Pharmacy and its role in Health in Ireland

As part of Blackberry Hearing’s Expert Series, Eamonn Brady MPSI of Whelehans Pharmacies in Mullingar discusses the role of pharmacy in Ireland and how it has changed both in the perception of the public and in service provision since the pandemic started in early 2020.

Pharmacists amongst the most trusted professions

In response to the question “Who would you trust to tell you the truth?” posed in early 2021 by Ipsos MRBI as part of their annual Veracity Index survey of 1000 people representing a broad cross-section of Irish society, the healthcare professions of pharmacists, doctors and nurses occupied the top three places of the twenty-seven listed categories with pharmacy coming out on top at 96%. Pharmacy also topped the results in 2020.

Interestingly, politicians, social media influencers and advertising executives occupied the bottom three places.

Community pharmacy in Ireland is a vibrant, innovative sector with 1900 pharmacies and just under 4000 pharmacists. Ireland has one of the lowest population to pharmacy ratios around at roughly 2500 per pharmacy. This in turn offers the public an extremely wide choice of pharmacy provider, with almost every town offering multiple options. The key difference from a pharmacy perspective as opposed to doctors, nurses etc is that each pharmacy is in itself a retail business and as such must compete on the high street to grow their customer base. This then, like any other business, drives the need to provide the highest level of quality and services to earn the right to gain and retain people’s business.

This success dynamic has driven the development of pharmacies to offer much more than just prescription fulfillment. Many pharmacies offer a range of ancillary services on site such as health screening, cholesterol testing, flu vaccination etc in addition to the other complementary health services such as chiropody, physiotherapy, audiology, beauty, to name but a few. The amount of expertise, help, support available in today’s pharmacy on a huge range of health conditions and issues remains unsurpassed.

Pharmacy – a true healthcare provider?

There is an obvious assumed correlation between the role of doctors and nurses and trust – we are hard wired through education from an early age that these are people that we would trust with our lives and rightly so. For pharmacists however, that assumed link in the minds of the public would not bear the same weight, even though on a day-to-day basis, the pharmacist and pharmacy would be the most common regular interaction with a health professional for most people.

Traditionally, especially when compared to doctors and nurses, community pharmacy and where it sits in the public perception of healthcare provision, would have been seen as the “Cinderella” of the health service.

As the saying goes “People’s perception is their own reality.” When the pandemic hit in early 2020, the impact of total lockdown helped change the perception of pharmacy as “managers of medicine” to the reality of pharmacy as “providers of healthcare”. As part of the fight against COVID 19 – pharmacy was fully in the front line.

Adapt and integrate

Whilst everything that was seen as traditional “high street” had to close during Covid-19 lockdowns, pharmacies remained fully open throughout, adapting quickly to the new normal and putting in place new services and ideas to serve and protect their patients and customers, who were restricted and confined to home at the time. Despite the pandemic, people’s day to day medication needs did not change. By introducing new protocols at the pharmacy to initiate seamless change from the traditional footfall / pharmacy visit, this enabled people, especially the most vulnerable, to maintain their vital medication and self-care regimen. In addition, many pharmacies implemented online prescription upload supported by free medication delivery direct to home to offer broader support to those self-isolating or in their bubble.

With access to GP’s limited and hospitals advising “stay away” during the height of the pandemic restrictions, pharmacies and their well-trained staff quickly became mini “centres of excellence” for general healthcare advice and best practice in terms of educating the public via web, newspaper, radio, and other media on COVID management at home and in the workplace, the provision and use of PPE etc.

Record numbers Despite delivering flu vaccinations at the pharmacy for many years - the successful delivery through the pharmacy channel of two full flu vaccination programmes to record numbers during the pandemic further underpinned the vital pharmacy role within the nation’s healthcare mindset. More latterly, pharmacy rose to the challenge of delivering COVID 19 vaccinations, playing a key role in accelerating the progress of the nations “fully vaccinated” status and bringing us to where we are today.

With many of these successful outcomes, it is no surprise that pharmacy is the most trusted profession in the minds of the public.

