Peterborough hearing clinic Tag

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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Hearing Aid Battery Trick

Hearing Aid Battery Trick  Do you find hearing aid batteries everywhere? The car, your pockets, your purse, around the house... everywhere! What happens if they don't have the sticker on them? How do you know if they are okay? Well, here is a fun battery trick for you to test if they still have some power! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quj1alMcAkY Have you heard of this one before? More helpful tips and tricks on our Youtube channel or our blog! Try it out... tell me how it works in the comments!

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Online Tinnitus Group – Tinnitus Apps

Tinnitus Apps Although we can't meet in person for our Tinnitus Group, we can still dive into a topic online! Have you ever been out and about (out for a walk, doing groceries, out for dinner...) when your Tinnitus flares up. Although many of our strategies can be used when you are on the go, there are also a number of apps you can download to your phone for when you're in a pinch.  Here are 8 apps that you can use for your Tinnitus; whether that is for masking or to help you sleep. These apps are a combination of those for Android and Apple devices. While there are way more out there than lists, I included those with a 4.5 rating or higher and were free or cost very little.  8 Apps for your Tinnitus Sleep Apps Name Descriptions Devices Price Rating Sleep Pillow Customizable sleep sounds and works as an alarm Apple $2.99 4.9 White Noise: Sleep Sounds Choose from 30 different calming sounds to help you sleep Android Free 4.7 Relax Melodies Select sounds, melodies, and meditations to combine them to create your own mix to help you sleep AndroidApple Free  4.6 Sleep Bug White noise and music  Android Apple Free version 4.6 Relax & Sleep Well Created by clinical hypnotherapists, the app uses hypnotherapy and meditation recordings AndroidApple Free 4.6 Masking Apps Name Descriptions Devices Price Rating ReSound Tinnitus Relief A combination of sounds and relaxing exercises that you can personalize to best suit your Tinnitus Apple...

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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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Troubleshooting your Hearing Aids

Cleaning and Troubleshooting your Hearing Aids Has your hearing aid ever just stopped working? Or maybe the sound becomes distorted or softer? These are common issues many hearing aid wearers face. But what happens if you can't get into the clinic? If something goes wrong here are 4 troubleshooting steps to check your hearing aids.  Check the battery May you need a new one or got a dud (this does happen from time to time) Check that it’s not in upside down; there is a positive and negative side to hearing aid batteries too! For rechargeable batteries - make sure you charge them each night. When in doubt put them on the charger for 20 minutes and check again.  Look for wax or dirt build-up around the microphones, domes, and wax guards (under the dome)… when these get clogged the sound can’t pass through into your ear. For more information on how to change the wax guards, you can check out our video here. If they may have been exposed to moisture (i.e. accidentally went in the shower, rain, sweat on hot days, etc.) leave the batteries IN and place them in a dry aid kit. If you don’t have one, a bit of rice will work in a pinch. Here is more detail on what to do if they got wet.  If they still aren’t working well or at all, give us a call.  During Covid-19 we are still in the office for emergencies like hearing aids not working!  ...

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ear anatomy

10 Facts You May Not Know About Your Ears

10 Facts About Your Ears The human ear is amazing! The more I learn about it, the more I’m blown away at how such a small organ can do so much and be so intricate. Here are 10 cool facts that you may not know about your ears and hearing. The smallest bones in the body are in the ear! They are the ossicles in the middle ear; the incus, the malleus, and the stapes (also called the anvil, hammer, and stirrup because that’s kind of what they look like). The inner ear is the circumference of a pencil eraser! Your sense of hearing depends on tiny hairs deep inside your ear. If you lose these hairs, you lose your hearing. The slightest movement of these hairs is how we hear a variety of sounds and frequencies.  You do not need to clean wax out of your ears unless you have an abnormal condition. Ears are self-cleaning, they push the wax out on their own. On occasion, they may need a bit of help from a professional.  Most individuals experiencing hearing loss are under the age of 65… that’s right UNDER 65, hearing is not just about ‘aging’  The number one cause of hearing loss is exposure to excessively loud sounds (85 decibels or higher). Those orange foam earplugs are a great way to protect your hearing in noisy environments. Your hearing can be damaged permanently even after a single exposure to extremely loud noise (shotgun blast, explosion, etc.). Your ears...

