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Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Audiology Department Newsletter
Volume 5 Issue 1
Saying Good-Bye GOOD-BYE
Bob Benoit will be leaving his position
as full-time audiologist at Connecticut
Children’s Medical Center. Many
families know that he has been a
pediatric audiologist here since the
Medical Center opened nineteen
years ago. Prior to that, he worked
for a number of years at Newington
Children’s Hospital. Indeed almost
all of Bob’s professional career has
involved pediatric audiology.
Please share with us a few
thoughts on your career.
Bob: Pediatric Audiology has always
been my passion. Nothing against
adult audiology but I always found
working with children and their
families to be both challenging and
rewarding. During my career I have
seen amazing progress in how we
diagnose and treat hearing impairment
in children. I have been fortunate to
have practiced during this time. Let
me give you a few “then and now”
examples:
Then… When I started out as an
audiologist we diagnosed hearing
impairment in young children by
observing their reaction or lack of
response to loud sounds. This was
very subjective and not very accurate.
We often needed to see children again
and again before we knew just what
they could hear.
And now… We routinely obtain
accurate and reliable test results
on infants using measurements of
brainwave activity in response to
sounds. This allows us to appropriately
fit hearing aids to infants as young as
a few months of age.
Then… Some of my first hearing
aid fittings used large pocket-style
aids about the size of a cell phone.
Wires from the aid went to button
receivers held in place by earmolds.
Those cumbersome aids were not
very adjustable. We made crude fitting
adjustments with a screw driver.
And now… Of course, now all aids
are digital and much smaller. Our
hearing aids are programmed with a
computer and can be fine tuned to
fit most any configuration of hearing
loss. Aids now have special circuitry to
reduce feedback, reduce background
noise, wind noise and reverberation.
They can be set to remind the user
when to change batteries. They can
use Bluetooth technology to wirelessly
connect to phones, computers, music
players, GPS etc.
Then… A child with very profound
hearing loss never had access to
sound even with powerful hearing
aids. A child with a very severe hearing
loss might get only limited help from
hearing aids.
And now… An exciting option for
severe to profoundly hearing impaired
children became available when the
FDA approved cochlear implants
in 1990. Since that time many
children have benefited from cochlear
implantation. It has been gratifying
to see how many of these children
developed speech and language
because of their cochlear implants.
Then… Early in my career many
children born with hearing impairment
were not identified until age two or
three years. With the development
of automated hearing screening
devices that changed. In Connecticut
we formed a group of interested
professionals who advocated for
mandated hearing screening.
Connecticut legislation was eventually
passed and went into effect in 2000.
And now… Universal hearing
screening is the law of the land. This
has reduced the age of identification
from years to months. So many
children born hearing impaired receive
habilitation services at a very early
age.
Any other thoughts that you
would like to share?
Bob: Yes! I must add that I have
been fortunate to have worked with
so many great colleagues who were
dedicated to providing quality hearing
health care to our patients and their
families.
And your plans for the future?
Bob: Actually, You will still see me
in the Audiology Department from
time to time. I plan to see patients on
a very part time basis, when needed.
Otherwise, my wife and I will continue
our international travels when not
working in the garden, fixing up our
Victorian home, or expanding our
antique business.
In this Issue:
Kidz Corner
Research Update: Curing
Hearing Loss
Technology Update
Walk 4 Hearing
Anatomy Quiz
Kidz Corner
Hi, my name is Emalee Patterson. I am 11
years old and I am in 5th grade. I was
first diagnosed with hearing loss in June
2012 when I was 8, which was the summer
before 3rd grade. I did not realize that
my hearing loss was not normal, that
birds DO chirp, and doors DO squeak. I
was fitted for new hearing aids the day
I was diagnosed with the hearing loss.
When my PURPLE hearing aids, and
sparkly molds finally arrived in August
2012 I was excited about what I was
going to hear, and so were my parents. I
did feel nervous, more excited to hear
everything like everyone else. Connie
(my audiologist) gave me and my parents all the information needed
about how to care for them. Then Connie put them on me, I remember
how at first things sounded different (including my parents), but I got
used to it quickly.
When we were leaving Connecticut Children’s that day in August, we
were walking across the parking lot and I heard an unusual sound I
had not heard before…the noise seemed to follow me. I realized that
the sound was coming from underneath me, and I looked down to
see what it was…. It was my flip-flops! I looked at my parents and it
all made sense to me of why flip-flops had their name…it is the noise
they make when you walk! Discovering my hearing loss, and now having
hearing aids has helped me so much with what I could not hear before.
I am a dancer and my aids have helped me hear the music and the
instructions from my dance teacher as well. I am so happy I got my
aids! Thank you Connecticut Children’s, and Connie for all your help!
