Hearing

The main function of the ear is of course, hearing. Besides hearing, another very important function of the ear is to maintain balance. In the inner ear area there are three semicircular canals, whenever the head is moved the fluids within these canals help the brain detect our body movement, much like the fluid angles in a carpenters tool, called a level.

The human ear consists of three main parts that are used when it comes to hearing. Basically the ear we see, the outer ear that is connected to the sides of our heads is called the Pinna. The Pinna or outer ear area works like a sound gathering device, it helps gather and direct sound waves into the inner ear canal or area. The glands of the outer and inner ear canal produces the ear wax we often clean from our ears. Ear wax is produced to help line and protect the ear canal. The waxy substance is great for allowing sound waves to bounce off and travel into the middle ear area.

In the middle ear area, we find bones or parts knows as the hammer, anvil and the stirrup. These bones or parts as they are also called, vibrate when sound waves hit into them, they then help direct the sound waves into the inner ear area.

The inner ear area which is called the cochlea, resembles the shell of a snail. In fact the word 'Cochlea' is from Latin for snail. The cochlea is filled with a watery fluid which vibrates in response to the sound waves coming from the middle ear. This vibrating of the fluid in the cochlea causes the hairs on it's outer part to also vibrate and in turn, they are converted into electrical signals that are communicated via neurotransmitters to many thousands of nerve cells. These signals or electrical signals travel along the auditory nerve to the brain where they are further deciphered, into the messages or thoughts we get.

Earwax is beneficial to the ear canal, as it protects the lining and serves to help funnel or channel the sound deeper into the inner ear. But sometimes earwax can become hardened and build up and block the ear canal, causing everything from pain to severe hearing loss. We usually clean our ears on a daily basis using a soft tipped cotton swab. Just be very careful not to insert the swab in too far, or you can experience some very sudden and sharp pain, also you can damage and even rupture the ear by inserting a swab in too far.

One remedy I do about three times a year to keep any earwax that has built up or hardened, removed is to use an eye dropper and place one drop of hydrogen peroxide into each ear canal, again do not insert the dropper into the canal, just hold it above the ear canal opening. I find that the peroxide bubbles and softens any old or hardened earwax, allowing it to be removed with a cotton swab, and the peroxide has a great healing effect for any ear soreness or problems I may be developing.

Often times the simple one drop of peroxide method I described above, will cure the need to go to a doctor and paying to have the built up earwax removed later on, after it's become hardened and causes problems.

Swimmer's ear is a common problem that is an infection of the ear canal. If you get swimmer's ear, you will know it, because it is very painful. It's called swimmer's ear because water is usually the culprit that causes it. Most of the time, any water that get's into the ear runs back out, especially if the head is tilted. But sometimes, not all of the water can leave, maybe a tiny amount gets trapped behind some earwax. This tiny amount of water gets stagnant and quickly bacteria starts growing in it, causing a very painful infection called swimmer's ear.

Swimmer's ear is not just caused by swimming, it can be caused also by taking a bath or shower and accidentally getting water inside the ear. Swimmers ear often has an initial warning that it's developing by making the ear canal become itchy, if you start noticing this, you may want to try the peroxide method above, and or get to your doctor who can get you started on ear drops and pain meds to remedy it before the severe pain develops.

Another problem that can cause ear loss either suddenly or over time, is noise. If you are near someone who shoots a gun or cannon or such device and you do not wear ear protection, you can develop sudden ear loss, but this is rare. I have known folks who have hunted and fired guns all their life, who have excellent hearing even though they are up there in years. What is happening a lot today that may be developing into major hearing loss over time to a lot of folks is this, is the age of ipods, mp3's players and other such music devices. I know myself that when I go walking, I often have my ipod playing my favorite songs, and unfortunately I like having the volume cranked up on full. The loud music, gives me the extra energy I use to help keep walking, over time this loud music may or may not develop into hearing loss.

Over the years as are bodies age, the inner parts of our ears also feel the aging effects and these parts start to degenerate and slowly fail, resulting in hearing loss. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), says; "Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting older adults. One in three people older than 60 and half of those older than 85 have hearing loss."

Here are some of the everyday problems that suffering from hearing loss can bring about:

1. Trouble using the Telephone - You have trouble hearing people talking on the telephone

2. TV - Radio - Computer Streaming Shows and movies - you have the volume so loud the neighbors on the other side of your apt start banging on the wall and your own family and pets start running.

3. You cannot enjoy conversations in a room such as a theater, church or meeting room environment.

4. Conversations start to deteriorate because your missing parts and you misunderstand what people are saying

5. You cannot enjoy the sounds of nature like you used too, when out walking you cannot hear crickets, birds, and other sounds of nature

6. Sound loss can become dangerous, when walking or even driving, your loss of sound is making you rely a lot more on your vision, because now you may not be able to hear the nearing of an approaching car, or even the whistle of a coming train, the buzzing of a nearby bee or wasp, the rattle of a rattlesnakes warning, the shout of a construction worker or patrol man, or the announcement of a departing bus or plane.

Medicines can help alleviate or cure ear infections and many times they can completely restore hearing loss. Cleaning old ear wax and removing any foreign bodies from the ear can also restore hearing loss. But what options are there that can restore or help with hearing loss that is caused by a more severe condition, such as loud noise damage, or even the effects of aging over the years.

Surgery is one method but the cost, pain and ending effect sometimes makes it not as beneficial as one may desire. Getting tested and fitted for a hearing aid is the most common solution to restore hearing loss. When or if you decide on getting a hearing aid, you must go to a reputable physician or an ENT (Ear-Nose-and-Throat Specialist) to have the proper hearing test administered.

A hearing aid test will consist of questions about your everyday hearing problems and testing of the inner ear pressure, movement of the eardrum, although this sounds like it may be painful, it's completely painless and is done while you relax. Sounds of different tones and pitches are used to test your hearing range and more, this is usually done while wearing headphones.

Once all the tests are done, you can then talk it over with the physician and decide on the hearing aid you need and wish to have. The purchase of this hearing aid can unfortunately depend upon the insurance you have. Many insurances do not cover a majority of hearing aid tests and the actual products purchase cost, because they consider such a thing a 'cosmetic' device, such as dentures. Such procedures are considered as being beneficial to every day living, but the insurance companies do not consider them as being needed, thus they are called 'cosmetic'.

Now, if you find out that you do not want to go through with a hearing test and or cannot afford to purchase a hearing aid, or decide that you do not want one at this stage, is there any other option to help with restoring your hearing loss? The answer to this is 'Yes!', and it is a lot cheaper than the hearing test and certainly a lot cheaper then the cost of an actual hearing aid.

This simple and low cost hearing loss solution is called: Loud N Clear.

The Loud 'N Clear device allows you to easily restore you hearing loss without looking like you have a hearing aid. In fact the design of the Loud N Clear device looks like a normal high tech cell phone headset or bluetooth device that fits comfortably around your ear, so you can use it anywhere to listen to low-volume sounds clearly.

Once again you can enjoy listening to what you want, without disturbing others. Never miss another word at lectures, movies, shows or even church. And even if you have normal or 100% hearing, the Loud N Clear device is great for you, because now you can eavesdrop on what others are saying, by hearing above normal hearing. And if your a hunter you can hear approaching game animals such as deer, bear, squirrels, turkey and more before the animals hear you.