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New Drug Promises Relief from Tinnitus

9th January 2021/in Bath Ear syringing centre, Hearing aids Bristol and Bath /by admin

New Drug Promises Relief from Tinnitus, Epilepsy

   

New Drug Promises Relief from Tinnitus, Epilepsy

Neurophysiologists at the University of Connecticut (UConn) have discovered a new drug that may prevent tinnitus and treat epilepsy by selectively affecting potassium channels in the brain. According to an article in the June 10, 2015 edition of The Journal of Neuroscience, Anastasios V. Tzingounis, PhD, and colleagues say that both tinnitus and epilepsy are caused by overly excitable cells that flood the brain with an overload of signals that can lead to seizures (epilepsy) or phantom ringing in the ears (tinnitus).

The authors report that roughly 65 million people worldwide are affected by epilepsy. While exact statistics on tinnitus are not easy to determine, the American Tinnutus Association estimates that two million people in the US suffer from disabling tinnitus.

Anastasios V. Tzingounis, PhD

Anastasios V. Tzingounis, PhD, University of Connecticut

According to Tzingounis and co-authors, the existing drugs available to treat epilepsy don’t always work and can have serious side effects. One of the more effective drugs, retigabine, helps open KCNQ potassium channels, which serve as the “brakes” that shut down the signaling of overly excited nerves. Retigabine, however, has terrible side effects and is usually only given to adults who don’t get relief from other epilepsy drugs. The side effects of retigabine include sleepiness, dizziness, problems with hearing and urination, and a disturbing tendency to turn patients’ skin and eyes blue.

In 2013, Tzingounis began collaborating with Thanos Tzounopoulos, PhD, a tinnitus expert at the University of Pittsburgh, to create a new drug candidate. The new drug, SF0034, was chemically identical to retigabine, but included an extra fluorine atom. Originally developed by SciFluor, the company wanted to know whether the compound had promise for treating epilepsy and tinnitus.

Thanos Tzounopoulos, PhD,

Thanos Tzounopoulos, PhD, University of Pittsburgh

Tzingounis and Tzounopoulos thought the drug had the potential to be much better than retigabine in treating both conditions. They first had to determine if SF0034 worked on KCNQ potassium channels the same way retigabine does, and if so, if it would be better or worse.

The co-authors explain in their article that KCNQ potassium channels are found in the initial segment of axons, long nerve fibers that reach out and almost touch other cells. The gap between the axon and the other cell is called a synapse. When the cell wants to signal to the axon, it floods the synapse with sodium ions to create an electrical potential. When that electrical potential goes on too long, or gets overactive, the KCNQ potassium channel kicks in. The result is that it opens, potassium ions flood out, and the sodium-induced electrical potential shuts down.

In some types of epilepsy, the KCNQ potassium channels have trouble opening and shutting down runaway electrical potentials in the nerve synapse. Retigabine helps them open. According to the authors, there are five different kinds of KCNQ potassium channels in the body, but only two are important in epilepsy and tinnitus: KCNQ2 and KCNQ3. The problem with retigabine is that it acts on other KCNQ potassium channels as well. That’s why it has so many unwanted side effects.

When testing SF0034 in neurons, the researchers found that it was more selective than retigabine. It appeared to open only KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 potassium channels, and to not affect the KCNQ 4 or 5 potassium channels. The research showed that SF0034 was more effective than retigabine at preventing seizures in animals, and it was also less toxic.

The results are promising, and SciFluor plans to start FDA trials with SF0034 to test its safety and efficacy in people. Treating epilepsy is the primary goal, but treating or preventing tinnitus is a secondary goal.

Source: UConn; Medical News Today

Photo credits: University of Connecticut; University of Pittsburgh; © Skypixel | Dreamstime.com

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New hearing for 2020

4th January 2020/in Bath Ear syringing centre, Hearing aids Bath /by admin

New you, new hearing for 2020

So the new year and new decade is here. As loud as the T.V. maybe you still are 100% sure you don’t need at the very least a hearing test. You are not that bothered that your granddaughters first few words are unheard by you or that the gossip from the next door neighbour just isn’t as good as it used to be.  She talks so quietly these days you really are tired of straining to hear.

