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What Makes High-End Hearing Instruments So High-End

Did you walk through the malls this holiday season? Ever notice how crowded and loud they are? For a lot of people, having a conversation in the middle of all that hustle and bustle is quite difficult. Think about it. You've got several hundred people all in an enclosed space, where sound bounces around like a cathedral. And of course there is always that extra loud music playing in the background attempting to keep people in the buying spirit. The holidays are also the time of year a lot companies throw their annual staff parties, and friends and family gather in large numbers to spend time with one another. Each year, around this time we receive many calls for help. And it's the same familiar problem year after year, but for some, it's finally time to fix it. It goes like this... Big get together with coworkers, or friends and family. Everyone seems to be having a laugh and enjoying the conversation. Yet you notice that more then half of the time, you find yourself scratching your head - unsure of what was just said. Of course, to avoid the classic "get your hearing checked" comments from those around, you find yourself just smiling and nodding, or even laughing but with really no clue why. Comical at first, but in reality this lack of clarity can be quite risky or embarrassing. They may have said something you actually would have disagreed with, but you nodded in agreement Or you just agreed to buy the next round of drinks....

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Why Hearing Instruments are no different then a car, or a couch…

In our line of work, nothing is more disheartening then when a person leaves our clinic, needing help with their hearing, but are unable to afford it. The cost of hearing instruments is no small figure, especially when a higher level of technology is needed to help in crowds or noise (more on that in next week's post). People come to us for answers, and we are determined to provide exactly that. "Our clients deserve to hear every moment of their life with clarity and peace; We exist to help make that a reality." When my wife became pregnant with our first child, our very first LARGE purchase was a brand new sectional sofa. Our sleek and stylish black leather couches would no longer cut it for these new-to-be parents. We needed: Comfort city. A couch fit for a full family. One to stretch out on and enjoy those mid-afternoon naps while the PGA tour plays on the TV in the background. But they aren't cheap! We certainly didn't have the extra thousand dollars kicking around in our savings jar. So we financed our new furniture at 0%, stretching out the payments to fit our monthly income, and were able to enjoy those family naps without paying an extra cent for it. It's that same sense of immediate help, we are able to offer our clients who need to hear better NOW.   More and more clients are finally getting the hearing instruments they need for those board meeting nightmares or the big family get together's - where it's all just a jumble of...

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Hunting and Hearing Loss

Hunting and Hearing Loss Hunting and shooting are one of the most popular past-times for men in North America. But, shooting any type of firearm without the proper hearing protection can result in severe damage to your hearing, whether temporary or permanent. A study by the University of Wisconsin found that men aged 48 to 92 who hunted regularly were more likely to experience high-frequency hearing loss, a risk that increased seven percent for every five years a man had been hunting. But what's really alarming is that of the 3,753 study participants (83 percent of whom were eligible), "38 percent of the target shooters and 95 percent of the hunters reported never wearing hearing protection while shooting in the past year." One shot from a gun can range from 140 to 190 decibels, and can cause immediate damage to one's hearing. Avid hunter and writer for Outdoor News, Kristen Monroe, can attest to just how damaging a single shot can be; she's ruptured her ear drum a couple of times. "I don't think they all know that it really only takesone shot at the right angle to ruin your hearing and cause permanent ringing," Monroe said of why hunters often overlook hearing protection. Monroe herself used to avoid using hearing protection because it got in the way while shooting, but said that since using SoundGear, she's not only been able to protect her hearing but also not worry about the devices getting in the way while shooting. So beyond the obvious use of hearing protection (a...

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What you need to know about earwax

What you need to know about earwax   Of all the substances our bodies excrete, earwax has to be one of the most mysterious. What possible reason could our ears have for producing this waxy substance? Medical professionals may not yet completely understand all of its properties, but they are certain of its protective nature. To understand more, we've assembled some interesting facts about earwax -- and why you shouldn't be so hasty to remove it. Earwax: gross but healthy Earwax is a natural barrier which prevents dirt and bacteria from entering the innermost parts of your ears. Because it is sticky, it collects microscopic debris which finds its way into your ear canal, much like fly paper traps insects. Without this defensive barrier, your inner ear would be at risk. It acts as a moisturizer and protective coating for your ear canal. Without earwax, your outer ear might be itchy and flaky, which puts it at greater risk for becoming irritated and infected. It acts as an insect repellant. The smell of earwax keeps bugs away, while the stickiness traps those which accidentally venture inside. Your earwax says a lot about you Although most everyone's ears produce earwax, that's where the similarity ends. Its composition varies from person to person, depending on their ethnicity, environment, age and diet. There are two primary types of earwax -- wet and dry. Wet cerumen typically appears in Caucasians and Africans Dry cerumen is more common among Native Americans, Pacific Islanders and Asians Even the color of...

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I can hear, just not clearly. Do I have hearing loss?

