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Well Hearing is Well Being

Good hearing and communication are important through all stages of life Statistics Canada reports that 21% of adults have mild hearing loss2 whereas 7% of adults2 experience “moderate or worse” hearing loss. And hearing loss is generally prevalent over age 50. Hearing loss can be avoided through preventative actions like protecting your ears from loud sounds, practicing healthy ear care and keeping up with immunizations. Those at risk of hearing loss should have their hearing checked regularly because hearing loss can be addressed easily when it is identified in a timely manner. How can you take control of your hearing health?

Separate photos of a man playing guitar and a man using binoculars while hunting

Custom Hearing Protection

Did you know that 1.1 billion people around the world are estimated to be at risk of noise-induced hearing loss? While working in a loud environment or being surrounded by noise may not be something you can always avoid, protecting your hearing IS! 50% of young people admit to listening to their music too loudly and 70% of people exposed to loud noise seldom wear hearing protection. And excessive exposure to noises higher than 85dB can damage your hearing. Here’s some common noise decibels for reference… Gun shot: 140 Jackhammer: 130 Motorsport: 100 Hairdryer: 90 Airplane cabin: 80 We’ve all been

Group of people standing together shoulder to shoulder

Gift of Hearing Contest

According to the CDC, the prevalence of hearing loss is twice as common as diabetes or cancer. And although more common in adults ages 50 and up, hearing loss a ects all ages, demographics and people across the globe. About 40 million adults ages 20-69 in the U.S. alone have noise-induced hearing loss, and approximately 3 in every 1,000 babies are born with detectable hearing loss in one or both ears. At Ear and Hearing Clinic, we believe that hearing well is essen al to being able to live life to the fullest! We are dedicated and passionate about crea ng

AN OPEN DISCUSSION

In terms of gaining widespread acceptance by those in need of hearing instruments, the largest strides have been made by recently developed “open-fit” hearing instruments. Not only have these compact instruments proven their ability to help wearers hear better in social settings (which often pose the greatest challenge to hearing instrument users), they are exceedingly comfortable. Open-fit users are particularly enthusiastic about the instruments’ design, which eliminates the need for custom-fitted molds that fit tightly in the ear canal. Instead, open-fit instruments feed processed sound from the small unity, which sits inconspicuously behind the ear, to the ear opening via a

WEIGHING HEAVILY ON THE EARS

Obesity has been linked to an array of health problems, and it seems that impaired hearing is the latest. Analysis of health data of 68,000 women participating in the Harvard Nurses’ Health Study suggests that carrying extra pounds, especially around the waist, may be linked to hearing loss. Researchers found that women who were obese (defined as having BMIs between 30 and 39) were 17 percent to 22 percent more likely to report hearing loss than women whose BMIs were less than 25. (Body Mass Index, or BMI, is a measurement of body fat based on a ratio of height and

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GETTING AN EARFUL

“Canal-style” hearing instruments are designed to go almost completely unnoticed when worn. Because they fit entirely in the ear canal, these tiniest of hearing instruments also provide the additional benefit of allowing the wearer to benefit from the pinna’s (the outer part of the ear) natural resonance and localization characteristics. Of these types of hearing instruments, “completely-in-the-canal” (CIC) models are best for individuals with good dexterity. Their smaller size usually translates to fewer manual controls (such as volume controls and program buttons) and smaller batteries (which may be more difficult to insert and remove). “In-the-canal” (ITC) models may be easier to

DO YOU HAVE A MUSICAL EAR?

If you are a musician, you should know that recent research shows that musicians top the charts when it comes to hearing loss. In fact, an analysis of the insurance records of seven million people shows that professional musicians are nearly four times more likely to suffer noise-induced deafness. Moreover, the study indicated that musicians were also about 57 percent more likely to suffer from “tinnitus,” which is ringing in the ears associated with hearing loss. A symphony orchestra can hit 120-137 decibels, and a rock concert can top 150 decibels. Over time, loud music takes its toll. Musicians of all

EXPLAINING GENDER BIAS

Studies indicate that men are twice as likely to develop hearing loss as women, especially those between the ages of 20-69. One of the many possible explanations for this difference involves the “female sex hormone” estradiol, which is found in both men and women. In women, estradiol functions as a growth hormone for tissues of the reproductive organs and plays a critical role in sexual development. In men, the hormone is generated in testosterone by aromatase, a protein which is found throughout the male reproductive system. Estradiol is also known to affect other organs. Of particular interest to hearing specialists is

OVER-THE-COUNTER HEARING LOSS

While past studies have largely focused on men with hearing loss related to taking over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, a more recent study concerns women with the same problem. According to a large Harvard study involving middle-aged female nurses, those taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen on a regular basis experienced a 20 percent higher risk of hearing loss. Curiously, the study did not show that aspirin produced the same effect even though it is the only OTC pain reliever to carry a warning of potential hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears) on its label. Hearing loss that does not go away