By: Emalee Patterson
Research Update: Curing Hearing Loss
Often we are asked the question: “Will
my child always need hearing aids?” For
sensory neural hearing loss the answer
has been “Yes”. Ongoing research,
however, offers the possibility of hearing
restoration in the future- perhaps in the
lifetime of today’s children. Basic research
is underway to explore the possibility for
regeneration of sensory cells in the inner
ear. Before we discuss this research let’s
review how the ear works.
Sound vibrations entering the outer ear
canal travel down to the eardrum. The
eardrum then collects and carries the
sound vibrations to the middle ear bones.
The middle ear bones in turn carry the
sound vibrations to the inner ear, also
known as the cochlea. In the inner ear
the vibratory energy is picked up by
tiny sensory cells, called HAIR CELLS.
The human ear has about 18,000 of
these tiny structures. Inner ear hair cells
perform a vital function. When stimulated
with vibration they cause the hearing
nerve to generate electrical signals
that travel into the brain and give the
sensation of hearing. Simply put, without
any functioning hair cells there is no
hearing.
Most sensory neural hearing loss is
due to damaged or missing hair cells in
the inner ear. Hair cells are very fragile
structures that are easily damaged
or destroyed. Loud sounds, certain
medications and chemotherapies and
some viral and bacterial infections can
damage hair cells, causing hearing
loss. The aging process also causes
some loss of hair cells. In the case of
childhood deafness hair cells may be
damaged by birth complications or may
be due to genetic factors. In fact, about
half of all severe to profound hearing
loss from birth is due to a genetic
condition. This brings us to the ultimate
research question: Can we find a way
to regenerate damaged or missing hair
cells in humans and thereby cure hearing
loss?
LEARNING FROM ANIMALS…
Many years ago scientists thought that
once sensory cells of the inner ear
were destroyed, irreversible deafness
was the result. More recently, however,
it was discovered that SOME animals
spontaneously regenerate destroyed hair
cells and recover hearing. For example
some birds and fish can, in effect, grow
new hair cells after suffering inner ear
damage. In a recent study chicks were
given an antibiotic that is known to cause
hearing loss as a side effect. Researchers
did see hair cell damage in the chicks.
Within weeks, however, new hair cells had
replaced the damaged ones. But we did
say SOME animals can regenerate lost
hair cells. Mammals, including humans,
do not have the ability to spontaneously
replace destroyed hair cells.
A recently published study showed
that some regeneration of hair cells
in mammals is possible with use of a
potent drug. In that study adult mice
were deafened by exposing them to high
By Robert Benoit
noise levels. Then the drug was injected
into the middle ear where it could cross
into the inner ear. The researchers
did find that the drug triggered some
regeneration of hair cells. This produced
a slight improvement in hearing,
especially for lower frequency sounds.
How does regeneration happen?
Underneath the hair cells are “supporting
cells” that hold the hair cells in place.
In some animals when hair cells are
destroyed the underlying support cells
develop into new functioning hair cells.
(SEE DIAGRAM) Much research, like the
mice study, is exploring how to stimulate
supporting cells to develop into working
hair cells in the cochlea. Drug therapy is
one avenue of research. Another is gene
therapy. Here, a harmless virus would be
injected into a patient. The virus would carry
and deliver a gene that would stimulate
regeneration of hair cells in the cochlea.
INTO THE FUTURE…
Unfortunately, a true cure for sensory
neural hearing loss in humans is not
just around the corner. Early studies on
animals raise as many new questions as
they answer. Much more basic research
is needed. The Hearing Restoration
Project is at the center of research
on cures for sensory neural hearing
loss. Right now there are over a dozen
laboratories in the U.S. and Canada
studying how to regenerate hair cells as
a way of treating hearing loss. For more
information please go to the website:
HEARINGHEALTHFOUNDATION.ORG
Technology Update
There’s an accessory for that! Wireless
capability is quickly becoming the
standard, not a luxury, in everyday
life. Wireless technology has long
been available to traditional hearing aid
users. In March, Cochlear Americas
announced full market availability of
wireless accessories for select cochlear
implant and Baha recipients. Wireless
devices “connect” with each other
by sending information to a device it
has been “paired” with. Once paired,
the sound processor will be able to
receive a signal directly from a sound
source, like a smartphone, computer, or
television. The Mini Microphone, Phone
Clip, and TV Streamer use the 2.4 GHz
wireless protocol that Bluetooth and
Wi-Fi devices depend on to provide a
whole new world of sound to cochlear
implant and Baha users.
Mini Microphone
• Transmits speech directly to the
sound processor from a range of up
to 23 feet.
• Ideal for use in situations where noise,
distance, or poor acoustics may be an
issue, such as restaurant, lecture halls,
or in the car.
• Portable audio streaming device via
plug and play line input.
Phone Clip
• Lightweight clip on device that allows
By Melissa Mathieu, Au.D.
for hands free connection to friends
and family through smartphone.
