Encouraging Findings in Hearing Loss Research Audiologists spend much of their time helping people cope with hearing loss, but the ultimate goal is to prevent people from suffering from hearing loss to begin with. As the saying goes, prevention is the best medicine. A recent article published in JAMA Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery offered some […]
A growing amount of research is providing evidence that hearing loss and cardiovascular disease are linked. How is it that our ears can be affected by our hearts? Cardiovascular disease causes decreased blood flow. Decreased blood flow in the body also affects the inner ear, which is particularly sensitive to blood flow. This can contribute […]
Hearing loss does not discriminate by age, gender, or personality, and nobody chooses to have difficulty hearing. But when people find themselves struggling to hear, they often react by feeling embarrassed, angry, or even ashamed. It is not uncommon to deny that there is even a problem, though it may be apparent to themselves and […]
What is Ototoxicity? The term ototoxicity is generally used to describe any medication that is harmful to balance and hearing. Some of the known side effects include tinnitus, hearing loss, dizziness, and vertigo. There are more than 200 known drugs that have ototoxic effects; they comprise many prescription drugs that are used to treat specific […]
One of the most common causes of hearing aid repair issues is moisture damage. Tiny amounts of sweat, humidity, condensation, and water frequently get into hearing aids. Hearing aids are often worn while working or engaging in physical activity. They are often worn outdoors in extreme temperatures and then brought back inside to more comfortable […]
It’s summer and therefore time for cookouts, weddings, and catching up with family and friends. These events should be positive situations and something to look forward to; but for people with hearing loss, these environments may bring feelings of anxiety, loneliness, and sadness. Untreated hearing loss is linked to social isolation. Asking people to repeat […]
What about over-the-counter hearing aids? In August of 2017, Congress signed the Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act into law. It provides for the creation of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids to be available for retail purchase by the year 2020. An OTC hearing aid will still be classified as durable medical equipment, but it is only appropriate […]
If you are walking around with an old-school ear trumpet in hand than clearly, it’s time for an upgrade. Making that call when you wear conventional hearing aids is trickier, though, so how does one know? You bought your hearing aids ten years ago, and they still get the job done, right? While it may […]
It’s an unfortunate fact of life that hearing loss is part of the aging process. Approximately 38 million people in the United States suffer from some form of hearing loss, though since hearing loss is expected as we age, many decide to leave it unchecked. Ignoring hearing loss, however, can have serious negative side effects […]
Otitis media is the medical name for what you probably call an ear infection. Ear infections like this are often seen in babies and young children but they can affect adults, as well, especially during or after a cold or sinus infection. Even a bad tooth can lead to an ear infection. Hearing loss is […]