Maybe the Postman just didn’t push the doorbell hard enough as you were in when he called and you missed that package that you were waiting in all day for an now you have to go 14 mies to the sorting office with I.D. to make the collection.. At rush hour!

These little annoyances crammed with so many others it would take more than the internet to tell them all, maybe down to one thing? Your hearing maybe not as it once was (understatement possibly).

Hearing tests at the Keynsham hearing centre Bristol

Here at Keynsham Hearing we get to see many reluctant men and women who have for years put off what we all know. We are all getting older and really annoyingly we are hard of hearing! Or DEAF!

There we said it.  Now we have that out there is usually a huge relief as it’s not as bad as you think.  These days there is a huge difference in how hearing can be corrected in the main part. Tech is smaller, fancier and more connected than ever before.

We do understand the stigma attached to admitting that your hearing is not what it used to be. We also understand hearing is vital for people to stay connected with their family and daily lives.

Ear wax removal Keynsham Somerset

If you feel that you or someone you love could do with knowing just what their hearing is really like then we are happy to conduct a simple hearing tests and go from there. It may even by a simple ear wax issue that can be corrected in minutes.

Hearing can be corrected. Keynsham Bath, Bristol

The latest 2020 hearing aids available at the Keynsham hearing centre.

Book you appointment by calling or clicking here 

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New report on deafness therapy 

23rd December 2019/in Hearing aids Bristol and Bath, News /by admin

New report on deafness therapy

New report in deafness therapy has been reported by a new scientific paper. Here at the Keynsham hearing centre are keen to keep up with the latest information to keep our patients informed.

Below is what was reported by the hearing review recently. 

High-pressure Oxygen Therapy May Help Treat Sudden Deafness, Says ‘JAMA’ Study

   

Keynsham hearing centre deafness experts

Bottom Line: The addition of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (where patients receive pure oxygen in a pressurised chamber) to standard medical treatment was associated with an improved likelihood that patients who experience sudden deafness might recover all or some of their lost hearing, JAMA Network announced on its website. Sudden deafness, also known as sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), is hearing loss that happens within a few days and often has no identifiable cause. This study combined the results of 19 studies, including three randomised clinical trials, and suggests a greater benefit of adding the hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be associated with those patients who have severe to profound hearing loss and who failed to recover after standard medical treatment. A limitation of this study is that because a substantial number of patients with SSNHL will spontaneously recover, the benefits of treatment may not have been accurately evaluated.

For earwax removal in Wiltshire please try our colleague in Devizes 

Authors: Tae-Min Rhee, MD, DMO/UMO, National Maritime Medical Center, Changwon, Republic of Korea, and coauthors.

Original Paper: Rhee T-M, Hwang D, Lee J-S, Park J, Lee JM. Addition of hyperbaric oxygen therapy vs medical therapy alone for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2018. Available at: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/article-abstract/2704029

Source: JAMA Network, JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg

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Bath hearing aid centre

4th November 2019/in Hearing aids Bath, News /by admin

Bath hearing aid centre

It has been estimated that only 1-in-5 people who need a hearing aid wears one.

Audiologist Stephen Neal of The Keynsham hearing centre, thinks that is unfortunate.

He has been fitting people with hearing aids for more than 20 years and says today’s technology has something for just about everyone’s hearing loss.

Hearing centre Bath

He says hearing aids now are smaller and can be regulated more discreetly and that the computer chips inside them recognise different sound types and can be programmed to adjust volume accordingly as well as to meet an individual’s specific hearing needs.

Blue Tooth technology allows for direct streaming of sound into the ears from smartphones and other devices and, he adds, always improving applications from manufacturers enable those phones to act as remote controls in adjusting volume and sound in a variety of settings as well.

