"DIRECT CONNECTION" IS MADE BY MPT TO SERVE ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

>> Jeff: GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

TONIGHT WE HAVE SOUND ADVICE ON THE NEW WAVE OVER-THE-COUNTER HEARING PAIPPEDZ QULOINGS TONIGHT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ARE MELISSA SEGEV, BOARD MEMBER OF THE MARYLAND ACADEMY OF AUD GEOLOGY AND ALICIA SPOOR, LEGISLATIVE CARE CHAIR FOR TO MARYLAND ACADEMY OF AUDIOLOGY.

DOCTORS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE'LL GET TO THE DEVICES THEMSELVES, BUT TO BEGIN WITH, WHY IS IT THAT HEARING LOSS IS SO COMMON, ESPECIALLY AS PEOPLE AGE?

>> Melissa Segev: HEARING LOSS IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON AILMENTS OF AGING, AND AS WE GET OLDER THERE IS A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTOR THAT PLAY A ROLE IN THAT AS WELL, SO MEN ARE MORE LIKELY ON GET HEARING LOSS THAN WOMEN.

PEOPLE WHO SMOKE TYPICALLY ARE MORE COMMON TO GET HEARING LOSS AS WELL.

THERE'S NOISE EXPOSURE, SO WHEN WE WENT TO WOK CONCERTS OR WE WORKED IN FACTORIES BEFORE THERE WERE REGULATIONS ON WEARING HEARING PROTECTION, ALL THESE FACTORS REALLY PLAY A ROLE IN OUR AGING OF THE EAR AS WELL, AND AS WE GET OLDER WE'RE MORE LIKE TO GET HEARING LOSS.

WE ALSO HAVE OUR GENETICS AND THE HEARING LOSS DEFINITELY IS HEREDITARY.

SO IF YOUR MOM AND HAND GLAU HAVE HEARING LOSS YOU ARE MORE LIKELILY TO.

AND WE ARE LIVING LONGER THAN WE EVER HAVE BEFORE.

AND WE'RE ALSO VERY ACTIVE.

BEAM DON'T RETIRE AND HIT SIT AROUND.

WE RETIRE AND TRAVEL THE WORLD AND SEE OUR FAMILIES AND LIVE OUR LIVES.

AND WHEN WE CEANT HEAR AT RESTAURANTS AND RED WEDDING AND RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES WE REALLY WANT TO, AND THAT IS WHEN WE ARE NOTICE BE MORE AND MORE THAT HEARING LOSS IS BECOMING DEFINITELY A PROBLEM IN OUR LIFE.

>> Jeff: DR. SPOOR, WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO THAT PEOPLE DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM AND DEAL WITH IT AS SOON AS THEY NOTICE IT?

>> Alicia Spoor: THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK A LOT OF IT COMES BACK TO WHAT DR. SEGEV JUST SAID, IS THAT PEOPLE ARE ACTIVE AND HEALTHY AND LIVING LONGER AND THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE IN OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.

WE ALL WANT A GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE REGARDLESS OF WHERE WE ARE IN THE AGE SPECTRUM, AND HEARING IS JUST ONE OF THE SENSES THAT PLAYS INTO THAT.

BUT AT THE SAME POINT IN TIME THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF INFORMATION AND STUDIES, AND I'M GOING TO KIND OF GO A LITTLE RESEARCH ON YOU, THERE'S A GREAT LANCET ARTICLE THAT WAS PUBLISHED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THAT TALKS ABOUT COULD GO COGNITIVE DECLINE, WHICH WE'RE ALL REALLY AFRAID OF GETTING AS THIS POINT ESPECIALLY AS WE ARE LIVING LONGER, BUT ONE OF THE MOST OR THE MOST MODIFIABLE RISK FACTORS IN THAT WAS HEARING LOSS, AND YOU CAN MODIFY THAT BY ACTUALLY TREATING HEARING LOSS.

BUT WE KNOW IT'S NOT JUST THE EAST EARS.

IT'S OUR BRAIN.

SO THAT WHOLE BODY EAR AND WHOLE BODY SEM IS IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE TO IT.

