AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2012 - 34

FLYWELL

BY DR. JONATHAN M. SACKIER

Was that for me?

“N

-RUDEF, for the third time, descend and maintain three thousand.” Sometimes there’s too much chatter; sometimes traversing

and ear protection should be employed liberally whether in your personal life, at the airport, or when airborne. Please also protect your passengers’ and pets’ ears with suitable devices. One has to define why there is hearing loss and wax build-up is common and eminently treatable. However, the old aphorism rings true: Never put anything smaller than your elbow into your ear. Cotton bud sticks are a health hazard in my opinion. If wax cannot be cleaned by cautious wiping, the wild blue one simply misses a call. Sometimes use an over-the-counter wax-softening product or it’s something else. I often harp about protectsee a doctor for warm-water syringing. A practice Dr. Jonathan I have seen suggested, ear wax candling, employs ing your health first and dealing with your flying M. Sackier is a privileges later, but when failure to hear the harp is a beeswax wick and funnel placed into the ear, private pilot and concerned, the two are intimately entwined. Withwhich is then lit and the attendant heat and vacpracticing surgeon. out hearing well you will not be flying well—if at uum is supposed to draw out the wax. I never tire all—representing a threat to yourself and others. of hearing loopy ideas! Other symptoms attending According to the National Institutes of Health, hearing loss include pain (especially if my elbow about one-third of folks over age 65 have some hearing loss, advice is ignored), tinnitus (ringing in the ears), vertigo, or rising to 50 percent at 75—after heart disease and arthritis, the discharge. Other causes of hearing loss include lodged foreign most common physical affliction. Given the average pilot is objects, infections (e.g. measles, mumps, and meningitis), ear well over age 50, I should not have to shout to get your atten- drum perforation, various drugs, infections, tumors, and sevtion. Or maybe I do. eral neurological conditions. The sense of hearing is truly miraculous: The ear drum Hearing loss is usually from damage to the bones and ear(tympanic membrane) vibrates with sound waves—just like a drum, the conductive mechanism described previously, or drum skin. Movements are transmitted via three tiny bones, sensineural loss when nerves interpreting mechanical movemalleus, incus, and stapes (hammer, anvil, and stirrup), in turn ments in the ear are afflicted because of issues with the cochlea, communicating oscillations into the inner ear and the coiled, nerve, or brain. Loss of volume, audible frequency range, and tubular cochlea, endowed with legions of tiny hairs (cilia). speech clarity all affect the patient. If only one ear is affected, Their movements are sensed by the auditory nerve and sent to the ability to detect sound location is compromised. the brain, which interprets the sound as “Honey, will you take If you suspect diminished hearing, see your doctor out the trash?”—which you, of course, cannot hear. Anything promptly—an evaluation, including a peek in your ear—will affecting one element can impair sound perception. Hearing exclude other causes, followed by a hearing test with an audiloss is gradual, so don’t discover this at your flight physical; FAA ologist. If you do have age- or noise-related loss, this can be standards demand the ability to hear a conversational voice six managed with a hearing aid; there are many different models feet behind your back. If you dread noisy restaurants, often ask available today. It is important to choose carefully, ensure a people to repeat statements, think others mumble, or frequently good fit, and persevere because adjustment takes time. Some miss ATC calls, you may have a problem. I recommend checking states allow an evaluation period, and some insurances cover your hearing regularly, maybe with an online test. hearing services. When young, the range of sounds one can detect is This is a good time to use Internet assets to make sound impressive, but aging diminishes the frequency range we purchasing decisions (http://hearingloss.org). One alternahear. Although some are born with varying degrees of deaf- tive is surgical implantation of a device to treat profound loss; ness because of genetic defects or maternal alcohol use, initially reserved for children born with hearing loss before the loud noise exposure hastens range reduction. Presbycusis, acquisition of language, these phenomenal devices are now the $100 word doctors use, describes hearing loss occurring finding a wider audience. with aging. Attending rock concerts, listening to loud music If a pilot requires an aid, the aviation medical examiner with headphones, firearm use, and environmental noise take may issue a medical limitation statement, “Must wear hearing their toll. So does hanging around airplanes. Noise damage is amplification.” Current guidance on implants is awaited, but cumulative and is a function of volume, measured in decibels AOPA and your AME can probably help, and pulling together and time. The alphabet-soup groups (OSHA, EPA, et cetera) surgical and hospital records will be useful. So listen to the recommend various noise-exposure tables (jet engine at 100 doctor and protect your ears, because none of us tires of hearfeet produces 140 dB) but personal responsibility, awareness, ing “cleared for the option.” 34 • JANUARY 2012

AOPA PILOT •

http://hearingloss.org

AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2012