“Sometimes people have the idea that there is nothing that can be done for them. They might feel their hearing is not bad enough or they might feel like their hearing is so bad that nothing can be done,”

Ear wax removal Bath Somerset

“Sometimes I find they were told 40 years ago, hearing aids won’t help you. If there is anyone who heard that, that is not true today. The technology can fit a wide range of hearing losses from mild to profound and, if it gets to the point where hearing aids don’t do the trick, we refer people for a cochlear implant and they can have that and that technology continues to get better, too.”

Stephen Neal is available for hearing consultations and ear wax removal. Please call reception and speak with Anita.

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Bath Hearing aids

29th October 2019/in News /by admin

Bath Hearing aids

Earwax, earwax removal, microsuction, Bath, Somerset, Wiltshire, Radstock, Yeovil, Frome,

Mr Stephen Neal offers ear wax removal at his Keynsham hearing centre. 

 

Stephen Neal the specialist hearing aid independent offers you expert advice on what hearing aids you need after a comprehensive hearing test. He also offers ear wax removal (ear syringing)  using the very gentle Microsuction technique as used by most ear wax removal centres. This technique is gentle, safe and very quick without the mess or inconvenience of water. He does however use water irrigation if preferred or for medical reasons is needed.

Along with ”ear syringing”, Stephen is also a main brand stockists of the very latests 2020 versions of hearing aids.

Hearing aids Bath

If you are in need of ear wax removal and you live in the Bath or Bristol area please call reception and speak with Anita to book your appointment. Out of hours appointments are also available.

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Bath Ear syringing centre

27th August 2019/in Bath Ear syringing centre, News /by admin

Bath Ear syringing centre

 

We talked ear health very seriously here at our Bath Ear syringing centre. Bellow is some information regarding going away and hitting the beach or pool.

Stephen Neal is based at the Keynsham hearing centre and is a leading ear wax removal specialist.

 

As many people set out for holiday in coastal towns during the hot summer days, more attention should be paid to ear health. With people taking a dip at every opportunity the risk of an outer ear infection can increase significantly. An early diagnosis of external otitis can prevent any serious infection. Here are the causes and treatments of outer ear infections.

Don’t neglect your ear care

Outer ear infection is common in the summer, when more people cool off in the sea or in a pool. The outer ear remaining wet, contact with dirty pool water, seawater or foreign bodies, allergy, other skin conditions and chronic diseases like diabetes are the main factors that increase the risk of an outer ear infection.

Stephen Neal the Bath audiologist specialist based at the Keynsham hearing centre is available for all types of ear wax removal.

Bath Ear syringing centre

 

This is why patients who have previously had an outer ear infection suffer from the same disease again if attention is not paid. Outer ear infection is often caused by bacteria and fungi, while viruses and parasites can rarely be a factor. The chronic condition of the outer ear infection, which often occurs in the form of acute infections, is called “swimmer’s ear,” which is very difficult to treat.

Ways to avoid outer ear infection

The main principle for avoiding outer ear infection is to remove risk factors. The ways of avoiding can be listed as follows:

Treat and keep your chronic diseases under control.

Do not keep water in ear and do not use ear sticks during shower.

Do not swim in dirty and low chlorine pools and in dirty parts of the sea.

Use silicone stopper when swimming in order to prevent water from getting into outer ear.

Remove the water escaping to the ear after swimming with head movements.

You can use a few drops of vinegar to ensure the optimal PH level in the outer ear after swimming.

Outer ear infection includes clinical cases including serious life-threatening infections. For this reason, diagnosis should be made at the earliest stage of complaints and treatment should be started quickly.

Smelly earwax in your ear

The outer ear is a canal shaped, extending from earlap to eardrum, with one end opening outward and the other closed by eardrum. The outer ear is a structure that is susceptible to infections due to being a canal with one end open, poor ventilation and its humid environment. It is possible to list the three main symptoms of outer ear infection as pain, discharge and hearing loss. The pain can be severe and increase when you touch your ear. The discharge is yellow-green and usually smells bad. Hearing loss results from outer ear edema and discharges from outer ear due to infection. The disease can be easily diagnosed by a simple ear examination in the patient with the aforementioned complaints. In diagnosis, it is important to distinguish that the discharge is not from middle ear, but from outer ear. Therefore, a specialist examination is recommended.