I can hear, just not clearly. Do I have hearing loss? What's the number one complaint hearing care professionals hear from their new patients with hearing loss? Ask them and they'll likely say it's, "I can hear but I can't understand." If this is what you're experiencing, you may wonder if you have a hearing loss. Don't miss another chance to connect with those you love! Hearing loss is complicated because it involves not only the ears, but also the brain where sound is translated into meaningful words. It can manifest in many different ways with symptoms that vary between individuals. Hearing loss comes in all degrees from mild to profound. When you think of hearing loss, severe hearing loss or deafness probably comes to mind. But mild, moderate and high frequency hearing losses are actually much more common. And, with these types of hearing losses, the only symptom may be difficulty with word understanding, especially in situations where there is competing noise. Hearing vs. understanding When your hearing is tested, the results are plotted on an audiogram. People with high frequency hearing losses are said to have a "sloping" hearing loss. If you have a sloping hearing loss, it means you are able to hear low-pitched sounds, those below 1000 Hz, very well, sometimes even as well as someone with normal hearing. But, the high-pitched sounds above 1000 Hz need to be much louder before you can hear them. While not always the case, high frequency hearing loss is often the...

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Put that hearing test at the top of your “Done” list

Put that hearing test at the top of your "done" list Of all the life hacks for better living, taking care of your hearing is among the smartest — and it yields an incredible ROI. In short, getting a hearing test is worth it. No matter what your age, untreated hearing loss can take its toll. The catch is, hearing loss is stealthy. It's usually hard to notice at first. In fact, it tends to come on so gradually that it tricks you into oblivion. Then it robs you of more than you realize, sooner than you realize. From pilfering away at your relationships and quality of life, to putting you at risk for other health conditions, untreated hearing loss is a silent thief. And don't think for a minute that you're too young to think about hearing loss — you're not. It's a noisy world. You're part of it. And the numbers show that hearing loss is becoming more common among younger adults — in their 20s and 30s. So make sure you value your hearing. It's a treasure worth keeping. To give you an extra push, here are eight reasons why you should get a hearing test today. 1. It may help your pocketbook. Research shows that middle-aged people with hearing loss have about a third more in health care payments than those without hearing loss. A study by the Better Hearing Institute (BHI) shows that using hearing aids reduces the risk of income loss by 90 to 100 percent...

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Mumps and Hearing Loss

Mumps and hearing loss It only lasts for a couple of weeks, but the effects of having a case of the mumps can be long-lasting – especially for your hearing health. The viral infection is known for painful, swollen glands in the throat and can also permanently damage your hearing. What are mumps? Mumps and hearing loss The mumps, which got its name from an Old English word meaning grimace, is a viral infection which spreads easily from person to person through infected saliva, typically when a person coughs or sneezes. Besides hearing loss, the mumps can cause inflammation and swelling in other parts of the body including the testicles, pancreas, ovaries and breasts, brain (encephalitis), and membranes and fluid around the brain and spinal cord (meningitis). Symptoms include: Swollen, painful salivary glands on one or both sides of the face Pain while chewing or swallowing Fever Headache Muscle aches Weakness and fatigue Loss of appetite The mumps is known as a childhood disease so parents are advised to immunize their children against the disease at 12-15 months, with a booster at 4-6 years of age. The mumps vaccine is commonly administered together with measles and rubella and is known as the MMR vaccine. Medical professionals believe this vaccine provides 80 percent long-term immunity against the diseases, yet outbreaks still occur – mostly due to lack of vaccination. Adults born before 1957 who haven't yet contracted the mumps should consult their family doctor about receiving an immunization, especially if they work...

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Top 10 summer activities that are dangerous to your hearing

Top 10 summer activities that are dangerous to your hearing Summer can bring a host of personal safety issues. We protect ourselves from the heat by seeking shade and staying hydrated. We protect ourselves from the sun by being vigilant about wearing sunscreen. We protect ourselves from mosquitoes by slathering on bug repellent. But as we go about our summer activities, how many of us think about protecting our hearing? The fact is that many of the activities we enjoy once the mercury rises can endanger our hearing if we are not careful. With that in mind, here are 10 summer activities that can cause hearing damage. Some of them might surprise you. Car races Though millions of dedicated racing enthusiasts can explain their differences, Formula One, NASCAR, Indy car and stock car races have one major commonality: they are dangerously loud. Most races average between 90 and 115 dB depending on the types of cars, acoustics of the track space and viewing location. Sound levels can reach as high as 130 dB, the human hearing threshold for pain. This noise level puts spectators at real risk for hearing damage and tinnitus. If you are heading to the track, bring your earplugs. They won't detract from your experience but they will save your hearing down the road. Outdoor concerts Summer is an ideal time to take in an outdoor concert or music festival. A Healthy Hearing Survey revealed that most people are unlikely to think about protecting their hearing while enjoying the show. But here is why you...

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