Movie Captioning Access Update

Deaf and hard-of-hearing people who have a hard time understanding dialogue at the movies benefit from closed captioning in a movie theater. Closed captioning technology for movie theaters allows hearing impaired patrons to read the movie dialogue as captions. The entire audience does not see the captions; only the patrons with the captioning device see the words. The reflectors are available at the theater's customer service desk. It can be very frustrating to miss that critical plot twist because you didn’t hear all of the words. How does the technology work? A captioning device displays reversed captions on an LED text display which is mounted in the rear of a theater. Deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons use transparent acrylic panels attached to their seats to reflect the captions so that they appear superimposed on the movie screen. The reflective panels are portable and adjustable, enabling the caption user to sit anywhere in the theater. Recently, there have been two major court rulings in movie captioning access. On April 30, 2010, a unanimous, three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires closed-captioning access in movie theaters. This is the second time a federal court has ruled that the ADA requires some captioning access (a federal court in Washington, D.C., ruled this way in 2004), and the first time that a federal court of appeals has ruled this way, overturning a lower court decision. Many theaters across the country already offer closed-captioning systems. In New Jersey in September 2004, the Attorney General’s Office and the Division on Civil Rights reached voluntary settlement agreements with four major multiplex theater chains operating in New Jersey regarding the installation of new deaf captioning technology. Under terms of the settlement agreements, American Multi Cinema (AMC), Loews Cineplex Theaters, Clearview Cinemas and National Amusements agreed to either equip their theaters with new captioning technology or, in multiplexes where the technology was already installed, to expand the number of screens offering such captioning. Please visit our website at http://www.coastalhearing.com/under helpful links to take the Better Hearing Institute hearing test. # # # Dr. Suzanne McCorry is Director of Audiology at Coastal Ear, Nose and Throat in Neptune, NJ and can be contacted at 732-280-7855; sbmccorry@coastalhearing.com; http://www.coastalhearing.com/

Coastal Ear Nose Throat

Dr. Fuchs Joins Coastal

Coastal Ear, Nose and Throat is proud to announce Tara L. Fuchs has joined the staff of Coastal Hearing and Balance Center Dr. Fuchs is a hearing-health professional with an audiologic career that spans over a decade. Dr. Fuchs earned her Master of Arts in Audiology from The College of New Jersey in 1997 followed by her Doctorate in Audiology from the University of Florida in 2003. During Dr. Fuch’s audiology tenure, she also became a member of both the American Academy of Audiology and the NJ Association of Hearing Health Professionals. She has spent time working as an Adjunct Professor at The College of New Jersey to help educate the next generation of hearing-health professionals. As both an industrial and clinical audiologist, Dr. Fuch’s professional experience spans from pediatric through geriatric patients.

Please visit our website at http://www.coastalhearing.com/for more information on healthy hearing.

Dr. McCorry is Director of Audiology at Coastal Ear, Nose and Throat in Neptune, NJ and can be contacted at 732-280-7855; sbmccorry@coastalhearing.com; http://www.coastalhearing.com/

Hearing Loss

What are the primary causes of hearing loss?

Coastal Ear, Nose and Throat along with Healthy Hearing would like to educate the public on the primary causes of hearing loss.

There are three types of hearing loss: conductive, sensorineural and mixed hearing loss, all of which have different causes.

Conductive hearing loss is caused by issues with the middle ear such as fluid in the middle ear space or issues with the middle ear bones. Many types of conductive hearing loss are not permanent and can be treated by medical intervention. A full hearing evaluation followed with a medical evaluation by an ear physician will help to determine the cause of the conductive hearing loss. Once the cause is identified, the physician will recommend medical treatment.

Most causes of sensorineural (nerve) hearing loss are never known; however, through a hearing evaluation and medical evaluation, various causes of hearing loss can be suspected based on the outcome of the evaluations. The most common causes of sensorineural hearing loss are genetics, aging and noise exposure. Medications, diseases associated with small vessel disease, arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease are all associated with a higher incidence of hearing loss.

Recent studies have also found persons who smoke increase their probability of having hearing loss. Finally, high levels of blood lipids and cholesterol have been associated with an increased incidence of hearing loss, possibly through the promotion of small vessel disease.

Currently, noise-induced hearing loss is the only type of hearing loss that can be fully prevented by the use of ear protection. Noise induced hearing loss may be caused by a single exposure to excessive noise or from many years of being exposed to loud levels of noise.

Mixed hearing loss is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, and is caused by the previously mentioned causes.

Unfortunately, even if you live healthy and take all precautions possible, the majority of us will slowly develop hearing loss due to the natural aging process. The inner ear hair cells do not replace themselves and once they are lost, their function is not recovered.

Recent studies have found high doses of antioxidants may be associated with the prevention of noise induced hearing loss. Other studies have shown a diet rich in folates may also help prevent hearing loss by up to 20% (2009, AOO-HNSF); however, further research is needed.

