NOTABLE HEARING-IMPAIRED MUSICIANS
Eric Clapton recently expressed concerns that he had tinnitus and was “going deaf.” The same rang true for Ludwig van Beethoven who moved from hearing buzzing in his ears (tinnitus) at the age of 26 to progressive hearing loss and, finally, total deafness by age 44. Even so, he continued to compose music. He was […]
REGROWING HAIR (CELLS)
The type of hearing loss known as “sensorineural” is a result of inner ear or auditory nerve dysfunction. This is due in part to damage of the tiny “hair cells” that reside within the cochlea. These sensory receptors convert sound waves into electrical signals that are transmitted through the acoustic nerve to the brain. However, […]
COOL, CALM, AND CONNECTED
As increasing numbers of people have come to view hearing aids as a technology extension of the smartphone, their coolness factor towards hearing aids has also risen. No longer are they regarded simply as a means of improving hearing health. Hearing instruments with Bluetooth connectivity have attained a new status as communication and information-gathering devices. […]
STOP THE RINGING
“Tinnitus,” the perception of sound in the head when there is no outside sound source, is a symptom. Causes of tinnitus can include exposure to loud noises, stress, injury, Meniere’s disease, hypertension, migraine headaches, drinking too much coffee, and even over-accumulations of earwax. “Ringing in the ears,” as it is more commonly known, may also […]
ROCK TAKES ITS TOLL
As a Baby Boomer, attending your share of rock concerts may have caused you to have the same problem as many of your musical heroes. Pete Townshend, Eric Clapton, and Neil Young have all professed to have hearing loss. One symptom you should be on the lookout for is difficulty hearing your partner’s side of […]
TRANSMITTING SOUND THROUGH BONE
Conductive hearing loss occurs when sounds are not conducted efficiently through the outer ear canal to the eardrum and the tiny bones, called ossicles, of the middle ear. Patients who experience conductive hearing loss primarily use bone anchored hearing instruments to assist them in hearing better. This is also the choice for those who have […]
WHISPERED SOMETHINGS
For many people, hearing loss treatment isn’t something they consider until they are unable to hear loud word exchanges. It is perceived unnecessary until those individuals are being kept out of the conversational loop due to their inability to hear. There is, however, every reason to believe that even mild hearing loss deserves some form […]
ECHOES FROM ANCIENT CAVES
Recent research may provide new insights into humans’ closest extinct relative, the Neanderthals. One of the many ways that Neanderthal anatomy differed from our own came to light after a fossilized ear bone from a young Neanderthal child was discovered. The findings included a skull, jaw, vertebrae, ribs, and hand phalanges. But what was most […]
HOW HEARING AFFECTS THE BRAIN
Hearing loss has the potential to affect health and well-being in ways some might never have imagined. A recent study indicated that older individuals with hearing loss have accelerated loss of brain tissue as well as a higher risk of dementia, falls, hospitalizations, and poor physical and mental health. The study tracked 126 participants for […]
OUT OF SIGHT, TOTALLY IN MIND
The greatest advantage of a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid is that it can be worn virtually undetected. For this reason alone, CIC instruments are among the most popular choices for those who are in need of their unique properties. Not only do CICs have a cosmetic advantage, they have also been noted to impart the […]