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Whether you are a musician, music fan, or simply enjoy fascinating expert findings, today’s fact may perk up your ears: Why would classical musicians be more likely to have hearing loss than rock ‘n roll artists?
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The National Safety Council’s Safety + Health magazine recently published an article about ototoxicants, chemicals that can cause hearing loss and balance issues.
In the article, warnings were shared from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) about which industries have higher exposure risks to these chemicals — and how the adverse effects of ototoxicants increases when “workers are exposed to elevated noise levels.”
One type of hearing loss OSHA notes as “especially hazardous” is speech discrimination dysfunction. What’s that?
Speech discrimination dysfunction is when a person cannot distinguish a voice or warning signal from ambient noise. In other words, they can hear, but everything sounds the same to them. This can put the worker at an elevated risk for accidents or mistakes if, for instance, an alarm or alert goes off and they don’t register it for what it is.
It’s not dissimilar to a complaint that many people who have hearing loss — but don’t initially recognize it — say, that “I can hear, but I can’t understand.”
If this describes you, a consultation with a hearing healthcare professional is advised. Please call Innovative Hearing today!
Holidays are a time for being with family and friends and having fun! A few tips will help keep your hearing aids working well to make sure you get the most out of this holiday season!
Watch out for the cold! Hearing aids are basically little computers, so don’t leave them in the car overnight. If you do, give them time to warm up before using them.
Children and pets love hearing aids! Being around family can put you around children and pets you don’t see on a regular basis. Keeping your hearing aids on your ears will make sure little hands and pets don’t get a hold of them.
Hearing aids don’t like snow! If you drop your hearing aids in the snow, take them in the house, throw away the battery and let them dry out. Please do not put them in the oven or microwave to dry them. If you have a dry aid kit, use it.
If you have rechargeable hearing aids, don’t let the charger sit in the car/outside overnight. It doesn’t like the cold any more than we (or your hearing aids) do! If you forget it in the car, give it a chance to warm up before using it, to get the best performance.
Family and friends can be lots of fun. The fun may often come with lots of volume and many big groups, too! Sit close to the people you want to talk to and make sure you are in a well-lit area.
Children’s voices can be soft and they can talk fast. Make sure the children you are talking to are looking at you. Don’t be afraid to ask the child to repeat or another adult to help “translate.”
Accessories make life easier! If you have accessories, like remote microphones, use them! They can help you enjoy the festivities even more.
As the holidays approach, tell stories, sing songs, laugh and — most of all — enjoy time with the people who bring you joy. Happy Holidays!
We are all concerned about our health and well-being! Benjamin Franklin once said “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Whether it is diabetes, cancer, heart disease or hearing loss, we have become increasingly more focused on stopping illness through preventative healthcare. It’s one reason why we’re living longer and why, if Mr. Franklin were alive today, he’d agree that “60 is the new 40.”
We get yearly physicals to monitor blood pressure, cholesterol and evaluate risks for cancer, diabetes and heart disease. We should approach our hearing the same way.
Early treatment can help prevent future issues
In recent years, research has shown that hearing is not just about our ears! Our hearing impacts many aspects of our health and life. Untreated hearing loss has been linked to increased likelihood of dementia, decreases in cognitive function, increased isolation and higher incidences of depression. Discovering and treating hearing loss sooner rather than later can ultimately improve our overall health and well-being.
Many people will wait until they are having difficulty before getting their hearing tested. The reality is that they have most likely been living with hearing loss anywhere from 5 to 15 years before they take action. Could you imagine living with high cholesterol or high blood pressure or diabetes for a dozen years before taking action?
Start with a baseline hearing test
For many of us, the last time we had our hearing checked was when we were in grade school. According to healthcare professionals, we should get a “baseline” hearing test early in our adulthood. The recommendation is around 18 or 21. If you are past 21 and have not had a baseline test, the sooner the better.
A “baseline” hearing test will provide a frame of reference for tests later in life. It is important to remember that hearing is more than just detecting beeps! A baseline hearing test will measure your sensitivity to sounds (the beeps), but it will also measure your ability to understand speech, both at soft levels and when the volume is comfortable. In addition, the overall health of the ear will be evaluated via a visual exam.
