hearing loss Tag

Covid

Covid 19 and Hearing Loss

Covid-19 and Hearing Loss   For many with hearing loss, Covid-19 and the use of masks have made communication a bit more difficult, as John Watter describes in his article. But is there more of a connection between Covid-19 and hearing loss than just masks? In an article by Forbes, the author links several publications with preliminary research into the side effects of Covid-19. As the virus is new, these studies look at small groups of people that reported changes after recovery.  Although these studies are only looking at small groups of people, they are from all over the world. Thailand, the United Kingdom, India, and globally as this pandemic has touched the world. Studies noted individuals with hearing loss in either one2 or both1,3 ears, increased Tinnitus (ringing in the ears), or Vertigo4.  These first several studies have discussed two possible side effects with a positive Covid-19 diagnosis and how it relates to hearing... Note: these things are possible as many people have recovered without these side-effects. Covid-19 a Virus Historically, other viruses have caused hearing loss in some individuals. This includes herpes, HIV, and measles5. Viruses can affect the hearing systems if the virus makes its way into the middle ear or other parts of the auditory pathway3, 5. For some individuals with Covid-19, this might have occurred.  Ototoxic Treatment The other possibility is ototoxicity. Ototoxicity or ototoxic refers to medications that can be harmful to the organs of hearing or balance. As medical professionals are trying to find what...

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How to Talk about My Hearing Loss

Tips on How to Talk about your Hearing Loss Hearing loss is an invisible condition and one that affects people of all ages. Like most invisible conditions, it can be helpful to let people know about your needs and how they can best support you. Now with masks and social distancing due to Covid-19, this can be especially important. But, in order for that to happen, you need to talk about your hearing loss... But how do I talk about it? Won’t that be awkward? It doesn’t have to be! There are a few ways that you can talk about your hearing loss with the various people in your life.    Here are three ways to discuss your hearing loss: Basic Disclosure  A basic disclosure is to openly share about your hearing loss and any details about your condition that seems relevant in the moment.   “I have hearing loss caused by loud noises. I wear hearing aids to help. Could you please get my attention before speaking?" Having these conversations gives enough information for those around you to, understand the situation, shift their communication style, and provide general support for you. Non Disclosure This is a way to describe your hearing loss without necessarily sharing personal details. This could be used with cashiers, your server at a restaurant, or anyone really. For example, these would be phrases that provide a suggestion, but not giving specific detail about why...   “I can’t hear you, please speak up” "I didn't catch that, would you...

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10 Interesting Blogs about Hearing and Hearing Loss

10 Interesting Blogs about Hearing and Hearing Loss We here at The Ear Depot hope that you’re finding our website, blogs, and in-person conversations helpful as you explore topics about your hearing health. But, if you are looking for more or first-hand experience, below you will find some amazing blogs from people just like you that have hearing loss. So, if you're looking for some extra reading right now, check these out! 1. Living with Hearing Loss - Shari Eberts writes from her personal experience with genetic hearing loss and other topics in the hearing field.  Shari has a great perspective on coming to terms with her hearing loss; it’s not easy, but there is hope.   2. Signia - This hearing aid manufacturer not only likes to put the focus on their products but your overall hearing health.  Looking for a new set of headphones? check out their guide on what style to choose.   3. The Limping Chicken - With a name that is apparently based on a UK joke gone viral, this UK blog edited by Charlie Swinbourne and more than 200 contributing writers, focuses on everything related to hearing loss and the deaf community. Check out Charlie’s blog about having his ears professionally cleaned!   4. Katherine Bouton - Katherine is a published author who writes about living with hearing loss and all the things that go along with it.  She has a really interesting blog about purchasing online and what’s “affordable” in the US.    5....

