What You Need to Know About OTC Hearing Aids According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), a law established as part of the FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017 directed the FDA to create a new category of hearing aids for adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss called over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. As part of this … Read More
Ask About Real-Ear Measurement at Associated Audiologists
Ensure the Right Fit with Real-Ear Measurement Remember the children’s story about Goldilocks and the Three Bears? Goldilocks tried out everything in the bears’ home, from their porridge to their beds, until she found what she considered “just right.” Fortunately, Goldilocks didn’t wear hearing aids, but if she did, she’d want to see an audiologist who performs real-ear measurement and … Read More
Who Treats Dizziness and Balance Disorders?
Who to See for Dizziness and Balance Problems Being dizzy or off balance can make it difficult to do everything from bending over to pick something up to getting out of bed in the middle of the night. The result can be dangerous and debilitating for millions of Americans, sometimes resulting in falls and injuries. Unfortunately, getting an accurate diagnosis … Read More
Using Hearing Aids to Treat Tinnitus
Managing Tinnitus Symptoms with Hearing Aids It’s summer and if you’re hearing crickets but they’re not in your back yard, you might have tinnitus. Tinnitus is the perception of sound when no external sound source is present. Tinnitus can take on any number of characteristics and is usually a sound that only you can hear. You can experience tinnitus that … Read More
Hearing Protection a Must Around Fireworks
Protecting Your Hearing During Fireworks Season With the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 causing concerns about crowds gathering and the spread of the respiratory virus, many Fourth of July celebrations were canceled or individuals stayed away in 2020 and 2021. But this year, with transmission rates low and the desire to return to pre-pandemic fun high, many people will be … Read More
Why Hearing Loss is a Family Affair
How Hearing Loss Affects the Whole Family You’re sitting at the dinner table, but your conversation with your partner requires you to constantly repeat yourself. “What?” “Can you speak up?” and “Would you repeat that?” are all phrases that pepper your dinner talk. For family members of someone who has hearing loss, that scenario is all too common. Responses are … Read More
Swimmer’s Ear a Common Summer Problem
Prevent and Treat Swimmer’s Ear This Summer Summer is here and so is a common summer problem—swimmer’s ear. According to the Centers for Disease Control, swimmer’s ear, also known as otitis externa, is an infection of the outer ear canal. Swimmer’s ear can occur when water stays in the ear canal for an extended period. In other cases, regular swimming … Read More
The Connection Between Smoking and Hearing Loss
How Smoking Can Contribute to Hearing Loss According to the Centers for Disease Control, tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States. An estimated 30.8 million U.S. adults smoke cigarettes. Each year, nearly half a million Americans die prematurely of smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke. Another 16 million live with a … Read More
Five Must-Have Features in Hearing Aids
Top Features to Look for in Today’s Hearing Aids Today’s medical devices are constantly evolving thanks to advances in technology, and hearing aids are no different. A hearing aid purchased a decade ago may have been the latest at the time, but if you’re still using that hearing aid, you are likely missing out on some of the latest advances … Read More
Four Things to Consider When Purchasing Hearing Aids
Smart Tips for Choosing the Right Hearing Aids When you’re in the market for hearing aids, you tend to focus on two things—the technology you think you need to hear better and price. Both of those are important issues, but buying hearing aids is far more complex than many other consumer purchases. The decision you make not only impacts how … Read More
