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Woman investigates link between hearing and brain function

Hearing Aids + Your Brain

On August 1st, 2020 | by admin | in Hearing Aids, Hearing Health, Hearing Loss

You won’t “mind” this news about better hearing and improved cognition!

Does hearing aid use help your brain? A growing amount of research associates hearing technology with improved cognition and slowed or decreased risk of cognitive decline. Get the latest on research that supports your better-hearing health — and your mind.

Have you heard? Yet another study links hearing aid use to reduced risk of cognitive decline!

We’ve long talked about connections between hearing and the brain. They work together to help keep you empowered and engaged, so it’s no wonder that hearing difficulties could go hand in hand with cognitive problems.

The good news? An increasing volume of research links hearing loss treatment to improved brain function or reduced risk of cognitive impairment.

A University of Melbourne study published in early 2020, for example, suggests that “more frequent use of hearing aids was associated with …

Man in hospital bed takes care of his hearing aids

8 Hearing Aid Tips for Hospital Stays

On July 15th, 2020 | by admin | in Hearing Aids

Checking into a hospital can seem a little stressful, making it all the more important to feel empowered, alert, and engaged with the help of your hearing aids. Help protect them during your inpatient visit with these handy tips.

It can be easy to lose track of your hearing aids when getting inpatient care at a busy medical facility, so we’re sharing eight tips to help you protect your tech and continue hearing your best.

Use a Container Keep a personally labeled container on the nightstand for your hearing aids when not in use. And remember: Hearing-aid dryers and dehumidifiers can double as storage, too! Bypass the Food Tray It might seem convenient to set your hearing devices on your food tray, but they can get damaged or lost that way. Better to keep them in their designated container. Take Them Out If staff comes to change the bedsheets …

Hear Better at Home

On July 1st, 2020 | by admin | in Hearing Accessories, Hearing Aids, Hearing Loss

You might be surprised how many small ways you can complement the better hearing you already get from your hearing aids. Read on to learn about technology that can improve communication — and connection — even more.

If you’re adjusting to hearing technology, you’ve no doubt noticed how many situations around the home could be improved through better hearing, especially if you’re retired, work from home, or have relatives who live far away.

Today’s hearing aids are tiny computers, which means they can take advantage of the latest in computer technology — and you can take charge of your hearing.

Captions

For those with hearing loss — with or without hearing devices — closed captions improve speech understanding. But if you’re on a video call with loved ones in a different state, or you work from home, is that even possible? Turns out, it …

Illustration of a woman pondering something with purple question marks floating around her

What To Expect At A Hearing Evaluation

On June 15th, 2020 | by admin | in Hearing Health

Q: What can I expect at my complete hearing evaluation?

A: Many people think a hearing evaluation is where your provider plays a tone, and you simply indicate whether you can hear it. Fortunately, a hearing evaluation is more thorough than that and happens in four steps.

A typical hearing evaluation lasts from 30 to 90 minutes, and we encourage you to bring a trusted loved one with you. We find that a complementary perspective can help paint a complete picture of how your hearing loss is affecting you and your family. They can also take notes for you to refer back to later.

The Conversation

During this step, we review and discuss your medical history. You describe what sort of hearing problems you experience in common situations and how the hearing issues affect you and your loved ones.

But we’ll go beyond that, because the better I …

Illustration of a mom and dad holding their two children, with grandma and grandpa in the background - all with big smiles on their faces

Protect Your Family’s Hearing This July

On June 8th, 2020 | by admin | in Hearing Protection

If you live in Canada or the U.S., you’ll be celebrating in early July. But you’ll also be in preparation mode: Those burgers aren’t going to grill themselves, the chairs need to be set out early for this year’s parade, and the kids need their patriotic outfits. To help out, we’re going to make this easy yet essential to-do for you: Protect your family’s hearing this holiday.

What You Need to Know About Fireworks and Your Hearing

The amount of damage that fireworks cause to your hearing depends on:

The distance you are from them The intensity of their explosion How old you are

The bangs and booms from fireworks can cause serious hearing damage, with sounds reaching 150 decibels (dB) at 3 feet.