Follow-up hearing tests may be recommended
How often you have your hearing checked after the baseline depends on a few different variables: the results of your baseline test, your risk for hearing loss, and your age are just a few. If hearing loss exists at the baseline, yearly testing is recommended.
If your risk for hearing loss is high, yearly hearing tests are also recommended. Things that increase your risk of hearing loss include noise exposure, both at work and recreational (motorcycles, guns, loud music), as well as your age. As hearing loss is found more often with increasing age, individuals 60 years of age and older are recommended to have their hearing tested every two years, if no hearing loss was apparent in their most recent test.
Do you ever feel like people around you are mumbling or speaking too quickly? Are you having to ask others to repeat themselves frequently or struggling to follow a conversation when there is background noise? If so, these could be indicators that you have a hearing loss.
Often, our friends and family members may notice we have hearing loss before we do. We may even use them as a crutch to help fill in the blanks when we are missing parts of a conversation. Or perhaps they recognize you are having a hard time on the telephone or the volume of the TV continues to go up. If any of this sounds familiar to you, it’s time to get your hearing checked.
The best way to find out if you have a hearing loss is to get a simple hearing evaluation by a licensed hearing healthcare professional. They will be able to determine not only if you have a hearing loss, but what type and how severe the loss may be. Even if no loss is detected, it’s still a great idea to have a baseline audiogram to compare to any future tests.
To get started, you may want to ask yourself a few simple questions:
Do you often have trouble following conversations in groups?
Are you having difficulty on the phone?
Do you think others are mumbling?
Do you say “I can hear, but I can’t understand”
Are you avoiding noisy events or restaurants?
Have you noticed the volume of the TV or radio needs to be turned up?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you know it’s time to get a hearing evaluation. There are also free hearing screenings you can take online that will let you know if you have a loss or not. Just click on this link, and in a matter of minutes you’ll not only find out if you have a hearing loss, but also what you can do about it.
Remember, hearing health is important and you don’t have to struggle. It’s important to get regular hearing evaluations, even if it’s just to get a baseline. Don’t wait! Early detection is the key to your success.
Call Land of Lincoln Hearing to schedule your first hearing evaluation today!
Hearing loss happens. It’s the third most common health problem for older adults in the U.S., after arthritis and heart disease. Hearing loss is also very treatable — and more beneficial when treatment is started early. If you suspect you have hearing loss, here are 11 reasons why you should schedule a hearing test and find out for sure.
A hearing test is painless, usually free, and should take less than an hour of your day.
Untreated hearing loss increases your chance of developing dementia.
Treating hearing loss early — on the other hand — is one of nine things you can do to
help reduce your risk of dementia.
Hearing loss may be an early warning sign or red flag for other health conditions including cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
If your hearing test shows your hearing is normal, you can say “I told you so” to all the people who said you should get your hearing checked.
The Mayo Clinic recommends regular, baseline hearing tests for adults.
Untreated hearing loss increases your chance of falling.
Treating hearing loss with hearing aids has been proven to reduce the risk of cognitive decline associated with hearing loss.
Untreated hearing loss is known to contribute to depression and social isolation.
Hearing loss treatment is associated with delayed diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, anxiety and injurious falls.
Being proactive about your hearing health today will reap immeasurable benefits tomorrow!
Photo by Alex Blăjan on Unsplash
That’s a great question, and a complicated one to answer! Hearing loss can be caused by a multitude of things: some are preventable and some are not. For me to write about everything that can cause hearing loss — and then all the ways to avoid each cause — would make for a very long blog post. We will save that for another day.
Instead, I am going to write about what you can do to avoid the second-leading cause of hearing loss — noise-induced hearing loss.
Did you know that one in four U.S. adults have noise-induced hearing loss? That’s a lot of people (at least 40 million)! The good news is that you can protect your hearing in most situations. And if you practice good hearing protection, not only do you increase your chances of avoiding noise-induced hearing loss, it will go a long way towards helping you avoid age-related hearing loss, which is the number one cause of hearing loss.
Here are a few ways to protect your hearing (and help avoid hearing loss):
This is the best way to avoid hearing loss. How do you know what’s too loud? Environments where you have to raise your voice to talk to other people, where you can’t hear what people nearby are saying, where the noise hurts your ears or, really, where any noise exceeds 85 decibels are too loud.
