According to the American Academy of Audiology, October is Audiology Awareness Month, a time to educate and inform the public about who audiologists are and what they can do for their patients. In a nutshell, audiologists are the primary healthcare professionals who evaluate, diagnose, treat, and manage hearing loss and balance disorders in individuals of all ages from infants and … Read More
Time is Running Out to Use Your Health Insurance Benefits
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, only around 25% of adults in the United States who need hearing aids have them. The foundation adds that while most private insurance plans pay for a hearing test, they don’t typically help with the cost of hearing aids. The few plans that do may only provide $500 to $1,000 every two to five … Read More
The Connection Between Dizziness and Aging
Whether you’re 20 or 80 years old, you can have problems with dizziness and balance. But as you age, a number of health issues and risk factors can put you an increased risk for dizziness and injury from falls. In fact, according to the Morbidity and Mortality Report, in the United States, about one in four adults (28%) age 65 … Read More
What is This Ringing in My Ears and How Did I Get It?
Millions of individuals have a condition known as tinnitus. Tinnitus can range from a minor annoyance to a major disruption in an individual’s life. But what causes tinnitus and how do you get it? Here, we’ll answer some of the most common questions about tinnitus and sound sensitivity. What are tinnitus and sound sensitivity? Tinnitus is the perception of sound … Read More
Do You Have Problems Hearing the Television?
One of the most common complaints we hear at Associated Audiologists is that the patient has problems hearing the television. In fact, the patient’s spouse or family often mentions that the volume is turned up so loud, the television can be heard throughout the house. For those without hearing loss, that can be annoying. For the person with hearing loss, … Read More
Five Things to Look for in an Audiologist
If you’re noticing that you’re turning the TV volume up on “blast” and you’re constantly asking “What?” a lot, it may be time to have a comprehensive hearing evaluation. But what qualities should you look for in an audiologist? Here are five that are absolutely essential to your success with hearing aids. Education—An audiologist is a degreed professional who specializes … Read More
Maintaining Good Balance—It’s Complicated
Balance disorders are common. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), about 15 percent of American adults are impacted by a balance disorder. Balance disorders can be caused by certain health conditions, medications, or a problem in the inner ear or the brain. A balance disorder can make it difficult to do everything from getting … Read More
Can Medications Cause Tinnitus?
According to the American Tinnitus Association, tinnitus is the perception of sound, such as whistling, buzzing, hissing, swooshing or clicking, where no actual external source exists. The condition is most often associated with hearing loss, but there are roughly 200 different health disorders that can cause tinnitus as a symptom. One of those problems can be the potential side effects … Read More
Why You Need Your Hearing Aids in the Hospital
If you’ve ever been hospitalized and wear hearing aids, you know that having a hearing loss can present a special challenge. While some might advise you to leave your hearing aids at home so you don’t lose them, it’s important you have your hearing aids with you and wear them whenever possible. Why is it important to have your hearing … Read More
The Latest on Over-the-Counter 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 process, in October 2021, the FDA formally proposed a … Read More