What? Huh? Did you say something? These are all too commonly heard phrases by parents (or sometimes there’s simply no response at all.) But according to a recently published JAMA study your child may not be ignoring you or being rude (as many parents think.) According to the August 18, 2010 issue of The Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) adolescent hearing loss has increased by 30% from 1988-1994 to 2005-2006. This means that an astounding one in every five adolescents living in the United States is already experiencing hearing loss. Hearing loss is probably more common than you think. With 36 million Americans suffering from hearing loss, it’s become the third leading health problem in the nation. It’s not just your Grandma and Grandpa’s problem that most of us thi…
Hearing Aid Articles
(Source: Healthy Hearing.com) With the introduction of digital technology, hearing aids have become smaller, more powerful, more automated and indispensible to millions of Americans with hearing loss. Today’s hearing aids, and assisted listening devices, have come a long way in a short time using digital circuitry to do everything from "read" the listening environment to provide a voice message that you have an upcoming appointment with your hearing professional. Yet, despite the huge leaps in hearing aid technology, there are still limits to what hearing aids can do – especially for those with severe hearing loss or those who have problems hearing "through" background noise, which today, is everywhere from the workplace to the ride home to the "quiet" of your…
(Source: Healthy Hearing.com) Business meetings, symposia, conferences, seminars – are any of these a part of your work activities? They are if you’re employed in the corporate sphere. And whether you’re plugged in to a tele-conference call or attending a seminar in Vegas, there are some things you can do to prepare yourself to stay in touch – even with a hearing loss. The effects of hearing loss may subtle or they may be dramatic. In either case hearing loss can affect your communication abilities in the workplace. Even persons that have chosen to treat their hearing loss by wearing hearing aids, may still find themselves having difficulty in large groups or business meetings. If you are one that finds yourself having difficulty, consider the following tactics to get you through your next…
(Source: HealthyHearing.com) Regular readers of Healthy Hearing know we’ve covered the problem of cerumen – commonly called ear wax – in previous editions. Why? Well, we all have it and ear wax can cause temporary hearing problems. Also, for persons with hearing aids, cerumen can be more common and wreak havoc on your hearing aids. So despite the inherent "ewww factor" associated with ear wax, let’s take a look down your ear canal and provide the latest on ear care. It’s NaturalCerumen builds up in our ear canalsCerumen isn’t a sign of poor hygiene or an oversight. The production of cerumen is natural and it serves a beneficial purpose. Cerumen is produced by glands that line the outer third of the ear canal and it isn’t wax at all. It’s water-soluble (it dissolves in water) and…
(Source: HealthyHearing.com) Many older people remember the time when no special accommodations were made for the disabled. As a result, millions of people in this country- through no fault of their own -were unfairly discriminated in the workplace, turned down for jobs solely on the basis of their impairments. A disabled person’s private life was no picnic either. Lack of adequate services, facilities and access often turned such normally mundane activities as dining out, shopping or traveling into nightmarish experiences. The disabled still face a myriad of daily challenges and hurdles, but things have improved dramatically in the past two decades, thanks to a landmark legislation that has made great strides forward in determining how persons with physical or mental disabilities – which…
(Source: HealthyHearing.com) "The more things change," a saying goes, "the more they remain the same." That may hold true for some things, but, thankfully, not for the hearing aid technology. See that tiny, high-performance device in your ear? Take comfort in knowing that it is, literally, eons away from the clunky, chunky, awkward, and at times comical – by today’s standards – hearing aids of yesteryear. Let’s take a look at how the primitive – and not always efficient – listening devices of centuries past evolved into today’s digital wonders. Blowing their own trumpetsMetal Trumpet hearing aid, Photo Courtesy: Hearing Aid Museum We don’t know for sure how the early humans dealt with hearing loss, but it appears that ear trumpets, made from natural materials such as se…
(Source: HealthyHearing.com) We all know that prolonged exposure to loud noise is harmful to our hearing, right? Many studies have come up with the same conclusion, and even World Health Organization is warning us that "Exposure to excessive noise is the major avoidable cause of permanent hearing impairment worldwide." So if you follow this logic – and you should, because it’s based on hard facts – then you will understand how dangerous chronic noise is to children and teens, and how crucial it is to protect their vulnerable ears before the damage is done. Unfortunately, for some this message is coming too late. U.S. government survey data shows that approximately 5.2 million children ages 6 to 19 already have permanent damage to their ears’ hair cells caused by exposure to loud…
(Source: HealthyHearing.com) With the economic gyrations we’ve seen of late, the days of the business lunch are quickly going the way of the rotary dial telephone. Even so, negotiations are undertaken, statements of work created and contracts signed on the linen table cloths of local high-end watering holes everyday. Now, what could be better than lunch on the company? Well, how about hearing your new client or provider over the clack and clatter of a noisy restaurant? That would be nice, especially before you sign on the dotted line. But what if you only got 48% of the conversation? Is that enough upon which to make an important business decision? Are you kidding? Every ‘t’ must be crossed and all ‘i’s require a dot. So, if you’re missing half of what is being said, discussed,...