SO THAT'S WHY SOME OF THESE NEW THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF DEVICES AND ACCESSIBILITY ARE REALLY EXCITING FOR US AS AUD YOLINGSZ BECAUSE WE KNOW PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT -- AUDIOLOGISTS BUS AWAYEE KNOW PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN HEAR IT.

>> Jeff: YOU'VE HAD FOR GENERATIONS NOW FAIRLY SOPHISTICATED DEVICES THAT COULD HELP PEOPLE WITH A HEARING PROBLEM.

WHAT'S BRAND NEW IS THAT YOU CAN WALK INTO A BIG BOX RETAIL STORE AND BUY SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR SOLD OVER THE COUNTER WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION.

I'LL ASK EACH OF YOU FOR A REACTION TO THAT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS CHANGE?

>> Melissa Segev: I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY EXCITING.

I MEAN, AS DR. SPOOR WAS SAYING, WE GET TO BRING WARING INTO HEARING AT HOME AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO OUR QUALITY OF LIFE NOT ONLY AS AGING BUT EVERYONE CAN HAVE HEARING LOSS AT ANY AGE, AND SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT IF YOU DO FEEL YOU ARE STRUGGLING 1 I THINK THERE IS A VALUE INTO COMING INTO AN AUDIOLOGIST'S OFFICE AND GETTING AN EVALUATION.

THESE ARE TYPICALLY COVERED FROM YOUR INSURANCE.

AND IT IS DIAGNOSTIC TEASEMENT WHERE WE TEST EVERYTHING FROM THE EARDRUMS DOWN TO THE NERVE.

SO WE CAN TRULY SEE IF YOU FALL INTO THAT CARTING OF THAT MILD -- CATEGORY OF MILD TO MODERATE HEARING LOSS WHICH IS OVER-THE-COUNTER ARIZONA DESIGNED FOR.

IF THAT ISN'T ISN'T THE PROBLEM SIMONS IT'S WAX AND AS DR. SPOOR MENTIONED IF YOU HAVE BRING RINGING OR TINNITUS THAT IS CONCERNING AND THAT CAN LEAD TO OTHER ISSUES SUCH AS GRESSION OR MAYBE YOU BECOME A RECLUSE AND IT REALLY INTERFERES WITH YOUR LIFESTYLE, AND THAT'S REALLY SOMETHING WE CAN DISCUSS AND HELP MANAGE AS WELL.

SO I THINK IT'S A REALLY EXCITING TIME TO BRING AWARENESS INTO THE OTHER AUDITORY ISSUES AND HOW IMPORTANT THE EAR IS, AND I'M REALLY CLOIRCHGD LOIMPGD TO ANSWER ALL THESE QUESTIONS THAT PATIENTS BRING IN.

>> Jeff: LET'S GET TO THE SHOW AND TELL PORTION OF OUR PROGRAM.

DR. SPOOR, YOU HAVE A -- I THINK IT WAS LIKE A BEHIND-THE-EAR DEVICE WITH YOU.

>> Alicia Spoor: SO THIS IS MY, YOU KNOW, COLORS ARE OPTIONAL, BUT THIS IS ONE OPTION OF A BEHIND.

THE HERE H.-EAR MODEL AND YOU SEE I HAPPEN TO BE A LUM KNIFE MICHIGAN STATE SO I MAKE THEM IN GREEN COLORS SO IT'S EASY TOO SEE.

IF I LOOP IT ON MY EAR WHILE WE'RE TALKING IT'S A FREIGHT INSPIC CONSPICUOUS DEVICE IF YOU AREN'T LOOKING AT PITCH THIS IS COMMON IN THE BEHIND TESTIFY HAD EAR STYLE AND I KNOW.

>> SEGEV AS ONE NEWER OLSDZ MODELS TO SO YOU.

>> Melissa Segev: YEAH, THIS IS A NEWER MODEL DESIGNED TO LOOK LOOK LIKE A FAMOUS TECHNOLOGY BUT IT IS VERY COOL BECAUSE IT'S VERY SLEEK.

YOU CAN SEE THE OVER-THE-EAR.

THIS COULD GO WOULD GO INTO THE EAR.