After the examination, the specialist doctor will determine the best method of treatment. The outer ear should be thoroughly cleaned during treatment. Local antibiotic drops, cortisone drops and painkillers are used. Since ear

drops cannot reach the canal in patients with highly edematous and closed outer ear canal, suppositories should be placed in outer ear for a few days to ensure that the drops reach the canal.

More severe in diabetic patients

Systemic antibiotic use and rarely hospitalisation may be required for advanced outer ear infections in people with risk factors, such as diabetes. During treatment, ears should be protected from water and water sports should be suspended. Materials such as hearing aids, headphones and stoppers should not be used during this period as they make the treatment harder.

Ear syringing Bath Somerset

 

If you do end up having any hearing or ear issues please see your GP as soon as you can.  However if you have or think you have ear wax and need this removed please book in for an appointment at the Bath Ear syringing centre.

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Digital Hearing aids Somerset

18th June 2019/in Hearing aids Somerset /by admin

Digital Hearing aids Somerset

 

Digital Hearing aids Somerset can be found at the Keynsham hearing centre, Somerset. We specialise as a truly independent hearing company to get your hearing back to a level you may have missed in a while. We offer a full spectrum hearing test. This test is designed to find out exactly what hearing loss you may have so we can then tailor the correct type of hearing aid/s you may require.  Not all hearing aids are the same. Depending on what type of hearing loss you have depends on what type of hearing aid you may need. Stephen Neal the lead audiologist has a wealth of knowledge and will guide you on to what type of hearing iAd would suit your needs.

Keynsham hearing centre

Not all hearing aids are the same. Stephen will explain what would suit you, so you are well informed to make your own decision before you embark on buying hearing aids.  Hearing aids can be perceived at being expensive but to have your hearing back to a level which you no longer miss out on conversations in loud environments is the difference between being in the conversation or not. Hearing health is as important as eye sight so why not get your hearing test booked in now.

Somerset hearing aids

After the hearing test we will know more about what your hearing loss is so we can then get you back to some sort of normality when it comes to hearing in noisy crowded rooms, traffic noise, or watching the TV at your level while not annoying your loved ones.  Hearing is a sense we all take for granted but as we get older it can and does deteriorate. Why put up with second best living standards when with our help we can get you back some of the normality in hearing you enjoyed when you were younger.

Contact Anita on reception to book an initial hearing test, from there let us start your journey together to really get your hearing heath back to some normality.

If you need ear wax removal in Somerset please look at our video here to see Micro-suction ear wax removal.

Hearing aids, ear wax removal-Somerset

Hearing aids & Dimensia-Somerset-ear-wax-removal

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Depression and Hearing link, Bristol

30th April 2019/in Depression and Hearing link /by admin

Depression and Hearing link, Bristol

 

Depression and Hearing link, Bristol. Stephen Neal audiologist who is based at the Keynsham hearing centre knows that Depression and hearing can be linked.

Depression and hearing link found by researchers.

New report into depression and hearing has been published. We at the Keynsham hearing centre are well aware of this link and can help with making your hearing a little better.

Bristol hearing and Ear wax removal centre

 

Bristol hearing and Ear wax removal centre is at the Keynsham hearing centre the independent hearing and ear wax specialist covering Bath, Bristol, & Somerset.  If you are having issues with hearing in general we can conduct a hearing test at Keynsham. The comprehensive hearing test will take around an hour of your time, but the results will be know there and then putting you in control of your hearing. We can then discuss what hearing instrument (hearing aid) you may need if required.  There could be other issues at play if you are not hearing as well as you think you should be. We can before the test look to see if you have any ear wax present. Ear wax isn’t usually an issue, we all need a little for good ear health. However in some cases excessive ear wax build up can become an issue and if you have excessive ear wax we will clear this before any test is conducted.

