Recharging Desiccants for Hearing Aid Dehumidifiers

Posted on July 20, 2011 by AU Bankaitis

With the hot summer months in full swing, hearing instrument wearers rely on dehumidifiers to remove damaging moisture that inherently builds up within hearing aids.  Prior to retiring for the night, hearing aids should be cleaned, disinfected and then placed in a dehumidifier, on top of the desiccant, with the hearing aid battery doors in the open position.  The hearing aids remain in the hearing aid dehumidifier overnight. Doing this every night will help prolong the life of the hearing aid and minimize moisture damage.

A wide variety of dehumidifiers are commercially available with most incorporating the use of a desiccant. Desiccants are small beads that capture and stow moisture from hearing aids. The small beads are typically enclosed in some sort of casing, pillow or pouch although some dehumidifiers house desiccant beads loosely in a jar (without encasing them in a pillow or pouch) which is not ideal since the beads can easily spill out and potentially cause a tripping hazard.

Regardless of the packaging, the desiccant must be activated either once or reactivated from time to time. Depending on the specific product, some desiccants are activated by simply pulling off a foil cover.  Other desiccants must be activated and reactivated in the microwave (i.e. 30 seconds to 1 minute or so  on high) or in a conventional oven (300º – 350º F for 30 minutes). Since there are a variety of products available on the market, it is critical to follow manufacturer instructions.

Some or all of the desiccant beads may have been treated such that they change color depending on how much moisture the beads have absorbed over time.  For example, some desiccant beads have been treated with cobalt chloride, a chemical that turns beads cobalt blue in color when fully activated.  Over time, they lose their hue, eventually turning pink. When the indicator beads turn pink, it is time to recharge the desiccant.  Other products, such as Audiologist’s Choice, use cobalt-free beads which are equally effective but more environmentally friendly.  With cobalt-free desiccants, the beads are orange/yellow when fully activated and ready for use; over time, the orange/yellow beads will change to green, serving as an indicator that it is time to reactive the desiccant. For more information, check out the quick one minute video on Recharging a Desiccant via the Oaktree Products YouTube page.

Posted in Hearing Aid Dehumidifiers & Moisture Protection | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Ear Saver!

Posted on July 13, 2011 by AU Bankaitis

Want to help prevent hearing damage that can easily occur from listening to loud music with an iPod, MP3 player, or Walkman at unsafe volume levels?  Check out the new Mack’s® EarSaver™, an inexpensive adapter designed to reduce the output of standard earphones or earbuds of portable music players.  To use the EarSaver, simply plug one end of the product into the 3.5mm jack of the audio device.  Next, plug the earphones into the other end of the EarSaver.  With the EarSaver in place, the overall volume of most portable music players will be reduced by approximately 18 dB.  The EarSaver retails for about $12 and is available in either white or orange with the orange one easier for parents to see that their child is actually using the device.  If you are looking for another similar option, be sure to check out my August 2010 blog post “Earbuds Available that Limit Audio Device Output” which showcases the KidzSafe earbuds and headphones.

Posted in Hearing Conservation | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

OTC wax removal drops – guest post by Bob Kemp

Posted on July 6, 2011 by AU Bankaitis

In the early 1970’s, in an attempt to allow faster approval of over-the-counter (OTC)  pharmaceutical preparations, the FDA created what is referred to as the “OTC Monograph”.  The monograph lists types of products and corresponding ingredients that could be used in them; as long as the monograph was followed, a product could be brought to market without regulatory review.  If a product contained a different active ingredient than what was listed on the monograph, pharmaceutical companies were required to go through an expensive and extremely time consuming process of submitting a New Drug Application (NDA).  For example, the original OTC Monograph for pain relievers included acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) and acetaminophen (Tylenol).  As long as the new product contained and listed at least one of those active ingredients, those new products could go directly to market without FDA approval.  In contrast, when ibuprofen (Motrin) was first introduced, since this ingredient was not included in the OTC Monograph, companies offering ibuprofin-based products were required to submit an NDA.  If approved, those products were assigned a prescription only status.  Eventually, the FDA added ibuprofen to the OTC Monograph, recategorizing Motrin and other ibuprofin-based products to OTC status.

The same principles apply to cerumen removal drops. The current OTC Monograph related to ear wax removal drops lists a 6.5% solution of carbamide peroxide in an anhydrous glycerine base as the only approved active ingredient. Why am I telling you this? All OTC ear wax removal systems will contain the same active ingredient.  In other words, brand name products such as Debrox, Murine, and Audiologist’s Choice are all the same product.  The difference between these brands is packaging and price.  Audiologist’s Choice tends to be significantly less expensive than most available brands.  Knowing this information, it is clear that the choice of audiologists is to use and recommend the Audiologist’s Choice brand.

This blog post was contributed by Bob Kemp, Founder and CEO of Oaktree Products, Inc., a multi-line distributor of hearing health care products based in the St. Louis, MO.  As a microbiologist, Bob has been educating audiologists and other hearing health care providers in the areas of infection control and cerumen management.  Oaktree Products serves as a product and information resource to the hearing industry.  For more information, visit http://www.oaktreeproducts.com/.