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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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Traveling with Hearing Aids

Traveling with Hearing Aids: Tips to keep your hearing aids safe and working great Whether you’re heading out on a road trip over the holidays, to the cottage, or jet setting to the other side of the world (away from this cold Canadian weather), traveling can be fun, adventurous, and enriching. When you have hearing aids, they can add a few more things to your travel checklist. Here is a handy guide for all your needs when traveling with hearing aids.  Packing List Extra batteries Charger  Charger cable [If traveling internationally, make sure you have a converter!] Cleaning tools - brush, cloth, and wax filters Dehumidifier kit Accessories - like your remote or mic Traveling By Plane Wear your hearing aids through security and on the plane. According to travel legislation in Canada and the USA, hearing aids and cochlear implants are a branch of medical devices that do not need to be removed. *Note, that x-rays and scanners could affect the hearing aids. If you're concerned, you can ask for a full-body scan or a physical search.  Put your hearing aids in 'airplane mode.' If your hearing aids have Bluetooth, you may have to put them in airplane mode (turns off the service, data, and wifi). You can ask your hearing aid professional the best way to do this or the flight attendants in a pinch. Reduce distractions. If you need to, turn down your hearing aids while going through security or on the plane to help with distracting background...

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TED Audiogram

Understanding my Audiogram

How to Understand Your Audiogram   You’ve made an appointment to have your hearing tested. The Audiologist or Hearing Instrument Practitioner puts you in this booth, you hear a whole bunch of beeping sounds and then… they hand you this piece of paper with some X’s and O’s (when did this become a game of tic-tac-toe!). Welcome to your audiogram, which is a fancy term for the graph we use to record your hearing levels. So what do all these lines and symbols mean?   Lines and Symbols At the top of the graph is the frequency (Hz) of sound or the pitch. As the frequencies go from left to right they go from low to high pitch. Vertically on the left side are decibels (dB), the intensity or the volume of the sound. As the decibel number gets bigger so does the volume and potential hearing loss. During your hearing test, we go through each pitch at different volumes to determine the softest sound you can hear. This is where the X’s and O’s come in! We mark the quietest sound you can hear for each frequency: X’s for the left ear and O’s for the right. This gives us a visual representation of where your hearing is. Another way to think about it - Every sound, including speech [the speech banana as it’s called], is made at a particular pitch and volume. A lawnmower is rather loud at 100dB and has a low-frequency sound. The human voice can range...

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Celebrities with Hearing Loss

Celebrities with Hearing Loss  Have you heard of many celebrities experiencing hearing loss – there are more than you might think. However, finding celebrities that are open about their hearing loss is not as common as those that have other health concerns (Stevie Wonder - Blindness, Michael J. Foxx - Parkinson’s). Maybe it’s because of the stigma and fear that surrounds hearing loss.  But, there are now a number of celebrities with hearing loss that have become vocal advocates for hearing health awareness.  Here are a few…   Actors Whoopi Goldberg, Actor/Comic  The well known actor and co-host of The View has very openly discussed her hearing loss and wearing hearing aids. She attributes her hearing loss to listening to very loud music too close to her ears for too long. Today, she is an advocate for using your portable listening devices at moderate volumes so you can keep enjoying your favourite music.    Gerard Butler, Actor The Scottish actor best known for his rolls in 300 and P.S. I Love You, has hearing loss and tinnitus in his right ear due to surgery he had as a child. He says it’s that surgery that was also responsible for his crooked smile.        Halle Barry, Actress  Although Barry is a Type 1 Diabetic, which gives her a higher risk of having hearing loss, that’s not what caused her hearing loss. Due to an abusive relationship, the actress lost 80% of the hearing in her right ear. She is now...

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Hearing Loss Of Loved Ones

When talking to a family member with hearing loss this season, use these 3 communication techniques to help them hear you better.     As part of my counselling session with new clients, I always make sure to involve both the new hearing aid wearer AND the family members that come to their appointments. Getting hearing aids for the first time is a huge step. One that often takes a lot of courage to even admit there is a need for help. But the work doesn’t end there. Most people make a massive mistake in assuming hearing aids will solve all their problems in conversation. Of course hearing aids provide incredible improvement in speech clarity, but they are not a magic cure-all. How we talk is a HUGE element in how well others understand what we say. After all, conversation is not a one person activity. It’s takes two to tango. Here are 3 key strategies anyone can adopt immediately to improve their quality of conversation. Tip 1. Get the other person’s attention before talking. Whether you’re driving in a car, watching TV, or having dinner together, when a moment of silence falls between you assume that other person is deep in thought or listening to something else in the room. Before you speak, begin by getting their attention. Say their name or a give gentle touch on the hand. This gives them a moment to turn towards you and prepare to listen to what you are about to say. There...

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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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