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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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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

RUPTURED EARDRUM

The eardrum, a thin layer of tissue that separates the ear canal from the middle ear, vibrates when sound waves hit it. In turn, those vibrations pass through the bones of the middle ear and are transformed into electrical signals that are sent to the brain. When the eardrum ruptures (due to very loud noises, ear infections, pressure changes between the inside and outside of the eardrum, injury, and foreign objects inserted into the ear), hearing loss, earache, discharge, and/or loud buzzing noises can result. Inspection of the ear with a otoscope can help determine the extent of damage. Fortunately, any

HOW WELL DO YOU HEAR?

Because enjoying music and watching videos on any number of personal electronic devices are such popular pastimes with so many people, they may want to have their hearing checked out. An “audiometry test” utilizes an “audiometer” to introduce sounds into a headphone (one ear at a time), which the wearer uses to hear a variety of sounds at different intervals. The test enables the hearing professional administering it to determine at what level of intensity of a person can hear. If the individual being tested has any hearing loss, the hearing specialist can suggest ways to correct the problem and avoid