January 2020

Myths about Hearing Aids

6 Myths about Hearing Aids When it comes to hearing aids, there is a lot of misinformation or outdated information. Hearing aids have come a long way and are more science-based then you might think. Check out our myths about hearing aids… maybe you’ve been misinformed.     Myth 1: Hearing aids will make my hearing ‘normal’ again or ‘cure’ my hearing loss Fact: Unlike glasses that can correct vision to 20/20 instantly, hearing aids can’t restore hearing to 100%. Today’s hearing technology is amazing at what it can do: it can pick up speech while turning down background noise; they can also be programmed with your smartphone and other devices for enhanced clarity. The one thing they CAN’T do is correct your hearing to ‘absolute normal’ again. The technology can’t completely replicate all the complexities of the human ear and brain. However, the good news is that hearing aids CAN significantly improve your hearing ability, allowing you to engage with those around you once again, and notably improve your quality of life. It may not be perfect, but it is a phenomenal change.    Myth 2: There is no need to buy two hearing aids. One will work just as good. Fact: Our ears and brains are wondrous and mysterious things, and they like symmetry or pairs. Like other things in our bodies, our ears work best when they work together allowing our brains to interpret sound quicker and with more accuracy. Wearing two hearing aids helps your ears better...

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ear acupuncture

Acupuncture for Tinnitus – Tinnitus Support Group

Tinnitus Support Group Recap – January 2020   First meeting of 2020! We have some great topics planned for this year! Special thank you to Jesse from Peterborough Acupuncture for joining us this month to discuss acupuncture for Tinnitus.  It is the hope that through this group, anyone with Tinnitus can join in to find support from others who have Tinnitus, learn about new therapies to try, test out some of them, and ultimately find hope in knowing they are not alone. Let’s dive into this month’s topic!   This Month’s Group This month we had 2 individuals with Tinnitus and their spouses join us, as well as Jesse, our guest speaker. Jesse has been practicing acupuncture for 12 years and treated many clients with Tinnitus.    These individuals have had Tinnitus for many years and tried out a variety of therapies to bring down the ringing. Both have tried acupuncture before with mixed results.    What is Acupuncture? Traditional Chinese Medicine is a holistic practice that includes acupuncture, herbs, massage, and exercises. It's a way of looking at the body and systems as an interconnected whole. In acupuncture, small needles (they don't hurt I promise!) are used to stimulate various points on the body. These points are on meridian connections, where systems and tissues meet. Each meridian has many activation points that correspond to nervous system receptors on the skin. The needle stimulates a vary precise spot to alert the brain to the systems connected to that spot.  Acupuncture is multi-leveled; working...

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Feeding your Ears: Nutrition and Hearing

Feeding your Ears You’re probably aware that certain foods can help with vision (carrots, anyone?) and others are good for bones (dairy products, calcium) or your heart (tomatoes), but did you know your nutrition can affect your hearing?   According to research studies, there are a few foods to have and some to avoid as another step to protecting your hearing.    Hearing Healthy Foods Potassium - Potassium handles regulating fluids in your body. This is important for our hearing because sound travels through the fluid in our inner ear as electrical signals so our brain can 'hear' the sound. Potassium can be found in... bananas potatoes spinach black beans tomatoes melons oranges yogurt… the list goes on. Zinc - Zinc boosts the body’s immune system and healing, meaning it's helpful at fending off ear infections and reducing the intensity of Tinnitus. It can be found in protein-rich foods like... beef seeds nuts including cashews and almonds spinach dark chocolate Magnesium - Magnesium seems to act as a protective coating for the tinny hair cells in the inner ear. This helps prevent hearing loss caused by loud, excessive noise. Magnesium can be found in most fruits and vegetables such as... bananas potatoes spinach tomatoes broccoli Folic Acid - Folate, or Folic Acid, improves blood flow. The inner ear requires a regular flow of blood. Research suggests that more blood flow reduces inflammation. Less infiltration reduced Tinnitus and age-related hearing loss. Folic acid is found in... spinach bok choy romaine asparagus broccoli...

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