Blog | Parker Audiology, PC

Hearing Loss & Accidental Injury: More Connected Than You May Think

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

From slips and spills to collisions, machine mishaps and more, accidents befall us all, but did you know that hearing loss might contribute to the risk of injury? In fact, one investigation found that those with hearing difficulties may have a doubled chance of suffering an accidental injury at work or play.

The study, published in a 2018 edition of JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery and involving data from the U.S. National Health Interview Survey, noted that the greater the degree of self-perceived hearing difficulty, the greater the overall accidental-injury risk.

This dovetails with other research that points to links between hearing loss and the increased risk of falling, for example. One study even showed that people with mild hearing loss had a tripled chance of reporting a fall in the prior year, and every 10-decibel increase in hearing loss …

COVID-19 (AKA Coronavirus) Response

On March 17th, 2020 | by admin | in Uncategorized

Dear Patients,

As of 4/3/2020, in order to keep you and our staff safe from COVID-19, we are closed until at least 4/21/2020.

Check here on our website and follow our Facebook Page for updates. For immediate help, call our office at 563-326-5441. We are responding to voicemail daily. You can also email Molly at manager@parkeraud.com.

We are all in this together. We hope for a speedy recovery to everyone affected by these recent events.

Sincerely,

Dr. Molly Parker and Staff

Parker Audiology, P.C.

Illustration of an ear with graphics representing noise surrounding it

Three Cheers for Earwax!

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

Let’s talk earwax. From its texture to its appearance, it gets a bad name. We suspect the yellow-brown goo might be down a friend or two, so we want to give credit where credit is due.

Here are five reasons we think you should give earwax a second chance.

Earwax Protects Your Ear Canal and Eardrum Earwax Is Self-Cleaning Earwax Isn’t Even Wax Earwax Is a Good Sign Cotton Swabs Are Not the Answer

Illustration of a woman chatting with her husband and granddaughter in the garden outside her house

Home Safety for People With Hearing Loss

On March 1st, 2020 | by admin | in Hearing Loss

So many things around the house are designed to alert you using noise. But what if a hearing loss means you miss when the smoke detector or alarm clock sounds? The following alerting devices are ideal methods for helping your home — or the home of a loved one — feel even safer.

Smoke Alarms

A smoke alarm-based alert uses a bright, blinking light to indicate the smoke alarm is going off. You can buy an adapter for your existing smoke alarm, or you can buy a whole new battery-powered or hardwired smoke alarm with an alert built right in. When paired with a central alert system, you can also include a vibrating shaker to put under your pillow.

Doorbells

A doorbell alert sends a signal to a receiver that flashes a light, increases the volume of the doorbell, activates a shaker under your pillow or …

Illustration of a black cat with perked ears on a background of other kitties frolicking

Four Animal Facts: Hearing Edition

On February 15th, 2020 | by admin | in News

Do Cats Enjoy Cat Music?

The answer is yes, cats do enjoy cat music! Read on for details and to learn more quirky facts about hearing in the animal kingdom.

Katydids Have Ears on Their Knees

But not so fast: If you were knee high to a long-horn grasshopper, the type known as a katydid, you would not see human ears perched on tiny katydid kneecaps. But the “ears” used by one type of katydid (Copiphora gorgonensis) are remarkably similar to ours.

In our case, an internal eardrum captures sound waves, causing faint vibrations. This makes three tiny bones in the inner ear vibrate strongly. The result is waves in the fluid of the cochlea, and these waves are turned into neural impulses for the brain to interpret.

Similarly, the katydid’s external eardrum captures sound waves, causing faint vibrations. This makes a tiny plate …

Illustration of four speech bubbles with a colorful collection of letters in the background

Q&A: Live Speech Mapping

On February 1st, 2020 | by admin | in Hearing Aids, Technology

Q: What is live speech mapping, and how can it help me?

