It’s common to struggle to hear what people say every now and then, but if it seems like it’s happening all the time, then it’s time to have your hearing tested. While hearing loss is permanent, the most common treatment is hearing aids. These amazing devices amplify sounds you struggle to hear, based on your individual hearing exam. How do …
A Link Between Hearing Loss and Second-Hand Smoke
One persistent myth about hearing loss is that it is mostly caused by noise. While noise-induced hearing loss is a common phenomenon and does pose a threat to many people, it is only one part of the picture. It is quite possible (and common) to experience problematic hearing loss as the result of an aggregate of causes. Noise exposure is …
Connecting People | May is Better Hearing and Speech Month!
It’s May again, and that means it’s Better Hearing and Speech Month! Each year, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) celebrates Better Hearing and Speech Month (BHSM) to spread awareness of hearing loss and other speech-language disorders. Whether you’re concerned that you or someone you love may have hearing loss, or you just have questions about hearing loss or hearing protection, …
A Link Between Hearing Loss and Cardiovascular Disease
Roughly one out of four deaths in the U.S.—about 659,000 per year—are the result of cardiovascular disease. It is safe to say that heart health is nearly tantamount to overall health, and the means of maintaining heart health are fairly well-understood at this point. Regular exercise (3 sessions per week), a healthy diet high in vegetables and lean meat, and …
Household Items That Could Damage Your Hearing
Until a cure for sensorineural hearing loss is discovered, protecting our hearing ability is the only way to ensure we keep as much of our hearing as possible throughout the course of our lives. While age-related hearing loss will affect the majority of us by the time we reach our 70s, we can minimize its impact by avoiding loud sound …
Addressing Early Hearing Loss Could Help Prevent Dementia
The link between hearing loss and dementia has been in the news a lot lately. That’s because it’s big news, and it’s starting to change the game in terms of hearing protection and amplification. The World Health Organization (WHO) put hearing loss at the top of a list of twelve modifiable risk factors at play in the development of Alzheimer’s …
Tips for Better Hearing in Noise
Hearing loss is a common problem, affecting about 14% of Americans, especially those over age 60. Many people first realize they have a hearing issue when background noise is present, as background sound makes it harder for even those with normal hearing to understand speech. For those with hearing loss, it can be downright impossible. Those with even mild hearing …
How Hearing Loss May Affect Your Job
Hearing loss is an all-too-common problem for Americans, affecting about 14% of the total population. As we age, hearing loss becomes more and more likely, though many people working in high-risk professions are likely to experience problematic hearing loss well before retirement age. For those who begin to experience hearing loss while still in the workforce, it can pose additional …
Hearing Aids MItigate Cognitive Decline in Older People
Cognitive decline is one of the main concerns for those with hearing loss. Studies in the last decade have found that hearing loss is a major predictor of whether a person will experience Alzheimer’s or dementia, and the World Health Organization (WHO) went so far as to name hearing loss the #1 (out of 12) modifiable risk factor in the …
Chronic Tinnitus, Anxiety & Depression
Have you ever attended a rock concert, sports event, or maybe a fireworks display, and when you left your ears were ringing? Usually, the ringing goes away in a day or two, but some people develop chronic tinnitus, where the sound lingers for years, or even for the rest of their lives. Tinnitus is a common health concern for …