Frequently asked Questions about Ear Health

What is an otoscopic examination?

What is a behavioral audiogram?

How does noise cause hearling loss?

What are the benefits of custom earplugs?

What is an otoscopic examination?

Otoscopic examination involves looking into the ear with an instrument called an otoscope (or auriscope). This is performed in order to examine the 'external auditory canal' – the tunnel that leads from the outer ear (pinna) to the eardrum. Inspection of the eardrum can also provide a lot of information about what's happening within the middle ear – the space within the skull where the hearing and balance mechanisms are situated.

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What is a behavioral audiogram?

An audiogram is a standard way of representing a person's hearing loss. Hearing thresholds of humans can be found by using behavioral hearing tests or physiological tests. An audiogram can be obtained using a behavioral hearing test called Audiometry. For humans the test involves different tones being presented at a specific frequency (pitch) and intensity (loudness).

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How does noise cause hearing loss?

Every day, we experience sound in our environment, such as the sounds from television and radio, household appliances, and traffic. Normally, we hear these sounds at safe levels that do not affect our hearing. However, when we are exposed to harmful noise—sounds that are too loud or loud sounds that last a long time—sensitive structures in our inner ear can be damaged, causing noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). These sensitive structures, called hair cells, are small sensory cells that convert sound energy into electrical signals that travel to the brain. Once damaged, our hair cells cannot grow back.

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What are the benefits of custom earplugs?

Because each person's ear canal is slightly different in shape - some forming 's' or 'z' bends - using regular earplugs may not be entirely effective. Custom earplugs are designed to fit into an ear canal of any shape and offer full protection from excessive decibels. Those in jobs where the surrounding noise exceeds 85 decibels, either continuously or intermittently, would be well advised to source a pair of custom earplugs.

Custom earplugs also offer a comfort factor that regular earplugs do not. Incorrectly sized earplugs can push air into the ear canal as they are inserted, increasing air pressure within and causing discomfort. Similarly when they are withdrawn, the trapped air can be expelled suddenly causing a 'popping' sensation that is also uncomfortable. Custom earplugs allow air to maintain a balance of pressure inside and outside the ear, whilst offering good protection against high decibel levels.

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