About Harriet Jacobster, Au.D. Expertise I can answer questions regarding non-medical treatment of hearing loss such as hearing aids and aural rehabilitation. I am also able to answer your questions regarding hearing testing, what types of tests are appropriate, what information a hearing test gives you and what it doesn't give you. As a classically trained musician, I can also answer issues dealing with hearing loss specific to musicians.
Experience I am a Board Certified Doctor of Audiology with over 25 years' of experience working with both children and adults. I have given lectures on Hearing Loss and Hearing Aids to several state chapters of national organizations for the deaf and hard of hearing. I also taught Speech Reading and Aural Rehabilitation both privately and for the Florida Deaf Service Center.
Organizations American Academy of Audiology
American Speech Language Hearing Association
Education/Credentials Au.D. Doctor of Audiology, Nova Southeastern University 2000
Question QUESTION: Could my wife have hearing loss due to past sinus infections? If so, could she regain some hearing? She gets at least 2 per year. She has allergies and she blames the hearing loss to WHITE NOISE but I feel differently She blares the tv when we(4)of us hear it fine
ANSWER: Hi Mike,
I think my confusion here is exactly what you mean by she blames her hearing loss to WHITE NOISE? What does she mean by WHITE NOISE? I know what it is, but is she using it the same way? Does she HEAR white noise in her ears? Or has she listened to WHITE NOISE a lot and she thinks that caused her loss?
But, to answer your first question...yes, she could have middle ear pathology or damage due to repeated sinus infections. Usually, when the sinus infection clears, so would the hearing loss. Allergies also could cause hearing loss by causing the Eustachian tube to dysfunction thus causing a stuffed up feeling in her ears.
The best thing for her to do is to consult an audiologist and have her hearing evaluated. She should then probably consult a ENT to see if anything can be done medically to restore her hearing - if it is indeed due to sinus trouble.
Hope this helps.
Harriet B. Jacobster, AuD
Board Certified in Audiology
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QUESTION: She has never used a WHITE NOISE machine. She says that surrounding sounds make it difficult for her to hear what is going on before her.She mentioned the problem to her GP and the gp agreed,now its become her answer. Does that make sense? I don't buy it! She doesn't turn the volume down after the surrounding sound is gone or lessened. I feel its something else. I can't get her to make an appointment to check it out
Answer Hi Mike,
I'm sorry, but this really doesn't make sense to me. I am still not clear where the white noise fits in.
The ONLY way to know what is going on is to have her evaluated by both an ENT and an audiologist. If she refuses to go, there is not much else that can be done.
Hope this helps.
Harriet B. Jacobster, AuD
Board Certified in Audiology
