DISTRIBUCIÓN DE PLAZAS Y GARANTÍAS DE PAGOS

Th ere are two types of hearing loss: conductive and sensorineural.

Conductive hearing loss refers to any problems in the middle ear which prevent sound from being conducted to the inner ear. Th e more common type, sensorineural hearing loss, aff ects the inner ear and nervous system. Th e experience of hearing loss is then further compounded by the degeneration of auditory neural pathways, which occurs when there is a lack of auditory stimulation.

Rafaele Joudry helping a client with headphones

Part 3: Chapter 3 ~ What Sound Therapy Can Do For You

Conductive hearing loss

Conductive hearing loss occurs when there is a disorder in the sound transmission system in the middle ear. Th is includes Eustachian tube problems (recurrent blocked ear,) fl uid or infections in the middle ear, or otosclerosis in which the bones of the middle ear become porous or calcifi ed.

Otosclerosis is a condition said to aff ect 3% of the population.

An overgrowth of the inner ear bones, causes the stapes (stirrup) bone in the middle ear to become fi xed, so the middle ear loses its movement. Th ere is a clear association between otosclerosis and osteoporosis (thinning of the bones). In its early stages otosclerosis is characterised by softening or sponginess of the ear bones. It is known to worsen after pregnancy, when women are also at greater risk of osteoporosis due to calcium depletion and hormone disruption.

Th erefore adequate calcium supplementation may be advisable to assist in the prevention of otosclerosis.⁴⁶

Otosclerosis can sometimes be successfully corrected by surgery, and this may be the best option for severe cases. Th e operation, called a stapedectomy, usually involves replacing the stirrup bone with a prosthesis. To improve the success of the operation it can also be useful, both before and after the procedure, to use Sound Th erapy. Bringing movement and fl exibility to the ear muscles may improve circulation to the ear, assisting it to prepare for and recover from surgery, as physiotherapy is generally important after surgery.

Sound Th erapy is, according to Dr Tomatis, like physiotherapy for the ear.⁴⁷

46 Clayton A.E. et al, ‘Association between osteoporosis and otosclerosis in women,’

Journal of Laryngology & Otology (2004), Vol.118, No.8, Royal Society of Medicine Press, pp.617-621.

De Chicchisa, E. R. et al, ‘Vitamin D and calcium defi ciency initiated in pregnancy and maintained after weaning accelerate auditory dysfunction in the offspring in BALB/cJ mice,’ Nutrition Research, Vol. 26, No. 9, September 2006, pp.486-491.

Shambaugh GE Jr., ‘The diagnosis and treatment of active cochlear otosclerosis,’ J Laryngol Otol., Vol. 85, 1971, pp.301-314. Cited 13th August 2009 on

http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/hearing/otoscler.html 47 Tomatis, The Conscious Ear, Ibid.

Sound Therapy ~ Music to Recharge Your Brain

Sound Th erapy, in combination with nutritional supplementation, has also been noted to improve hearing even when the patient does not opt for surgery. Narelle Russell, a farmer and mother of three children, experienced hearing degeneration from childhood. Her hearing became noticeably worse after each pregnancy and she was diagnosed with otosclerosis. As calcium in the body is depleted by pregnancy, this condition may worsen. She embarked on Sound Th erapy listening and used the program for fi ve years with great success, improving her hearing and reducing her tinnitus. When she added supplementation with colloidal minerals and antioxidants she found that her hearing actually improved, in spite of the otosclerosis.⁴⁸

Some women have been successful in reversing osteoporosis with natural hormone balancing cream derived from wild yam and chaste tree berry.⁴⁹ An Italian grandmother, Cesaria Carpitano, aged in her 80s had degenerative osteoporosis and was walking with two sticks and in constant pain. After a few months of using the wild yam cream and high-quality mineral supplementation her bone density improved by 8.1%. She discarded her sticks and walked upright and pain-free.⁵⁰

Excess tension or lack of tone in the middle ear muscles (hammer and stirrup muscle) may be a factor in some types of conductive hearing loss.⁵¹ It appears that this tone may be restored through the exercise provided by Sound Th erapy, and this has been observed to improve hearing in some cases of conductive hearing loss. ⁵²

48 Private conversations and video interview with Narelle Russell, Narooma, 2001-2006.

49 Shealy, C. N. Natural Progesterone Cream, Safe and Natural Hormone Replacement, Keats, Lincolnwood, Illinois, 1999.

50 Private conversations with Cusumano Family, Sydney 2000 – 2009.

51 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tensor_tympani

This theory of Tomatis’ that the tone and function of the middle ear muscles plays a role in hearing has not yet been explored by science, though a number of researchers have identifi ed chronic conditions called ‘tonic tensor tympani syndrome’ which represent an extreme level of stapedial dysfunction. Research is needed on the more subtle effects of muscular performance and potential rehabilitation.

52 Tomatis, The Conscious Ear, Ibid.

Part 3: Chapter 3 ~ What Sound Therapy Can Do For You

Sensorineural hearing loss

Sensorineural hearing loss results from damage within the inner ear or cochlea itself, where the sensory cells transmit sound to the auditory nerve. Loud or prolonged noise damages the sensory cells – called cilia – in the inner ear. When the cilia are damaged or destroyed, they can no longer pick up sound vibrations, so the sound does not reach the auditory nerve. Other lifestyle factors or environmental toxins, including chemicals found in the home, or certain medications can also damage the cilia.⁵³ Th is condition is sometimes referred to as nerve deafness.

Auditory deprivation

Another mechanism that may compound the experience of hearing loss is a breakdown in communication between the ear and brain.

Th is occurs when brain pathways required for hearing are not fi ring normally.

To combat this degeneration it is very important to provide stimulation to help keep the auditory pathways fi ring. Using a hearing aid will help to increase auditory stimulation, and research has shown that starting early is important so as not to leave the brain without that needed stimulation. We now know, from research in the fi eld of brain plasticity, that by providing suffi cient stimulation, new brain pathways can be built so that even when damage has occurred, the brain can learn new ways of responding to stimuli.⁵⁴ Another way to increase stimulation to the auditory pathways is with Sound Th erapy, which provides sound that is specifi cally tailored for activating the organ of hearing in the inner ear and associated brain pathways. Sound Th erapy can be used with or without a hearing aid, and many listeners have found a noticeable improvement in their ability to hear, pay attention and understand voices in diff erent environments and social situations.

53 Access Economics, Ibid.

‘Environmental Impact on Hearing: Is Anyone Listening?’ Ibid.

54 Doige, N., Ibid

Sound Therapy ~ Music to Recharge Your Brain