www.betterhearingadelaide.com - Better Hearing Australia (Adelaide) Inc

Better Hearing Australia Inc.,

is a not-for-profit, self help national organisation controlled by members and provides an Australia-wide community support service of rehabilitation and help for people with hearing loss.

Better Hearing Adelaide

Our Branch in South Australia provides support and services to the hearing impaired including:

. Referral Assistance - to appropriate organisations or professional services

. Hearing Loss Management Classes - lipreading tuition by tutors accredited by Better Hearing Australia. Information about equipment and ways to help minimise the effects of hearing impairment in everday life. Every Wednesday (except last of month) at the State Library.

Enquiries Shona 08 8268 4189 or email admin@betterhearingadelaide.com

. Information sessions - cover many subjects, such as hearing aids, assistive listening devices, and good communication techniques.

. Social Events - organised functions and informal get togethers where our members can enjoy each other's company. Coffee mornings are held on last Wednesday morning of each month.

. Magazine - Our national Magazine "Better Hearing" together with our Adelaide branch bulletin is posted to our members quarterly.

better hearing adelaide deaf hard of hearing hearing impairment inner ear disease tinnitus tinnitis tinitus hearing aids balance disorders marital deafness background noise speak up cochlear bionic ear i cant hear you lipreading living with disabilities silence assistive listening devices hearing impaired inner ear auditory nerve Labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis are disorders resulting from an infection that inflames the inner ear or the vestibulo-cochlear nerve (the eighth cranial nerve), which connects the inner ear to the brain. Vertigo, dizziness, and difficulties with balance, vision, or hearing may result. Infections of the inner ear are usually viral; less commonly, the cause is bacterial. Although the symptoms of bacterial and viral infections may be similar, the treatments are very different, so proper diagnosis by a physician is essential. Such inner ear infections are not the same as middle ear Neuritis (inflammation of the nerve) affects the vestibular branch of the vestibulo-cochlear nerve, resulting in dizziness or vertigo but no change in hearing. The term neuronitis is also used. Labyrinthitis (inflammation of the labyrinth) occurs when an infection affects both branches of the nerve, resulting in hearing changes as well as dizziness or vertigo. An inner ear viral infection may be the result of a systemic viral illness (one affecting the rest of the body, such as infectious mononucleosis or measles); or the infection may be confined to the labyrinth or the vestibulo-cochlear nerve. Usually, only one ear is affected. Symptoms of neuritis can be mild or severe, ranging from subtle dizziness to a violent spinning sensation (vertigo). They can also include nausea, vomiting, unsteadiness and imbalance, difficulty with vision, and impaired concentration. Sometimes the symptoms can be so severe that they affect the ability to sit up, stand, or walk. Labyrinthitis may produce the same symptoms, along with tinnitus (ringing or noises in the ear) and/or hearing loss. better hearing adelaide deaf hard of hearing hearing impairment inner ear disease tinnitus tinnitis tinitus hearing aids balance disorders marital deafness background noise speak up cochlear bionic ear i cant hear you lipreading living with disabilities silence assistive listening devices

The onset is usually very sudden, with severe dizziness developing abruptly during routine daily activities. In other cases, the symptoms are present upon awakening in the morning. After a period of gradual recovery that may last several weeks, some people are completely free of symptoms. Others have chronic dizziness, if the virus has damaged the vestibular nerve. No specific tests exist to diagnose vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis. When other illnesses have been ruled out, medications are often prescribed to control nausea and to suppress dizziness during the acute phase. Examples include Benadryl (diphenhydramine), Antivert (meclizine), Phenergen (promethazine hydrochloride), Ativan (lorazepam), and Valium (diazepam). Other medications that may be prescribed are steroids (e.g., prednisone), an antiviral drug (e.g., Acyclovir), or antibiotics (e.g., amoxicillin) if a middle ear infection is present. If treated promptly, many inner ear infections cause no permanent damage. In some cases, however, permanent loss of hearing or damage to the vestibular system can occur. If symptoms of dizziness or imbalance persist for several months, vestibular rehabilitation exercises (a form of physical therapy) may be suggested in order to retrain the brain's ability to adjust to the vestibular imbalance, in a process known as compensation. A key component of successful adaptation is a dedicated effort to keep moving, despite the symptoms of dizziness and imbalance. infections, which are the type of bacterial infections common in childhood affecting the area around the eardrum ear Pinna (Helix, Antihelix, Tragus, Antitragus, Earlobe) • Ear canal better hearing adelaide deaf hard of hearing hearing impairment inner ear disease tinnitus tinnitis tinitus hearing aids balance disorders marital deafness background noise speak up cochlear bionic ear i cant hear you lipreading living with disabilities silence assistive listening devices

Middle ear Eardrum (Umbo) • Ossicles (Malleus, Incus & Stapes) • muscles (Stapedius, Tensor tympani) • Eustachian tube (Torus tubarius)

Inner ear/Labyrinth Bony labyrinth (Vestibule) • Membranous labyrinth Oval window → Scala vestibuli / Reissner's/vestibular membrane, Helicotrema and Scala tympani / Basilar membrane (Perilymph) → Round windowCochlea: Modiolus • Cochlear duct / scala media (Endolymph, Stria vascularis, Spiral ligament, Organ of Corti), Olivocochlear systemOrgan of Corti: Stereocilia • Sulcus spiralis (externus, internus) • Limbus spiralisto brain (auditory) Tectorial membrane → Hair cells → Spiral ganglion → Cochlear nerve VIII → Cochlear nuclei → Trapezoid body → Superior olivary nuclei → Lateral lemniscus → Inferior colliculi → Medial geniculate nuclei → Auditory radiations → Primary auditory cortex Static/translations: Utricle (Macula) – Saccule (Macula, Endolymphatic sac, Endolymphatic duct) – Kinocilium – Otolith Kinetic/rotations: Semicircular canals (Superior, Posterior, Horizontal) • Cupula • Ampullae (Crista ampullaris) to brain (vestibular)

Vestibular nerve VIII → Vestibular nuclei, Flocculonodular lobe Vestibular nuclei → Vestibulospinal tract, Ventral posterolateral nucleus → Vestibular cortex better hearing adelaide deaf hard of hearing hearing impairment inner ear disease tinnitus tinnitis tinitus hearing aids balance disorders marital deafness background noise speak up cochlear bionic ear i cant hear you lipreading living with disabilities silence assistive listening devices

We receive sound in two ways, by air conduction via the ear canal, eardrum, and ossicles, and by bone conduction. Bone conduction transmits sound directly though the bones in the jaw and skull, bypassing the outer and middle ear.

In most cases, those with a hearing loss will be fitted with traditional air conduction devices. Typically, these hearing aids are placed inside the ear canal or behind the ear. However, some people are unable to benefit from this type of device.

The Baha system, which is based on bone conduction, utilizes a titanium implant, which is placed in the skull bone behind the ear. An abutment connects the sound processor with the implant in the bone. This creates direct (percutaneous) bone conduction. In contrast, traditional bone conductors connect indirectly to the bone through unbroken skin (transcutaneous) and work by exerting pressure against the skull.

Direct bone conduction, provided by Baha, gives improved access to sound when compared to traditional bone conductors since sound is not weakened when passing through the skin better hearing adelaide deaf hard of hearing hearing impairment inner ear disease tinnitus tinnitis tinitus hearing aids balance disorders marital deafness background noise speak up cochlear bionic ear i cant hear you lipreading living with disabilities silence assistive listening devices.