THIS GOES HIN.

THEY'RE ALL BLUETOOTH AND RECHARGEABLE, WHICH IS REALLY FUN SPHOOS SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT INCORPORATES INTO YOUR LIFE.

IT CONNECTS TO YOUR CELL PHONE AND NOW THEY ALL KIND OF TRACK YOUR STEPS, SO IT'S REALLY KIND OF TAKING THAT HEALTH INITIATIVE THAT HEARING IS SO IMPORTANT FOR AND INCORPORATING IT INTO ALL ASPECTS OF YOUR LIFE.

>> Jeff: LET ME REMIND OUR VIEWERS IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ANGRY HEARING AIDS, WHETHER PREESHED TEFER ON COWRPT GIVE AS A CALL AT THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN OR YOU CAN EMAIL YOUR QUESTIONS TO LIVEQUESTIONS@MPT.ORG.

SO, DOCTORS, WHAT TRENDS DO YOU SEE IN TERMS OF WHAT YOUR PATIENTS HAVE BEEN BUYING?

SIT BEHIND-THE-EAR, IN THE EAR?

WHAT ELSE IS THERE?

>> Alicia Spoor: WELL, I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE STUDIES THAT COME OUT EVERY QUARTER ON WHAT IS MOST POPULAR STYLE OF DEVICE AND THE MANUFACTURER, BUT I THINK THE COVID PANDEMIC HAS REALLY SHIFTED THAT QUITE A BIT.

WE USED TO SEE BACK IN THE '80s WHEN THE TECHNOLOGY GOT SMALL ENOUGH AND WE COULD DO SOMETHING IN THE EAR WHERE IT WAS LESS CONSPICUOUS, AND RONALD REAGAN EPP REALLY HELPED US WITH THAT WHEN HE WAS WEARING HEARING AIDS AS PRESIDENT PEOPLE WANTED THAT IN STYLE.

THEN THE TECHNOLOGY IMPROVED.

PEOPLE WENT TO BEHIND THE EAR.

WITH THE COVID PANDEMIC WE ALL STARTED WEARING MASKS AND OUR EARS BECAME HOT KNOT TIS.

WE'VE GOT OUR GLASSES.

SOME OF HAVE MASK, SOME OF US HAVEN.

>> OR HAIR PIECES SO THAT WAS A BIG REAL ESTATE FACTOR.

SO NOW I THINK YOU'VE SIENNA SURGE AGAIN OF SEEN A SURGE AGAIN OF SOMETHING THAT IS CUSTOM AND BACK INSIDE THE EAR AS WELL.

BUT IF YOU LOOK THEY STUDIES AND THE TRENDS, THAT BEHIND-THE-EAR FOR ALL THE REASONS DR. SEGEV JUST MENTIONED IN TERMS OF ALL OF THE FEATURES, THE COMPATIBILITY, THE RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES THAT COME OUT, THE BEHIND-THE-EARS ARE STILL THE MOST COMMON STYLE THAT ARE SOLD.

>> Jeff: LET'S TAKE A PHONE CALL FROM FREDERICK COUNTY.

THIS IS PETER.

PETER, THANK YOU FOR CALLING.

GO AHEAD.

>> Ariana Kelly: YEAH.

WITH THE.

>> Speaker: YEAH, WITH THE CHANGE THAT YOU COULD GO TO A BIG BOX STORE, WILL WE SEE LESS PEOPLE USING AUDIOLOGISTS?

I MEAN, WILL AUDIOLOGISTS, BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY THE CO-PAY OR THEY DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THE REFERRAL, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE ON MEDICARE, FROM A MEDICARE PERSPECTIVE, IT'S ANOTHER EXPENSE GOING TO AUDIOLOGIST.

WHAT'S THE BENEFIT SEEING AN AUD AUDIOLOGIST VERSUS GOING TO THE BIC BOX STORE?

>> Jeff: THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

DOCTORS, I THINK I HEARD ONE OF SAY THAT GENERALLY THAT VISIT IS COVERED.

