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
Do You Have Diabetes? You May be at Risk for Hearing Loss
Two of the most common health problems in an aging population are diabetes and hearing loss. Individuals with diabetes have twice the incidence of hearing loss compared to those without diabetes and those with prediabetes have a 30% higher rate of hearing loss. In fact, the World Health Organization reports that the worldwide prevalence of disabling hearing loss affects 466 … Read More
Studies Show COVID-19 May Affect Hearing and Balance
As we continue to learn to live with the SARS-COV-2, or the COVID-19 virus, much more is being learned about how the illness affects the human body. Since the early days of the pandemic, it was noted that individuals with the virus often lost their sense of taste and/or smell. But it seems now more COVID-19 patients are reporting symptoms … Read More
New Research Finds Hearing Loss Tied to Sedentary Lifestyle
The research is clear that an active lifestyle, especially as you age, is important to preventing heart disease, managing your weight and offers many other health advantages, both physical and mental. Now, new research is showing another benefit to staying on the move—active older adults may be less likely to experience hearing loss. Three studies supported by the National Institute … Read More
Sudden Hearing Loss Not Related to COVID Vaccine
The news is filled with reports of side effects related to the COVID-19 vaccine—everything from the standard side effects you might expect, like a sore arm or fatigue—to rumors that it can make your body magnetic (it can’t by the way). One of the side effects may be related to sudden onset hearing loss/tinnitus, which was reported as the vaccine … Read More
5 Common Hearing Loss Myths
It seems that hearing loss would be a straightforward topic, but it turns out there are a lot of myths and misinformation surrounding it. