33. Pasadena Hearing Care

Anne S. Carter, Ph.D.Licensed Audiologist

Bonnie GulanAudiology Assistant

Kimberly BassOffice Manager1609 Pasadena Ave. S, Suite 2J

St. Petersburg, Florida 33707Phone: (727) 329-8852

March 2015

It’s 2015 and we have been busy here at Pasadena Hearing Care!! Our renovations are still underway, but we are nearing completion. If you haven’t been here in a while, stop by and check it out! At the same time you can welcome the newest member of our staff, Kimberly Bass. Sue retired in January and is keeping busy with her family and still enjoying her cruises. Kim has done a great job thus far filling her shoes!!

Bonnie is still working hard toward her hearing instrument specialist certification. In between seeing patients and fixing hearing aids, she continues her studies and is coming along well! Also be sure to check out the updates to the Pasadena Hearing Care Facebook page. Like our page to receive weekly

updates, announcements and a little humor now and then. We have also changed our website to include pictures of new staff and office as well as product updates.

Guide to Healthy Hearing

For our first newsletter of 2015, we focus on what many people resolve to do in the New Year – staying healthy. There is ongoing research regarding prevention of hearing loss and how to slow the progression of existing hearing loss.

Eat, Drink, and Hear Better

Eat well, hear better? Maybe! According to a study from Vanderbilt University, antioxidants may reduce the prevalence of age-related hearing loss by as much as 47 percent. The study showed that a high intake of vitamin A was associated with a 47 percent reduction in risk of hearing loss and Vitamin E intake was associated with a 14 percent reduction in risk of hearing loss. Good sources of antioxidents are Vitamins A, C and E and magnesium. USDA scientists have analyzed antioxidant levels in more than 100 different foods, including fruits and vegetables. Each food was measured for antioxidant concentration as well as antioxidant capacity per serving size. Cranberries, blueberries, and blackberries ranked highest among the fruits studied. Beans, artichokes, and Russet potatoes were tops among the vegetables. Pecans, walnuts, and hazelnuts ranked highest in the nut category. So remember, what you eat is one of the few risk factors you can control to prevent further age-related hearing loss.

Drink well, hear well? Great! Research suggests that Resveratol, a compound in red

wine, can help protect against and slow the progression of existing hearing loss. Resveratol, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, has already been found to help treat other

disorders including heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and diabetes. The moderate intake of red wine has been found to provide a protective affect for hearing in a research study conducted at the University of Antwerp in Belgium. However, excessive consumption, as with most things, can actually lead to the opposite effect and cause mild hearing loss. So enjoy your drink…in moderation.

A Sweet Treat that Treats Your Hearing

Even better news… a smoothie and a handful of peanuts is a quick fix for a healthy treat for your ears. A smoothie blended with banana, frozen strawberries and a drop of yogurt is a good way to give your ears a little something extra. Strawberries are a great source of Vitamin C, while dairy products contain Vitamin B12 and magnesium – and as we just read, these are good sources of antioxidants. Adding to that, strawberries, bananas and peanuts also contain folic acid. Folic acid lowers the production of homocysteines which are thought to contribute to age-related hearing loss, particularly in the frequency range. Folic acid also boosts the circulation of blood to the inner structure of the ear, thus keeping the hearing organ (cochlea) healthy.

Hearing Loss Prevention with Fish Oils We know that good nutrition has been shown to

reduce incidence of hearing loss in the aging population, or to slow down the loss of hearing associated with age. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition says people who eat greater than two serving of fish per week compared with those who eat less than one

serving per week have a 42 percent less chance of developing age-related hearing loss. The study also pointed out that supplements of omega-3 lowered the risk of hearing loss by 14 percent.

Check Medications for Hearing Risks

Literally hundreds of drugs can affect the ability to hear, including popular nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like aspirin. In many cases, large doses or abuse of a drug can cause hearing loss, but when the same medication is taken as prescribed, it does not harm hearing. In normal doses, aspirin, for example, is considered safe, but those

individuals who believe that “more is better” may be risking their hearing.

Other commonly prescribed drugs that affect hearing are:

Antibiotics, including those classified as aminoglycosides (gentamicin, streptomycin, neomycin), macrolides (erythromycin, azithromycin), and vancomycin

Loop diuretics (also known as furosemide or Lasix), which reduce the amount of fluid accumulating in the tissues

Chemotherapeutic agents (oxaliplatin, cisplatin, carboplatin) used to treat various types of cancer

Quinine-based antimalarial drugs Salicylate analgesics (large doses of

aspirin) The pain reliever naproxen sodium

(Naprosyn, Aleve), ibuprofen, and many other NSAIDs

Some antidepressant and antianxiety medications

Keep in mind that hearing loss is not the only effect these substances may have on the auditory system. Tinnitus and problems with balance may also occur. In fact, individuals with tinnitus should be certain their physician is aware of their condition and request prescriptions that will not make the condition worse. Drug-related hearing loss, as well as tinnitus and balance problems, may be temporary or permanent, depending on a number of factors, such as dosage and length of time the drug is taken.

How Weight Harms Hearing

How is obesity or excess weight related to hearing? Although that subject is only beginning to be studied, Swedish researchers did find a connection recently. They followed nearly three hundred Swedish women over a twenty-four-year period. Using various data, including physical exams and brain scans, they found the first evidence that those with a high body mass

index (BMI) throughout adult life had lost brain tissue when compared to women with lower BMIs. Loss of brain tissue occurred in the temporal lobe portion of the brain, where the auditory system is located, along with language, speech, memory, and comprehension.

Why would weight affect the brain? There are three possible answers to that question. One,

excess weight could increase the number of damaging free radicals in the body. Two, fat may produce harmful substances, such as growth factors and hormones, which can erode brain tissue. And three, excess fat might be responsible for hardening of

the arteries (atherosclerosis) and result in limited oxygen flow to the brain.

So remember the old saying - you are what you eat. So eat better foods and hear better longer!

As a reminder, we are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and close for lunch from 12:30 to 1:30. Feel free to stop by anytime for a complimentary cleaning or just to say “hi.” We are happy to help in any way we can! If we don’t “hear” from you, best wishes for a Happy Easter!

Hearing Word SearchCan you find all 15 words?

Bring your completed puzzle to the office for a free pack of hearing aid batteries!

N L X M P L O P S S Y T T K AI L O R A M I M S R H N N M RM B L R E G O O R U K F A M TA M A G T O N E H F G A D C IT Y A N T A B E O S W N I Z C

I T Q H A W R G S Y I U X F HV Y I U A N N E K I M F O E OW E Z R V Y A D V V U U I S KZ I T I J L B F Q S U M T Y EN S C I X O T O T O E U N O LF O L I C A C I D E N R A G QR E D W I N E V K A E L J U HE P S A Z U Q X E S P G C R JH Q X G V O O P A J O D V T QC U N Y D C O D X Y S Z Y I E

FISH OIL SMOOTHIE BANANA STRAWBERRY VITAMIN YOGURTFOLIC ACID PEANUTS OTOTOXIC RESVERATROL ANTIOXIDANTRED WINE MAGNESIUM OMEGA ARTICHOKE

Our mission at Pasadena Hearing Care is to improve the quality of life for all of our patients. We believe in helping our patients and their families reach their

highest communication potential. Our commitment to you is excellent customer service, exceptional professional care in a warm and trusting environment, and to always treat you with dignity and respect.

www.pasadenahearing.com