It’s estimated that hearing loss affects one in eight people in the United States (13 percent, or 30 million) aged 12 years or older in both ears, and its effects are often greatly underestimated. What starts as an ear issue, if unaddressed can impede daily conversation, put a strain on the most solid relationships in your life, cause chronic depression, anxiety, cognitive decline, and increase the risk of accidents leading to hospitalization. Despite the severity of …
Memory Loss & Psychological Distress with Hearing Loss
While hearing loss is an ear issue, its effects are often underestimated. What begins with common misunderstandings often escalates into feelings of chronic depression, social anxiety, and isolation. Over time, if unaddressed hearing loss can amplify into mobility issues and cognitive decline increasing the risk of dementia. Recent research has highlighted that untreated hearing loss can contribute to memory loss and psychological distress. Memory Loss, & Psychological Distress Psychological distress refers to non-specific symptoms of stress, …
Athletes and Hearing Loss
Remember the last time you were at a big sporting event. It’s not only the thrill of the game but the cheering fans, the booming music when your team scores that create the experience. It can also be a huge risk for your ears. If you’ve ever left the stadium with ringing in your ears, then unfortunately it means you’ve sustained some hearing loss. Understanding Decibels Sound is measured in decibels. When a sound reaches …
When to Take a Hearing Test
When was the last time you were in a crowded room, and you struggled to hear over the noise? It’s normal to have to ask people to repeat themselves now and then but when this becomes commonplace it can signal a larger issue. Hearing loss is one of the most common chronic conditions in the US, caused by exposure to loud noise, ototoxic chemicals, head injury, chronic ear infections, or even old age. It can …
The Benefits of Being Social for Older Americans
Inside jokes with loved ones, lunch with friends, and even going to a party every now and then, is not only fun, but essential for our health. Humans are social by nature. It helps us feel connected, engaged in life, and helps give us a greater sense of purpose. Socializing not only staves off feelings of loneliness, but aids in keeping our memory sharp, our minds quick and can aid in increasing a general sense of …
Can Nutrients Support Better Hearing?
A well-balanced diet is one of the most critical factors in maintaining good health. Doctors tell us to cut back on sugars and fats and incorporate more whole foods into our diets as we get older. Heart disease and arthritis are the two most common medical conditions in the US; both conditions can be managed with changes in our diet. With hearing loss as the third most common medical condition, it may not surprise that …
All About Hearing Protection
We’re often surrounded by very loud sounds. Work, hobbies, and other activities can all include dangerously loud noise that can damage our hearing. This leads to hearing loss, tinnitus, and difficulty following conversations with loved ones. That’s why it’s so important to learn all about hearing protection. How Loud Are the Sounds Around You? Before you can choose the right hearing protection, you need to know how loud the sounds around you actually are. Some …
Check Your Hearing This November for American Diabetes Month
Diabetes is a worldwide problem affecting 34.2 million people or 10.5 percent of the population in the United States alone. However, worldwide this chronic health condition affects one in 10 people, particularly in low to middle-income countries where 4 out 5 cases occur (84%). This is due in part to less access to healthy food and urbanization which has led to less activity. This has many implications for national and world health as many with …
October is Protect Your Hearing Month
National Audiology Awareness Month and Protect Your Hearing Month both fall in October. With over 36 million people in the United States suffering from hearing loss, more awareness is critical. Hearing loss is becoming increasingly common among younger generations such as millennials, making it more critical than ever to understand the origins, symptoms, and long-term repercussions of hearing loss, as well as how to protect your hearing. Millennials at risk of hearing loss The revolution …
Osteoporosis and Sudden Hearing Loss
Scientists and audiologists are constantly discovering disorders that can enhance a person’s risk of getting hearing loss. Now they have found a connection between hearing loss and Osteoporosis. According to a 2015 study, people who have Osteoporosis are more prone to develop hearing loss. Bones are essential to our hearing The appropriate functioning of tiny bones within the middle ear is required for the inner workings of our ears, and they are essential in our …