The sound was so powerful that it ruptured the eardrums of sailors 40 miles away.

The sound was made by the violent volcanic eruption on Krakatoa, an island in Indonesia, on August 27, 1883. The explosion shattered the island and created a tsunami a hundred feet high. It sounded like artillery in Australia, 2,000 miles away, and like gunfire in Mauritius, 3,000 miles away.

By the 1880’s barometers were in use at weather stations around the world to track changes in atmospheric pressure. Although the sound became too soft to be heard beyond 3,000 miles, 12 hours later spikes in atmospheric pressure were measured in St. Petersburg, Rome and Paris. Pressure spikes were detected in New York and Toronto 18 hours later.

Weather stations around the world detected spikes in atmospheric pressure for another five days. The spikes occurred every 34 hours – the time it takes for sound to travel around the globe. It’s as if the volcanic explosion at Krakatoa gave the earth tinnitus for five days.

The August eruption was the final blast following two months of smaller eruptions. Weather watchers described the airborne ash as a “smoke stream in the atmosphere.” This was the first identification of what we now call the jet stream.

From our Hearing HealthCare News

A newsletter for our patients, their families and friends

Winter 2016

Magnesium

Magnesium along with Vitamins A, C & E plays an essential role in hearing health. This mineral helps us deal with stress and has been shown to help ease hearing sensitivities, reduce tinnitus, and prevent hearing loss. Scientists believe this is because magnesium combats the effects of free radicals emitted during loud noises.

Sources of magnesium include: almonds, brown rice, leafy greens, artichokes, barley, Brazil nuts, beans, bananas, potatoes, broccoli, spinach, and pumpkin seeds.

Sources of vitamin A include: Broccoli, squash, spinach, turnip greens, carrots, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, apricots, liver, milk, butter, cheese, and whole eggs.

Sources of vitamin C include: citrus fruits, fresh herbs, guava, and strawberries.

Sources of vitamin E include: almonds, sunflower seeds, leafy greens, mango, and olive oil. For the power of both C & E include: red bell peppers, broccoli, kiwi, and papaya.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Researchers claim that Omega 3 fats strengthen the blood vessels in our earâ€s sensory system. They are the healthy fats found in many seeds, grains, beans, and oils. These fats have beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system and reduce inflammation that can damage sensitive tissues.

Sources of omega-3 include: chia seeds, flaxseed, walnuts, beans, tuna, halibut, salmon, scallops, winter squash and olive oil.

Potassium

Potassium is responsible for regulating the amount of fluid in your blood and body tissue. Fluid in the inner ear is dependent upon a rich supply of potassium, especially in that part of the ear that translates the noises we hear into electrical impulses the brain interprets as sound. Foods that contain potassium can help protect against age related hearing loss and can help prevent noise related hearing loss.

Sources of potassium include: apricots, bananas, melons, oranges, potatoes, spinach, lima beans, tomatoes, milk, yogurt and raisins.

Folate or Folic Acid

Folic acid helps improve hearing by regulating the formation of red blood cells, assisting in the metabolism of homocysteine, an inflammatory compound that reduces circulation. Good circulation is an important component in keeping the hair cells of the inner ear healthy and working properly. Folate is water soluble and not stored well in the body, so you must get your daily dose from food.

Sources of folic acid include: spinach, asparagus, broccoli, leafy greens, beans, lentils, avocados, eggs, breakfast cereal, liver, and nuts.

Eat healthy and hear better!

There is evidence that exercising our ears is also good for keeping our hearing in good shape.

A number of studies have demonstrated that individuals with hearing loss in both ears who use only one hearing aid tend to maintain or improve their ability to understand words in the ear with the hearing aid. The ear without the hearing aid tends to decline in word recognition ability. This decline is not a change in hearing sensitivity, but rather is a decline in the ability to process the complex speech signal simply through lack of use.

One explanation of this gradual decline is that the ear without the hearing aid isnâ€t being “exercised” very much. Another explanation is that the area of the brain involved in hearing is not being used and becomes less effective at processing speech information

This gradual decline in speech recognition ability usually reverses itself once the ear gets more stimulation (normally through use of a hearing aid). This gradual improvement in speech understanding may take four to six weeks after the hearing aid fitting, and may continue for up to 12 weeks.

Implications: The findings from a number of studies suggest the following: The longer a hearing loss is ignored, the greater the effects. The longer someone puts off using hearing aids, the more likely word recognition ability will decline. The delay may also make it more difficult to adjust to hearing aids. To use the exercise analogy, if you donâ€t exercise for 10 years, it may take longer to get back in shape.

The sooner hearing loss is treated, the easier the adjustment. If you never let your hearing get “out of shape,” itâ€s much easier to adjust to hearing full-time.

In almost all cases, two hearing aids are better than one. Two hearing aids will keep both ears and both sides of the brain actively involved in hearing.

Improved hearing may take a little time. Although hearing aids provide immediate benefits, it can take 6 to 12 weeks for a hearing aid user to get the full benefits of the improved hearing provided by hearing aids.

From our Hearing HealthCare News©

A newsletter for our patients, their families and friends

Winter 2015

Are you a good lipreader? Most people with hearing loss are good lipreaders, even if they donâ€t know it. And when you use those lipreading skills, your understanding of speech goes up by about 30%!

Almost everyone “hears better” when they are looking at the person talking. And you donâ€t need special lessons or classes in order to benefit from lipreading. Fortunately, the sounds that are hardest to hear are also the ones that are easiest to lipread.

For example, “f”as in “fin” and “p” as in “pin” are difficult to hear because they are soft, high-pitched sounds. But these same sounds are easy to lipread because theyâ€re made with the lip and tongue, and are very visible. With the help of lipreading, itâ€s fairly easy to “hear” the difference between “fin” and “pin.”

Vowels are more difficult to lipread-but usually much easier to hear.

And lipreading happens automatically. You donâ€t have to think about how “f” looks different from “p”. You donâ€t need to take special classes. But you do have to be able to see the person whoâ€s talking!

Test your lipreading skills

With your eyes closed, adjust the volume of your television to a very soft level. You should be able to hear the sound, but not understand the voices. Now open your eyes and see how much more you can understand. Thatâ€s the difference lipreading makes.

Lipreading tips:

• Ask the speaker to get your attention before starting a conversation.
• Make sure you can see the speakerâ€s face. You canâ€t read lips from another room or if the person is turned away from you!
• Watch the speakerâ€s face, not just the lips. Facial expressions and gestures often give important clues.
• Concentrate on the general conversation rather than individual sounds and words.
• Concentrate on how much you understand, not on what you miss.

Lip reading can be a great source of help. Itâ€s almost like having a third hearing aid – and itâ€s free!