Myths Associated with Hearing Loss and Treatment

Many people take their hearing for granted. While it's possible to live a lifetime without a single hearing problem, anyone who has attended a concert has probably considered the possibility of hearing loss, be it temporary or permanent. Unfortunately, there are many myths associated with hearing loss and treatment. And The Better Hearing Institute (BHI) wants to educate the public about hearing loss and available treatments to dispel some of these myths, such as:

* Minor surgery can fix my hearing. Though medical treatment or surgery can benefit hearing loss, only 5-10 percent of adult cases of hearing loss are helped by surgery.

* I have one good ear and one bad ear. When one ear is bad, the natural tendency is to begin favoring the other ear when using the telephone or having face-to-face conversations. This creates the illusion that the so-called "better ear" is normal when it really isn't. In fact, BHI says most types of hearing loss affect both ears equally and 90 percent of hearing loss patients are in need of hearing aids for both ears.

* Hearing loss is for the elderly. This is the most common misconception about hearing loss, but is completely untrue. In fact, only 35 percent of people with hearing loss are over the age of 64. Nearly 6 million people in the United States alone between the ages of 18 and 44 have some hearing loss, and more than one million are school age.

* My doctor would have told me if I had hearing loss. According to the BHI, only 14 percent of physicians routinely screen for hearing loss during a physical. Due to the quiet nature of a doctor's office, it's easy for the physician to assume your hearing is fine because the environment is quiet and you are probably not showing any symptoms of hearing loss. When visiting the doctor for your next physical, ask him to look for any signs of hearing loss during the physical.

* Hearing loss is normal for my age. Hearing loss isn't normal for anyone, no matter what a friend, relative or even physician might say.

* Hearing loss is untreatable. Hearing loss may have been untreatable years ago, but technology has changed that. While surgery might not be the answer, 95 percent of people with sensorineural hearing loss (caused by damage to the inner ear) can be helped with hearing aids. Other types of hearing loss, such as conductive hearing loss, which affects the outer and/or middle ear, caused by ear wax and ear infections, can often be medically or surgically treated. Mixed hearing loss (a combination of conductive and sensorineural) can often be helped with a surgically implanted device called a cochlear implant.

To learn more about hearing loss and treatment options, visit the Better Hearing Institute Web site at www.betterhearing.org. 

Locally, Buffalo Hearing and Speech licensed audiologists provide a full range of services, treatment options, and free educational seminars where participants are able to meet with professionals and get many of their questions answered. To learn more visit http://www.askbhsc.org/content/pages/about-hearing-loss. FP105426

WNY Resource:

Buffalo Hearing and Speech is conveniently located in Buffalo, Amherst, West Seneca,
Fredonia and Wheatfield. Visit www.askbhsc.org or call 885-8

Buffalo Hearing and Speech Student Symposium Series

Buffalo Hearing and Speech Center is proud to present our 2012 “In the Field”  Speech Student Symposium Series.  This year the presentation will focus on:

Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorders:

Utilizing the DIR/Floortime Approach in Therapy

Friday, April 27 5:30-7:30 pm

Presenting an opportunity for students to hear from speech-language pathologists working in the field. Students will walk away with ready-to-use techniques for intervention and have an opportunity to win great therapy materials!  

All speech undergraduate or graduate students are encouraged to attend this FREE event which takes place on Friday, April 27 from 5:30-7:30 pm, and includes pizza, tours, talks with speech and language pathologists, hands-on therapy demonstrations, and more. The event takes place at Buffalo Hearing and Speech Center, 50 East North Street, Buffalo, NY 14203.

If you have any questions, please contact Amy Bamrick at 716.885.8871 ext. 2240 or abamrick@askbhsc.org or Steve Miller at 716.885.8871 ext. 2289 or smiller@askbhsc.org

Floortime - An Emerging Intervention for Children With Autism

By Annette Pinder

Growing up in Brooklyn, there was a child on our street who was different. She didn’t talk, and seemed to be off in her own world, as our moms whispered, “She’s autistic.” I found a book at the local library on the topic and secretly yearned to reach this child, but unfortunately never had the opportunity.

So years later, it seemed fitting when my daughter, now 25, made the decision to work with children diagnosed with autism and other communication disorders. It is also a topic no longer discussed in hushed tones, because today one in 110 children in America have an autism spectrum disorder, males are four times more likely to have it, and early intervention is essential.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), is the most common therapy today that has been proven to effectively help children learn skills ranging from making eye contact and following simple instructions, to developing advanced language and social-skills. But new developmental interventions are emerging, as ABA has come under some criticism for producing ‘robot-like’ behavior in children, and for its use of punishment to reduce or eliminate problem behavior.

One program that is gaining attention as an alternative to ABA is Floortime, developed by Dr. Stanley Greenspan. A renowned leader in autism education, Greenspan worked with many young children diagnosed with the disorder. Now older, these children are said to be fully communicative, creative, warm, loving, and joyful. Anecdotal evidence also suggests that parents whose children experienced Floortime found it to be effective.

Floortime meets a child at his or her developmental level, and builds upon their strengths. Child-focused, with the parent or therapist following the child's lead, Floortime incorporates playful positive attention while tuning in to the child's interests. Its premise is that children learn skills from relationships they have with their caregivers and other significant people in their lives. Through interactive child-directed play and experiences children ‘want’ to relate to the outside world.

Recently, when I observed Floortime at Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center (BHSC), a young boy jumped up from the circle of seated children during a lesson enthusiastically pointing to a chart of facial features. Instead of reprimanding the child for speaking out of turn, the instructor immediately seized upon the opportunity to engage the child, thereby increasing his desire to verbalize and interact socially. And it worked!

BHSC offers Floortime to children ages 3 to 7 years, who are eligible, and CEO Joseph Cozzo, is enthusiastic about the results. He explains, “Education is tailored to meet the specific needs of each child and family, and program funding is provided by the NYS Education Department and the County. Classes operate five full days a week combining individual, small, and large group activities. The classroom team consists of staff trained and educated in Floortime. A multidisciplinary team provides services, including speech language pathology, special education, occupational therapy, social work, and music therapy. Physical therapy is included if required on a child's Individualized Educational Plan (IEP).

Cozzo also wants parents to know about BHSC’s outpatient social communication program for children ages 5-18 with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and encourages them to make an appointment to observe the Greenspan/Floortime and the outpatient programs by calling 885-8318. To learn more visit www.stanleygreenspan.com.

WNY Resource:
Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center is headquartered at 50 E. North Street in Buffalo with additional locations in Amherst, West Seneca, Fredonia, and Wheatfield. Visit www.askbhsc.org to learn more.
Floortime for Children with Autism