When it comes to hearing loss, the associated factors can often surprise us. Seemingly unlikely lifestyle habits and health conditions are associated with hearing loss at the level of statistical trends, even if we can’t determine a causal relationship. One of the factors that has shown some kind of relationship is the frequent use of painkillers. Past studies have shown …
Supporting A Loved One with Hearing Loss in a Nursing Home
Hearing aids can be helpful in countless situations, ranging from home to errands out and about or recreational activities. But what about the transition to nursing home living? Hearing aids remain useful devices in nursing homes, as well, but they require some concerted attention to make sure they remain useful to your loved one. In order to prevent loss, damage, …
Hearing Aids Are Found to Improve Depressive Symptoms
With over two thirds of people over 70 years of age experiencing some form of age-related hearing loss, it is a remarkably common condition. Yet, did you know that hearing loss is highly associated with symptoms of depression and other mental health challenges? Indeed, the rates of depression among those with hearing loss are much higher than among their counterparts …
Head Injuries & Hearing Loss
When you think about hearing loss, the most common image that comes to mind is age-related hearing loss. Indeed, most people who lose their hearing are in the golden years. In combination with noise-induced hearing loss, these forms are quite common, and most people who are fortunate enough to reach an age beyond 70 years will have some form of …
How Smoking & Drinking May Affect Hearing
Lifestyle habits undoubtedly affect our risk of hearing loss. In the first place, the willingness to use hearing protection and to avoid noise exposure are both directly related to rates of hearing loss. However, indirect effects are evident, as well. Health conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes have been correlated with hearing loss. Although it is unclear how the …
A Link between Hearing Loss & Diabetes
As you may already know, hearing loss is related to many other conditions in the body. Not only are those who have untreated hearing loss more likely to experience mental and social health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and social isolation, but they are also more likely to have physical health concerns. Studies have even shown a link between untreated …
When Should I Update My Hearing Aids?
Hearing aids are an important treatment for those of us who suffer from hearing loss. They keep us more active and more engaged with the world around us, and that translates to better health and better well-being over time. But how do we know when our hearing aids are no longer doing the job we need from them? Much in …
A Brief History of Hearing Loss
Over 5% of the world’s population today suffers from hearing loss-about 466 million people. The rate of hearing loss is expected to climb to 10% by 2050. Hazards to our hearing are all around us: at work, at play, and just walking down the street we encounter sound that can cause hearing loss. We are surrounded by ototoxic chemicals. Even …
Celebrate World Alzheimer’s Month with a Hearing Test!
September is World Alzheimer’s Month, and The Lancet has published an update to the known risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease. The 12 factors that are responsible for an estimated 40% of global cases of Alzheimer’s disease include: Excessive alcohol consumption Traumatic brain injury Air pollution Insufficient education in the first 20 years of life Hypertension Smoking Obesity Later-life depression Inadequate …
Why Pretending to Hear Doesn’t Help
You’ve probably been on one or the other side of this conversation before. It starts out easily with some basic back-and-forth pleasantries, but before you know it something is missing. You felt like you understood one another in the beginning, but at some point it became clear that the signals were crossed. Maybe one of you answered a question with …