by the American Academy of
Otolaryngology. Please take
the time to answer each question
as accurately as possible.
- Does
speech sound muffled?
- Do
you have a hard time hearing
on the telephone?
- Do
you have trouble following a
conversation when two or more
people are talking at the same
time?
- Do
other people complain that you
turn up the volume on the
television or radio too high?
- Is
it difficult to understand
words, especially against
background noise or in a crowd
of people?
- Do
you not hear sounds like the
doorbell or phone ringing?
- Is
it difficult for you to
identify where sounds come
from?
- Do
you frequently ask others to
speak more slowly, clearly and
loudly?
- Do
you especially have trouble
understanding women and
children?
- Do
you avoid engaging in
conversation?
- Do
you avoid certain social
settings due to anxiety or
fear of embarrassment?
- Has
a friend or family member
suggested that you may have a
hearing loss?
Unfortunately,
many people suffering from a
hearing loss are either unaware of
their condition or are too
embarrassed to seek help. If
you answered "yes" to
two or more of these  questions, we
encourage you to see an
AudigyCertified™ professional
for a more thorough evaluation of
your hearing care needs.
You
can't reverse hearing loss.
However, your AudigyCertified™
professional can apply the
appropriate care and technology to
lessen its effects, improve the
quality of sounds you hear, and
help minimize the number and
severity of Sound
Voids™.
UNIQUE
CHARACTERISTICS OF SOUND AND
HEARING
Hearing is a critical part of your
personal safety and early warning
system.
Your hearing is unique in that it can process sound in the
background without you
concentrating on the source that
produces it. If you are
experiencing the perception of
Sound Voids™, you may be missing
important signs of danger or
opportunity.
Hearing
enhances the performance of your
other senses.
If you are experiencing the
perception of Sound Voids™, some
of your other senses may not be
working as well as they should.
Hearing
is an important part of your
personal learning system.
Your hearing provides critical
supplemental information and aids
retention. If you are
experiencing the perception of
Sound Voids™, you may not be
learning new things as quickly,
easily, or completely as you
should.
Hearing
is your most important
"Social Sense".
Your hearing is how you connect
with the important people in your
life. If you are
experiencing the perception of
Sound Voids™, you may be missing
out on important relationships and
shared experiences.
The
Mechanics of the Ear
-
The
outer ear collects sound waves
and directs them into the ear
canal.
-
The
ear canal carries sound waves
to the eardrum
-
Sound
waves cause the tympanic
membrane (eardrum) to vibrate.
-
The
bones in the middle ear (malleus,
incus, and stapes) pick up
vibrations from the tympanic
membrane (eardrum)
-
The
bones in the middle amplify
the sound and transmit it to
the inner ear.
-
Vibrations
pass through the oval window
to the inner ear, setting the
fluid inside the cochlea in
motion. Special nerve
cells (hair cells) within the
cochlea then turn the sound
waves into electrical
impulses.
-
The
auditory nerve sends these
electrical impulses to the
brain's auditory cortex, where
it is processed as sound.
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