Staff Writer

The Akoio Soundscape Journal: Getting started

First, I downloaded the journal (free!) and printed a couple of copies. Why multiple copies? Well, I know how messy I can be, and I wanted to be able to transfer all my “notes to self” at the end of the week over to a clean copy that I could reference easily. So, one to keep, one to throw away.

Then, I put it on my kitchen counter — right by my Keurig, so that I’d remember to start using it first thing the next morning. (Sound of coffee dripping = 😊) Just having the journal in front of me helped me be more focused on noticing my everyday sounds. Here is one thing that struck me right away: If it is something pleasant that I enjoy hearing, I think of it as a “sound.” If it’s something annoying or distracting, I call it “noise.” 

Tracking sound (and noise) throughout the day

I kept the soundscape journal with me as I went through my day. Working from home can be a real “soundscape adventure.” I noted pleasant things like windchimes, the trickle of the fountain in my pond, and the breeze in the trees as I sat outside on my deck. Moving indoors to work as the afternoon heat set in, I noted entirely different things. The lack of traffic noise, the hum of the refrigerator, the beep of the washing machine alerting me that I need to transfer wet clothes into the dryer. Beeping is a distraction when I am trying to read.

A soundscape journal surprise

Having the journal handy reminded me to note sounds throughout the day. After a couple of days, I noticed one thing that came up repeatedly: barking. My dogs (I love them, really I do!) often whine for my attention and bark (intensely!) when a package arrives on the front porch.

They bark if someone rings the doorbell. They bark when another dog walks by on the sidewalk. Sometimes they bark for what seems like no reason at all. (Of course, their hearing is far better than mine, so they are alert to things I am not.) They bark loudly, and they bark a lot.

Since pets are known to bring comfort and ease tension, it was a bit of a surprise to me how much my dogs actually stress me with their barking. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, nearly 40% of American households have a dog, or dogs. So, I know I am not alone in this dilemma. We love them. They bring a lot of companionship and love to our lives. We even enjoy the “sound” of their playful barking as we interact with them. But the barking can sometimes become a distracting or annoying “noise” for many pet owners, including me. 

More soundscape journal discoveries

Because I noted this in my soundscape journal multiple times a day, I saw that I needed to take some action to improve my daily soundscape. I watched training videos on YouTube by Cesar Millan, read articles on dog training techniques, and I even found local dog trainers that might be able to help where I wasn’t making much headway. But the journal gave me another idea. I discovered that adding the sounds of relaxing music helped. Even if it’s just on very low, it can offset the whining, not to mention traffic and other outside noises.

Without seeing it in black and white, I don’t think I would have realized how much of an issue this was in our home. And that’s the beauty of the soundscape journal. It helps you laser focus on the sounds around you, which gives you greater awareness on what you can change to create a healthier sound environment. 

Discover your soundscapes

I’m very grateful for the Akoio Soundscape Journal. Since doing this exercise, I have made conscious efforts to work on training my dogs, I turn on relaxing music more often, and I have changed settings on my washing machine! (Did you know you can silence those? But please don’t blame me if you forget to transfer those soggy clothes!) It all adds up to a more peaceful day, and a soundscape that makes me — and my dogs — feel better.

Everyone on the team at Akoio is passionate about managing sound for better health and wellness. We know that soundscape journaling will help you, too and we can’t wait to hear about your experiences. Download the Akoio Soundscape Journal now — and happy listening! 

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At Akoio, we recently published new Soundscape Guides discussing ways that our personal soundscapes can impact our productivity, wellbeing, and even our mental health. 

As a new member of the writing staff, the team suggested that I share my experiences with managing my own soundscapes — which is not always as easy as it might seem. Understanding the concept is straightforward. Proactively managing our soundscapes is a far more difficult task. In fact, sometimes, the very same sounds can be both comforting and distressing in different situations.

A Trip Down Music Lane

For example, my husband and I recently went on a trip to Austin, TX, the perfect destination for music lovers like us. We hadn’t been there in twenty five years, so we were both looking forward to it. I found a stylishly decorated condo in the heart of downtown. It was near all the hotspots. 

Upon arrival, everything seemed perfect. The condo had great views of the city, was clean and beautiful. We unpacked our bags and went out to grab a pizza and listen to some live music. Wonderful! But after a long day of traveling, we opted to turn in early.

Soundscape Mismanagement

Awoken suddenly at 3 am, I rolled over and yelled at my husband, “WHY IS THAT MUSIC UP SO LOUD?” I recognized the music — the Goo Goo Dolls, one of my very favorite bands. But in my sleep stupor, I thought he was playing the music, and I was irritated at him. As it turns out, it was coming from a neighboring unit. I am not exaggerating when I say that I have never heard music that loud. Ever. And I didn’t even have my hearing aid in! 

The walls were shaking, the floor was shaking … and we were now wide awake. We tried calling the front desk. (They said they would call the unit owner, but made no real promises.) We tried knocking on the door. They didn’t open up. I doubt they heard the knocking over the music. We went back to our unit and made coffee, sensing it was morning for us whether we liked it or not. The music went on without stopping until 8 am. If I had known about sound level meter apps at the time, it would have been interesting entertainment as we watched the sunrise.

The point of my story is this: Goo Goo Dolls cranked up in my convertible on a sunny day at 3 pm, AWESOME! Goo Goo Dolls blasting me out of bed at 3am, NOT AWESOME. As a matter of fact, I couldn’t even listen to those songs for quite some time after.

The Akoio Soundscape Journal

I loved the new Akoio Soundscape Guide, Why your personal soundscape matters. At the end of the guide, there is a Soundscape Journal that can be used for one week (more on that in another post!). I realized that many of the sounds that I enjoy in one situation, I find annoying or distracting in another. If you’ve ever turned your radio down in the car when you’re trying to find an exit, then you understand. Sounds in our environment can make us feel joy, annoy us, or even cause us pain. Sometimes it’s out of our control, but most of the time, it isn’t. 

Using the soundscape journal helped me become more proactive about my own soundscapes. Now, when I travel, I’ll look for places to stay with better “quiet” ratings — and I’ll be ready with a good set of earplugs and sleep buds, just in case.

Have you tried the soundscape journal yet? If not, it’s as easy as downloading your free copy so you can start taking greater control over what you hear (and what you don’t!). 

Happy listening!

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Akoio is honored to be a certified Disability-Owned Business Enterprise (DOBE). The certifying body, DisabilityIN.org, returned the honor by making Bill Schiffmiller, CEO of Akoio, a semifinalist in its 2022 DOBE Perfect Pitch Challenge.

In this video, Bill describes how Akoio has “reimagined the everyday necessity of hearing batteries” for millions with products and services designed with hearing aid users in mind. Of course, the Akoio mission also prioritizes soundscape management. Managing soundscapes improves sound wellness and hearing health for everyone — whether they use hearing aids or not.

DOBE opens its Perfect Pitch Challenge to all certified DOBEs. Each submits a short video describing their company and their mission. The committee narrows all of the submissions down to just six semifinalists. DisabilityIN shares the videos with its community on LinkedIn. The video with the most follower votes automatically advances to the final round. Then, the committee selects two other DOBEs to be top-three finalists. While Akoio did not progress to the final round in 2022, Bill is still honored to be recognized. The event serves DisabilityIN.org’s broader mission of encouraging supplier diversity through increased awareness and access.

To learn more about this year’s competition, visit the Pitch Perfect Challenge page at DisabilityIN.org.

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The dictionary defines progress as development, advancement, or improvement, as toward a goal. Progress was made last year when the Food and Drug modafinil Administration (FDA) proposed (finally) a rule to establish a new category of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. This ruling will catapult life-changing, hearing technology into action allowing sound pioneers like Bose and Lucid Audio to create more affordable, specially designed solutions for those experiencing hearing loss. Given the timeliness of the ruling, Akoio conducted a survey that examined the public’s general knowledge of OTC hearing aids and its attitude towards them. The results allowed us to publish an informative white paper exploring consumer responses to the new FDA rule regarding OTC hearing aids.

Studies from the National Institutes of Health show that “80% of those who would benefit from a hearing aid, do not use them” (see “Quick Statistics About Hearing” and “Why do people fitted with hearing aids not wear them?”). It’s fair to ask the question, why not offer a more affordable and accessible option for people who know they have some hearing loss, but haven’t gone to an audiologist or don’t wear their hearing aids? These are the barriers that the new klonopin FDA ruling addresses.

Think of it like your OTC reading glasses

OTC hearing aids would work something like OTC reading glasses. If someone’s having trouble reading print on their phone or on paper, their first stop is often the nearest drugstore to try on “readers” aka “cheaters.” This means they can get immediate help to improve their vision, without a visit to the eye doctor. But for those with early-stage hearing loss, there is currently no OTC option and a visit to the audiologist seems like overkill. So, they choose to wait. But waiting has consequences. Hearing loss may get worse faster than it might otherwise. Or a person may needlessly experience an increase in isolation, anxiety, or even dementia, that might have been prevented or mitigated by using hearing aids.

The OTC hearing aid survey

To better understand what the general public thinks about OTC hearing aids, we surveyed 500 people living in the United States and asked questions surrounding the topic. The answers helped illustrate the importance of offering lower cost hearing aids without the need for a doctor’s visit. This route is not for everyone, as the survey concluded, but it is a desirable option for about half of the population with mild to moderate hearing loss.  

In the dark with hearing loss

Among survey participants, about 1 in 4 said they experience some hearing loss. Of those, 74% reported having mild to moderate hearing loss while 26% identified as having severe hearing loss. Furthermore, despite growing awareness of hearing health, both groups reported low awareness of OTC hearing aids.

To educate participants, Akoio provided the following:

Tell me more about OTC hearing aids

The survey then asked if participants would consider purchasing an OTC hearing aid. More than 70% of those with hearing loss responded positively. Additionally, about 40% of those without hearing loss said they, too, would consider purchasing an OTC hearing aid to help them address any future hearing loss. These numbers are extremely powerful and encouraging for those of us passionate about hearing wellness. The market seems ready for an OTC hearing aid option, and it’s a game changer for those with mild to moderate hearing loss.

Do I need to ask my doctor

Interestingly, but not surprisingly, there is apprehension that surrounds purchasing an OTC hearing aid without direction from a doctor or audiologist. Among those not currently experiencing hearing loss, 42% said they would only purchase an OTC hearing aid if it was recommended by their doctor. Thirty-seven percent of those with hearing loss shared that attitude. On the flip side, these numbers indicate that nearly half of people, regardless of hearing ability, don’t require direction from a hearing loss specialist.

Willingness to try or buy an OTC hearing aid without consulting a doctor may also depend in part on how “tech savvy” the consumer considers themselves to be. About 40% of participants with hearing loss said they already use earbuds (separate devices from hearing aids) to manage background noise or amplify sound, and nearly half of that group said they would likely forgo a doctor recommendation before purchasing an OTC hearing aid. 

The survey data exposed what we hypothesized. Existing hearing aid users, understandably, appear to be comfortable with the status quo. They’ve already deemed their hearing loss “severe enough” to pay the high costs, both emotionally and financially, of getting a hearing aid via consultation with a “licensed professional” (ENT physician, audiologist, hearing aid technician). But many others won’t wear a hearing aid until their hearing becomes “bad enough” to justify going to a doctor. These consumers can be reluctant to try traditional hearing aids because of expense, social stigmas, or simply because they do not like the functionality or comfort of a prescription device. 

OTC hearing aids can help conquer life

The promise of over-the-counter hearing aids is less about converting existing hearing aid users and more about providing solutions for a large, underserved population with mild to moderate hearing loss (or with situational hearing loss). In our blog, “Thinking about hearing loss?”, we summarized an Akoio study that found the majority of respondents delayed using hearing aids because they weren’t mentally ready and didn’t feel their hearing loss was at a stage that warranted assistance. Unfortunately, delaying diagnosis doesn’t allow a person to fully mitigate the known harmful effects of hearing loss such as loneliness, isolation, decreased cognitive function, or even dementia. 

As we take more control of our health, including our hearing health, OTC hearing aids will become game changers for hearing wellness and healthcare. Let’s normalize hearing loss and allow people as much access as possible so that they can conquer life! 

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In 2020, Akoio conducted a study to examine the general public’s attitude towards hearing loss, hearing health concerns, and hearing devices and products. The participants were grouped into several ambien categories: 

• Hearing aid users
• People reporting hearing loss (not using hearing aids)
• Helpers of someone that has hearing loss
• Those who don’t admit to having hearing loss 

After analyzing the data, we created an infographic that illustrates the prevalence of hearing concerns and the reasoning for not seeking help. Bottom line, with the goal of improving overall public health and wellbeing, it is important to reduce the stigma surrounding hearing loss and using clomid hearing devices.

Why the stigma?

“My hearing loss isn’t bad enough…yet!” The study showed 54.5% of respondents were delaying investigating hearing aids because they weren’t mentally ready and didn’t feel their hearing loss was at a stage that warranted assistance. Oftentimes people feel a stigma around hearing loss. Simply put, it makes them feel old! We tend to put great emphasis on youthful appearances and peak performance. In an article published by Healthy Hearing, the stigmas surrounding hearing loss are examined. The three main factors contributing to delays in diagnosis and treatment are self-perception, ageism and vanity. An unintended result of delaying diagnosis can be its impact on both mental and physical health. Specifically, leaving hearing loss untreated may cause auditory deprivation (damage to your brain’s ability to process sounds), and is linked to modafinil online dementia and an increased fall risk. 

One in 5 experience a loss in hearing

Fact: One in five people will experience some hearing loss in their lifetime. 

Aging, whether we like it or not…happens! Our body gets older as each day goes by, and aging affects our sense of smell, taste, and yes, hearing. At least with hearing, we can do something about it. Assistive listening devices help amplify sounds allowing individuals to continue living their best life and participating fully in conversations when hearing loss occurs. 

A cause for concern

Fortunately, over half of people are receptive to making hearing wellness a priority. Perhaps it’s because someone close to them experiences hearing loss or they find themselves adjusting the volume on their electronics to hear better. Or, maybe they’ve noticed an increasing reliance on reading lips and facial expressions.

People don’t like going to the doctor

Concern is there; action is not. The survey revealed that 77% of people who experience hearing loss aren’t diagnosed. An upsetting statistic indeed, but not surprising. Statista.com data informs us that only 30% of people visit their doctor annually.

Test your hearing with an app

If you identify with the many Americans that identify as having some degree of hearing loss, but don’t want to visit a doctor for a variety of reasons, there are free apps that can establish a baseline for your hearing ability. Our staff tried the MiMi Test, which is available for both Android and Apple devices. This app is free, easy to use, and gives instant results. All you’ll need is a set of headphones and a quiet space. It will “test” each of your ears by playing sounds in different frequencies. The results are immediate and indicate how well you can hear high and low frequency sounds. The app also compares your hearing ability to others your same age. If the test shows hearing loss, we recommend visiting a nearby audiologist. Audiologists are trained to diagnose, manage and treat hearing or balance problems in infants, adolescents, and adults.

Talk about hearing loss

Let’s talk about it! Akoio developed a series of conversation guides designed to get the conversation going. In 2021, we revised the guides to include information about COVID-19. Whether it’s your parent, teen, friend, or spouse, our guides provide helpful advice to steer challenging conversations in a positive direction. Remember, better communication is your guide to hearing wellness. 

Don’t wait…know the facts

It’s reassuring to know that you are not alone! Many people experience hearing loss themselves, or have a loved one that is affected. Acknowledging it is the first step. Secondly, it’s important to seek diagnosis and treatment. If the cost for hearing healthcare is a concern, there are many non-profit hearing and speech clinics that can help. A simple internet search for “hearing and speech clinics near me” will help you find clinics to contact. Also, the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center of Gallaudet University has a published list of resources and directories that can help you address your hearing loss. At Akoio, we share a passion for hearing health and wellness. Foremost, we want to empower you with the knowledge and resources to help you conquer life!

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