There are times when you are put into loud situations or environments and you simply can’t avoid them. These include certain work environments, sporting events, concerts, bars/clubs, mowing your lawn, etc. In those situations, you should use hearing protection.
Hearing protection comes in a variety of different styles including ear plugs, custom plugs, “earmuffs” and more.
With the way technology is advancing these days, almost everyone has something in their ears. Consider investing in higher quality earphones that block out background noise, to help you moderate your listening levels in noisier places. Also, the general rule of thumb to use when setting your volume is: You should be able to hear and converse with a person arm’s length away from you easily. If you cannot, then it is too loud.
You probably never think about how loud some of your household products are. Some products such as children’s toys, blenders and hair dryers. can get louder than 100 decibels! That means that it would take less than 15 minutes of use for you to damage your hearing. I justified buying a fancy new hair dryer because of how loud my old hair dryer was.
There are other decisions or changes you can make in your life to help avoid hearing loss, including:
Your ears naturally clean themselves. By putting products in your ears, you can cause infections and or actually puncture your ear drum, which can lead to permanent hearing loss.
Research studies have shown a positive correlation between smoking and hearing loss. It’s better just to say no.
Other research studies show that women who maintain a healthy diet have reduced risk/rates of moderate to severe hearing loss compared to women who do not eat healthy.
Having your hearing tested regularly is a great way to know how your auditory system is working. By getting your hearing tested regularly, you will be able to monitor your hearing easily, know if any changes are occurring, and treat any hearing loss early, before it gets to be a problem.
Nothing is guaranteed to prevent hearing loss. But the advice above should help you avoid it, or at least put it off for as long as possible.
Call Land of Lincoln Hearing, today! We are hear to help :)
Photo by Bahram Bayat on Unsplash
We are all concerned about our health and well-being! Benjamin Franklin once said “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Whether it is diabetes, cancer, heart disease or hearing loss, we have become increasingly more focused on stopping illness through preventative healthcare. It’s one reason why we’re living longer and why, if Mr. Franklin were alive today, he’d agree that “60 is the new 40.”
We get yearly physicals to monitor blood pressure, cholesterol and evaluate risks for cancer, diabetes and heart disease. We should approach our hearing the same way.
In recent years, research has shown that hearing is not just about our ears! Our hearing impacts many aspects of our health and life. Untreated hearing loss has been linked to increased likelihood of dementia, decreases in cognitive function, increased isolation and higher incidences of depression. Discovering and treating hearing loss sooner rather than later can ultimately improve our overall health and well-being.
Many people will wait until they are having difficulty before getting their hearing tested. The reality is that they have most likely been living with hearing loss anywhere from 5 to 15 years before they take action. Could you imagine living with high cholesterol or high blood pressure or diabetes for a dozen years before taking action?
For many of us, the last time we had our hearing checked was when we were in grade school. According to healthcare professionals, we should get a “baseline” hearing test early in our adulthood. The recommendation is around 18 or 21. If you are past 21 and have not had a baseline test, the sooner the better.
A “baseline” hearing test will provide a frame of reference for tests later in life. It is important to remember that hearing is more than just detecting beeps! A baseline hearing test will measure your sensitivity to sounds (the beeps), but it will also measure your ability to understand speech, both at soft levels and when the volume is comfortable. In addition, the overall health of the ear will be evaluated via a visual exam.
How often you have your hearing checked after the baseline depends on a few different variables: the results of your baseline test, your risk for hearing loss, and your age are just a few. If hearing loss exists at the baseline, yearly testing is recommended.
If your risk for hearing loss is high, yearly hearing tests are also recommended. Things that increase your risk of hearing loss include noise exposure, both at work and recreational (motorcycles, guns, loud music), as well as your age. As hearing loss is found more often with increasing age, individuals 60 years of age and older are recommended to have their hearing tested every two years, if no hearing loss was apparent in their most recent test.
Getting hearing aids is a big decision and a smart investment towards your future quality of life. Before you make the decision, consider these tips to help ensure you get the best hearing aids for your needs.
Do speak with a hearing professional about situations you want to hear and communicate in better.
Do bring a third party or significant other with you to the appointment.
Do ask about follow-up care plans and what to expect from your new hearing aids.
Do be honest with your hearing professional about where and when you struggle to hear and understand.
Do ask about payment plans if cost is a concern.
