In 1963, the nation's leading ear, nose and throat specialists came together with a simple but important goal: to advance the research crucial to their fields, knowing that their practices and patients would directly benefit from this work. This innovative group became The Centurions champions and supporters of Deafness Research Foundation (DRF).
The Centurions now enjoy the support of more than 1,800 physicians, researchers and other professionals in fields related to hearing and balance sciences. Under the leadership of President David S. Haynes, M.D., and Secretary/Treasurer John L. Dornhoffer, M.D., The Centurions play an essential role in promoting DRF.
To learn more about The Centurions, how to become a member or identify Centurions members in your area, please contact DRF at 866.454.3924, 888.435.6104 (TTY), visit our Web site at www.drf.org or e-mail centurions@drf.org.
In each issue, a member of The Centurions fields questions about hearing health and related issues. In this issue, questions were addressed by Centurion Maj. James V. Crawford, M.D., of the Madigan Army Medical Center near Tacoma, Wash.
My church just installed a looping system, but I don't have telecoils in the hearing aids I just bought last year. Can hearing aids be retrofitted with telecoils and, if so, is it expensive?
Gracie Kennedy
Memphis, Tenn.
Telecoils have been used more extensively in Europe than in the U.S., but that is beginning to change. Ninety percent of British hearing aids have telecoils, whereas about 60 percent of hearing aids in the U.S. have telecoils (which is twice the number fi tted in the mid-1990s). It is definitely better if the aids come with the telecoil installed but it is not difficult to have telecoils retrofitted. Telecoils will fit in all hearing aids except for the very smallest completely-in-the canal (CIC) aids. Your audiologist will be able to give the exact price, but they are not terribly expensive around $50 to $100 and well worth the cost. Once you have telecoils installed in your hearing aids, you may become aware of other places where you will be able to use your telecoils. Theaters, restaurants and even some forms of public transportation have loops installed. You can set up a loop in your home for use with a TV or other equipment. Compared with the cost of current digital hearing aids, the addition of a telecoil is a small expense, but well worth it.
I'm dating a guy who is really into my ears. He literally likes to intensely kiss them and so my ears get pretty slobbery! I am wondering if there's anything unhealthy about this. Does it introduce harmful germs or saliva into the ear canal? Also, it's really loud at times. Could it be damaging my hearing? Any solid rationale to deflect these ear kisses would be appreciated.
Lori M.
Houston, Texas
It always amazes me what people get into. I'm an ear surgeon, and I can't imagine licking the inside of someone's ear canal! Having said that, it is possible to get an ear infection from saliva, though not very likely. We get moisture in our ears when we bathe or shower; our ears can handle it as long as we keep the cotton swabs out! Abrasions in the ear canal caused by scratching or cleaning with cotton
swabs increase the risk of developing an infection. The greater risk from "ear kissing" is the so-called "kiss of deaf." There have been several case reports, and I've seen it in my own practice, of patients coming in with hearing loss or other problems after someone kissed on or near their ears. Two things can happen: The pressure change from the kiss can cause the ear drum to rupture (break) or the noise can be loud enough to cause hearing loss, which is usually accompanied by ear pain and intense ringing (also known as tinnitus). There are other theories about exactly how that happens, but the point is that it has been well documented. The two references below are just a couple of examples you could pass on to your boyfriend. I hate to be a party-pooper, but ear muffs may be a solution!
Reiter LA (2008). "'The Kiss of Deaf': A Case Study" by LA Reiter. The Hearing Journal 61(8): 32-37.
"An unusual cause of acute tympanic membrane perforation: A case report" by AB Chukuezi and JN Nwosu. International Journal of Medicine and Medical Science. Vol 1(4) pp. 097-098, April 2009.
Got a question you would like one of the nation's leading ear, nose and throat doctors to answer? E-mail it to info@drf.org.
The Centurions help ensure that clinical research continues in the field of hearing and balance science. To learn more about The Centurions or how to contribute to the Centurion Clinical Research Award, please visit www.drf.org/Centurions or e-mail centurions@drf.org.
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