Tinnitus is noises in the head, not related to any psychiatric condition. The noise can be heard anywhere in the head or in one or both ears. Imagine a constant ringing, buzzing or whistling in your ears, 24 hours a day. It is called tinnitus. You never get a break. It is always there. Nobody […]
A Look Behind the Curtain: The Hearing Consultation
It is estimated by the Better Hearing Institute that over 35 million Americans willingly chose to deal with the negative effects from untreated hearing loss in their daily lives. For some, the degree of hearing loss may be more impacting than others, but every person who has difficulty hearing could benefit from a simple hearing […]
How do I know I have hearing loss?
How can I recognize hearing problems? Hearing problems rarely cause discomfort or pain, and because the hearing loss onset is often gradual, it’s common to adapt to hearing loss without realizing it. If you think you might be experiencing hearing loss, ask yourself the following questions: If you answered yes to several of these questions, […]
Is Better Hearing Part of Your Retirement Plan?
You know the drill. You sit down with your financial advisor and discuss your income, savings, spending and everything in between. You have questions for your advisor and they have questions for you, but the most important one on your mind is “will I have enough money set aside to have a fulfilling retirement?” When […]
How Fireworks Affect Your Hearing
Independence Day is near once again, which can only mean one thing: fireworks season is about to kick into high gear. But for as festive and beautiful as fireworks can be, they also pose some significant risks. This is especially true when it comes to hearing-related issues, which is something that older adults are particularly […]
Better Hearing or Better Listening?
Hearing is a critically important sense for typical development of speech and language which carries us through the formative years of learning and socializing so unique to humankind. Loss of hearing can come from illness, heredity, noise exposure, among a variety of other causes. As we mature and approach retirement age, Age Related Hearing Loss […]
Loneliness, Social Isolation and a Pandemic, Oh My!
The worldwide impact of implementation of unprecedented social distancing and limitations on social activities because of the COVID-19 pandemic may have helped control the spread of the disease but impacted older adults disproportionally. In a report from May of last year Hwang and colleagues noted: “…there is a high cost associated with the essential quarantine […]
COVID Linked to Hearing Loss, Tinnitus
Throughout 2020 COVID-19 had us hiding out at home, washing our hands, wiping down surfaces and masking up. Quite a bit wasn’t known for some time. We knew about flu-like symptoms and disturbances in smell and taste, but not enough about the full spectrum of effects. A year later now, evidence is emerging about symptoms of […]
Types of Hearing Loss – What are the Differences?
There are two traditional types of hearing loss: conductive and sensorineural. The classification of each relates to the specific physiological cause. Some cases of hearing loss can involve a combination of the two – what hearing healthcare providers call mixed hearing loss. Recently, a third category called “Hidden Hearing Loss” has been described in peer reviewed […]
Are Men or Women More Impacted by Hearing Loss?
Most people know that older adults are more likely to develop hearing loss as a result of Age-Related Hearing Loss (ARHL), but does a person’s gender also have an impact on their chances of having hearing problems? Men are more likely than women to develop hearing loss Decades of research data have shown that, regardless […]
Invisible Hearing Aids
If you’re dissatisfied with the size of your current hearing aid, or if concerns about large hearing aids have discouraged you from getting one at all, you may want to ask your hearing specialist about getting an invisible hearing aid. Are Invisible hearing aids truly invisible? The category Invisible In Canal (IIC) hearing aids includes a […]
Communicating with People Who Have Difficulty Hearing
People with hearing loss want to hear and be heard just like anyone else. There are some simple steps you can take when speaking with them to help facilitate effective communication and to help them feel included. Start by making sure they are “on line” When calling someone on the phone, is it customary to […]
How to Manage Your Tinnitus
Knowing where to turn for help can be difficult, especially when dealing with a condition like tinnitus that lacks a definitive cure and differs dramatically between those who experience the symptom. The American Tinnitus Association (ATA) is an excellent resource offering unbiased advice for individuals who are experiencing bothersome tinnitus. The ATA offers a Patient […]
Dementia and Hearing Loss
In the past decade several scientific studies have shown an association of hearing loss with onset of dementia. With one in eight people over the age of 12 suffering from some level of hearing decline, the importance of this line of study is clear. How are these two seemingly separate conditions linked, though, and how does treatment […]
Hearing Aids and Brain Waves
Although it may sound like science-fiction, researchers have had success using brainwaves and artificial intelligence to essentially determine what voice a listener is focused on and amplify that sound. This is a huge development because, while undamaged human ears perform this activity naturally, people dealing with hearing loss have long had difficulty singling out specific […]
Tips for Selecting the Best Hearing Aid for You
Today’s hearing aids are more powerful than ever, and they’re also more customizable. Relying on microprocessor and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, today’s hearing aids are smaller, lighter and more discreet than ever before, plus they offer a wealth of adjustable and optional features that can ensure your hearing experience is tuned to your specific needs […]