We live in a digital age. Everything has gone digital from cell phones, TVs to kitchen appliances. And let’s not forgot hearing aids! Digital hearing aids have been on the market now for many years and have continued to improve with the advancements that are capable thanks to years of research and the endless opportunities digital technology offers. So, what exactly does it mean if hearing aids are digital? This is a common question among consumers and is a question that comes up on all electronic devices, not just hearing aids. Learn more about the advantages and benefits of digital hearing aids on the market today.
(Source: HealthyHearing.com) Mom was right. Vitamins are good for you. They help stave off disease by strengthening the body’s immune system so, indeed, you’re less likely to come down with the sniffles if you eat well and perhaps take a vitamin supplement as insurance against everything from colds and flu to hearing loss. Hearing loss? That’s the news out of the University of Michigan’s Kresge Hearing Research Institute where studies in the lab have shown that certain vitamins can actually protect the complex and delicate inner ear mechanism from damage caused by exposure to loud noise. The Military Seeks Solutions to Noise-Induced Hearing LossHearing loss affects 33% of our Middle-East VetsDr. Joseph Miller, co-lead researcher of the study undertaken at the University of Michigan stated,...
In July 2009 Consumer Reports, a known source for unbiased product reviews and evaluations, published an article covering hearing health which included: hearing aids, hearing protection and more. Consumer Reports did not cover different brands and models of hearing aids, but instead reported on the overall process a person with hearing loss goes through when being fit with hearing aids. The report also covered hearing protection options. Consumer Reports Hearing Aids After following a dozen hearing aid patients shopping for hearing aids and surveying 1100 people who had purchased hearing aids within the last three years and lab tested 44 hearing aids, Consumer Reports found some very useful information for the consumer. To read more about the Consumer Reports article and their fi…
(Source: HealthyHearing.com) So you finally went to the hearing care professional and discovered what you’d expected all along. The family’s been telling you for months – YOU NEED HEARING AIDS. The decision to purchase hearing aids is not one to take lightly. These are sophisticated digital instruments and the process should be treated no different than if you were buying a new HDTV. When purchasing a new HDTV there are many factors to consider: size, location, glare, quality and most importantly cost. For hearing aids, it is a similar scenario – many factors to consider before choosing the model that will fit your needs, lifestyle and pocket book. Bringing back the sounds of life directly improves quality of life (studies have demonstrated this), so you want to ensure you are purchasin…
Sudden hearing loss is a rare condition that affects between five-20 people per 100,000 annually according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is often defined by a sudden loss of hearing within a 72 hour period, resulting in greater than a 30 dB drop in hearing for at least three consecutive test frequencies in at least one ear. Currently the exact cause of sudden hearing loss is unknown for most people; however, there are many potential causes of sudden hearing loss. When sudden hearing loss occurs, persons should seek medical attention immediately as studies have shown the sooner treatment is administered the more likely hearing will recover. Learn more about the causes, symptoms and treatment options for sud…
(Source: HealthyHearing.com) My dad is 83. He’s legally blind and, after 50 years of shooting skeet, he’s finally ready to admit that his hearing isn’t what it used to be. Same with my mom. She’s had more knee and hip replacements than the "Bionic Woman," but tell her she should get a hearing aid and you’d think I was telling her to make funeral arrangements. I’m lucky to have both my parents, but there comes a time when the "kids" have to take over. Remember the old proverb, "The child becomes the father of man?" Yeah, well this is one case when that’s oh so true. Seniors DrivingNobody wants to throw in the towel. We all want to be able to do the things we’ve always done. That makes it extremely difficult to admit that, in some cases, we just can’t do some o…
So you have been told you have hearing loss and are beginning to research all the different types of hearing aids available. Overwhelmed yet? Researching hearing aids is often very overwhelming for consumers due to the fact there are so many different types of hearing aids. So what are the different types of hearing aids? According to Healthy Hearing "There are many different types of hearing aids available today and the various types of hearing aids are dependent upon the type of style and technology chosen." Learn more about the different types of hearing aids available today for persons with hearing loss.
