After being diagnosed with hearing loss, many patients ask, “Can it be fixed?” While the question is simple, the answer can be quite complicated. It depends on multiple factors. For the majority of patients, the answer is, unfortunately, no. However, there are certain situations when medical intervention can help. Being aware of when a hearing loss may or may not be medically treatable, and why, can help you take better care of your auditory system. Conductive Hearing Loss The ear can be … [Read more...] about Can Hearing Loss Be Fixed?
Trinity Hearing Center
Strategies to Improve Communication
One inevitable side effect of hearing loss is increased difficulty communicating with others. Specifically, the person with hearing loss will often not hear, or will misunderstand, what someone has said. Sometimes the misunderstanding can be humorous. More often, though, it is frustrating and embarrassing. Some people with hearing loss will eventually begin to retreat from social interactions, reducing quality of life. Hearing aids can be of great benefit in restoring these communication … [Read more...] about Strategies to Improve Communication
Understanding the Finances of Hearing Healthcare
Studies show that the average timespan from a person realizing they have trouble with their hearing to finally seeking help is seven years. One of the biggest reasons people wait is concern about cost. Information about hearing aids varies widely online and insurance benefits can be difficult to navigate. But taking care of your ears doesn’t need to be scary. While no two offices operate identically, the overall journey is largely the same. Hearing Exam The first step is always to obtain an … [Read more...] about Understanding the Finances of Hearing Healthcare
Hearing Aid Myth Busters
While millions of people are affected by hearing loss, it remains a disability that does not receive much focus. The general public receives very little education on the effects of hearing loss or how to address it. They must seek out answers on their own. This is reflected in many of the common questions patients ask about hearing loss and hearing aids. A prior article answered the most common ones. Here are a few more frequent inquiries. How Often Should I Wear My Hearing Aids? As a rule … [Read more...] about Hearing Aid Myth Busters
Sounds of Summer
As the temperatures increase and the days stretch out, it is clear that summer is upon us. For most, this means spending more time outside, near water or traveling. It also means increased considerations when it comes to caring for hearing aids. Fortunately, hearing aids are built with these considerations in mind. Moisture Hearing aids are essentially tiny computers. Thus, the internal electrical components are susceptible to damage from moisture. While most hearing aids are not … [Read more...] about Sounds of Summer
Leaping Ahead with Lumity
Hearing aids evolve at an incredible rate, with the ultimate goal of improving sound quality and clarity. The other goal is making the hearing aids as user friendly as possible. Manufacturers consistently survey their customers to determine what types of innovations are most desirable. Phonak recently launched a new technology platform. It’s called Lumity, and patients are stating that the improvements are very noticeable. Sleeker The most common concern patients have, even when they love … [Read more...] about Leaping Ahead with Lumity
Accessorize Your Hearing
Technology is constantly evolving, often at a rapid pace, with the goal of improving and simplifying the experience of the user. If you buy a new phone, you get a pair of wireless earbuds. Hearing aids are similar. While modern hearing aids can significantly improve a wearer’s quality of life, some situations could still be improved with the addition of an accessory such as listening to someone behind you while hiking or catching all the information at a meeting. Fortunately, there are a wide … [Read more...] about Accessorize Your Hearing
Testing Babies’ Hearing
In our world of sound and how it contributes to communication, it is important to have every child’s hearing tested at birth and then screened though elementary school age. We learn to communicate during the early years and if there is even the slightest interruption in the auditory signal going to the brain, the outcome can be significant. Research has shown that hearing loss occurs in 1.7 per 1,000 babies. Our primary means of learning speech and language is passively. This means as … [Read more...] about Testing Babies’ Hearing
Using VR in Tinnitus Management
The second most frequent request I receive from patients, after improved hearing, is to make their tinnitus go away. While tinnitus is not dangerous, it can certainly diminish sufferers’ quality of life. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for tinnitus. Instead, the focus is on mitigating the impact on daily life. Studies show that amplification, sound therapy, dietary modifications and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are all effective forms of tinnitus management. But are there any new … [Read more...] about Using VR in Tinnitus Management
Understanding Your Results
The first step on any hearing health journey is undergoing an examination. This exam provides you and the audiologist an understanding of your current state of hearing and allows for proper recommendations to be made. The findings are presented in a report called an audiogram. An audiogram contains both a written section and a graph. While the audiologist does review the audiogram during the appointment, it can sometimes be difficult to remember or fully grasp how to interpret your results. … [Read more...] about Understanding Your Results