>> Melissa Segev: I ALWAYS RECOMMEND PATIENTS IF YOU QUAWFNL OUR OFFICES, A RECEPTIONIST BUT ALWAYS A PATIENT I RECOMMEND ASA PATRICIA YOU CONTACT YOUR OWN INSURANCE COMPANY AND SEE WHAT YOUR BENEFITS ARE WITH YOUR PERSONAL INSURANCE.

BOUGHT HEARING, TESTING AUDIO LOGICAL EVALUATIONS ARE DIAGNOSIS ASSESSMENTS ASSESSMENTS WHEN YOU FEEL YOU ARE STRUGGLING OR HAVE A PROBLEM.

I THINK THEIR VALUE WHEN YOU COME IN, SOMETIMES WE SEE PATIENTS AND THEY THINK IT'S JUST WAX AND IT IS A SIGNIFICANT LOSS WHERE THEY'RE NOT IN THE OVER-THE-TURN OUT CATEGORY AT ALL AND OTHER I'M ITS JUST WAX AND WE REMOVE AND IT THEY HAVE NORMAL HEARING AND THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A BIGGER ISSUE THAN IT WAS.

THERE ARE THREE PARTS OF THE EAR.

WE TEST ALL THREE PARTS WHEN YOU COME IN SO YOU GET THAT MEDICAL ASSESSMENT.

IT'S IMPORTANT I THINK ALSO THAT THE CONFIGURATION OR HEARING TEST THAT WE SHOW YOU GIVES AS A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE HEALTH OF THE SYSTEM, SO WE CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, THERE CAN BE SMALL TUMORS THAT CAN ACCUMULATE IN THE INNER EAR.

MAYBE YOU HAVE DIZZINESS AND YOU DON'T KNOW THERE WAS A DISEASE ASSOCIATE.

OR MOST PEOPLE WITH HEARING LOSS HAVE RINGING IN THE EAR AEROTINNITUS AND THAT CAN REALLY INTERFERE WITH YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND TINNITUS IS VERY HELPFULLY MANAGED WITH HEARING AIDS THAT ARE PRESCRIBED SCRIBED AND PROGRAMMED FOR YOU.

SO I THINK THERE IS A DEFINITE EVER DERCHLT A PLACE FOR OVER-THE-COUNTER HEARING AIDS, AND AS AUDIOLOGISTS I HOPI EM HOPE PEOPLE ARE AWARE THAT YOU GET THAT DIAGNOSES BEFORE YOU% TAKE THAT LEAP FAITH BECAUSE A GOOD OVER-THE-OPPORTUNITY TO COUNTER HEARING ARIZONA STILL GOING TO BE $800 TO $1,500 AND SOME -- >> >> Jeff: THAT BRACE US THE TO AN NEILL FRE A A YOU'RE MARK WOULD RIGHTS, "DO HEARING AIDS COST SO MUCH?"

AND SOME OF THEM ARE $5,000 OR MORE.

>> Alicia Spoor: I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT TWO THINGS WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HEARING AIDS AND DR. SEGEV JUMP IN ANY TIME WITH ME AS WELL.

WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING A PRESCRIPTION HEARING AIDS YOU'RE DOING AT LOOKING AT TWO THINGS.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE COST OF DEVICE AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE AUDIOLOGISTS' TIME AND EXPERTISE AND SERVICE.

AND SO A CLINICAL DOCTOR AND BRINGING A LOT OF THINGS TO THE TABLE INCLUDING THAT DIAGNOSIS EVALUATION, THAT FITTING, ORIENTATION AND ASSESSMENT, THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE CAN USE TO VERIFY AND VALIDATE EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON, AND THAT FOLLOW-UP CARE, THE AUDITORY REHABILITATION, OUR AUDITORY TRAINING THAT GOES TO MAKE SURE THAT INDIVIDUALS GET THE BEST OUTCOME WITH DEVICES, AND IT'S NOT JUST HEARING.

IT'S HEARING AND UNDER UNDERSTANDING.

AND -- UNDERSTANDING AND WE GO BACK TO THE YOU LISTEN WITH YOUR BRAIN.

YOU DON'T LISTEN WITH YOUR EAR.