A: Excellent question! Live speech mapping is a mechanism for fine‑tuning hearing aids to the specific pitch and volume of your loved one’s voice and other important sounds. The procedure has been around a while, but many people have likely never heard of it. Let’s take a closer look at three things: who might need live speech mapping, how it works, and why it matters.

WHO MIGHT BENEFIT

Hearing technology has made a world of difference in helping people of all ages communicate their best, but some patients who use hearing devices might still experience difficulty understanding the one voice that matters most to them — typically a spouse or other close relation. In our experience, many people in that situation have found that live speech mapping improves their ability to understand critical speech.

HOW IT …

5 Tips to Keep Your Better-Hearing Resolution Going Strong

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

From spending more time with family and friends to taking classes at the local gym, almost everyone makes at least one New Year’s resolution. The catch? Just 8% of resolvers stick to their goals, per a Forbes story referencing University of Scranton research.

No worries: If you’re aiming to hear your best in 2020, we’re sharing five tips to help boost your stick‑to‑itiveness for the new year and beyond!

BE REALISTIC WRITE IT DOWN VISUALIZE SUCCESS TELL A FRIEND SET BENCHMARKS

No matter your new-year goals, we’re committed to helping you reach them with the power of better hearing. So don’t delay. Contact our caring team for help that’s tailored to your communication needs today!

Illustrated raccoon eating an apple next to a sweater-wearing polar bear drinking coffee

Support the Medicare Audiologist Access and Services Act

On January 5th, 2020 | by admin | in News

Together, let’s make hearing and balance care more available to all.

We’d love to have your support for the proposed Medicare Audiologist Access and Services Act (MAASA)! This groundbreaking bipartisan legislation in Congress could make it easier for community members to access the quality hearing care they need, and you can help.

Did you know?

An estimated one-third of adults over age 65 live with disabling hearing loss, per the World Health Organization, yet only a fraction of those who could benefit from solutions such as hearing aids actually use them.

Does lack of access play a role in some cases?

Possibly. The good news is that MAASA — which builds on a prior proposal, the Audiology Patient Choice Act, considered in 2018 — may open needed hearing and balance evaluation and treatment to more people nationwide, helping …

Illustration of a red-chested bird & a sweater-wearing bull holding a flag banner between them while standing in the snow

10 Tips for Managing Hearing Loss

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

Hearing loss can seem daunting, with its ability to affect relationships, self‑confidence, physical health, and more. Taking charge of it, however, can go a long way toward keeping you feeling empowered and engaged.

Start with these 10 helpful do’s and don’ts:

Do’s

DO know that you’re not alone. Hearing loss is a growing public-health challenge — the third most chronic condition in the U.S. and Canada. Science is always on the case, however, and effective solutions are available right now. DO stay atop your hearing health with regular checkups — just as you would for your eyes and teeth. Early intervention with the help of a licensed hearing care provider can make a big difference in your quality of life. DO maintain your hearing aids, which are powerful but require care. DIY cleaning, storage, wax-guard changing, and battery-charging are easy tasks. Bring your devices in periodically for professional …

Ear Canal Congestion is Like Heavy Traffic

Unclogged: Getting to the Bottom of Ear Congestion

On December 15th, 2019 | by admin | in Ear Infection, Hearing Health

Q: Why Do My Ears Feel So Congested?

A: Good question! When folks talk about congestion, most people naturally think about nasal passageways, but ears can feel pretty plugged up, too. Let’s talk about what might be going on when ears seem clogged, how it can affect your hearing, and how you can get some relief.

The sensation of plugged-up ears essentially means a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears — as if something is partially or completely filling the space within your ear canal. It can feel fairly innocuous, somewhat annoying, or even downright painful. It can also make sounds seem rather faint or make it difficult to hear altogether.

Any number of conditions can cause this sensation of fullness. One possibility involves altitude-related air-pressure changes, which can produce symptoms such as clicking or popping in the ears, ear pain or blockage, and even temporary …

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