According to the Labor of Bureau of Labor Statistics, 16% of the population provided eldercare between 2017 and 2018. Combine that with one in three people over the age of 65 having a hearing loss and there is a very good chance you are or will be caring for someone with hearing aids. Hearing care professionals will diagnose the hearing loss and fit the devices. But, once fit, a majority of the daily use and maintenance falls to the wearer, or, by extension, the caregiver. It is, therefore, … [Read more...] about How to Care for a Loved One with Hearing Aids
Trinity Hearing Center Flagstaff
What Do You Do with Hearing Loss in One Ear?
Hearing loss presents itself in a unique manner in each individual. Barring hereditary losses, each occurrence will be slightly varied. Some people will have a sensory loss, while others are conductive. Some will occur at birth, while others do not appear until late in life. One aspect that is sometimes glossed over is whether the hearing loss is bilateral or unilateral. Bilateral means the loss occurs in both ears, whereas unilateral is just one ear. Since the majority of hearing losses are … [Read more...] about What Do You Do with Hearing Loss in One Ear?
Understanding Your Hearing Test Results
The first step on any hearing health journey is undergoing an examination. This exam provides you and the audiologist an understanding of your current state of hearing and allows for proper recommendations to be made. The findings are presented in a report called an audiogram. An audiogram contains both a written section and a graph. While the audiologist does review the audiogram during the appointment, it can sometimes be difficult to remember or fully grasp how to interpret your results. … [Read more...] about Understanding Your Hearing Test Results
Which Hearing Aids are Right for Me?
The world of hearing aids can be intimidating. With the multiple manufacturers and models, it can feel akin to purchasing a vehicle. A minority of adults with hearing loss are actually fit with hearing aids, while the average length of time between noticing an issue and seeking treatment is seven years. Fortunately, licensed providers are available to act as guides, with guides being the key word. While providers are very knowledgeable and reliable sources, the question of which type of hearing … [Read more...] about Which Hearing Aids are Right for Me?
Can Hearing Loss Be Fixed?
After being diagnosed with hearing loss, many patients ask, “Can it be fixed?” While the question is simple, the answer can be quite complicated. It depends on multiple factors. For the majority of patients, the answer is, unfortunately, no. However, there are certain situations when medical intervention can help. Being aware of when a hearing loss may or may not be medically treatable, and why, can help you take better care of your auditory system. Conductive Hearing Loss The ear can be … [Read more...] about Can Hearing Loss Be Fixed?
Strategies to Improve Communication
One inevitable side effect of hearing loss is increased difficulty communicating with others. Specifically, the person with hearing loss will often not hear, or will misunderstand, what someone has said. Sometimes the misunderstanding can be humorous. More often, though, it is frustrating and embarrassing. Some people with hearing loss will eventually begin to retreat from social interactions, reducing quality of life. Hearing aids can be of great benefit in restoring these communication … [Read more...] about Strategies to Improve Communication
Hearing Aid Myth Busters
While millions of people are affected by hearing loss, it remains a disability that does not receive much focus. The general public receives very little education on the effects of hearing loss or how to address it. They must seek out answers on their own. This is reflected in many of the common questions patients ask about hearing loss and hearing aids. A prior article answered the most common ones. Here are a few more frequent inquiries. How Often Should I Wear My Hearing Aids? As a rule … [Read more...] about Hearing Aid Myth Busters
Accessorize Your Hearing
Technology is constantly evolving, often at a rapid pace, with the goal of improving and simplifying the experience of the user. If you buy a new phone, you get a pair of wireless earbuds. Hearing aids are similar. While modern hearing aids can significantly improve a wearer’s quality of life, some situations could still be improved with the addition of an accessory such as listening to someone behind you while hiking or catching all the information at a meeting. Fortunately, there are a wide … [Read more...] about Accessorize Your Hearing
Testing Babies’ Hearing
In our world of sound and how it contributes to communication, it is important to have every child’s hearing tested at birth and then screened though elementary school age. We learn to communicate during the early years and if there is even the slightest interruption in the auditory signal going to the brain, the outcome can be significant. Research has shown that hearing loss occurs in 1.7 per 1,000 babies. Our primary means of learning speech and language is passively. This means as … [Read more...] about Testing Babies’ Hearing
How to Determine Your State of Hearing
The first step on any hearing health journey is undergoing an examination. This exam provides you and the audiologist an understanding of your current state of hearing and allows for proper recommendations to be made. The findings are presented in a report called an audiogram. An audiogram contains both a written section and a graph. While the audiologist does review the audiogram during the appointment, it can sometimes be difficult to remember or fully grasp how to interpret your results. … [Read more...] about How to Determine Your State of Hearing