{ from the editor } by Douglas Wyckoff, DDS Can You Hear Me Now? I


can remember this like it was yesterday, even though it’s been over 45 years ago. Our home phone was ringing, and I rushed to answer it. I lifted it to my left


ear and quickly, I noticed something was dif- ferent. I could hear the person on the other end, but I couldn’t make out the words they were saying. I had never experienced that be- fore. What was going on? After the call, I told my parents what had happened, which put them in a mode to get me to a doctor to have my hearing checked. Not long after, I had ap- pointments with an audiologist and an ENT. They performed several tests, with a conclud- ing diagnosis that my left ear had senso- rineural hearing loss at about 30 percent, while my right ear tested normal. The left ear drum was functioning perfectly; the problem was that the auditory nerve wasn’t getting the message to the brain properly. Their final words were that the “future” was my hope, as there wasn’t anything more at that point they could do. I was 12 years old.


For the next few years, they monitored my hearing and it just kept progressing to the point of almost total deafness in the left ear by age 18. I had no history of trauma or any other situation that would explain why this was happening. With time, even though I couldn’t hear out of that ear, I learned to cope with the sensory loss and was thank- ful the right ear continued to function just fine. Without cognitively teaching myself, I learned to read lips and make other adjust- ments to hear those around me.


I had just accepted the fact that I would nev- er hear out of that ear again. I didn’t follow through with any hearing testing for the next 39 years. About a year ago, I decided it was time to go have some testing done again be- cause I had been noticing that hearing in my right ear was diminishing as well. My ability to hear and communicate effectively was spiraling out of control. If I was in a setting with a lot of noise, there was no way I could


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maintain a conversation. I was only hearing bits and pieces of what people around me were saying. I made an appointment with an audiologist and an ENT and began the pro- cess again. After this round of testing, they found I not only had almost zero hearing in the left ear but now also had significant hearing loss in the right. The cause? Years of occupational exposure to loud sounds.


I am not sharing any of this to ask for sym- pathy. Rather, I am bringing this to your at- tention as a means of awareness and concern for all dental professionals who — without a thought of your hearing health — work with high volume suction, high speed handpieces and the other high decibel noises in your offices. I have read quite a bit of research that has studied hearing loss associated with den- tists. The results for dental professionals are all over the board as the amount of time in practice, the type of practice and the number of hours worked are some of the variables that affect hearing loss. However, it’s estimat- ed that up to 80 percent of dentists will suf- fer from occupational hearing loss depending on the length of their career.


We know in dentistry that prevention is key. The same can be said for our hearing. Preventing or helping hamper the number of loud sounds that make it to our inner ear could be pivotal in helping curb hearing loss. That prevention could come in the form of wearing some type of ear protection. Today, there are a few dental schools that are “sug- gesting” the use of ear protection. I hope that more will do this and make it just as much a necessity as wearing magnification while providing treatment. We focus so much on the wellbeing of our patients, but it is just as important for practitioners to take care of themselves. Custom hearing protection is available that allows you to have conversa- tions without hindering your hearing but cut out the higher decibel sounds that are detrimental to the ear.


Hearing loss comes with side effects like many other health conditions. When a person cannot hear well, it is easy for them to isolate themselves, which in turn can bring on depression and anxiety. Studies have shown that hearing loss also increases the risk of dementia, difficulty in concentrating and even physical effects such as loss of bal- ance and being unrested.


I have personally had a life-changing period with my hearing loss journey. Last summer I received a hearing aid for my right ear. Suddenly, I could hear things I hadn’t heard in years. Sounds like hearing myself breath, turn signals in a car, the beep on a curing light and someone near me chewing a carrot. Simple it may seem, but when you haven’t heard that for a long time, it’s a big deal. I also had a cochlear implant placed on my left side in September. Once my processor was fitted, I was able to hear in stereo for the first time in 40 years. Knowing it will take a year to get completely acclimated to my devices, I am learning to be patient and trust the process.


I wish you all the best and ask you take care of your health with preventive measures in all areas, but especially in ones you may not readily consider, such as your hearing. Do what you can to preserve your hearing and wellbeing throughout your practice life.


Contact Dr. Wyckoff at editor@modental.org.


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