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Headphones for Hearing Aid Wearers?

Posted on June 29, 2011 by AU Bankaitis

When used with hearing instruments, conventional headphones can often cause discomfort as well as feedback and/or signal distortion, preventing hearing instrument wearers from enjoying listening to music, radio, movies, using the cell phone, and the like.  In this situation, patients will either remove their hearing instruments or try to interface their hearing instruments with a neckloop.  While these are viable options, sometimes patients just want to be able to use headphones like everyone else without having to remove their hearing instruments.  Fortunately, there is a product available that offers patients this option.

The CLA3 Hearing Aid Compatible Headset is a t-coil enabled headset that provides the user interference-free listening with any audio device equipped with a standard headphone jack.   Worn like traditional headphones, the CLA3 headset routes information from an audio source directly to the hearing instrument’s t-coil, allowing the user to hear music, movies, and radio. For hearing instruments without t-coils and for non-hearing instrument wearers, the headset will work like a traditional headphone. Equipped with a boom microphone, the user can also use the headset to communicate via cell phone and Skype.  The product is packaged with both 2.5mm and 3.5mm jack plugs for use with laptops, CD or MP3 players and game consoles.  Check out the CLA3-How It Works video on YouTube; for more CLA3 product information, visit the Oaktree Products website.

Posted in Hearing Assistance Technology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Cool New Portable Hearing Aid Sanitizer & Deodorizer

Posted on June 22, 2011 by AU Bankaitis

The ear is a dark, warm moist place where bacteria and other germs (some good, some bad) like to grow.  These microorganisms can easily contaminate hearing instrument and/or earmold surfaces where they can continue to thrive and grow.  Since hearing instruments are designed to reside either completely or partially within the ear canal,  it is imperative for hearing instruments to be cleaned and disinfected properly on a daily basis.  This may be accomplished by first cleaning surfaces with specially formulated, nonalcoholic disinfectant wipes (i.e. Audiologist’s Choice AudioWipes) followed by the use of the new portable NatureZone UV/Ozone chamber.

The NatureZone Hearing Aid Sanitizer and Deodorizer is a portable, battery operated chamber designed to disinfect, sanitize, and deodorize hearing instrument and earmold surfaces.  Equipped with an ultra violet light, once the hearing instruments and/or earmolds are placed in the chamber and the lid is closed, a push button located on the front panel activates a 3 minute UV  disinfecting cycle.  In addition, the product is equipped with an Ozone Ion Generator that releases an invisible ozone ion cloud which penetrates microorganism cell walls, assisting in the destruction of germ growth while simultaneously neutralizing odors via oxidation. The NatureZone Sanitizer is 99.9% effective in killing a wide range of bacteria, yeast, and mold including Staphylococcus, MRSA, and E. Coli.  It is the perfect addition to any hearing instrument wearers’ daily hygiene routine.

To use NatureZone:

  1. Open the chamber lid first. With the camber lid open, access the battery comportment located on the bottom of the chamber and insert 4 AAA batteries (not included).
  2. Insert hearing instruments into chamber and close lid.
  3. Push button on front of case to start three-minute disinfecting cycle.  Glowing green LED bulb in front indicates cycle has started.
  4. After three minutes, the green LED light will stop illuminating, indicating that the cycle is complete. NOTE: devices may stay stored in NatureZone chamber beyond three-minute cycle.
  5. Open chamber lid and remove disinfected and deodorized hearing instruments.

For more information, check out the NatureZone YouTube video produced by Oaktree Products or contact Oaktree Products at 800.347.1960 or via email at otp@oaktreeproducts.com.

Posted in Infection Control | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

New & Exciting Technology from Unitron – guest post by Brian Taylor

Posted on June 15, 2011 by AU Bankaitis

As DSP technology continues to progress, hearing aid manufacturers are able to improve processing speed and algorithm performance.  Recently, Unitron’s Smartfocus™ algorithm, which has been clinically proven in several independent studies to outperform similar algorithms in noise, has been enhanced with the advent of several new features unique to the Quantum and Moxi families of Unitron products.  For example, Unitron’s automatic switching program has been updated. No longer using a “winner take all” approach, the Quantum and Moxi algorithms can actually morph between listening destinations and exist in a state that is partially between one listening environment and another.  Clinical trials have shown a strong user preference for this updated automatic switching algorithm. Other technological advances to the Quantum and Moxi product lines include Pinna Effect, which contributes to improved front-to-back localization, and Natural Sound Balance, a feature that enhances the performance of open canal fittings.

This blog post was contributed by Brian Taylor, Au.D., Director of Practice Development & Clinical Affairs at Unitron, a leader in creating hearing innovations that make everyday listening easier for people with hearing loss. The Company is bringing new and improved DSP chips and algorithms to market. By doubling the computational speed of the DSP chip, the new Quantum family of products as well as the new Moxi CRT line offers your patients unprecedented performance in noise.  For more information, please visit www.unitronhearing.com or the Unitron Web Channel on AudiologyOnline.