Depression and Hearing link, Bristol

Ear wax removal is very easy and painless. We use the Microsuction ear wax removal method as this really is the gold standard of ear wax removal. We also can use the older method of ear wax removal called irrigation or some may know this as ear syringing. This method uses warm water to gently irrigate the ear to help release the ear wax out from the ear.

You can watch our ear wax removal here

 

So if you are having some hearing issues and would like afamily run professional ear wax removal service then book an appointment. We can discuss at the appointment any of the issues at length. After all we are all ears!

 

Ear wax removal Bath and Bristol

 

Stephen Neal News:

Bringing world wide news on hearing to our local area.

 

Study Shows Older Adults with Hearing Loss at Higher Risk for Depression

 

Hearing loss is linked to depression

Keynsham hearing centre

The results of a study investigating the connection between hearing loss and depression found that older adults with some form of hearing loss were 47% more likely to also have depression symptoms, according to an article in Reuters. 

Bristol Hearing centre

Originally published in The Gerontologist, the research reviewlooked at 35 previous studies encompassing 147, 148 participants, who were at least 60 years old.

“We know that older adults with hearing loss often withdraw from social occasions, like family events because they have trouble understanding others in noisy situations, which can lead to emotional and social loneliness,” lead study author Blake Lawrence of the Ear Science Institute Australia, in Subiaco, and the University of Western Australia in Crawley, was quoted as saying in Reuters. 

Additionally, the article goes on to add that the brain may work harder to interpret sound from a weaker auditory signal, draining resources needed to maintain working memory or other cognitive functions. A weaker signal may also cause the “reorganization” of neural pathways, potentially changing the way depression is regulated in the brain.

Ear syringing Bath

In a new white paper produced by The Hearing Review and sponsored by Hamilton CapTel, “Depression, Hearing Loss, and Treatment with Hearing Aids,” audiologist and educator Victor Bray, PhD, reviews previous landmark studies as well as more recent research into the complex relationship between hearing loss and depression. The paper helps identify patient populations who might benefit most from hearing devices. Additionally, Dr Bray’s webinar “Depression, Hearing Loss, and Treatment with Hearing Aids,” discusses the risk factors for depression among people with hearing loss as well as why hearing care providers should screen for depression when risk factors are present.

Original Paper: Lawrence BJ, Jayakody DMP, Bennett RJ, Eikelboom RH, Gasson N, Friedland PL. Hearing loss and depression in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Gerontologist. 2019:1-19. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnz009

Source: Reuters, The Hearing Review, The Gerontologist

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Bristol ear wax removal

10th April 2019/in Blocked ears, Earwax removal /by admin

Bristol ear wax removal

 

Bristol ear wax removal is available at the Keynsham hearing centre. If you are in urgent need for ear wax removal we do offer a premium out of hours appointments usually the same day, but please call reception for more details and availability. Appointments are available on a first come first served basis.

Ear wax removal Bristol

You can watch here how we conduct ear wax removal using the Microsuction technique here.

Stephen Neal also dispenses and sells hearing aids to the general public. The very latest digital hearing aids are available, all 12 hearing aid companies deal with Stephen so you know you are in good hands for choice.

 

Stephen Neal news:

EVENTS

BIHIMA Round Table Event Focused on Connection Between Hearing Loss and Dementia

Published on April 1, 2019

BIHIMA_LOGO_RGB_150dpi

A cross-sector summit was held last month, bringing together experts to discuss the connection between hearing loss as a risk factor in developing dementia, as well as highlighting the preventative role of hearing technology. The round table event was convened by the British and Irish Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (BIHIMA) on February 28, 2019 at the Royal College of General Practitioners in London, BIHIMA announced.

A series of podcasts of the event’s discussion has been created in order to spread greater understanding, available for download here.

Bristol ear wax removal

The event united audiologists, research scientists, and representatives from the media and charity sectors, to share knowledge and develop strategies to get the crucial message out into the public arena, so the proven link between the two conditions is taken seriously by individuals and policymakers.

