Hearing Loss Causes
The most common type of hearing loss is presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss. Diminished hearing is a common side effect of aging, usually coming on gradually and affecting high-pitched sounds most frequently. It occurs as a result of natural changes in the inner ear of an individual over time due to a variety of reasons…
Hearing Loss & Dementia
Research by Johns Hopkins University and others has confirmed what many hearing care professionals and physicians have long feared: there is an irrefutable link between hearing loss and cognitive decline. Initial problems such as memory loss and an inability to concentrate can worsen over time. Left untreated, this may eventually lead to dementia and other…
Communication Strategies
Communicating with a person who has a hearing loss can be stressful for both parties. Even when hearing devices are used, proper communication strategies are essential for maximizing the experience. Try the following tips when communicating with a hearing impaired individual. Maintain eye contact with the hearing impaired individual, facing them directly. Do not attempt…
Hearing Tests
Audiology evaluations consist of a series of tests used to determine whether a hearing loss exists and, if so, measure its type, degree and configuration. A hearing care specialist will assess the results of each individual test in order to develop a treatment plan geared toward your unique hearing loss. Who Should Be Given an…
What is a Hearing Instrument Specialist?
Have you ever wondered what exactly a hearing instrument specialist does, besides review your hearing tests? If you have been diagnosed with hearing loss, you will want to learn as much as you can about this professional who will be intimately involved in helping you choose the device that allows you to communicate more effectively….
Noise Induced Hearing Loss
Background sound is a constant in our busy lives. Normally, background noises are at safe levels that won’t impact our hearing, but repeated exposure to noise above 85 decibels (dL) can cause hearing loss. Noise induced hearing loss, as a matter of fact, is the second most common form of hearing loss (ranking behind presbycusis,…
Single-Sided Deafness
Single sided deafness (SSD), sometimes referred to as unilateral hearing loss, is a condition in which an individual experiences hearing loss in only one ear but can hear normally out of the other ear. While the majority of patients with a hearing impairment suffer from bilateral (two-sided) hearing loss, SSD is diagnosed in approximately 60,000…
Surgical Procedures for Hearing
There are two main types of hearing loss: conductive and sensorineural. Conductive hearing loss is caused by problems in the middle ear and outer ear, while sensorineural hearing loss is the result of inner ear problems. The latter type is sometimes referred to as nerve deafness and is usually treatable only with hearing aids. Conductive…
Hearing Protection
We are exposed to sound on a daily basis. Volume levels vary considerably, and can easily exceed 85 decibels (dB) – the threshold that is considered safe. Any prolonged exposure to noise exceeding this is harmful and can cause permanent, irreversible hearing loss. Excess noise exposure isn’t the only cause of hearing damage. Diseases, drugs…
Hearing Aid Types
Hearing aids have improved greatly with the advent of digital technology. If you’re picturing big and bulky devices with questionable sound quality, you’ll be pleased to learn today’s instruments are smaller, more comfortable and provide sound that is more natural. They are available in a variety of sizes and styles, so finding one that appeals…