SO WE HAVE TO DO THE AUDIBILITY WHICH IS THE HEARING SIDE.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK A PRESCRIPTION HEARING AIDS AND YOU LOOK AT YOUR ITEMIZED RECEIPT, WHEN YOU'RE DONE YOU'LL ALSO SEE THOSE COST LINE-ITEMED OUT AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THE DEVICE CAN BE ANYWHERE FROM $250 PER EAR ALL THE WAY UP TO $3,000 PER EAR DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

I THINK THE OTHER THING TO REMEMBER, TOO, IS WITH OUR CELL PHONES WE'RE PAYING 1200 ORDERS A PRETTY BIG DEVICE THAT DOESN'T FIT IN MY POCKET ANYMORE, BEING FEMALE AND HAVING SLIGHTLY SMALLER JEAN POCKETS, BUT THESE ARE JUST MINIATURE COMPUTERS THAT ARE IN A VERY SMALL CAVITY OF OR EAR THAT WHEN YOU TALK, YOU SHOULD BE USING ALMOST EVERY SINGLE DMAIT MAJORITY OF YOUR WANING HOURS, AND WE'RE ASKING THEM TO DO A LOT OF THINGS.

WE'RE ASKING THEM NOT OM TO AMPLIFY SOUND BUT ALSO TO GET RID OF SOME OF THE BACKGROUND NOISE AND TO FOCUS ON THE FRONT AND NOT IN THE BACK AND HAVE RECHARGEABLE HEARING AIDS AND TO NOT CORRODE AND TO LAST FOR THREE TO FIVE YEARS EASILY, AND WE WANT THEM TO BE BLUETOOTH COMPATIBLE AND WE WANT TO STREAM OUR PHONE CALLS AND LISTEN TO FACEBOOK LIVE AND ALL THOSE FUN THINGS, SO YOU'RE ASKING FOR A LOT OF THINGS P IN A DEVICE THAT CAN BE TEENY, TEEN YOU SMALL.

AND SO THAT MINIATURIZATION ALSO HAS SOMETHING TO PLAY INTO IT.

>> Jeff: LET'S TAKE A PHONE CALL FROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

JEAN EP.

JEANNIE, THANK YOU FOR CALLING.

GO AHEAD.

SNR.

>> Speaker: MY HEARING HAS BEEN EVALUATED.

I HAVE A MODERATE TO SEVERE HEARING LOSS.

MY EARS ARE DIFFERENT.

I'M WONDERING HOW DO I KNOW THAT THE OVER-THE-COUNTER ONES WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR ME.

>> Jeff: GREAT QUESTION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

LADIES, IS THERE A CUTOFF?

IF SOMEBODY HAS MILD TO TO MODERATE, WOULD YOU SAY MAYBE OVER IF COUNTER, BUT IF IT GETS TO MODERATE TO SEVERE OR I THINK THE CALLER INDICATED MAYBE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO EARS.

>> Melissa Segev: DEFINITELY.

THIS THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TWO EARS, WOULD I SAY 100% YOU'RE NOT A CANDIDATE BECAUSE WE WANT TO EVALUATE THAT FURTHER AND SEE WHY.

OUR EARS SHOULD BE SMET RAGE.

BUT YOU MENTIONED YOUR HEARING IS IN THE MODERATE TO SEVERE RANGE.

OVER-THE-COUNTER HEARING AIDS ARE DESIGNED TO BE IN THAT MILD TO MOD RATTED RANGE OF HEARING LOSS IN ANYTHING FURTHER THAN THAT THE HEARING AIDS NOT BE POWERFUL ENOUGH TO PROVIDE THE AMPLIFICATION YOU NEED TO HEAR WELL.

AND AS DR. SPOOR MENTIONED, OUR EAR IS THE MECHANISM.

WE HEAR WITH THE BRAIN.

AND WHEN WE SEE A LO LOT OF THE RESEARCH COMING OUT WITH COGNITIVE KE OH DECLINE AND HIGHER RISK OF DEMENTIA ONE TREATED HEARING LOSS, THAT ISN'T JUST GETTING A HEARING AID.

