Purchasing hearing aids for the first time starts an individual on a path of rehabilitation similar to other conditions that require the person to learn a set of skills in a new way. Very commonly, a person with hearing loss has forgotten specific sounds both wanted (a loved one’s voice) and unwanted (noise) that an individual with normal hearing experiences every day. Aural rehabilitation assists them in becoming familiar with these sounds again, and ...
Open any magazine and you’re bound to find an article on how to turn back the hands of time. Posts on health and wellness are among the most popular on social media. Many of us hope to age gracefully and happily by looking and feeling our best. But is worrying about looking older delaying our decision to get hearing aids? If so, The Harvard Study of Adult Development should change our minds. For 75 ...
Hearing and sight are arguably our two most important senses. Yet, if and when either starts to fail us (and both usually do as we age), we react to each quite differently. Look around at all the people with glasses, contacts, Lasik surgery or just cheaters, and it’s obvious that we have no problem or hesitation with treating vision issues. But when it comes to treating hearing loss, we don’t seem to be ...
A study published in The Lancet, one of the world’s leading medical journals, called dementia “the greatest global challenge for health and social care in the 21st century.” The study, conducted by The Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention and Care, noted that 50 million people have dementia worldwide — and that the number is expected to triple by 2050. The commission’s purpose was to provide recommendations for prevention and management of dementia. The need ...
So you’ve got a little hearing loss. What’s the big deal, right? It happens to almost all of us as we age. FACT: 37.5 million Americans 18 and older have hearing loss, including one out of every three, 60 and older. You can cope, you’ve decided. You’ll just turn the TV up a little louder. Ask people to speak up or repeat what they said. And hey, the quiet can ...
Treating hearing loss has been proven to provide many benefits, like better hearing, improved communication and confidence, and reduced risk of cognitive decline, to name a few. But friends and family get to enjoy the benefits of their loved one wearing hearing aids, too. Some benefits, like closer relationships, less worry, and increased participation are huge. Others, like noticing faucets that need to be fixed, aren’t as obvious.
Have you heard the saying, “it’s funny because it’s true”? This cartoon definitely falls under that category (though, admittedly, funny is a subjective concept). If you’re close to someone with hearing loss, it should at least resonate. We’ve all been there — acting as the translator…the repeater. If you have hearing loss, it should feel familiar, too. Asking people to repeat themselves isn’t just frustrating for you — it’s equally ...
Hearing aids batteries keep our ears going! Here are some quick do’s and don’ts to get the most out of your hearing aid batteries. Do’s 1. Do let your batteries rest for one min after you pull the tab off and before you put into your hearing aid. 2. Do throw your battery away if your hearing aid gets wet. 3. Do carry extra batteries with you at all times. 4. Do ...
Instead of torturing you with the entire list, I limited it by choosing my personal top five. You’re welcome! Just reading through the list made me cringe. I wanted to cover my ears. Turns out I’m not alone. New research explains why we have negative emotional reactions to sounds we perceive as noise. The study found that noise really can be more than an annoyance. Noise isn’t just bad for your ears ...
Do’s 1. Do speak with a hearing professional about situations you want to hear and communicate in better. 2. Do bring a third party or significant other with you to the appointment. 3. Do ask about follow-up care plans and what to expect from your new hearing aids. 4. Do be honest with your hearing professional about where and when you struggle to hear and understand. 5. Do ask about payment plans if cost ...