SELECTIVE SOUND SENSITIVITY SYNDROME
The alliterative term “selective sound sensitivity syndrome” (or “misophonia”) is used to describe a condition whereby a person experiences an intense emotional reaction to a specific sound. It may be a constant tapping of a foot on the floor or hearing someone eat that causes a misophonic individual to fly into a rage. The word […]
ANEMIA TIED TO HEARING LOSS
Because hearing loss is so prevalent among older individuals, researchers have sought to find factors that will help identify those at increased risk. This research has recently yielded the finding that “sudden sensorineural hearing loss” (SSHL), during which hearing is severely reduced over a three-day period, is linked with “iron deficiency anemia” (IDA). This common […]
We’re So Very Grateful to You
All of us at Ear and Hearing Clinic are humbled by your generosity in voting for us recently in the Kitchener Post’s Reader’s Choice Awards 2017. Winning this honour means a great deal to us, and the fact that you chose us for it touches us deeply. Please be assured that we intend to continue […]
SWIMMER’S EAR
While the outer ear infection is commonly known as “swimmer’s ear” is usually associated with young children and the summer months, it can occur at any age, at any time of the year. Moreover, swimming is only one possible cause. This outer ear infection occurs in the ear canal between the outer surface of the […]
HEARING LOSS IN ONE EAR VS TWO
Unilateral hearing loss makes it difficult to sense distance and sound direction. Known as the “head shadowing effect,” listeners with good hearing in only one ear must tilt their heads toward the sound source in order to compensate for the shadowing effect. Audiologists can address this problem with a CROS (Contralateral Routing of Signals) system, […]
EASY DOES IT
While many audiologists recommend that people with newly prescribed hearing instruments wear them all day when they are first fitted with the devices, not everyone can do so comfortably. Some individuals find that their sudden ability to hear sounds that they have not heard in some time is a bit overwhelming. Due to the abrupt […]
DETECTING TEEN HEARING LOSS
With so many youngsters exposing themselves to loud noise that can rob them of their hearing ability, it is important to develop new tests to detect adolescent hearing loss. If hearing loss is uncovered when it is mild, youngsters can be alerted to ways of modifying their behaviors that help to preserve their remaining hearing. […]
OPEN DISCUSSION
Open-fit hearing instruments have become immensely popular because they deliver natural sound quality. This is due, in large part, to the fact that the open-fit design eliminates the muffled effect that might come with other hearing instruments. While similar to a traditional behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing instrument, an open-fit instrument has a much more compact design. […]
SOUND EFFECTS
Regular readers of this column are continuously advised to shield their ears from noise, a common cause of hearing loss. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), noise pollution is one of the pressing threats to public health and is responsible for a range of health problems. Not only can persistent and/or overly loud noise […]
A BALANCED APPROACH
The inner ear contains the “cochlea,” which produces nerve impulses that are transmitted via the auditory nerve to the brain, as well as the “vestibular system,” a collection of structures that provides the body with a sense of balance and spatial awareness. These structures include three semicircular canals that are lined with sensory hair cells […]