New Study Reveals Hearing Aids Slow Cognitive Decline
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society further supports existing evidence that wearing hearing aids can help slow cognitive decline in elderly patients.1 There are generally two schools of thought when it comes to the relationship between hearing and cognition: The common cause hypothesis states that hearing loss and cognitive decline both involve age-related problems, such as tissue degeneration of the central nervous…
Hearing Devices Aren’t Enough Without Good Communication Habits
If you’ve taken the first step toward better hearing by investing in hearing devices, you deserve to be congratulated. But satisfaction is not guaranteed by a simple purchase. Hearing is not passive—you have a responsibility to develop good communication habits. To receive the maximum benefit from your hearing devices: Commit to wearing your devices. You must…
New Study Reveals Hearing & Vision Loss Doubles Risk of Dementia
It’s common to lose hearing or vision as you age, but the loss of both can have serious consequences. A new study found that hearing and vision loss put you at double the risk of developing dementia later in life. 1 The study involved 6,520 people ages 58 to 101. Participants reported their vision and hearing on the following scale: Normal. …
Spring Into Summer With Clean Hearing Aids
Have you ever thought about cleaning your hearing aids? Considering the conditions their delicate electronic components are exposed to regularly—moisture, heat, earwax, dirt—routine clean-and-checks by your provider are the best way to preserve your important investment. In the meantime, there are steps you can take at home to care for your hearing devices and optimize their effectiveness. Try…
Troubleshooting Hearing Aid Issues While on Vacation
Even the best-laid travel plans can go awry, and so can your hearing aids while you’re on vacation. No need to worry—to get your devices functioning again, follow these helpful tips. You’ll be back to enjoying your relaxing getaway before you know it! My hearing aid stopped working. First, make sure your device is charged…
Could Purifying Antibiotics Be the Key to Curbing Ototoxicity?
Ototoxicity—damage to the inner ear hearing system caused by certain medications—is a massive problem amongst the hearing community. This damage can be permanent and can lead to tinnitus, dizziness and, yes, hearing loss. If people experience these problems, ototoxic medications can make symptoms worse. The American Speech-Language-Hearing-Association (ASHA) has labeled over 200 chemicals and medications…
Did You Know May is Better Hearing & Speech Month?
May is Better Hearing & Speech Month, an annual occasion designed to raise awareness of hearing loss and speech problems. Originally created in 1927 by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) in 1986, President Reagan issued a formal proclamation designating May as the official month to heighten public awareness around hearing loss and speech disorders. Better Hearing & Speech…
A History of Deafness ‘Cures’
For as long as people have suffered from hearing loss, others have been searching for a cure. Over thousands of years, this has proven to be an exercise in futility. Jaipreet Virdi, assistant professor of history at the University of Delaware, explains why Hearing Happiness: Deafness Cures in History in her new book.[1] Virdi is…
Hearing Focused Now Provides Telehealth Services!
Far greater than just a social distancing tool, telehealth is changing the way we’re able to care for you and your family. In these unprecedented times of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, many health care workers are turning to telehealth—the convergence of telecommunication (phone calls, video chats, text messages) and health—primarily to suppress the spread of…
Poor Heart Health May Lead to Hearing Loss
If you don’t watch what you eat and fail to exercise regularly, poor cardiovascular health is only one risk you’ll face. New evidence shows a link between poor heart health and hearing loss. The reason for this surprising correlation? The inner ear is extremely sensitive to blood flow, so obstructions in the arteries and veins—symptoms…