If you have a loved one who’s hard of hearing, you know how difficult it can be to communicate. Conversations can be a real challenge, and despite how many times you repeat yourself, it seems like there’s always some miscommunication. We know that not being able to understand each other is frustrating for everyone. To get the most out of your conversations and to communicate easily, here are a few tips for how to talk …
Sounds That Could Harm Your Hearing
Think of a time when you’ve been surrounded by the peace and quiet of uninterrupted nature. It’s an experience we only really come across on purpose, like while camping, or in those early predawn hours before the mechanical world wakes up. This is the soundscape that our ears were built for. In fact, the human ear was designed to accommodate sounds considerably less aggressive than the ones we’ve managed to produce on a mass scale …
The Effects of Hearing Loss on Daily Life
Our sense of hearing is always on, sending us information about the world around us, helping us communicate and connect with others. When you experience hearing loss, the effects ripple throughout your life. Our hearing ability impacts how we perform at work and hearing loss can limit enjoyment of family time and leisure activities. If left untreated, hearing loss has been shown to impact out quality of life and mental health. The good news is, …
Connecting with Family Members with Hearing Loss This Holiday Season
The holidays are often thought of as bright and cheerful times, but there can also be a sense of profound loneliness during this time, too. Seasonal depression sets in for many as our sunlight hours decrease dramatically. Many people also seem to feel the loss of loved ones more deeply. And some people simply don’t like the pressure that comes along with the holiday season. There’s a deeper reason that people with hearing loss often …
Best New Hearing Aids of 2017: Oticon OPN, Phonak Audeo B-R, Signia Cellion Primax
The way that technology has impacted and upgraded the hearing aid industry over the past few decades doesn’t seem to be slowing down at all. In fact, it seems that new capabilities and next-generation models appear on the market every day. With such a smorgasbord to choose from, how can you narrow it down to the perfect hearing aid for you? Which trends are worth investing in and which are a flash in the pan? …
This Holiday Season Give Yourself the Gift of Hearing
Hearing loss affects about 20% of the population in the US, but it is undertreated. In fact, only one in five people who experience hearing loss and could benefit from using hearing aids to treat their hearing loss actually do. For many people, learning to “adapt” to their changing hearing abilities might seem like it’s a good thing to do, but the reality is, pretending to hear is not helpful. Furthermore, for people who do experience …
Tips for Enjoying Thanksgiving Dinner with Hearing Loss
We’re rapidly approaching the holiday season, with Thanksgiving just about a week away. As with most holidays, Thanksgiving is a time to catch up with family and loved ones. For those of us with hearing loss, it may bring up a few stressors due to the busy-ness and noise of the festivities. Here, we offer a few tips for enjoying Thanksgiving dinner with hearing loss – both for those who experience hearing loss and those …
6 Habits That May be Harming Your Hearing
When it comes to understanding hearing damage, most people know that they should protect their hearing in when loud environments. While that’s certainly true, many things that harm our hearing go unrecognized – so oftentimes people don’t even realize their hearing could be impacted. Here are 6 common behaviors that can result in permanent hearing damage.Habit #1: Using a Hair DryerFortunately for everyone, stylish hair doesn’t cause hearing loss – but frequent use of loud …
How Healthy Hearing Supports Healthy Brain Function
November marks National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, and here at Hear Care Rhode Island, we want to draw attention both to this devastating disease and its relation to our specialty, hearing loss. While it is commonly thought that hearing loss happens in the ears, the reality is that our auditory processing happens in the brain. Our ears do play an important part in the process – but the majority of how we receive and recognize sound …
Supporting A Loved One with Hearing Loss in a Nursing Home
As our loved ones age, it is common to transition into a life at a nursing home or long-term care facility. Whether it’s a parent or spouse, supporting a love one living in a nursing home can be challenging for everyone. For those of you who have loved ones with hearing loss living in a nursing home, here are a few tips to ease the transition in the nursing home, and find the best way …