Holland Hospital - Healthy Life Fall 07

Local ENT Physicians

Joseph Vandermeer, MD

Peter Vandermeer, MD

Ted Vanderveen, MD

Donald Stageman, MD
Otolaryngology
926 S. Washington, Bldg. D,
Ste. 230
Holland
(616) 396-3544

Can You Hear Me Now?
New Baha^® Procedure Brings Sound to the
Hearing Impaired

Hearing loss can rob you of some of life's simple joys: birds chirping, babies cooing and your loved ones' voices. But hearing loss affects more than your ears. It can throw off your balance, degrade speech quality, lead to social isolation and impair your ability to function.

The Baha^® hearing aid, worn behind the ear, attaches to a bone in the inner ear to transmit sound vibrations directly to nerves.

The causes of hearing loss are almost as varied as those it affects – an estimated 28 million people in the United States alone, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). Whether brought on by excessive noise, advanced age or a health condition, local otolaryngologists – physicians specializing in disorders of the ear, nose and throat (ENT) – can help many Holland-area residents regain some or all of their hearing through a variety of treatment options.

Cause and effect
"Most people with hearing loss, especially older individuals, have sensorineural hearing loss, which is a problem of the inner ear. That's usually damage from either loud noises or advanced age," explains otolaryngologist Joseph Vandermeer, MD, of Lakeside ENT. "Conductive hearing loss is a problem of the outer or middle ear and can be from chronic ear infections that have damaged the middle ear and the bones that transmit sound from the outside to the inner ear."

Understanding the cause of hearing loss is the first step in knowing how to treat it.

Age-related hearing loss, or presbycusis, affects approximately 31 percent of Americans over the age of 65. Long-term noise exposure, heredity, medicines and health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes can contribute to hearing impairment as we age.

Noise-induced hearing loss results from long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 decibels (about the level of noise in city traffic). The NIDCD reports that 10 million Americans have irreversible noise-induced hearing loss, with 30 million more exposed to dangerous noise levels every day. Many experts worry that the popularity of MP3 players (such as iPods), listened to at high volumes, may greatly increase hearing damage in coming years.

Ear infections can affect children's hearing temporarily. But if left untreated, the damage can become permanent. "Fluid and ear infection in children can lead to scarring and loss of the tiny bones of the middle ear," explains otolaryngologist Ted Vanderveen, MD, of Lakeside ENT. What's more, chronic ear infections and fluid buildup in the middle ear can impair a child's hearing at a critical time for speech and language development.

Health conditions may also damage hearing. Heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and other vascular conditions may reduce the blood supply to the ear and diminish hearing.

ENT physicians use a range of techniques to treat hearing impairment. "For conductive hearing loss, we can drain the fluid and place a tube in the ear," says Dr. Vanderveen. "We can remove wax, repair holes in ear drums and replace bones in the middle ear that have been eroded by infection. For sensorineural hearing loss, we offer hearing aids and surgical intervention in severe cases."

Holland Hospital surgical staff is well acquainted with such procedures: in 2006, they performed more than 1,200 ear, nose and throat procedures, notes Kathy Shaneberger, director of Surgical Services at Holland Hospital. "ENT cases make up nearly 14 percent of all operating room cases, making it the third highest surgical specialty in our operating room," she says.

Baha^® – new help for your hearing
One of the newest procedures in hearing reconstruction that has recently become available at Holland Hospital is bone-anchored hearing aids, or Baha^®. "This is an easy way to treat moderate to severe conductive hearing loss," says Dr. Vandermeer.

During the brief outpatient procedure, doctors implant a small titanium screw into the bone behind the ear. Over the next six weeks, the bone grows in and attaches to the titanium implant permanently. Once this osseointegration has occurred, an abutment is attached to the fixture, and a small, external sound processor is clipped on behind the ear. Unlike a normal hearing aid that makes sounds with a small speaker, the Baha processor transmits sound vibrations directly to the nerves, bypassing the outer and middle ear.

"It gives you the best hearing that your nerves will allow," says Dr. Vandermeer, who performed the minimally invasive surgery for five years prior to joining Lakeside ENT in 2007.

Dr. Vandermeer recently led Holland Hospital surgical staff in training to bring the Baha procedure to Lakeshore residents. A special titanium drill required to implant the titanium screw completes the hospital's readiness to perform the procedure, says Shaneberger.

While the effects of the Baha can be dramatic and it has a high success rate, Dr. Vandermeer cautions that the procedure may not work for everyone. "Those who will most benefit from this treatment include individuals with chronic ear infections that have destroyed the middle ear or the bones in the middle ear, and when traditional hearing aids only make the infections worse," he says. "Also, people with one-sided hearing loss may benefit from a Baha. We place the implant behind the bad ear and it transmits sound from one side to the other ear, giving the wearer sensory perception in the affected sound field."

If you suffer from hearing impairment, talk to your doctor. He or she may refer you to an ENT specialist for a hearing test and a discussion of your ear problems.