(Source: HealthyHearing.com) We all know that the neck bone is connected to the backbone and the knee bone is connected to the leg bone. All the other bones in our bodies are interconnected with each other as well to form flawless pathways of bones large and small known as a skeleton. Without it, we would collapse into a heap of, yes, scattered bones. The skeleton example goes to show that nothing in the human (or animal) body is haphazard; instead, we are a collection of finely tuned systems programmed to work harmoniously together. What does this cohesiveness of body systems have to do with your ears or sense of balance? A lot! Vestibular system – from head to toe The vestibular system allows humans to maintain balance and walk upright Did you know that the first sensory system to…
(Source: HealthyHearing.com) Guy walks into a bar. The bartender says, "Hey, you know you got two Chinese torrent frogs in your ears?" The patron looks at the bartender and says, "Oh, these aren’t frogs. They’re my hearing aids." (Sound effects: crickets, lone wolf in the distance) You are saying to yourself "Huh? What’s a Chinese Torrent frog?" I know, not too funny; however, it would be a knee-slapper with the group of researchers at University of Illinois who recently discovered that the male Chinese Torrent frog is able to block out background noise in their environment in order to localize (pinpoint) the direction of an ultrasonic love call from a female torrent frog with uncanny accuracy. (Ribbit. Ribbit.) And now you’re asking, what does that have to do…
(Source: HealthyHearing.com) It sounds so weird. Like some sort of urban legend. But the fact is well-meaning smoochers have actually done damage to the hearing of the kiss recipient when the kiss is placed just outside the ear canal, aka "the ear kiss." Kissing comes naturally. You give your spouse a peck on the cheek, a raspberry belly to the youngest son, a meaningful hug to son number two – all bonding gestures meant to impart feelings of good will. The problem isn’t in the show of affection – that’s always a good thing, but instead when that show of affection takes place too close to the ear of the recipient of all that koochie-koo. It’s Not the Sound, It’s the SuctionGail Schwartzman had her hearing damaged when her four-year old daughter planted a harmless kiss on mom’s ea…
(Source: HealthyHearing.com) You see them everywhere – hardhats, safety-orange vests, steel-toed boots, protective eyewear – these are the men and women who build our homes and offices, build and repair our roads, and raise skyscrapers to awe-inspiring heights. They’re construction workers and according to an article published on Audiology Online , written by workplace noise expert Richard Neitzel, M.S., CIH, Research Scientist at the University of Washington, these hard-working builders are going deaf, experiencing hearing loss due to long-term exposure to noise on construction sites. The author points to numerous causes of the problem: a lack of hearing protection required by law the transient nature of construction workers who don’t "settle down" long enough to connect with…
(Source: HealthyHearing.com) When America’s 44th President is sworn in on January 20, 2009, will the cure – or at least some relief – for our ailing economy be on the horizonr You may be wondering what the economy has to do with hearing aids, rightr Well, a lot. When people have less disposable income, they spend money on necessities such as food, mortgage, utilities, and gas. Hearing aids, which cost, on average, between $1,000 and 4,000 do not figure on most people’s "must-have" lists. Poor economy has forced healthcare consumers to think twice on costs In fact, two out of three adults with hearing loss cite financial constraints as a reason they do not wear hearing aids, even though they need them. Although hearing loss is one of the most prevalent chronic health disorders in…
