Studies now show significant changes in the brains of those with early stage hearing loss in comparison with those whose hearing is normal. Specifically, even with minimal auditory deprivation, the brain actually re-organizes itself, which results in poorer speech processing in noise and deterioration of cognitive functioning.
The bad news: It’s worse than we previously thought Early stage hearing loss was formerly considered “mild,” and depending on your lifestyle, would not trigger symptoms of difficulty communicating. However, studies¹ now show significant changes in the brains of those with early stage hearing loss in comparison with those whose hearing is normal. Specifically, even […]
THE BEGINNING Brianna Jones has worn a hearing aid in her left ear since she was four years old. Now she was going off to college and wanted to make sure her hearing aid was working perfectly before she left. This was the first time I had met Brianna and her mom. Testing showed her […]
What to do if you suddenly experience hearing loss As a Patient Care Coordinator, nothing is more alarming then getting a frantic call from a patient in panic mode because they suddenly lost their hearing. Working at the front desk and handling calls from patients at the Chicago office for the last six years, I’ve […]
Tackling Cocktail Parties: The AI Hearing Aids that Read Your Mind The human brain is unparalleled in its ability to pick out certain phrases and attention-grabbing phrases that pique our interest from the din of everyday life. Hearing aids, on the other hand, are not-so-hot at the so-called “cocktail party effect,” – rather than singling […]
I recently came across a story by Alan Felman, a 30 year old writer for Medical News Today. I want to share it with you because it expresses so many of the emotions and behaviors I felt and exhibited before getting my hearing aids…and after. “The big kicker with gradual-onset hearing loss is that you […]
Most hearing aid users know that their hearing health, treatment, and their hearing aids are crucial. In fact, they probably see their doctor of Audiology more often than any other health care provider. They understand that their hearing capacity and their ability to understand and process speech is critical for effective communication and enjoyment. First […]
JUST AS TECHNOLOGY IN HEARING AIDS CHANGE, HEARING AID BATTERY TECHNOLOGY IS ALSO CHANGING.HERE IS WHAT IS AVAILABLE AND SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER TYPES OF BATTERIESREGULAR, DISPOSABLE ZINC-AIR BATTERIES Zinc-air hearing aid batteries are the traditional, pull-tab disposable batteries most frequently used in hearing aids. When the tab is pulled, the oxygen from the air […]
Everyone feels happier and more comfortable when they are recognized by their environment for their individuality, which is why Starbucks’ new location is so important. This location is not just another coffee shop in Washington D.C. It may be another Starbucks, but the sign is spelled S-T-A-R-B-U-C-K-S in the hand symbols for American Sign Language […]
Helen Keller said, “Blindness cuts us off from things, but the loss of the most vital stimulus – the sound of the voice – is much worse.” Remaining healthy has become a focus, even an obsession with Americans, particularly with baby boomers. Health issues do not happen in a vacuum; your body needs every sense […]
Medications According to the Government Accountability Office, only 1 to 10% of all adverse side effects are reported to the FDA. In a case of notable regulatory short-sightedness, drug companies are only required to report adverse effects they deem “statistically significant.” Many medications cause hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), cognitive disorders and memory […]
Falls and Balance Hospitals and doctors’ offices nationwide might have avoided nearly 2000 patient deaths and thousands more emergency room visits if medical staff and patients communicated better. Those with hearing loss misunderstand over 50% of instructions given by physicians and health providers. According to a recent report published in the journal JAMA, there is […]