• Sends sound from a Bluetooth
enabled phone directly to the sound
processor and the microphone on
the device sends sound back to the
mobile phone.
• Perform basic phone operations (i.e.
answering and ending calls, adjusting
the volume).
• Basic remote control for Baha 4
patients by controlling the volume and
program changing.
• Wireless music streaming
TV Streamer
• Sends sound from a television or
other audio source (i.e. computer,
stereo) directly to the recipient’s
sound processor.
• Can connect one streamer to many
users for group listening.
These accessories are available for
purchase on the Cochlear Store or
contact your managing audiologist
for additional information. Currently
this technology is limited to cochlear
implant recipients using an N6
speech processor and for Baha
recipients using the Baha 4 or 5
systems. For these recipients, a simple
software upgrade will be required to
gain wireless compatibility. Please
contact the Audiology department
at 860.545.9642 to schedule this
appointment.
Walk 4 Hearing
Hartford’s Annual Walk 4 Hearing event
will take place June 13 at Mortensen
Riverfront Plaza, 300 Columbus Blvd,
Hartford, CT. The event kicks off at 9AM
with registration, music and a pep rally.
The walk will start at 10 AM and cover a
distance of 5K.
Join our team, CONNECTICUT
CHILDREN’S WE ARE HEAR, or start
your own team and make Connecticut
Children’s Medical Center your alliance
partner. Come help raise funds and
community awareness of hearing loss!
For more information please go to the
following website: HLAA.CONVIO.NET
Then search for Hartford Walk or
Connecticut Children’s We Are Hear. We
look forward to seeing you there!
Maintenance Tip
An important component of any hearing
aid or cochlear implant processor is the
MICROPHONE. Even the best hearing
aid or implant processor will never
work well, if its microphone is damaged
or clogged. Here are a few tips for
keeping your microphone working
properly.
• Never spray anything in the area of
the microphone. We know you want
to look great before going out BUT
remove your aids before applying
hairspray. Likewise remove your
hearing aids or implant processors
before using spray-on sun block,
insect repellant or any other type of
spray.
• S
ome hearing aid models and
implant processors have protective
filters covering the microphone
openings. If yours does, change
filters on a regular basis, usually
every three to four months. Contact
your audiologist if you need a supply
of filters.
• To keep moisture from building up
in the microphone use a “dry-aid” kit
on a regular basis, especially during
humid weather.
Anatomy Quiz
The human cochlea contains about
15,000 sensory cells, known as hair cells,
and about 40,000 nerve cells as well
as thousands of supportive cells. The
diameter of a human cochlear is about
the same size as a
a. Baseball
b. Golf ball
c. Walnut
d. Pea
The human body has over 200 bones.
The smallest bone in the human is the
middle ear bone called the stapes, also
known as the stirrup. This bone has a
length of about
a. Three inches
b. Two inches
c. One inch
d. One-tenth of one inch
ANATOMY QUIZ ANSWERS: Correct answer for both: d
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HARTFORD, CT
PERMIT NO. 3745
Connecticut Children’s Medical Center
282 Washington Street
Hartford, CT 06106
A few parting words about Bob Benoit from his fellow audiologists
“I will miss Bob rounding the audiology
team up for lunch to make sure we get a
break from our desks, his jokes and his
help clinically when I had a difficult case.
Enjoy retirement Bob!”
I’m the worst joke teller. I started writing
them down when I heard them so I could
share them with Bob. I’ll continue to write
them down and maybe I can text them to
him when he gets that smartphone he’s
been talking about. We’ll miss you Bob!
Enjoy all the things retirement brings you!
-Connie Miller Au.D.
“While Bob has been fantastic to work
with due to his easy going nature and
strong work ethic, mostly I will miss Bob’s
ever present sense of humor and the way
he hums to himself in the office!”
-Meg LaPointe M.S. CCC-A
“Bob would come into my office each
night before he left and tell me a joke. I
always laughed, but never had one to tell.
-Melissa Mathieu Au.D.
I will miss Bob’s “parting jokes”. He
always has a joke for us when he leaves for
the day, his humor will be missed.
-Courtney Ewell, Au.D.
Bob and I have been office-mates for the
better part of a decade now. I’m really
going to miss being able to talk to him
every week and I’ll miss his easy-going
nature and positive personality. Bob never
had a bad word to say about anyone. I’ll
also miss his wonderful, yet specific, brand
of humor. When I was getting married, he
gave my husband a pair of socks wrapped
up with a bow. We could not figure
out what this present meant until Bob
explained that he didn’t want Mike to get
“cold feet”!
-Lisa Rylant, Au.D.
Bob brings a sense of calm to any situation
with his easy going personality and unique
sense of humor. Bob is always there to talk
over a complex case and share his wealth
of knowledge. We will miss him greatly!
-Julie Foulis, Au.D.
DIABETES &
ENDOCRINOLOGY
UROLOGY
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