Don’t make your choice based just on the cost of the hearing aid.
Don’t assume your hearing loss is “normal” for your age. Hearing loss is never normal.
Don’t skip the service plan. Your hearing needs change over time and a service plan will make sure your hearing professional will be able to have your aids adapt with you.
Don’t buy hearing aids from anyone who doesn’t test your hearing.
Don’t pick a hearing aid based on buzz words. Choose hearing aids that will help you when and where you want help.
For more tips, reach out to Land of Lincoln Hearing, here. We are hear to help you!
Hearing loss can have a more negative impact on the quality of life than obesity, diabetes, strokes or even cancer, according to AARP, the senior advocacy organization which recently completed a survey that revealed more people report having undergone colonoscopy exams than hearing tests.
However, there is more to just losing hearing, said Conrad Hochreiter, a hearing instrument specialist at HearUSA in East Stroudsburg, a center that’s committed to providing patients with the highest-quality hearing care.
Hearing loss is also associated with an increased risk of dementia, falls and depression.
“Research shows we can help keep that cognitive decline (hearing loss) at a normal rate with a good hearing aid,” Hochreiter said.
However, officials at AARP and other experts say that many remain reluctant to get their hearing checked or to treat any hearing disorder because, unlike other serious and potential fatal ailments, hearing loss carries the stigma of being old.
“Hearing loss usually occurs in a gradual, subtle progression,” said Dr. Susan Dillmuth-Miller, a clinical audiologist and assistant professor in the department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at East Stroudsburg University.
Often persons with hearing loss do not realize the impact of their hearing loss on their communication partners; however, acceptance can be difficult and persons with hearing loss will often blame others for not speaking clearly or will delay treatment for an average of seven years, Dillmuth-Miller said.
Also, it’s important to express to persons with hearing loss how much they mean to you and how communication has become difficult and how it affects your relationship with each other, she said.
“Hearing loss affects both parties, the listener and the speaker. Questionnaires like the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults can start a dialogue and help persons with hearing loss realize how much the hearing loss is impacting their life,” Dillmuth-Miller said.
“Persons with hearing loss often don’t realize their deficits if speakers always raise their voice to communicate and those with hearing loss will not accept treatment unless they realize that they have a problem,” she said.
According to figures published by AARP, nearly 30 percent of people in their 50s suffer from hearing loss.
For people in their 60s, it’s 45 percent. And for those in their 70s, more than two-thirds have significant hearing loss.
While getting someone to accept wearing a hearing aid remains difficult, Hochreiter said popular culture has changed much over the years and those needing such devices might be more comfortable because younger individuals are regularly wearing something in their ear.
″[Hearing aids] are very discreet and comfortable now compared to many years ago,” Hochreiter said. “Today’s society, all ages are walking around with something in their ears like earbuds and Bluetooths,” he said. “If you’re going to put something in your ear, wouldn’t it make sense to put something in there that makes you hear better?”
Also, hearing loss doesn’t only affect older people.
The World Health Organization estimates that 1.1 billion teenagers and young adults are at risk of hearing loss. And that number is increasing, according to AARP which noted that boomers had their rock concerts, and millennials have their earbuds so, the impact of hearing damage will likely grow.
As far as the costs, Consumer Reports performed a nationwide survey of more than 1,100 people with hearing loss. They purchased 48 hearing aids and had their fitting checked by audiologists.
The survey found that two-thirds were incorrectly fitted, which led survey authors to conclude that the cost isn’t the real issue, but shoppers must become consumer savvy customers.
“Most people have the reluctancy as to how they can pay for them or do they even really need them,” Hochreiter said. “Most are going to tell you that they can’t afford something that they really don’t want and use that as a crutch.”
Hochreiter warned that internet price shopping could yield rates that are not realistic. He said there are budget plans, and, at HearUSA, free trials are offered to allow individuals the option of a sort of test drive.
The center offers access to a wide-range of the latest hearing aid styles and technologies and have a policy in which it offers a 60-day, risk-free, money-back guarantee on hearing aid purchases.
Still, some must be convinced.
Dillmuth-Miller recalled an elderly woman with a moderate permanent hearing loss who reported being left out.
The woman’s grown children grew frustrated with the difficulties encountered over the phone and during their visits and they grew worried for their mother since she’s a very social person, but she’d gradually became withdrawn, Dillmuth-Miller said.
