Like black and white cookies or pizza-by-the-slice, hearing ranges widely in quality.
One attempt to standardize the diagnosis and treatment is the implementation of degrees of hearing loss. Audiologists break hearing loss into five degrees: mild, moderate, moderately severe, severe and profound. Patients are categorized into a degree by the softest sound they are able to hear.
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We know how important it is to make sure you can hear the world around you: Dunshaw exists for that very reason. This blog has often harped on the importance of getting fitted for a hearing aid if you need one, and the many benefits that it bestows.
Effective communication is more than good hearing, and good hearing is more than amplified noise. Despite all of the dedicated research, the exact mechanisms behind hearing loss remain mysterious; but a New York hearing loss study might have peeled back the veil a tiny bit.
The study used a species of mouse, the CBA, that gradually lost its ability to hear higher frequencies over time – like humans. While these mice were good for studying similar effects, they weren’t the best mice for breeding. To increase the yield, researcher Robert Frisina cross-bred them with a more virile sort of mouse, C57 Black 6 – known for their poor hearing.
The results were startling.
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The Better Hearing Institute estimates that 30% of Americans over the age of 60 suffer from some form of hearing loss.
Much of this hearing loss is sensorineural hearing loss than can’t be cured; however, hearing aids can greatly increase the quality of life for those afflicted with hearing loss. By hearing better, these people can be more active, more social, and generally more engaged in their lives. Unfortunately, hearing aids are expensive, sometimes prohibitively so, and are not covered under insurance plans.
So why is Congress taking so long to help?
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Hearing aids are a big part of the fight against hearing loss, but are only one part of the solution. Audiologists not only diagnose hearing loss and fit their patients with proper hearing aids, they also suggest lifestyle changes that can engender better communication – not just an ability to hear quieter sounds.
Common tips include focusing on one person at a time, choosing areas where background noise is minimized, and focusing on face of the person to whom you’re talking. The last tip is especially important for those skilled in reading lips.
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Wal-mart has long been synonymous with variety. You can buy clothes, shoes, games, food…if you can think it, there’s probably already a huge aisle dedicated to it.
But hearing aids??
Hearing aid technology can be intricate and complicated; this makes it all the more frustrating when something goes wrong. There are many places that specialize in hearing aid repair, but before you send yours off to be fixed, you might want to try a few simple possible solutions at home. Here a few tips for dealing with a few common problems:
If the volume on your hearing aid has become inadequate:
• Check the temperature of the aid and battery; a too-cold aid can lead to decreased volume.
• Check that there is nothing blocking the hearing aid or battery, such as dirt, debris, or wax.
• Make sure the battery is secure in the hearing aid and has not been jarred loose.
The holidays are fast approaching, and with them the hectic mania that comes along with too many people in too small of a space. That confusion is only exacerbated by hearing loss; here are some tips to help make sure you get the most out of your hearing aid this holiday season.
First of all, wear your hearing aid! Between the hustle and bustle and (occasional, I’m sure) glass of sherry, it can be difficult enough to hear, even with the aid. Make sure your hearing aid is installed and functioning properly so you can get the most out of it.
Hearing aids help you connect to the world around you.
So do cell phones.
So why can’t they get along?
Unfortunately, phones emit radiofrequency waves. While it doesn’t happen for all cell phones, when it does it can lead to an irritating and invasive buzzing noise. At best, it’s intrusive; at worst, it renders your cell phone useless.
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For 10 million Americans living with untreated loss, help may be on the way.
A tax credit legislation currently in discussions in the House and Senate would make hearing aids significantly more affordable. This is extremely promising news, considering that barely a quarter of the nearly 36 million Americans who could benefit from the use of hearing aids actually use them.
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