The future is bright

Looking forward, with the government’s desire to move to a more integrated, multidisciplinary approach to health care provision through the advent of Slaintecare and other initiatives, it is certain that pharmacy will have an even stronger role to play in the delivery of the nation’s day to day health care. Ideas already adopted through pharmacy in other countries, such as minor ailment management for example, will ultimately become the norm in Ireland as the need for best use of time, place, and expertise against a burgeoning growth in healthcare need continues unabated.

Written by Eamonn Brady (MPSI), Pharmacist and owner of Whelehans Pharmacies Mullingar for Blackberry Hearing’s Expert Series. For comprehensive and free health advice and information call in to Whelehans Pharmacies, log on to www.whelehans.ie or dial 04493 34591 (Pearse St) or 04493 10266 (Clonmore). Whelehans are proud to partner with Blackberry Hearing.

Blackberry Hearing host a success audiology clinic at Whelehans Pharmacy, Pearse St, Mullingar. Call 01 6978470 to book a free hearing consultation.

How to change your hearing aid domes

1: Holding the hearing aid tube/receiver between your thumb and index finger, gently peel off the dome away using your other hand.
2: Position the new dome so the center is alighted with the speaker. We want to ensure the is centered allowing an easy fit.
3: Carefully push the dome onto the speaker, ensure the dome is fully secure with no gaps visible between the dome and the speaker.
4: Now try on your hearing aid to ensure it fits comfortably in the ear canal.

If you have any queries about the size of your hearing aid domes, simply call our team for assistance.

How to put on and remove your hearing aids

Putting on your hearing aids

Step 1: Identify the left & right hearing aid.
The left hearing aid will have a blue dot visible on the hearing aid.
The right hearing aid will have a red dot visible on the hearing aid.
We need to identify the difference as each hearing aid may be programmed to different levels to suit the loss in each ear.

Step 2: Remove any glasses or facemasks you may be wearing.
With your index finger and thumb pick up the receiver wire and guide the dome into your ear canal.
Ensure that the rubber dome is snug in your ear canal. You should not experience any discomfort or pain while inserting the dome. 

Step 3: Once the dome is snug in your ear canal, with your thumb and index finger place the hearing aid over your ear and place it behind your ear. 

Step 4: Run your index finger over the top of the hearing aid to ensure that it feels snug and secure behind your ear.

Step 5: Now that everything has been fitted, run your index finger along the wire that runs into your ear canal. This will ensure everything is secure.

If you experience any issues please do not hesitate to call our team on 01 6978470

Removing your hearing aids

To remove your hearing aid simply place your index finger and thumb on the hearing aid and remove it from behind your ear.

Gently remove the dome from your ear canal.

Hearing Aid Tax Relief

Hearing aids qualify as medical devices that can be claimed at the end of each tax year. Tax relief can be claimed for medical expenses at a standard rate of 20%.

This can help reduce the costs of hearing aids for many people.

How To Apply?
You can only claim for medical expenses if you have a receipt to prove your claim. If you require proof of purchase from Blackberry Hearing please call our team or email information@blackberryhearing.com

You can claim online through Revenue’s myAccount service.

You can simply upload the receipts tracker online.

Our table below gives a breakdown of what can be claimed when purchasing hearing aids.

You can browse our full range of hearing aids and compare our latest models.

How to connect/setup your Unitron TV Connector

Step 1: Connecting to your television 

To set up the TV Connector for the Bluetooth hearing aids, please follow these steps carefully:

1. Insert the micro USB end of the USB cable into the port on the backside of the TV Connector.
2. Connect the larger end of the USB cable to the power supply
3. Insert the power supply into your wall socket
4. Insert the other end of the audio cable into the AUDIO OUT port of your TV
5. Once connected to power, the LED turns green to indicate that it is ready to stream
6. When the TV Connector is plugged into a power source for the very first time, ensure your hearing aids are switched on and within 1 meter radius to allow automatic connection.
7. Once your hearing aids have been connected, they will play a confirmation tone.

Your hearing aids should now be connected and ready to use ! If you are having difficulty with connecting your hearing aids, please watch the video below or call our team.

