By midlife, cognitive decline is common and progressive, however, when you begin to forget long-term memories and everyday processes, it can signal more serious cognitive issues. Dementia is a neurodegenerative disease, classified by the loss of two or more cognitive functions and ultimately progresses to the loss of the ability to navigate life independently. While there is no known cure …
Tips for Virtual Communication from People with Hearing Loss
We are entering our third year living amongst a global pandemic that inhibits our ability to connect with people in person. Between surges of new strains of COVID-19, we can spend time close to people out of our quarantine bubble but because of the fluctuations in restrictions, many people have normalized working, attending doctors’ appointments, school, and social events from …
Watching TV with Hearing Aids
What is your favorite TV show right now? These days it seems there are so many options for quality programming, there is something for everyone. When you finally settle down to watch your favorite television program of choice with friends or family, do you ever find that they complain you turn the volume up too loud? While the volume might …
A Link between Tinnitus, Anxiety, and Sleep Issues
Hearing affects more than just our ears. What starts out as a hearing issue often escalates into misunderstandings, chronic anxiety, isolation, loneliness, depression, and even cognitive decline. Often hearing issues go hand in hand with tinnitus, which in turn can amplify stress, interrupting sleep and making it hard to focus during the day. What is Tinnitus? So, what exactly is …
Adults with Hearing Loss at Higher Risk for Unemployment
Hearing loss is the third most common chronic health condition in the US. While prevalent, it is often underestimated as less serious than it is. While hearing loss is an issue that begins in the ears it quickly affects how you communicate and relate to the world. It’s a sensory deprivation that starts slowly and can subtly establish itself as …
Memory Loss & Psychological Distress with Hearing Loss
Thinking back to a specific period of your life where you felt sadness, was it ever triggered by a traumatic event? This could include losing a job, a loved one, suffering a breakup, divorce, or injury. While many people process these difficult events and can move forward others are left with lingering psychological distress. Psychological distress is a general term used …
Athletes and Hearing Loss
Do you identify as an athlete? Even if you don’t play professionally, it’s still fair to call yourself one. You may enjoy the thrill of victory, pushing your body to new limits and the exhilaration of completion. However along with the rush comes health risks. Some of the most common health risks affecting athletes include injuries to knees, shoulders, back, …
Prioritize Better Hearing in the New Year!
If you’re over 50, how many New Year’s resolutions have you made in your lifetime? Take that number and minus the number of resolutions you kept. Let’s face it. While very well-intentioned, New Year’s resolutions are tough to follow through on. Instead of purchasing another unused gym membership – might we suggest a much cheaper and easier resolution? A resolution …
Common Excuses for Not Buying Hearing Aids
It is a fact that most adults over the age of 65 suffer from some degree of hearing loss. Why? As we age, the ear canal and eardrum become stiffer, and the tiny hair cells in the inner ear die off. We don’t hear as well. Treatments exist for this condition. And yet, despite a variety of options, many still …
A Healthy Diet Can Lower the Risk of Hearing Loss
One of the most crucial aspects of excellent health is a well-balanced diet. Doctors advise us to cut back on sugars and fats as we get older and incorporate more whole foods into our diets. The two most frequent medical diseases in the United States are heart disease and arthritis, which can be addressed with dietary adjustments. Hearing loss is …