Joanne Slater M.S. CCC-A. Copyright 2009, www.HealthyHearing.com - The leading web resource on hearing loss and hearing aids. This article was reprinted with permission. Article Source: http://www.healthyhearing.com

Please visit our website at www.coastalhearing.com for more information on healthy hearing.
# # #
Suzanne McCorry is Director of Audiology at Coastal Ear, Nose and Throat in Neptune, NJ and can be contacted at 732-280-7855; sbmccorry@coastalhearing.com; http://www.coastalhearing.com

Hearing Aid Dispenser

Coastal Ear, Nose and Throat is proud to announce Jessica Miller has joined the staff of Coastal Hearing and Balance Center. Dr. Miller received both her Bachelor’s and Doctorate in Audiology degrees from James Madison University in Virginia. She is a licensed Audiologist and Hearing Aid Dispenser. Jessica also holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. After experiencing a variety of clinical settings including hospitals, VA medical centers, ENT offices, & private practice, she has found her niche working with hearing aids.

Call (732) 280-7855 or visit us on our website to make an appointment.

NECK AND CANCER AWARENESS
Authored by Jaclyn Sylvia, PA-C


Cancer is a group of many related diseases that begin in cells. These cells begin to grow abnormally forming a mass of tissue, called a growth or a tumor. There are two types of tumors: benign and malignant. Benign tumors are not cancer. Malignant tumors are cancer. Their growth invades normal structures near the tumor and can spread to other parts of the body. Most head and neck cancers begin in the cells that line the mucosal surfaces in the head and neck area. These areas include lips, inside the mouth, tongue, salivary glands, nasal cavity, sinuses, pharynx, and the larynx (voice box).

Did You Know?

- Head and neck cancers, most of which are preventable, account for approximately 6% of all cancers in the United States
- More than 55,000 people in the U.S. will develop cancer of the head and neck in 2011; nearly 13,000 people will die from it
- Early detection and treatments are the keys to preventing these cancers
- Eighty-five percent of head and neck cancers are linked to tobacco use
- People who use both tobacco and alcohol are at greater risk of developing these cancers than people who use either tobacco or alcohol alone
- Cigarette smoking increases your risk of head and neck cancer by 15 times compared to a non-smoker
- Over the past ten years, an increasing number of people with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) who were young, non-smokers have developed oral, head and neck cancer

What Are the Common Symptoms of Head and Neck Cancer?

Symptoms of several head and neck cancer sites include a lump or sore that does not heal; a sore throat that does not go away, difficulty swallowing, and a change or hoarseness in the voice. Other symptoms may include the following:

- Oral Cavity: A white or red path on the gums, tongue or lining in the mouth, swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly, or unusual bleeding or pain in the mouth
- Nasal Cavity and Sinuses: Sinuses that are blocked and do not clear, chronic sinus infections that do not respond to treatment with antibiotics, bleeding through the nose, frequent headaches, swelling or other trouble with the eyes, pain in the upper teeth
- Oropharynx and Hypopharynx: Ear pain and blood in your saliva or phlegm for more than a few days
- Nasopharynx: Trouble breathing or speaking, frequent headaches, persistent pain or ringing in the ears, trouble hearing
- Larynx: Pain with swelling, persistent ear pain, difficulty breathing

These symptoms may be caused by cancer or by other, less serious conditions. However, raising awareness of cancer symptoms and treatment options is crucial because an estimated 60% of patients fail to see doctors until their disease have gone into advanced states.

Call our office at 732-280-7855 to schedule an appointment or visit our website at Coastal Ear, Nose and Throat.

NOSEBLEEDS
Authored by Jaclyn Sylvia, PA-C

In the United States, one of every seven persons develop a nosebleed at some point during their lifetime. Nosebleeds do not exclude any age group, but are most commonly found in children aged 2 to 10 as well as adults aged 50 to 80 years. As inconvenient as nosebleeds may be, ninety percent of nosebleeds are able to be easily controlled without significant invasive procedures. Nosebleeds are classified on the basis of the primary bleeding site. The most common area that bleeds is the inside front portion of the nose. Most cases of nosebleeds do not have one easily identifiable cause; however, local trauma is one of the most common. Another very common cause of nosebleeds is excessive dryness in the nose, which is often seen in the winter months. Dry heated indoor air, topical nasal sprays, cigarette smoking, chronic oxygen use, or antihistamines contribute to nasal dryness. Therefore, if frequent nosebleeds are a problem, it is important to focus on hydrating the nasal tissue.

There are things that can be done at home to keep the lining of the nose moist with the use of a product three times a day:

- Saline spray
- Saline gel such as AYR
- Bacitracin ointment or A+D ointment
- Aquaphor

If you develop a nose bleed, here are some tips to prevent future bleeding:

- Limit physical activities such as bending, lifting or stooping
- Sneeze within the mouth open
- Avoid blowing the nose for roughly 24 hours and continue with gentle blowing after
- Quit smoking or, at the very least, cut down on the amount of cigarettes consumed

If re-bleeding occurs, there are some at home tips that may help to slow, if not stop, the bleeding:

- Immediately squeeze the soft part of the nostrils firmly together for five minutes (make sure the head is bent forward so that you do not swallow the blood)
- Should bleeding continue, blow the nose to remove any coagulated blood
- Follow by spraying a decongestant spray such as Afrin nasal spray in the nose four times on each side
- Repeat these steps if needed
- After thirty minutes, if the bleeding persists, the patient should be evaluated by a medical provider

At Coastal Ear, Nose and Throat we have professionally trained otolaryngologists and a physician assistant to address your nasal concerns. Please feel free to come visit us.