How is Hearing Connected to Blue Zones?

Central to the blue zones concept is the fact that in each of the communities where people age so well, these individuals don’t live in isolation. Instead, they stay connected—connected to their spouse, children and extended family, friends and community. But in the United States and other industrialized countries where older adults are more isolated, depression, loneliness and even dementia … Read More

Can a “Cup of Joe” Affect Your Hearing?

Coffee is the most commonly consumed beverage in the world, aside from water. It helps millions of people wake up first thing in the morning or stay awake during an afternoon slump. In fact, the caffeine that’s such an essential ingredient in coffee, is a natural substance that works by stimulating the brain and central nervous system, helping you stay … Read More

The Ins and Outs of Long-Term Care Facilities and Hearing Aids

It’s a fact that if you live long enough, you will likely experience age-related hearing loss and need to wear hearing aids. Likewise, some older adults with chronic health conditions may end up living in a long-term care facility. Research shows that anywhere from 70 to 90% of people in long-term care have hearing loss, yet the majority of that … Read More

New Research Indicates Hearing Loss Can Increase Fatigue in People Over 40

Audiologists often see patients who say that struggling to hear on a daily basis literally wears them out. Now a new study recently published in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, suggests people with hearing loss aren’t just imagining it. They are nearly twice as likely to experience daily fatigue compared to those with normal hearing, even after adjusting for demographics, … Read More

Can You Hear Me Now?

The holidays are a busy time for gatherings with family and friends. Unfortunately, for those with hearing loss, a common and frustrating question at these events often is, “Can you hear me now?” While family and friends without hearing loss may not have problems hearing one another, if you have hearing loss and wear hearing aids, you may struggle more … Read More

How Diabetes and Hearing Loss are Connected

November is Diabetes Awareness Month, a great time to call attention to a little-known fact. Diabetes and hearing loss are two of the most common health problems that affect the American population. In fact, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, approximately 37.5 million Americans 18 and over have problems hearing; and according to the Centers … Read More

Hearing Loss in the Workplace

Is having a disability a barrier to employment, and more specifically, what is the impact of occupational hearing loss in the workplace? According to a newly released report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), individuals with disabilities face significant employment barriers when compared to their non-disabled counterparts. Primary barriers identified include non-inclusive hiring practices, limited training opportunities, … Read More

Latest Research Ties Hearing Aids to Reduced Risk for Dementia

Research documenting the connection between hearing loss and dementia is becoming more prevalent. But the bigger question is do people who wear hearing aids have a reduced risk of developing dementia? Now, thanks to a newly released study published in the medical journal The Lancet, we’re beginning to see proof that for people with hearing loss, wearing hearing aids may … Read More

Can Family Provide Clues to Your Hearing Loss?

If you have a hearing loss, or suspect you do, it impacts more than your life. It impacts the lives of those around you, especially family, close friends and even co-workers. Why?  Because untreated hearing loss makes it difficult for you to communicate with everyone, but especially with those closest to you. Here’s why you might want to consider bringing … Read More

New Study Links Hearing Loss to Dementia in Seniors

According to AARP, more than 10,000 baby boomers are turning 65 every day. That makes a recent study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association more relevant than ever. This research found that older adults with more severe hearing loss were more likely to have … Read More