Over 5% of the world’s population, or 430 million people, are believed to suffer debilitating hearing loss. Thanks to breakthroughs in hearing aid technology, hearing loss need not be as debilitating as it has been in the past. Understanding where we’ve been with hearing loss in the past can help us see how far we’ve progressed. Early attempts to …
There is never a wrong time to talk to your hearing health care professional about the possibility of updating your hearing aids. It could be that your hearing needs have changed, your hearing aids aren’t working as well as they used to, or you just want to try out newer hearing aids with better features. It will be well worth …
When it comes to new technology, it’s easy to know when it’s time to update your smartphone or tablet. You can see the difference in features, performance and design. Not so with hearing aids. It’s not easy to know when it’s time for new hearing aids. They don’t get outdated like other devices because they are made to last …
The history of hearing aids is a convoluted one. How does one even begin to explain this history with so many developments? The best way is to start at the beginning and lay it out in chronological order. The natural hearing aid The ear trumpet was the first hearing aid. It was a tube meant to direct sound …
Have you been told you have diabetes? According to numerous studies, people with diabetes are twice as likely to experience hearing loss. Diabetes affects 32.4 million individuals in the United States alone and is expected to increase over three decades, making prevention and awareness more crucial than ever. It is estimated that 84 percent of the 88 million people …
Better Hearing and Speech Month coincides with the arrival of spring. The American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) has dedicated a whole month to increasing awareness about communication impairments, including hearing loss, and enhancing treatment while lobbying to decrease the stigma associated with hearing loss for over 75 years. “Connecting People” is the theme for this year. Helen Keller considered …
Whether you have normal hearing or not – we’ve all been there. It’s that panicked moment when we can’t hear or understand the conversation, while it seems that everyone else is having no trouble at all. From time to time, it’s okay to smile, nod, and pretend to understand a conversation – especially with strangers in noisy environments such as …
There are conditions associated with aging that are irreversible and yet, we still take action to confront them and learn more about how to keep living our lives despite their appearance. For some people, that’s the arrival of arthritis. It’s not a curable condition. And yet, with medication, diet, and physical therapy or exercise management, we can retain mobility and …
Music is known to be a powerful form of expression. It can change moods, enhance emotions and even heal individuals. Music is also known to help people relieve stress and anxiety. Given how loud bands play, it’s not surprising that many rock stars have hearing loss. Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger has had hearing loss for years. In a …
Did you know that the consumer electronic world has gone fully digital? It’s true. Today, most electronic devices are designed with a computer at their core. For example, even your microwave is essentially an advanced programmable calculator. With the advent of modern technology and the rapid consumer shift to digital, hearing aid manufacturers have also taken steps to remain …