IT'S GETTING A HEARING AID THAT CAN TREAT YOUR HEARING LOSS PRESCRIPTION, AND NAS BUN USING EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE AND DONE SUGGESTIVE MEASURES AND SUBJECTIVE MEASURES FROM YOU AS A PATIENT.

BUT IF YOU ARE OUT OF THAT RANGE THEN YOU ARE NOT A CANDIDATE FOR OVER-THE-COUNTER HEARING AIDS BECAUSE IT WON'T HAVE ENOUGH VOLUME TO TREAT YOUR NEEDS.

>> Jeff: A SPROOR FROM CARROLL COUNTY SAID HIS HEARING LOSS IS FREQUENCY DEPENDENT.

CAN I BUY AN OTC HEARING AID AND HAVE ITS FREQUENCY RESPONSE ADJUSTED FOR MY NEEDS?

AND I THINK THE IDEA IS THAT YOU CAN.

I MEAN, IF IT COMES WITH AN APP AND I HAVE A SMARTPHONE, YOU CAN RUN YOUR OWN HEARING TEST AND PROGRAM THE DEVICE.

IS THAT FEASTIBLE?

>> Alicia Spoor: DEAFEN, BUT THANK YOU THIS GOES BACK TO THAT PRICE RANGE AND CATEGORY AND MA PEOPLE ARE DOINK.

SOME OF THESE OVER-THE-COUNTER DEVICES ARE GOING TO BE VERY SOPHISTICATED, AND YOU HEARD DR. SEGEV MENTION I THINK EARLIER THAT SOME OF THE COMPANIES THAT ARE STARTING TO MAKE OVER-THE-COUNTER DEVICES ARE VERY AUDIO SOPHISTICATED COMPANIES, AND THEY MIGHT MAKE THINGS VERY TECHNICAL WHERE YOU CAN DO A HEARING TEST AND YOU CAN CHANGE THOSE FREQUENCIES AND THOSE INTENSITIES AND HAVE ALL OF THIS HIGH TECH KIND OF ENGINEERING GEAR.

AT SOME POINT THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE TOO MUCH FOR THE GENERAL POPULATION TO DEAL WITH.

SOMETIMES IT'S TOO MUCH FOR SOME AUDIOLOGISTS TO WORK WITH.

WHEN YOU GET TOO TECHNICAL AND TOO MANY THINGS GOING ON.

BUT THAT DEFINITELY COMES DOWN TO IS IT SELF-23EU9ING, IS THERE A -- FITTING, IS THERE A HEARING TEST INVOLVED WITH THAT, A HEARING TEST INVOLVED WERE HA AND WHAT ARE THOSE FEATURES AND PROGRAMS THAT ARE IN THERE, AND A LOT OF THIS IS DONE VIA SMARTPHONE TECHNOLOGY.

SO THAT'S WHERE THAT BLUETOOTH COMPONENT COMES BACK INTO PLAY.

WE KNOW BLUETOOTH ISN'T FREE BUT IT'S A NICE DEVICE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH -- [INDECIPHERABLE] >> >> Jeff: A VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW IF YOU CAN IS A MORE ABOUT HOW THE DEVICES CAN HELP WITH RINGING IN THE EARS OR TINNITUS, IT'S CALLED?

>> Melissa Segev: YES.

SO WHEN YOU COMB INTO OUR OFFICES, WE WILL TYPICALLY DO A TINNITUS ASSESSMENT IF THAT IS ONE OF AILMENTS THAT YOU'RE COMPLYING OF WHEN WE GO THROUGH YOUR HISTORY, AND THEN WE CAN TRY TO PITCH MATCH THAT.

WHAT THAT MEANS SA WE CANNOT ONLY FIGURE ON YOU THE FREQUENCY BUT THE VOLUME YOU HERE HEAR IT AT AND SEE IF THAT CORRELATES WITH THE AUDIOGRAM OR HEARING TEST THAT WE GET.

AT THAT POINT WE CAN SEE IF THE TINNITUS IS BEINGS BEING CAUSED POSSIBLY BECAUSE THE HEARING LOSS OR IF THERE IS SOMETHING MORE MEDICAL THAT WE NEED TO BE CONCERNED WITH.