Step 2: Connecting to an audio source

The TV Connector can be connected to any audio source such as a TV, PC or stereo system. It supports two different audio cable inputs: optical (TOSLINK) or analog. Either of these audio cables must be plugged into the
the dedicated audio port on the TV Connector.

Optional: Connecting with the analog cable Replace the supplied optical (TOSLINK) audio cable with the analog 3.5 mm cable. Insert one
end of the analog cable into the TV Connector and connect the other end of the analog 3.5 mm audio cable into the AUDIO OUT port of your TV(or audio source).

If your TV loudspeakers switch off when connected with the analog 3.5mm audio cable, use the optical audio cable instead (see: "Connecting with optical cable").

Step 3: Connecting the TV Connector to your hearing aids

When the TV Connector is plugged into a power source for the first time, the connection to the hearing aids will be automatic. The hearing aids will play a confirmation melody when the connection is successful.

Step 3 To connect new hearing aids to the TV Connector:
• Press the Connect button on the back of the TV Connector, and the LED indicator light will start blinking blue.
• Make sure the hearing aids are switched on and within 1 m (3 ft) of the TV Connector.
• You will hear a confirmation melody in your hearing aids when the connection is successful. This may take up to 10 seconds.

Turning the TV Connector ON or OFF

The TV Connector has a power button located on the top of the device.

To turn ON the TV Connector:
• Press and hold the button for 2 seconds
• The LED indicator on the back of the device will turn on once the TV Connector has powered on
To turn OFF the TV Connector:
• Press and hold the power button for 2 seconds.
• The LED indicator on the back of the device will turn off when the TV Connector has powered off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfoPdIMBucM&t=5s

Hearing Aids vs Hearing Amplifiers – Understanding The Differences

A recent study conducted by ISHAA (The Irish Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists) study estimated that one in 12 people in Ireland will acquire a permanent hearing loss. As more people experience some degree of hearing loss, the demand for hearing devices has increased in Ireland.

Understanding the differences between hearing devices is a key aspect to making an informed decision on your hearing health.

In this article, we look at the key differences between hearing aids and hearing amplifiers. This article is written to help you make an informed decision and provide relevant information from MSc & BSc Qualified Audiologists.

Product class:
Hearing aids are approved medical devices designed to be specifically programmed to your level of hearing loss. The HSE, NHS & FDA in the United States classify hearing aids as medical devices to recommend for people experiencing hearing loss.

This essentially means, hearing aid manufacturers must adhere to strict quality guidelines for their devices to be approved and prescribed by Qualified Audiologists. Furthermore, our partners Widex & Unitron offer highly detailed documentation regarding each device and the specifications.

Hearing amplifiers are not classed as medical devices and can not be prescribed as a direct replacement for hearing aids. In this article, we take a deep dive into the key differences in technology and customization for the hearing aid wearer later in this article.

Technology:
Hearing amplifiers are designed to increase environmental or external sounds, for example, the volume on your TV will be amplified to a higher decibel (DB). The issue occurs when the volume of the environmental sounds drastically increases.

Because the objective of the amplifier is designed to simply increase the sound, there is no control over how loud the sound can enter your ear canal. In one sense this can be considered dangerous as sudden loud sounds are amplified without any moderation to your hearing.

On the other hand, the technology behind hearing aids consisted of 3 core elements.

- Microphone: the microphone receives sound and converts it to a digital/electrical signal.
- Amplifier: The amplifier increases the strength of that signal. A processor within the hearing aid manipulates the sound and tailors it to your requirement.
- Receiver: The receiver converts it back into a sound and sends it to the ear allowing you to understand the sound.

Personalisation:
The technology within hearing aids has advanced dramatically over the past number of years. As the processors and technology have advanced, this has allowed for a superior hearing experience tailored to a person’s needs.

Essentially this means, the Audiologist can program the hearing aid specifically for the type of loss you are experiencing. The Audiologist uses advanced programming software that allows fine-tuning of the hearing aid based on the Audiogram from your hearing test.

Furthermore, some of the latest hearing aids including the Unitron Blu, Widex Moment 440 & Evoke 440 allow multiple programming channels to suit the wearer’s needs. These specific hearing aids allow for multiple listening environments, for example, a hearing aid wearer can have a specific channel tailored to a busy office while another channel for the quiet library. This flexibility puts the control in the hands of the hearing aid wearer.