There is growing evidence of the connection between the two conditions, including a Lancet study which showed that midlife hearing loss may account for up to 9.1% of preventable dementia cases worldwide and is a modifiable risk factor in developing the condition1. Dr Sergi Costafreda Gonzalez, co-author of the study, attended the Round Table.

There is less research, however, into the mitigating benefits of hearing aids. A University of Manchester study2 showed the rate of age-related cognitive decline is 75% less following the adoption of hearing devices. Co-author of this study, Dr Asri Maharani, shared details of these findings on the day. Further studies are now underway but this remains an undeveloped area, and so last month’s forum called publicly for further trials.

The panel also called on policymakers to make this area a funding priority. As new data emerges which proves the impact of hearing aids in preventing dementia, this will provide greater economic argument for making hearing technology more available to those at risk of cognitive decline.

Ear wax removal Bristol

“The better we understand cognitive decline and why hearing aid use helps, the better we can design intervention,” said Dr Helene Amieva, author of the 25-year study, “Death, Depression, Disability, and Dementia Associated with Self-reported Hearing Problems.”3

The panel also strongly recommended a cross-sector approach, whereby hearing loss is understood as part of a wider discussion which links with both neuroscience and social issues around isolation and wellbeing in the aging population.

“Dementia is a condition which affects 47 million people globally and is fast becoming a social care crisis. There is no time to waste in understanding the role of hearing technology which could stem the tide of the disease, and in educating people about looking after both their hearing and cognitive health,” said the BIHIMA Chairman, Paul Surridge.

BIHIMA PANEL ATTENDEES:

Paul Surridge, BIHIMA Chairman

Helene Amieva, PhD, author of: “Death, Depression, Disability, and Dementia Associated with Self-reported Hearing Problems: A 25-Year Study,” Inserm, University of Bordeaux

Dr Sergi Costafreda Gonzalez, co-author of the study: “Dementia prevention, intervention and care,” The Lancet, University College London

Ear wax removal Bristol

Tony Gunnell, audiologist (BIHIMA representative)

Peter Kunzmann, head of research and policy, Action on Hearing Loss

Brian Lamb, associate of The Ear Foundation and chair of the Hearing Loss and Deafness Alliance and the Action Group on Adult Cochlear Implantation

Dr Asri Maharani, co-author of the study: ‘Longitudinal Relationship Between Hearing Aid Use and Cognitive Function in Older Americans’, University of Manchester

Source: BIHIMA, The Lancet, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, The Journals of Gerontology

References

  1. Livingston G, Sommerlad A, Orgeta V, et al. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care. The Lancet. 2017;390(10113):P2673-2734.

  1. Maharani A, Dawes P, Nazroo J, Tampubolon G, Pendleton N. Longitudinal relationship between hearing aid use and cognitive function in older Americans. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2018;66(6):1130-1136.

  1. Amieva H, Ouvrard C, Meillon C, Rullier L, Dartigues J-F. Death, depression, disability, and dementia associated with self-reported hearing problems: A 25-year study. The Journals of Gerontology. 2018;73(10):1383-1389.

 

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Starkey hearing aids

16th March 2019/in Hearing aids, Hearing aids Somerset /by admin

Starkey hearing aids, Stephen Neal Hearing

 

We sell and dispense all types of hearing aids at the Keynsham hearing centre run by Stephen Neal . One of the big guns is Starkey. Recently they announced a new innovation for their Live Ai hearing aids. It now comes with fall detection, meaning it will detect if you have a fall and if you are paired with your phone it will message up to 3 contacts  that you have specified before hand.

Read the full press statement bellow for more info, or if you are interested in knowing more please pop in or make an appointment so we can walk you through the new hearing aid and it’s features.