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Tinnitus Group – Nutrition for Tinnitus

Special thank you to Jane, RHN for joining us this month to discuss Nutrition 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 (one who has had it for years and another who is new) and 2 spouses join us, as well as Jane, our guest speaker. Jane is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist who has been practicing for 15 years in Toronto and Peterborough. As a nutritionist, she looks at everyone as an individual with unique circumstances and needs. She also specializes in hyperactive disorders and the Blood Type Diet.  Foods that can Aggravate Tinnitus If you've had Tinnitus for a while, I'm sure you've been told to say away from things like nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, sugar, and salt but did you know there are others? Sulfites - these are preservatives found in most dried fruit, wine, frozen foods, balsamic vinegar, MSG, etc. Phenols - a class of chemical compounds found naturally in a lot of foods including licorice, raisins, honey, raspberries, apricots, oranges, almonds, cashews, olives, peas, beans, and tomatoes. It's not that these things are bad for you, but phenols do affect how you sleep. Jane noted that if you have these at dinner time (I.e. spaghetti with tomato sauce) expect to have a...

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sudden hearing loss

3 Steps in the case of Sudden Hearing Loss

Sudden hearing loss can be a scary thing. You go to bed, all is fine, but the next morning you wake up and can't hear out of one side. So, what do you do first? Call your doctor, wait, panic...? If this happens to you, follow these 3 steps #1 GO TO THE ER. Don't wait! We can't stress this enough. Depending on what has caused the sudden hearing loss (viral infections, blood clots, etc.), there is medication that can reverse it, but only if taken within a small window of time. *The ears and their surrounding structures are very delicate, so even small changes in the body can have a large effect. When it comes to your hearing, don't hesitate to seek medical attention. #2 After going to the hospital, book an appointment to see your family health practitioner as a follow-up. They may recommend you see an ENT (ear, nose, and throat specialist) if there are any residual effects. #3 Have your hearing tested. It's helpful to know if your hearing levels have changed, whether it be temporary or permanent. [This is why having a baseline test can be very helpful.] If it has changed, the practitioner can make a recommendation to keep you hearing and understanding conversation with ease; such as communication strategies or hearing aids.   What Causes Sudden Hearing Loss Well, it can be a few things... It simply could be wax that has finally blocked your ear. In this case, it's very easy to take...

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Support Group

Tinnitus Awareness – Tinnitus Support Group

Tinnitus Awareness - February 2020 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 happens to include Tinnitus Awareness Week! Put on by the British Tinnitus Association each year, this week is to promote awareness to the general public and further research into treatments and ultimately a cure.  This Month’s Group This month, we asked our three group members about their story, Tinnitus advocacy, awareness, and prevention, and advice they would for someone newly diagnosed.  A very big thank you to each of you! Lucia Greig, John Lethange, Jim Leigh, and their spouses.  Your Tinnitus Story How would you describe your Tinnitus and your journey? Lucia - I contracted Tinnitus as a result of Meniere's Disease.  In the initial 15 years, I learned to accept and live with the high pitched noises.  After going bilateral in 2015, I was faced with a multitude of base like noises. As another adjustment period passed, that too became part of my daily life.  John - Well, I’ve had it since I was 20. You get used to it after a while. I have my good and bad days or periods. Right now the Meniere's is not as bad.  Jim - [Tinnitus for several years without hearing loss] Try everything, you won't know what...

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Tinnitus: Ringing in the ears

Tinnitus: Ringing in the ears   Tinnitus is the formal name for the condition of ringing in the ears. Which comes from a Latin word meaning “to ring”. It’s the perception of sound with no actual external source. This occurs due to damage in the connection between the ear and the brain, so the brain, to fill in the silence, begins to create it's own sound. 1 in every 6 adults in North America has some form of Tinnitus.  This ‘ringing’ may also sound like... Humming Buzzing Whistling Clicking Hissing Two-toned It varies from person to person... What Causes the Ringing? Tinnitus is not itself a cause of the ringing, but a symptom of some other damage in some part of your ear. Causes may include: Damage or changes to your middle ear or the little bones in your ear Exposure to loud noise (i.e. construction or rock concerts) for a prolonged period of time Earwax buildup Meniere's Disease TMJ joint disorder or jaw problems caused by teeth grinding Chronic neck muscle tension or injury to the head/neck Some blood vessel disorders including high-blood pressure Ototoxic (ear damaging) medications. These medications including some antibiotics, cancer drugs, diuretics, certain antidepressants, aspirin taken in very high doses for a long time, and other drug.  Sometimes finding the cause can be difficult. Regardless, current treatments can be effective.  Tinnitus Triggers For some people, their Tinnitus can worsen by certain triggers in their environment. Some of them include: Barometric pressure (changes in environmental pressure usually before...

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