In comparison, hearing amplifiers simply amplify the external environments, they can not be programmed or fine-tuned to the specific needs of a person with hearing loss. This is one of the factors that affect the pricing between the two devices.

Fitting & styles:
The level of comfort and discreet appearance has been on the Wishlist of many wearers. Hearing aid manufacturers consistently compete to provide the best technology in the smallest possible design. The Widex Moment 440 was named as the world’s smallest rechargeable hearing aid. Invisible hearing aids like the Widex Moment 330 CIC can be custom fitted to your ear by taking an impression. This offers the most discreet design & comfort.

In comparison, because there is a difference in price, hearing aid amplifiers are not always the most discreet. There is often very little customization available in terms of custom molds or dome sizes.

The key difference is, the Audiologist can provide a tailored fitting with custom molds or domes at your clinic visit.

Warranty & repair:
Warranty is an important topic when purchasing any electronic device, our range of Widex and Unitron hearing aids come with a 4-year warranty. This warranty covers the costs of repairing the hearing aid & replacement parts. On the other hand, because of the low cost of hearing amplifiers, the warranty and returns period can often be quite limited.

What is the best choice for me?
The first step is always to express your concerns regarding your hearing to an Audiologist or medical professional.

Article Sources:
ISHA Study HSE Study FDA

Rechargeable Vs Non-Rechargeable Hearing Aids

As hearing technology continues to advance each year, hearing aids have transformed from a single-purpose device to wearable tech. This transformation has prompted hearing aid manufacturers to provide high-quality hearing aids with technical improvements each year.

New features include adapting machine learning, voice control, Bluetooth streaming to add more functionality to hearing aids.

While these features are highly desirable to hearing aid wearers, many still prefer a simply high-quality sounding hearing aid. Furthermore, it opens the debate to how the extra features consume battery life.

In this article, we compare rechargeable Vs non-rechargeable aids and which might be a suitable option & explain in detail.

Disposable hearing aid batteries

Hearing aids have always used a small circular battery designed to slot inside the hearing aid. The batteries come in a variety of sizes including 10, 312, 13 & 675. They are easily recognizable and every hearing aid wearer knows their relevant model and colour code.

Previously these batteries were manufactured as mercury zinc, but as time has passed battery manufacturers have designed zinc-air batteries which are more environmentally friendly, powerful, and long-lasting.

They are referred to as zinc-air as the small holes in the battery's surface allow the air to react with the zinc creating zinc oxide, hence this generates energy. This is why you will always see small holes in your hearing aid batteries.

For an average hearing aid wearer they will use 1 box of batteries per week on a standard digital hearing aid. The hearing aid wearer will notice the sound quality will drift once their batteries are near exhaustion. This of course is dependent on the usage of the hearing aid.

Most BTE & CIC hearing aids use disposable batteries, some hearing aid manufacturers will offer a hearing aid in both rechargeable and non-rechargeable. For example, a Widex Moment 440 is available in both versions depending on which option the wearer prefers.

How do rechargeable batteries work?

Unlike disposable hearing aid batteries, a hearing aid wearer will never see the rechargeable battery. It is factory sealed and requires no maintenance from the wearer. Only a certified technician should touch the rechargeable battery as this may affect your warranty.

As the battery is tightly stored away, we are frequently asked how do you charge your hearing aids? When you purchase your rechargeable hearing aids, you will be provided a small charging case.

By simply placing your hearing aids in the charging case, your hearing aids are fully charged within 4-5 hours, depending on the make and model you choose. Furthermore, some of your favourite pieces of technology in your home already use lithium-ion. Your Amazon Kindle, Beats Headphones your iPhone or smartphone. Most rechargeable technology in your home will most likely use lithium-ion.

Rechargeable hearing aids

Rechargeable hearing aids differ vastly in both construction, cost, and usage. Rechargeable lithium-ion technology

 has experienced huge consumer adoption. Compared to disposable batteries, lithium-ion is more environmentally friendly (less wastage), lighter, smaller offering higher efficiency.

