Blog

Featured Posts

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

How Do I Know If I Have Hearing Loss?

Ever find yourself asking people to repeat themselves more often than you’d like? Or maybe you’ve noticed you’re turning up the volume on your television a little bit higher than usual? If so, you’re not alone. Hearing loss is more common than most people realize, and millions of individuals experience it every year. For some, it creeps in gradually, making it easy to overlook, while others face it suddenly. But here’s the good news: recognizing the signs early can make all the difference. Early detection not only helps protect your quality of life but also opens the door to effective solutions.

Image with various hearing related icons

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

Other

SOUND FAMILIAR?

Many tinnitus sufferers have found a way to live with the constant ringing in their ears; others are not so fortunate, as the buzzing sound in their ears is so pronounced that it is difficult to concentrate during the day or sleep at night. In either case, tinnitus sufferers can benefit from an evaluation from an audiologist. On the basis of that exam, either a hearing instrument or a sound generator may be recommended. While the former makes sound so clear that the buzzing noise may recede, the latter drowns out the buzzing sound with a sound of a specific frequency.

IS HEARING LOSS LINKED TO ALZHEIMER’S?

There are a number of studies that suggest a link between sensory impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. For instance, one study found that people suffering from hearing loss had a 30% to 40% greater chance per year of experiencing cognitive decline than people with normal hearing. The rates of cognitive decline were directly related to the level of study participants’ hearing loss. However, it remains unclear whether the sensory problems precede Alzheimer’s disease or the other way around. Some researchers believe that Alzheimer’s disease may affect nerve pathways to the brain that transmit auditory information, while others think that hearing impairment may

HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT OPEN-FIT INSTRUMENTS?

The biggest news involving hearing instruments in recent years revolves around the introduction and widespread popular acceptance of “open-fit” hearing instruments. What makes these instruments so special is their design, which places miniature digital components completely behind the ear, which eliminates the need for a mould. From there, a small plastic tube attached to the business end of the instrument brings sound to the ear canal. Popular excitement with this type of hearing instrument stems primarily from the fact that it is so comfortable. There is no mould to insert in the ear, and the ear canal remains open, so there

PRESBYCUSIS

The term “presbycusis” refers to the slow and progressive loss of hearing that affects both ears to the same degree, usually starting around the age of 50. This age-related loss of hearing most often starts in the high-frequency range, where conversation is conducted. As a result, those suffering from presbycusis are likely to find that their ability to understand speech is hindered more than their ability to hear sounds. This is particularly true in cases where presbycusis sufferers are trying to hear a conversation in noisy environments. The term “cocktail party effect” refers to the ability to focus on a single