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A Link Between Stress and Hearing Loss

In hearing health, hearing loss by Laurie Duffy, M.S.

As the world becomes more connected through the Internet, we can achieve more faster than ever before. Our friends, family and work are often just a few clicks away. The amount of information at our fingertips is an empowering thing but this level of connectivity can be equally overwhelming. The amount of choices out there can cause some people extreme stress and fatigue. The fight or flight response to humans as a species has been …

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The Benefits of Being Social for Older Americans

In hearing health, hearing loss by Laurie Duffy, M.S.

Humans require social interaction to stay healthy in every aspect of our lives. Research shows that having a strong network of support and community creates both emotional and physical health. Over the years, there have been a number of studies showcasing the relationship between social support and the quality of physical and psychological health. In fact, the National Institute on Aging says research has linked social isolation and loneliness to higher risks of high blood …

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A Healthy Diet Can Lower the Risk of Hearing Loss

In hearing health, hearing loss by Laurie Duffy, M.S.

It is common to have hearing loss as we age but not necessarily inevitable. If you could go back and wear ear protection at every concert and sporting event you attended, and never exposed yourself to loud noise that would be a dream. Fortunately, there are ways to preserve the hearing you still have simply by being conscience about what food you choose to eat. Not only does a healthy diet affect everything from heart …

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New Year’s Resolution: Get Your Hearing Tested

In hearing health, hearing loss, Hearing Loss Treatment by Laurie Duffy, M.S.

2020 is upon us and with this New Year brings new resolutions to ring in the decade.  Maybe you plan on going on more trips or more time with friends and family.  Maybe this year brings the resolution to get back into that hobby you’ve always wanted to explore.  What ever your resolutions for the new years are, it will take healthy hearing to make that dream a reality.  Perhaps you don’t see at first …

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How Exercise, Diet, Sleep, and Hearing Affect Brain Aging

In Health, hearing loss, Lifestyle by Laurie Duffy, M.S.

Aging is inevitable, but did you know that there are lifestyle changes you can make that can change the way you age? Living a healthy lifestyle can have a remarkable effect on our feeling of general wellbeing, including our mood, energy level, and social relationships. However, that healthy lifestyle could also have a dramatic effect on your ability to retain flexible cognition as you age. A recent report by Stephen M. Stahl, MD, PhD, an …

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Does Tinnitus Cause Hearing Loss?

In hearing loss, Tinnitus by Laurie Duffy, M.S.

Tinnitus involves hearing noise in one or both ears that is not caused by an external sound. Tinnitus is common, but it is not a condition on its own. Rather, it is a symptom of another underlying condition. The noise of tinnitus often sounds like a ringing in the ears, but it can also be buzzing, clicking, roaring or hissing. Although severe tinnitus can interfere with your hearing, the condition does not cause hearing loss. …

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Can Hearing Loss Be Restored?

In hearing loss by Laurie Duffy, M.S.

If you or a loved one has recently started to experience the effects of hearing loss, you are far from alone in the United States. Across the country, around 15% of adults experience some degree of hearing loss, which adds up to almost 40 million people. Sometimes, depending on your type of hearing loss, your hearing can be restored. While the most common causes of hearing loss are irreversible there are treatments out there that …

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Osteoporosis and Sudden Hearing Loss

In Health, hearing loss by Laurie Duffy, M.S.

Osteoporosis is a progressive metabolic disorder where bone is broken down faster than the body can replace it. When this happens, your bones become quite weak and are then more prone to being broken. It is a relatively common disorder—it affects around 40 million men and women and, though it affects people of all races, it is particularly common amongst white and Asian women. This leads to bones being structurally weak, and more prone to …

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Comorbidities of Hearing Loss

In Health, hearing loss by Laurie Duffy, M.S.

Hearing loss is not only a loss of one single sense. It can appear along with other issues. Sometimes hearing loss is actually symptom or an outcome of another potentially more serious health issue. The issues and ailments that can accompany hearing loss, when simultaneously present and chronic, are called comorbidities. These comorbidities can include physical disorders like heart disease, thyroid disease, and diabetes. They can also include mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, …

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Hearing Aids Can Improve Your Sense of Balance

In Health, hearing loss, Lifestyle by Laurie Duffy, M.S.

Often as we age, our hearing abilities may naturally decline. This is known as presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss. While numerous studies show that untreated hearing aids can improve every aspect of your life did you know that this also includes your balance? Recent studies suggest that older people with hearing loss may find that their balance improves when they use hearing aids. The finding supports the idea that improving hearing in older people with …