As the technology has developed, hearing aids naturally adopted the use of rechargeable batteries. As the batteries are smaller, lighter, and more efficient, hearing aid manufacturers now pack more and more features into  your hearing aid. Hence there is a greater demand on the battery to power these features.

Which is the right choice?

When considering which is the best option to choose, there are several factors to consider. Understanding what features you need from your hearing aid is going to be the determining factor.

Comparing features

In most cases, rechargeable hearing aids tend to offer a larger feature set. This could include voice recognition, natural sound processing & machine learning. Hearing aid wearers who wish to benefit from all of these features daily, rechargeable can be a great choice.

For hearing aid wearers who want a standard hearing without the extra features or incur the additional costs.

Battery life

Features like streaming your calls & TV can deplete your battery usage over several hours. Wearers who wish to use these features, this is an important consideration as rechargeable would be the best choice. Standard hearing aids which do not include such features, non-rechargeable may be the best choice.

Lifestyle

Your choice of hearing aid should match your lifestyle requirements. In some instances, standard hearing aids without Bluetooth connectivity or smart features are not required. Some wearers simply want to enhance their hearing with a quality hearing aid. On the other hand, we are seeing a demand for features including tv streaming, tinnitus masking, and remote tuning.

Dexterity issues

Dexterity issues can occur due to several health issues including arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, and cerebral palsy. Injuries to the hands, wrists, and arms may affect motor skills or movement.

While innovation and technology have reduced the size of hearing aids. This reduction in size affects people with Dexterity issues when putting on the hearing aid and changing the batteries.

Rechargeable hearing aids have some features that help people with Dexterity issues. As the batteries never require changing, this removes the challenge of removing and inserting a very small battery into the hearing aid. A small green light will indicate the hearing aid charging once placed on the charging dock.

Furthermore, most reachable hearing aids come with a magnetitic base within the charging unit. This means once the hearing aid is placed on the charging base the hearing aid begins to charge. This feature reduces the changing of 2 hearing aid batteries on a weekly basis.

Costs

Hearing aid costs vary depending on the make, model, and style chosen (BTE, CIC, CROS). Rechargeable hearing aids tend to be slightly more expensive depending on how much you wish to spend, the features & style you require. Our range of hearing aids start from €1,998 ranging to €4,500

Care in the Home – Affinity Plus

"We are going to focus on client routines, home support assistant responsibilities and positive engagement."

As part of our Expert Series, Affinty Plus Director ,Colette Beausang, discusses the importance of home care and respite as we grow older.
Author: Colette Beausang, November 24, 2021

As a care provider, Affinity Plus acknowledges the importance of looking at all aspects of an individual’s care. The Directors of Affinity Plus have been on both sides of the coin when it comes to providing care and looking for care and support within the home. We have seen so many benefits that it can provide, such as client independence, encouragement and it can support not just the client themselves but family members. Throughout this post we are going to touch on aspects that are second nature to us here at Affinity Plus and how we work with clients to ensure that they have the best experience possible. We are going to focus on client routines, home support assistant responsibilities and positive engagement.

Client routines

Affinity Plus acknowledge that each client has their own personal daily routine be it; going to the shop to get the paper, listening to a certain radio programme, or getting up at a certain time. Our goal is to complement the client’s daily routine to fit around what is important to them.

Making the decision to explore home support options is not easy and we appreciate how much of a privilege it is to become part of a client’s daily life. It takes time to build a rapport with a client and we ensure that this process is not rushed. We listen and hear what our client tells us.

Home support assistant responsibilities

Following on from client routines are the responsibilities of our Home Support Assistants. The responsibilities of our Home Support Assistants are to ensure that the client is encouraged to make decisions about their own lives and care, ensuring that the client and their needs and requirements are tended to, informing and documenting any client changes, ensuring that the client is safe and well upon leaving the home.

Positive engagement/family respite

Colette Beausang discusses the impact of home support which in turn provided positive engagement and family respite: “I sought some home support assistance for a member of my family several years ago.

I noted a huge change in my family member and their demeanor on the days that they knew that the additional support was coming. It gave my family member a real boost knowing that someone outside of the family circle was coming to the house to support them.

