Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic recently released a new study which shines a spotlight on the need to improve awareness of hearing loss among adults between the ages of 50 and 80 in the United States. Results indicated that only 10% of those surveyed were able to properly identify a “normal” range of hearing. The survey also found that people … Read More
The Link Between Hearing Loss and Osteoporosis
According to a study recently published in the Hearing Journal, a first-of-its-kind study has found that osteoporosis and low bone density may be important contributors to age-related hearing loss. A nationwide longitudinal study of nearly 144,000 women in the U.S., with up to 34 years of follow-up, determined that osteoporosis, or low bone density, was independently associated with up to … Read More
Are Sleep Apnea and Hearing Loss Connected?
The National Sleep Foundation estimates more than 18 million Americans have sleep apnea. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the condition causes you to stop and restart breathing many times while sleeping. This can prevent your body from getting enough oxygen. There are two types of sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea happens when your upper airway becomes … Read More
Medications Can Affect Your Hearing
We usually take medications like pain relievers and antibiotics to treat health problems, such as headache pain, arthritis, or in the case of antibiotics, an infection. And while it’s true that these medications may treat one health problem, in the process they might cause another, namely hearing loss, tinnitus or vestibular disorders. In fact, drugs that can impact hearing, whether … Read More
Why Hearing Loss is a Family Affair
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 often misunderstood by the individual with hearing … Read More
The Connection Between Smoking and 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 serious illness caused by smoking. Each year, … Read More
Can You Hear Spring?
Can you hear spring? Birds singing, rain falling and the wind rustling the new leaves on the trees… If you can’t hear those sounds, you may have hearing loss, and that means you’re missing out on the sounds of spring. But how do you know if you’re missing out? After all, the last time you had your hearing checked might … Read More
How Hearing Impacts Balance
According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than one out of four older people falls each year, and falling once doubles your chances of falling again. A number of conditions can lead to falls—from vitamin D deficiency to vision problems to trip hazards like throw rugs. But a recent study has found that what people hear and do not … Read More
The Perfect Partnership—Hearing and Vision
Though most of us might not consciously think about it, our hearing and our vision constantly are working in concert to help us communicate and navigate the world around us. Hearing and the auditory system Our auditory system is responsible for our hearing and can be divided into two main sections: the peripheral auditory system and the central auditory system. … Read More
Recognizing World Hearing Day
March 3 is World Hearing Day, a day recognizing how widespread hearing loss is not just in the United States, but across the world. This year’s recognition focuses on preventing hearing loss in adolescents and young adults, highlighting the need for safe listening practices and use of hearing protection when appropriate. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in … Read More