Posted in Guest Blog Posts, Hearing Instrument Technology | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

New Wireless Video Otoscope Available!

Posted on June 9, 2011 by AU Bankaitis

The new TeleView Wireless Video Otoscope (model EV300) is a wireless video otoscope that eliminates the need for a cable connection between the hand-held otoscope and laptop computer or TV. The EV300 is comprised of two basic components: 1) the wireless, rechargeable handpiece, and 2) a wireless receiver.

The wireless handpiece (shown right) houses 5 white LED bulbs with the capability to change brightness levels via the + or – buttons located on the back of the handpiece. It is also equipped with a focus wheel and digital zoom capabilities that can magnify images up to 2x.  The EV300 handpiece contains a 1GB micro-SD card that can store approximately 3,000 images in the handpiece. Images may be downloaded to any computer by attaching the EV300 handpiece to a computer via a USB cable.

The second component is the wireless receiver (not shown).  This component will connect to a computer or TV.  For Windows 7, Vista, XP and Server 2000, the EV300 wireless receiver will connect directly to the computer via a USB cable (included).  The user must install product software for the computer to recognize the wireless transmitter.  It will work with Mac computers but  requires the additional purchase and installation of a video capture card.  The EV300 wireless receiver will also work with any TV as long as it has a typical composite video input connection (RCA plug).

The transmission range of the TeleView Wireless Video Otoscope is approximately 33 feet (10 meters) in direct sight. The lithium ion battery housed in the handpiece will last for approximately 90 minutes of continuous use when fully charged.  The battery can be recharged by connecting the handpiece to either the USB port of the wireless receiver, the USB port found on any computer, or to a wall outlet (via USB AC adapter and silver USB recharging cable packaged with device). The battery life is approximately 300 recharges; if the battery is recharged every other day, it will last about 1-2 years. It comes packaged with reusable specula (3mm, 4mm, and 5.5 mm).  A wired version of this product (model EV400) is also available.

Posted in Otoscopes, Headlamps & Earlights | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Blog Survey Results: What Subscribers Want

Posted on June 1, 2011 by AU Bankaitis

Three weeks ago, subscribers to my blog were invited to participate in an online survey.  The purpose of the survey was to gather basic information on subscribers, what topics to blog about, and how often to post new information.  Blog subscribers refer to individuals who have specifically subscribed to my blog to automatically receive bi-weekly posts via e-mail.  In contrast, blog followers refer to individuals who have accessed and/or follow my blog without officially subscribing.  For this survey, only blog subscribers were invited to participate. Excluding registered Oaktree Products’ employees, as of May 31, 2011, 144 subscribers have registered to my blog. Of those 144 subscribers, 51 responded to the online survey resulting in a response rate of 35.4%.  About half of the respondents (26.51 or 51%) learned about my blog from Audiology Online with the other half via either word of mouth (13/51 or 25.5%) or the Oaktree Products website (11/51 or 21.6%).

The majority of the respondents were female (37/51 or 72.5%) with a smaller percentage of male respondents (14/51 or 27.5%).  About one-third fell in the 45-54 year age group (16/51 or 31.4%), nearly a quarter in both the 55-64 (12/51 or 23.5%) and 25-34 year age groups (11/51 or 21.6%), followed by 17.6% (9/51) in the 35-44 year age group. The remaining respondents were divided amongst the 18-24 year (1/51 or 2%) and 65 and older age groups (2/51 or 3.9%).  Two-thirds of respondents earned either an AuD (21/51 or 41.2%) or Master’s degree (13/51 or 25.5%) with the rest reporting anywhere from “some college” to a PhD.  Most respondents were from the United States (40/51 or 78.4%) with the rest from other countries including  Belgium, Canada, Greece, India, and the United Kingdom.

According to those that responded, my blog is mainly accessed either once a week (24/51 or 47.1%) or about 2-3 times per week (15/51 or 29.4%). The majority indicated that new information should be posted once a week only (29/51 or 56.9%) with nearly a quarter (12/51 or 23.5%) requesting for the bi-weekly format to stay the same. When asked as to which topic category represents the most useful and/or interesting information, most selected the choice “doesn’t matter to me” (14/51 or 27.5%).  An equal number of respondents indicated that the general categories of Audiology (10/51 or 19.6%) as well as Hearing Assistance Technology (14/51 or 27.5%) were the most useful followed by Tools & Accessories (7/51 or 13.7%).

So, what can you expect in the future? During the summer months of June through August, blog posts will be scheduled once a week (rather than bi-weekly) and occur every Wednesday to help break up the work week! Look for more posts addressing Hearing Assistance Technology including not only new products, but how existing products may be beneficial to patients.  Also, look for guest bloggers to share their knowledge of the hearing industry. In the fall, I hope to introduce video to better illustrate features, benefits, and/or the how-to’s of a product. For now, enjoy the summer, keep reading my blog and always feel free to share your feedback!!

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