This gave me valuable respite time which replenished the ability to care for that family member. It is something I look upon now when I get to support others in their homes”. 

To learn more about Affinity Plus & the service they offer, please visit https://www.affinityplus.ie/

About The Author

Colette Beausang, Director/Care Manager with Affinity Plus. Colette is a Cork native who specialised in home care for a vast number of years. Home care has always been Colette's passion, From caring to members of my family to caring within different healthcare settings I have seen the importance of how to listen to a client and what their needs are.

Unitron’s new Blu hearing aids – from tap control to voice assistants

With the launch of Unitron’s innovative new Blu platform, Blackberry Hearing offers a truly personalised hearing experience for hearing aid wearers. The latest Unitron Blu hearing aid technology offers the wearer a versatile hearing experience. The technology automatically optimizes sound performance regardless of your environment.

It does this using the below 3 categories:

• Noise reduction – detects undesirable noise and reduces the volume accordingly.
• Speech enhancement – boosts speech volume during conversations.
• Autofocus 360 – Integra OS uses binaural network of 4 networks to understand where the sound is coming from & focuses in that direction to provide clarity.

Hearing Personalization

Unitron’s new Unitron Blu technology allows customization with the touch of a button using the Remote Plus App. Available on both iPhone & Android, the Remote Plus App allows complete personalization on a host of built-in features.

Temporary Clarity Boost

This feature allows the Unitron Blu hearing aid wearers to log into the Remote Plus App and boost the clarity and comfort within an automatic program. This smart feature allows hearing aid wearers to adjust their hearing preference quickly and without any fuss.

6 Pre-Set programs

Designed to allow personalization with the touch of a button, Unitron Blu wearers can now adjust channels to a specific environment. For example, people working in busy offices can have a pre-set channel designed to adjust to the sound levels and noise of phones ringing, people chatting, and background noise.

Remote Plus App

Unitron’s Remote Plus app enables hearing aid wearers to customize and enhance their hearing experience. During the pandemic, wearing of facemasks makes hearing conversations difficult. The clarity button within the app allows speech to be temporarily boosted.

Another feature allows you to fine-tune your hearing experience by adjusting the bass, midrange & treble frequencies. Both features combine to deliver a truly personalized experience.

Multi Bluetooth connectivity

The Unitron Blu uses Bluetooth Classic which enables pairing of up to 8 devices including older or newer versions of Apple and Android smartphones, PCs, MacBooks, etc. Any two devices can be connected at the same time so users can easily switch from one device to another.

This flexibility allows you to toggle between work and home devices without any fuss.

For example you can.

• Receive and make phone calls
• Accept Zoom, Skype and Teams calls
• Accept & Make Whatsapp calls

Tap Assistant and Voice Control

The Unitron Blu Tap Control allows hearing aid users to easily activate the microphone. This means you can access virtual assistants like Siri & Google Assistant by simply tapping your hearing aid. Similarly, by tapping on the side of the hearing aid to accept a phone call, the microphone becomes active allowing you to have a fully hands-free experience while driving or exercising.

Stream Spotify, YouTube & Podcasts & TV

The Blu technology uses Bluetooth Classic to grab all the quality of full stereo sound so that you can enjoy Led Zeppelin on your smartphone, Bruce Springsteen in Concert on your TV or the latest action movie in full stereo sound - all through your hearing aids!

Features In Summary

• Connectivity to up to 8 devices (PCs, Smartphone, TV, etc.)
• Simultaneous connectivity to 2 devices at any time
• Rechargeable – Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery
• Adapts to multiple listening environment – conversation in a crowd, conversation in noise, busy office environments
• Tap control - Enables easy communication with your other smart devices
• Hands free calls – Answer or take a call even when your phone is not on your person
• Tinnitus masker – For those who suffer from tinnitus
• Noise reduction – Adaptive feature to improve listening in noisy environments
• Speech enhancement – Adaptive feature that identifies speech and enhances it accordingly
• Wind control – Automatically reduces wind noise if you enjoy outdoor activities
• Remote care – Adjustments can be programmed remotely with your Blackberry Hearing Audiologist
• TV Connector – Enables wireless connection with your TV
• 4 Year Warranty

Acoustic Neuroma – Symptoms, Causes & Treatments

An Acoustic Neuroma (also known as Vestibular Schwannoma) is a rare, growth that develops on the hearing/balance nerve between the brain and inner ear, often causing hearing loss, tinnitus or balance problems.

