Resources for Hearing Loss, Tinnitus & Vertigo

The major CI manufacturers worldwide are: Advanced Bionics, Cochlear, and MedEl.

Each of their websites has resources that are useful for hearing loss.

Newer CI companies that are in investigational trials or outside the United States include:

• Oticon cochlear implant
• ‍Envoy totally implantable cochlear implant
• Neurotron cochlear implant

For information on which cochlear implant manufacturer is “best,” see our article which discusses this.

• Join our Facebook group to meet other patients who have received cochlear implants from Dr. Ruffin:
  • ‍Dr. Ruffin - Cochlear Implant Questions and Connections
• Cochlear Experiences Group is a very active Facebook support group of cochlear implant patients run by CI users. Please note that the medical information quoted is sometimes inaccurate. However, it is a great group for connecting with other CI users.
• American Cochlear Implant Alliance

Untreated hearing loss is associated with poorer health. Thus, hearing aids are no longer considered optional for treating hearing loss. Below are links for reputable websites with accurate information on modern hearing aids.

• Buying Hearing Aids in Washington Guide by HLAA Washington State .
• Audiologist Dr. Cliff Olson has a great YouTube channel, “Doctor Cliff AuD,” with many videos on hearing health and reviews of hearing aids and hearing assistive technology.
• Hearing Aid Buying Guide by Consumer Reports (January, 2019).
• Hearingtracker.com provides reviews on hearing aids and technology.

General Hearing Loss Websites

• National Institute for Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) has much information on hearing loss information and treatment. Specifically, it provides an introduction to the many types of ear disorders, how to protect your hearing, and information for parents.

Simulation of What Hearing Loss Sounds Like

• These simulators are useful for demonstrating the loss and distortion of acoustic information. They are also useful to demonstrate the mental work required to understand speech with hearing loss. This simulation of mild and moderate hearing loss is similar to the degree of hearing loss that is associated with noise exposure and aging.

Hearing Loss Advocacy Organizations

• Hearing Loss Association of America is a nonprofit lay organization run by people with hearing loss. It has many useful tips on coping with hearing loss. It also serves as a social hub for people with hearing loss.
• Hearing Loss Association of Washington State (HLAA-WA) has great tips on purchasing hearing aids and produces the quarterly Soundwaves newsletter which is full of great information.
• Whatcom County Chapter has monthly meetings in Bellingham, WA.
• National Association for the Deaf

Single sided deafness (SSD) occurs when severe hearing loss occurs in only one ear. This may be the result of many conditions: sudden sensorineural hearing loss, Meniere’s disease and cochlear hydrops, head trauma, tumors, and less commonly, cholesteatoma and otosclerosis.

In SSD, only one ear is “operational,” but to hear effectively in noise and locate sound sources, two ears (binaural hearing) are needed. Binaural hearing takes advantage of time of arrival and  loudness cues to localize sound and hear through noise. For example, a sound coming from a car approaching your left will arrive sooner at and be louder in your left ear than the right ear. This forms the basis for sound localization. Your brainstem performs very complex signal analysis to allow you to hear better in background noise than nearly any computer algorithm currently available.

So SSD has significant effects on hearing and for safety. Some people are able to adapt well, but most have some disability with SSD.

Treating SSD involves several steps:

1. Ensure that there is no underlying disease such as tumors that could threaten health.
2. Treat the underlying cause of hearing loss.
3. Address hearing, either through hearing aids or cochlear implants.

Links Relevant to Tinnitus

• American Tinnitus Association has a great section on managing your tinnitus which integrates counseling, wellness, technology, and medication.
• List of ototoxic drugs that contribute to tinnitus.
• Minor & James Audiology Clinic offers tinnitus retraining therapy.
• University of Iowa Tinnitus Clinic offers a telephone clinic for tinnitus management.
• Tinnitus Management by Chad Ruffin

NIDCD Balance Disorders Center provides an overview of balance disorders.

The most common type of dizziness, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a type of dizziness that lasts seconds. It is most often provoked by turning over in bed. It is diagnosed with the Dix-Hallpike maneuver. This maneuver determines the affected ear and which Epley maneuver to perform.

Vestibular.org is a great resource for vestibular disorders for both patients and providers.

Falls can be deadly in older patients with dizziness or imbalance issues. This article from the New York Times has great fall prevention strategies.