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How Hearing Loss Affects Everyday Life

Hearing loss is more common than many realize, affecting millions of people across all age groups. While it might seem like a simple matter of volume, the effects of hearing difficulties go far beyond just missing words. They can influence work, relationships, social life, and even mental well-being. Understanding these impacts is key to addressing hearing challenges and improving quality of life. Impact on Work and Professional Life Hearing loss can make the workplace challenging. Conversations during meetings or phone calls may become difficult to follow, leading to misunderstandings or missed information. Employees with hearing difficulties often expend extra energy to

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

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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

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 up to a decade. Each participant underwent yearly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to trace and monitor brain changes. During that time, researchers found that those with hearing loss at the beginning of the study had a higher rate of brain degeneration than those who experienced normal

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 acoustic advantages of greater directional sensitivity and localization. What this means for the wearer is that the unique placement of CICs within the ear help to better locate sounds. This is because the hearing instrument takes advantage of the cup-like shape of the outer ear and

SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION

In a crowded restaurant, people often blame their inability to hear their conversation partner on loud background noise. While this may be true for most situations, some folks, however, may be deceiving themselves into thinking that they do not have a hearing problem. Until an appointment is scheduled with an audiologist to test hearing levels, there is no way to know whether a person’s hearing challenges are caused by a loud environment or is a direct result of hearing loss. Once someone schedules an appointment to have their hearing tested, a Doctor of Audiology can determine whether a blockage (such as

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