What Causes an acoustic neuroma?

Acoustic neuromas are rare. In over 95% of cases they occur spontaneously and are not related to lifestyle or other health issues nor are they inherited. There is no known cause for this type of acoustic neuroma.

Symptoms of an acoustic neuroma:

Small acoustic neuromas may not cause any symptoms and are often found when someone has a scan for other reasons.

The most common symptoms are:

Reduced hearing in one ear
Nine out of 10 people with an acoustic neuroma will experience hearing loss on one side (on the side where the growth is). The loss of hearing is usually gradual and is due to the pressure of the growth on the hearing nerve. There may also be a feeling of fullness in the affected ear.

Tinnitus
Ear noise or ringing in the ear may be heard on the affected side. However, the majority of people with tinnitus do not have an acoustic neuroma.

Dizziness and balance problems
The balance portion of the hearing/balance nerve is where the growth arises and thus may cause problems of balance, unsteadiness or vertigo. However, not everyone experiences this.

Less likely, the following symptoms may occur if the growth continues to grow:

• Numbness, tingling or pain on one side of the face.
• Facial weakness or twitching.
• Double vision.
• An increase in pressure inside the head (hydrocephalus).

How is an Acoustic Neuroma Diagnosed?

A hearing test is required to establish unilateral (one sided hearing loss). If you sense you may have hearing loss, you should contact your local Audiologist for a full hearing assessment they will be able to diagnose unilateral loss and may refer you to your GP for further investigation if this is the case.

An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan is used to produce a picture of the inside of the brain. A CT scan (computerized tomography), which may be used for people unable to have an MRI scan. These brain scans will be used to confirm the presence of an acoustic neuroma.

How is an acoustic neuroma treated?

Acoustic Neuromas grow very slowly (or not at all in many cases), so there’s no need to rush into a decision about treatment, all options should be carefully discussed with your consultant and include the following:

• Observation/ monitoring the growth.
  Surgery to remove the growth.
• Stereotactic Radiosurgery/ Radiotherapy to stop the growth.

The treatment that is recommended for you will depend on your wishes and, your age/ general health and the size and position of the growth.

Observation/Monitoring

As acoustic neuromas are benign growth, observation over a period of time is an appropriate option for many patients. MRI’s are performed periodically to study the growth pattern of the growth over time. In two-thirds of patients, the growth remains the same size, however, even when the growth remains stable, you may continue to lose hearing on that side.

During this stage, many people benefit from wearing a hearing aid on the affected side.

The type and style that best suits your needs can be discussed with your Audiologist, a good relationship with your Audiologist is important as regular hearing tests are advisable during this time to ensure your hearing aid is always set/ adjusted according to your current hearing level, which may be variable.

If the growth remains stable then no further intervention is required and you will continue to be monitored with scans. However, if the growth increases in size you will usually be advised to have treatment by either Stereotactic Radiosurgery or by surgery.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery
This is a surgical procedure that can be carried out in a single day, with no need to stay overnight in hospital. You are awake during this procedure. In some cases patients may be told they need to undergo the delivery of radiation in multiple doses. If this is required it will be discussed in greater detail with your Consultant.

Surgery
The aim of surgery is to remove the growth. However, in some cases, some growth is left behind to reduce the risk of injury to the facial nerve (situated very close to hearing/ balance nerve). The residual growth will be monitored by a series of MRI scans.

The Aftermath

Hearing loss
Patients who present with an acoustic neuroma usually have a degree of hearing loss on the affected side. Following treatment, hearing on the affected side is NOT restored and most likely hearing will be totally lost on this side.

The loss of hearing will cause you difficulty in locating the direction that sound is coming from and following conversation in an environment where there is background noise will also be a challenge. Your Audiologist will be best placed to advise you of your options if this is the case.