“The woman could not afford the hearing aids on her own, but her children got together and gave them as a gift to her. She was grateful and wears them every day and her children feel she was herself again which was a social and engaged person,” she said.
Dillmuth-Miller quoted a 2016 AARP report that noted the average cost of a digital hearing aid is $2,300 a piece.
If a person has hearing loss in both ears, two hearing aids are typically recommended for the best results, she said.
“You can see that buying hearing aids can be pricey especially since Medicare and most insurance companies do not cover them. Some practices offer payment plans which helps manage the costs and, for children under 21, the Medical Assistance program covers hearing aids, and for qualified working adults, the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation can offer help,” Dillmuth-Miller said.
She said some veterans qualify for a hearing aid benefit which provides hearing aids and services and, for others who have difficulties affording hearing aids, there are charities which help with costs like Hear Now, Sertoma, and the Lion’s Club.
“Hearing aids are fit specifically to one’s hearing loss like glasses, requires counseling to become adjusted to the changes in sound, and some require special molding and fitting,” Dillmuth-Miller said. “Buying online often does not result in helping the person hear better.”
Contact Land of Lincoln Hearing today to schedule a consultation!
Photo by Wenni Zhou on Unsplash
Bandera County, Texas is home to the “Cowboy Capital of the World” and ReSound LiNX² wearer Lee W. Bailey. Lee, 65, retired from his career in surgical sales three years ago and is an avid outdoorsman and volunteer EMS first responder with his local fire department.
Lee first became aware of his hearing loss 30 years ago during a routine appointment. “I love spending time outdoors,” said Lee, “I’ve enjoyed shooting sports for a long time, since before there was the increased awareness around hearing protection while shooting.” He feels that this greatly contributed to his hearing loss.
It wasn’t until 15 years ago that Lee got his first pair of hearing aids. However, he wasn’t very happy with them. “They didn’t have any vents and were just amplifiers.” When he would go into noisy environments, such as restaurants, he would just remove them. The second pair of hearing aids Lee owned had vents, but were still uncomfortable. When he wasn’t wearing them, Lee often found himself missing out on conversations with friends and family.
Lee dealt with his uncomfortable hearing aids for over five years, until last fall when he was introduced to ReSound LiNX² by his audiologist.
Lee is now able to be more engaged with his family and friends. “They [his hearing aids] have such better sound quality, are easier to use and much more comfortable. I can carry on a conversation much easier than I could before.”
When he’s out on a call, his ReSound LiNX² are particularly helpful. “When I’m driving the ambulance, I can hear what’s going on in the back, or can talk to my partner much easier than I could before,” said Bailey.
The Made for iPhone® feature was also a game changer in Lee’s book. “I was able to get rid of the hands free accessories that I had to talk on the phone while driving. Now I can just stream everything directly into my hearing aids from my iPhone. It’s great.” Lee is also a fan of adjusting his Smart Hearing aids through the iPhone and ReSound Smart app. Recently, Lee was able to use the ReSound Smart app for more than adjustment.
“My hearing aids fell off the ranch cart as I drove though the pasture. I wasn’t supposed to forget they were sitting on the back seat! They’re so comfortable I didn’t notice I wasn’t wearing them and I got in a hurry. I drove into the pasture that was being planted.” He didn’t realize until afterwards that they had been planted over. Using the ReSound Smart app’s finder feature, Lee set out looking for his hearing aids.
“I retraced my route using the Finder and I soon got a hit on my left. After about 45 minutes I found it undamaged. It only need a good cleaning. Proceeding on I got a hit on the right hearing aid. I searched 30 more minutes until dark, came back after dinner for another 30 minutes and covered the area with a tarp. The next morning my wife and I searched another 45 minutes before getting another signal and found it!”
“I never thought I’d want a BTE hearing aid, but I’ve been amazed by the comfort and forget I’m wearing them. With ReSound LiNX2 my concerns were alleviated,” said Lee, “I’m thankful for my ReSound LiNX2. For over five years, I didn’t really wear my hearing aids. I recommend that others try them out – they’ve made a big difference.”
If this is something you'd be interested in, please contact Land of Lincoln Hearing today to schedule your first hearing evaluation!
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