MAYBE WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT A GROWTH IN INNER EAR OR WAX THAT ME WE NEED TO TAKE OUT.

THEN WHAT WE NEED TO DO WITH HEARING AIDS THAT ARE PROGRAMMED IN IN OUR OFFICES WE CAN TELL THE HEARING AID WHERE THAT TINNITUS IS OCCURRING AND THEN TRY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GIVING THE BRAIN THE STIMULATION TO THAT THAT PITCH.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT TINNITUS TREATMENTS INSIDE PRESCRIPTIVE HEARING AIDS SO WE CAN SET UP PROGRAMS AND THEN THERE ARE APPS THAT YOU USE THAT YOU CAN KIND OF MODIFY THE VOLUME, SO WE CAN KIND OF CREATE IN THE HEARING AID FOR YOU AND THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS WE CAN TREATED.

THERE IS NO CURE OR MAGIC PILL ON GET RID OF TINNITE BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF TREATMENTS WE CAN PROVIDE AND A LOT OF COUNSELING THROUGH THAT PROCESS BECAUSE IT REALLY CAN BE DEBT RAIMENT TO YOU ARE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE TO HEAR RINGING.

>> Jeff: LET'S TAKE ANOTHER WALL CALL FROM HOWARD COUNTY.

THIS IS CAIR.

THANK YOU FOR CALLING.

GO AHEAD.

>> Speaker: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I WAS WONDERING IF IT'S POSSIBLE THAT A HEAD INJURY COULD CAUSE HEARING LOSS OR TINNITUS AND ALSO THAT ON THE HEELS OF THE SUBJECT THAT YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT IS HAVING A CHALLENGE IN JUST ONE EAR INDICATIVE OF SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS?

>> Jeff: GREAT QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

DOCTORS?

>> Alicia Spoor: SURE.

SO PLET ME START BY ANSWERING THIS, AND I'M GOING TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF HERE'S THE TIME TO PULL OUT YOUR DR. GOOGLE, SO I'M GO TORT START WITH YOUR SECOND QUESTION, KERRY, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT MORE -- I THINK THE OVERARCHING QUESTIONS IS HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN SOMETHING MEDICALLY IS GOING ON, AND WE OFTEN THINK ABOUT RINGING IN THE EARS BEING MAYBE A LITTLE MORE PROBLEMATIC AND DIZZINESS AND DISEQUILIBRIUM AND THAT RISK OF FALLING OR THOSE HISTORY FALLS BEING A LITTLE MORE MEDICAL, BUT WE KNOW THIS OUR EAR HAS A LOT OF COMORBIDITIES WITH IT INCLUDE BLOOD PRESSURE, CHOLESTEROL, COGNITIVE ISSUES, A HEARING AGAIN.

>> AND I HAVE A LITTLE LESS THAN A MINUTE.

HAVE THE BATTERIES IMPROVED?

I MEAN, IT USED TO BE A THING THAT PEOPLE WOOFEDLE WITH THESE MICROSCOPIC BATTERIE BATTERIES FROM THE DRUG STORE THAT YOU HAVE TO PUT IN.

I'M ASSUMING THAT MOST THINGS ARE RECHARGEABLE AT THIS POINT?

>> THEY ARE THIS GUY SO LITTLE.

AND THIS IS RECHARGEABLE.

THE BATTERY INSIDE WILL LAST FOR ABOUT 24 HOURS OF.

IF YOU STREAM A LOT, BLEW TOOTHING MAYBE 20 HOUR OF USE SO IT WILL LAST AWFUL DAY AND YOUR PHONE CAN TELL YOU THE BATTERY LIFE AS WELL.

IT WILL TELL YOU THE PERCENTAGE OF THE BATTERY LEFT SO IT WON'T DIE IN THE MOST IMPORTANT MEETING OF YOUR LIFE AND IF YOU GO TO VEGAS, IT WILL LAST FOR 20 HOURS.

AND THE LIFE SPAN OF A HEARING AID IS ABOUT FIVE YEARS OR MORE.

>> >> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND THAT'S "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS AND REMEMBER TO FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AT MPT NEWS.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "DIRECT CONNECTION" AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT!