A Brief History of Hearing Loss

Hearing Loss Through History

Leanne E. Polhill, LHAS, BC-HIS, BA Uncategorized

Around the world today, roughly 15% of the adult population has some degree of hearing loss. Of those with hearing loss, around one third (5.3% of the world’s population, or more than 466 million people) have disabling hearing loss, where their hearing level is limited by 40 dB or more. Hearing loss affects quality of life and overall health and …

A Link Between Hearing Loss & Diabetes

A Link Between Hearing Loss & Diabetes

Leanne E. Polhill, LHAS, BC-HIS, BA Uncategorized

Research shows that people with diabetes can be twice as likely to develop hearing loss compared to people without diabetes. This critical finding highlights that diabetes is a significant risk factor for declining hearing health.  Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent chronic health conditions that people experience. 1 in 8 people in the U.S. have some degree of …

When Should I Update My Hearing Aids?

When Should I Update My Hearing Aids?

Leanne E. Polhill, LHAS, BC-HIS, BA Uncategorized

Hearing aids are truly amazing instruments. They capture, process, and redistribute sound all day long while remaining small enough to sit in or around our ears. My grandfather used to have an optimistic saying whenever his hearing aids would malfunction: “It’s pretty amazing they even work at all!” The hearing aids of today, however, are far more advanced than the …

Why Pretending to Hear Doesn’t Help

Why Pretending to Hear Doesn’t Help

Leanne E. Polhill, LHAS, BC-HIS, BA Uncategorized

We have all pretended to hear during a conversation. We are familiar with what this looks and feels like: nodding along and inserting verbal cues indicating that you are listening even though you haven’t actually heard everything. We engage with others daily and conversation is integral to our professional and personal lives so depending on your ability to hear effectively, …

Ways to Accommodate Your Loved Ones with Hearing Loss

Ways to Accommodate Your Loved Ones with Hearing Loss

Leanne E. Polhill, LHAS, BC-HIS, BA Uncategorized

Hearing loss affects around 466 million people worldwide—approximately 48 million in the United States alone. It is likely that you have a friend or family member that is living with some degree of hearing loss.  While hearing aids, assistive devices, and cochlear implants are more advanced than ever at working to correct disabling hearing loss, the element of human connection is …

Musicians & Hearing Loss

Musicians & Hearing Loss

Leanne E. Polhill, LHAS, BC-HIS, BA Uncategorized

It does not come as much of a shock to hear that musicians experience a higher rate of hearing loss than the rest of the population, but the sheer numbers can still raise an eyebrow. According to the Hearing Health Foundation, working musicians are almost four times as likely as the general population to experience noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). And …

Going Digital with Your Hearing Aids

Going Digital with Your Hearing Aids

Leanne E. Polhill, LHAS, BC-HIS, BA Uncategorized

Similar to many electronics, hearing aids have experienced significant innovation and are now more advanced than ever. One of the most common misconceptions about hearing aids is that they are big, bulky, and too visible. But advanced technology has produced hearing aids that are smaller and more efficient than they’ve ever been. The wide range of options available today have …

Difficulties with Communication Could Signal Hearing Loss

Difficulties with Communication Could Signal Hearing Loss

Leanne E. Polhill, LHAS, BC-HIS, BA Uncategorized

Effective communication is critical for healthy relationships, participating in social activities, and managing responsibilities. We engage with others consistently throughout the day, in both our personal and professional lives. Communication is important to how we interpret and make sense of and navigate the world we are in. A major way communication can be impacted is by hearing loss. Hearing loss …

Communication at Work – May is Better Hearing and Speech Month!

Communication at Work – May is Better Hearing and Speech Month!

Leanne E. Polhill, LHAS, BC-HIS, BA Uncategorized

Hearing loss is one of the most common chronic health conditions people experience. Nearly 1 in 8 people have some degree of hearing loss in one or both ears. Impaired hearing reduces a person’s ability to hear which can significantly strain communication. This impacts all aspects of life including relationships and overall health. Navigating the workplace with hearing loss can …

Dealing with Noise Pollution in Your Neighborhood

Dealing with Noise Pollution in Your Neighborhood

Leanne E. Polhill, LHAS, BC-HIS, BA Uncategorized

We know intuitively that our modern society is louder than our bodies evolved to handle. It’s not uncommon to experience painful sounds from day to day, and many of our jobs or routines put us in regular contact with dangerous sound levels. While sound has to be above about 120 dBA (decibels A-weighted) to cause pain in the ear, even …