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Close up of two fingers holding a single hearing aid with an older woman in the background.

How to Adjust to Life with New Hearing Aids

Getting new hearing aids marks an exciting step toward better hearing. Yet this journey comes with an adjustment period that requires patience and practice. The brain needs time to relearn how to process sounds it hasn’t heard for a while, making the hearing aid adjustment process both rewarding and challenging. This guide provides practical tips for a smooth transition to life with hearing devices. We’ll explore managing expectations, practicing listening techniques, and caring for your devices to help you maximize your investment in better hearing. Set Realistic Expectations Your brain requires time to adapt to the sounds flooding back into your

A doctor standing beside a patient conducting a hearing test.

5 Signs You May Need a Hearing Test and When to Book One

Changes in your ability to hear often develop slowly over time. This gradual progression makes them surprisingly easy to overlook or brush off as temporary issues. Many people put off getting a hearing test until their problems become severe, affecting their daily lives and relationships. The good news? Early detection of hearing loss can dramatically improve your quality of life and treatment options. Catching problems early gives you more choices and better outcomes. This post covers five key warning signs that suggest it’s time to see an audiologist, plus guidance on when to schedule your appointment. 1. You’re Constantly Asking “What?”

Can Earwax Cause Hearing Loss?

Earwax, often misunderstood as an annoying or even harmful build-up, is actually one of your body’s natural defenses. This waxy substance, medically known as cerumen, plays an essential role in keeping your ears clean and protected. But could earwax also be the reason behind your muffled hearing or discomfort? If you’ve been struggling with hearing issues, it’s possible earwax could be the cause. This post explores what earwax is, how it can impact your hearing, and offers practical tips for safe earwax removal. What is Earwax and Why Do We Have It? Earwax might seem like an inconvenience, but it’s both

How to Protect Your Hearing and Prevent Hearing Loss

Hearing is woven into the fabric of our daily lives. It lets us enjoy the melodies of music, share in conversations, and stay connected to the world around us. Yet, hearing loss often creeps in gradually, making it easy to overlook until it becomes a serious issue. The reality is clear—once hearing is lost, it’s permanent. That’s why taking proactive steps to protect your hearing is essential. This guide will explore practical and effective ways to maintain healthy hearing and prevent hearing loss. Why Protecting Your Hearing is Essential Hearing health plays a crucial role in your overall well-being. It impacts

When is the Right Time to Upgrade Your Hearing Aids?

Have you noticed your hearing aids aren’t quite keeping up with your needs lately? Or perhaps you’re struggling in settings where they used to perform flawlessly. Like any piece of technology, hearing aids have a lifespan. Over time, wear and tear, evolving technology, and changes in hearing health could leave you wondering if it’s time for a hearing aid upgrade. Upgrading your hearing aids may unlock improved performance and features that better align with your current needs. In this post, we’ll cover everything from understanding the lifespan of hearing aids to signs you might benefit from an upgrade. Together, let’s see

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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 the conversation in a noisy restaurant. This hearing problem is usually symptomatic of “presbycusis,” or age-related hearing loss, caused by the death of hair cells in the inner ear. These cells are important because they translate sound vibrations into brain signals. Once they’re damaged – usually

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 unsatisfactorily tried using a powerful air conduction hearing instrument or a bone conduction instrument held in place with headbands. As the name implies, bone-anchored hearing instruments are actually fixed to the wearer’s skull. The microphone and sound processor capture and transmit sound vibrations to the titanium

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 of treatment. Recent research has shown that whispers can have a relaxing effect. The fact is, even a missed whisper can have a detrimental effect on a person’s quality of life. From a physiological standpoint, whispers induce feelings of euphoria and relaxation because they stimulate the

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 interesting was a very complete left temporal bone with an auditory ossicle inside, including a complete “stapes.” This bone, which lies in the middle ear of humans and other mammals, conducts sound vibrations to the inner ear. In Neanderthals, the stapes was decidedly different in its