 

Stephen Neal hearing news:

Starkey Releases World’s First Hearing Aid with Fall Detection and Alerts to Livio AI Users

balance problems increase risk for fallsStarkey Hearing Technologies, Eden Prairie, Minn, has released its new Fall Detection and Alert feature in Livio AI hearing aids to a limited number of hearing professionals, and plans to offer the feature to all dispensing professionals and their clients in late February, according to CTO Achin Bhowmik, PhD, in an interview with Hearing Review on Tuesday, December 18. Using integrated sensors, the Fall Detection and Alert feature is designed to automatically detect falls and send messages to as many as three contacts.

Fall detection sensors are currently implemented in all Livio AI devices as part of its standard hardware platform, and Starkey has been working on the Fall Alert feature to maximize its utility for end users prior to the system’s widespread implementation.

Falls are a massive public health problem, particularly for older adults. It’s estimated that injuries due to falls will account for $67.7 billion in public health spending by 2020, and according to the National Council on the Aging (NCOA) falls are currently responsible for an older adult being admitted to a US emergency room every 11 seconds. Additionally, people with hearing loss are particularly susceptible to falls. A Johns Hopkins study suggests that having hearing loss triples the risk of falls for people age 40 and older—and the findings hold up regardless of whether their hearing loss is moderate or severe.

StarkeyFallsInfoGraphic

How Starkey Fall Detection and Alerts work. Starkey’s new Fall Detection system is said to have several benefits over existing stand-alone medical alert systems, which are typically attached to a lanyard around the neck. “The first key advantage is that a hearing aid is almost always in your ear during your active hours, making for one less thing to carry or remember. One of the major problems with medical alert systems is getting people to wear them,” says Bhowmik. “Second, we have two fall detection sensors [in binaural fittings] for the right side and the left side, whereas most fall detection systems have only one. And the way the two sensors are spaced apart and the way in which you hold your head, we can get better and more accurate results than neck-worn sensors designed to detect falls.”

Starkey CTO Achin Bhowmik spoke about the possibility of fall detection and other sensor-based capabilities at the 2018 Starkey Expo held in January.

Starkey CTO Achin Bhowmik spoke about the possibility of fall detection and other sensor-based capabilities at the 2018 Starkey Expo held in January.

According to Bhowmik, part of Starkey’s recent research has revolved around what constitutes an actual fall as opposed false-positives such as quick downward movements or even accidentally dropping the hearing aid. “If you take the hearing aid off your ear and drop it on the ground, you will not get a false-positive for falling with Livio AI,” says Bhowmik. “We have been working on [eliminating false-positives] for over a year. A good AI system is only as good as the data you train the system with. In this particular case, if the left hearing aid detects a fall, it immediately checks with the right hearing aid to see if the data matches what would indicate a fall for the system. Unless it detects a fall from the hearing aids in tandem for both the right and left sides of the head, the device will eliminate those non-fall events and false-positives.”

Starkey Livio AI hearing aid

Starkey Livio AI hearing aid.

The hearing care professional will be able to activate Fall Detection and Alerts through an easy-to-use interface within the fitting software for Starkey’s Livio AI hearing aids. The user can then enter the Auto Alert contacts—up to three people who are to be alerted in the event of a fall within the Thrive Hearing App. When a fall is detected by the system, an audio prompt asks the user if they have fallen. He or she then has 60 seconds to provide an Event Cancellation and stop the outgoing Fall Alert messages from being sent to their designated contacts. If the hearing aid user has fallen and elects to send the Fall Alert message to his/her contacts, they receive confirmation when each contact has been successfully reached.

The system also allows for a Manual Alert which can be activated by simply pressing the hearing aid button, sending an alert for a fall or non-fall related event. “Maybe you didn’t fall, but instead just felt dizzy or were otherwise forced to sit down on the floor,” explains Bhowmik. “Obviously, this is not a fall. But you can still use the Manual Alert to get help when you need it. By tapping a button, you can send an automatic alert to your contacts, telling them you need assistance.”

This is just another step in the direction of making the hearing aid a multi-purpose, multi-functional device, according to Starkey.

To learn more about Starkey’s Livio AI you can visit: https://www.starkey.com/hearing-aids/technologies/livio-artificial-intelligence-hearing-aids

 

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