For adults, the recommendation from the World Health Organization is not to be exposed to more than 140 decibels …

Illustration of a hand holding a smartphone with a large "like" thumbs-up on the screen

When Restaurants Reopen, Remember This Healthy-Hearing Tip

On June 1st, 2020 | by admin | in News, Technology

RESOURCE ALERT: Enjoy Dinner Out and Hear the Convo

Do restaurants seem to be getting noisier? If you think so, you’re not alone. And, what’s more, researchers have reported a connection between hearing loud music and choosing more calorie-heavy menu options. No joke!

We’ve found an app that can help you take your power back.

Meet SoundPrint, which lets the online community weigh in on noise levels at various venues, so you can better decide where you want to enjoy a night out — without sacrificing your hearing health.

SoundPrint, compatible with Android and iOS phones, takes noise measurement to another level with its decibel meter coupled with the ability to upload results to the user community via a searchable database. You can look for restaurants, gyms, subways, and other spots by categories such as “quiet,” “moderate,” “loud,” or “very loud” sound …

Illustration of a hand holding a hearing aid with a puddle in the background

Q&A: Water and Hearing Aids

On May 15th, 2020 | by admin | in Hearing Aid Maintenance, Hearing Aids

Q: Are my hearing aids really kaput if they get wet?

A: If you only knew how often we get this important question. As powerful as they are, hearing aids — like all electronics — have a couple of Achilles’ heels, and one of them is water. The moisture could come from a swimming pool, a shower, or even the sweat from working out or soaking up a hot summer day, but it all comes down to this: Wetness can permanently put your hearing aids out of commission.

Of course there’s always the potential miracle — who hasn’t heard the occasional story of a friend or loved one accidentally putting their hearing technology, personal music player, smartphone, or other treasured device through the washing machine only to have it continue working without seemingly skipping a beat? That’s some rare luck, however, so it’s important to stick to prevention. …

Illustration of a girl wearing a party had running excitedly with a wrapped gift held over her head

Give Mom the Gift of Better Hearing This Mother’s Day

On May 8th, 2020 | by admin | in Hearing Aids, Hearing Loss

Moms are a busy bunch.

Those duty-juggling, many-hats-wearing wonders cherish time for themselves. Whether on a walk, behind an easel with a paintbrush, or climbing a rock wall, those moments are even better when they can enjoy every sound. Is your mom — or a mom you know — not savoring the sounds of her life?

Recognizable Signs

Does she not engage with conversations like she used to? Maybe she’s not as quick to laugh? Perhaps she looks at you more intently when you’re talking? These are common signs of hearing loss. She might not even realize she’s pulling away from her life. And it takes, on average, seven years for someone to seek treatment once they do suspect they have a hearing loss. Maybe she just needs a nudge in the right direction.

Better Hearing, Better Life

The benefits of seeking hearing care go far beyond better …

Get in the Loop

On May 1st, 2020 | by admin | in Hearing Loop, Hearing Loss

Have you — or has someone you know — ever gone to a play, seminar, house of worship, or musical performance, optimized your hearing device settings, and still had trouble hearing?

Why does this happen?

Hearing in Public Spaces

When you listen to a live speech, classroom lesson, classical guitarist, or clergyperson, your hearing device uses a built-in microphone to capture the sound waves in the room. The sound is processed according to how your devices are programmed and then sent to your ear.

No matter how well your hearing device matches your hearing needs, however, other things in the room impact the sound waves before they reach your hearing device — for example, any background noise and the acoustics of the room.

What if there was a way to avoid all that impact?

There is.

The Hearing Loop

More and more organizations are installing something called a …

Fun sketch of a happy black and white dog with perked up ears on a teal background

When It Comes to Hearing Wellness for the Whole Family, Don’t Fur-Get Your Pets!

On April 15th, 2020 | by admin | in Hearing Health, News

Just like their people parents, these furry members of the family can experience hearing difficulties too. Read on to learn what you can do.

AVOID EXCESS NOISE

As one of the most preventable causes of hearing loss in humans, loud sounds can also be a problem for the beloved pets in your household. Excess noise can go hand in hand with hearing damage, anxiety, fear, and even trauma. Limiting noise exposure helps support their hearing health and overall wellness.

CONSIDER HEARING PROTECTION

If hightailing it to a quieter space isn’t an option for Rover and Pepper during fireworks or other super-loud situations, hearing protection is another approach that could help. Earplugs and earmuffs made especially for pets help deaden intrusive sounds.

KNOW THE SIGNS

If your pooch or kitty doesn’t react in the usual way to your voice, squeaky toys, the doorbell, or other sounds, hearing loss may …

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