Home>


Healthy Life Holland Hospital Our Services Health Information Find a Physician Local ENT Physicians Joseph Vandermeer, MD Peter Vandermeer, MD Ted Vanderveen, MD Otolaryngology Lakeside ENT, PC 577 Michigan Ave., Ste. 101, Holland (616) 393-2190 Donald Stageman, MD Otolaryngology 926 S. Washington, Bldg. D, Ste. 230 Holland (616) 396-3544	Can You Hear Me Now? New Baha^® Procedure Brings Sound to the Hearing Impaired Hearing loss can rob you of some of life's simple joys: birds chirping, babies cooing and your loved ones' voices. But hearing loss affects more than your ears. It can throw off your balance, degrade speech quality, lead to social isolation and impair your ability to function. The Baha^® hearing aid, worn behind the ear, attaches to a bone in the inner ear to transmit sound vibrations directly to nerves. The causes of hearing loss are almost as varied as those it affects – an estimated 28 million people in the United States alone, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). Whether brought on by excessive noise, advanced age or a health condition, local otolaryngologists – physicians specializing in disorders of the ear, nose and throat (ENT) – can help many Holland-area residents regain some or all of their hearing through a variety of treatment options. Cause and effect "Most people with hearing loss, especially older individuals, have sensorineural hearing loss, which is a problem of the inner ear. That's usually damage from either loud noises or advanced age," explains otolaryngologist Joseph Vandermeer, MD, of Lakeside ENT. "Conductive hearing loss is a problem of the outer or middle ear and can be from chronic ear infections that have damaged the middle ear and the bones that transmit sound from the outside to the inner ear." Understanding the cause of hearing loss is the first step in knowing how to treat it. Age-related hearing loss, or presbycusis, affects approximately 31 percent of Americans over the age of 65. Long-term noise exposure, heredity, medicines and health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes can contribute to hearing impairment as we age. Noise-induced hearing loss results from long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 decibels (about the level of noise in city traffic). The NIDCD reports that 10 million Americans have irreversible noise-induced hearing loss, with 30 million more exposed to dangerous noise levels every day. Many experts worry that the popularity of MP3 players (such as iPods), listened to at high volumes, may greatly increase hearing damage in coming years. Ear infections can affect children's hearing temporarily. But if left untreated, the damage can become permanent. "Fluid and ear infection in children can lead to scarring and loss of the tiny bones of the middle ear," explains otolaryngologist Ted Vanderveen, MD, of Lakeside ENT. What's more, chronic ear infections and fluid buildup in the middle ear can impair a child's hearing at a critical time for speech and language development. Health conditions may also damage hearing. Heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and other vascular conditions may reduce the blood supply to the ear and diminish hearing. ENT physicians use a range of techniques to treat hearing impairment. "For conductive hearing loss, we can drain the fluid and place a tube in the ear," says Dr. Vanderveen. "We can remove wax, repair holes in ear drums and replace bones in the middle ear that have been eroded by infection. For sensorineural hearing loss, we offer hearing aids and surgical intervention in severe cases." Holland Hospital surgical staff is well acquainted with such procedures: in 2006, they performed more than 1,200 ear, nose and throat procedures, notes Kathy Shaneberger, director of Surgical Services at Holland Hospital. "ENT cases make up nearly 14 percent of all operating room cases, making it the third highest surgical specialty in our operating room," she says. Baha^® – new help for your hearing One of the newest procedures in hearing reconstruction that has recently become available at Holland Hospital is bone-anchored hearing aids, or Baha^®. "This is an easy way to treat moderate to severe conductive hearing loss," says Dr. Vandermeer. During the brief outpatient procedure, doctors implant a small titanium screw into the bone behind the ear. Over the next six weeks, the bone grows in and attaches to the titanium implant permanently. Once this osseointegration has occurred, an abutment is attached to the fixture, and a small, external sound processor is clipped on behind the ear. Unlike a normal hearing aid that makes sounds with a small speaker, the Baha processor transmits sound vibrations directly to the nerves, bypassing the outer and middle ear. "It gives you the best hearing that your nerves will allow," says Dr. Vandermeer, who performed the minimally invasive surgery for five years prior to joining Lakeside ENT in 2007. Dr. Vandermeer recently led Holland Hospital surgical staff in training to bring the Baha procedure to Lakeshore residents. A special titanium drill required to implant the titanium screw completes the hospital's readiness to perform the procedure, says Shaneberger. While the effects of the Baha can be dramatic and it has a high success rate, Dr. Vandermeer cautions that the procedure may not work for everyone. "Those who will most benefit from this treatment include individuals with chronic ear infections that have destroyed the middle ear or the bones in the middle ear, and when traditional hearing aids only make the infections worse," he says. "Also, people with one-sided hearing loss may benefit from a Baha. We place the implant behind the bad ear and it transmits sound from one side to the other ear, giving the wearer sensory perception in the affected sound field." If you suffer from hearing impairment, talk to your doctor. He or she may refer you to an ENT specialist for a hearing test and a discussion of your ear problems. Home>
	Healthy Life is published by Holland Hospital to provide general health information. It is not intended to provide personal medical advice, which should be obtained directly from a physician. Your comments are welcome. ©2007 Holland Hospital.

Powered by Priority Publications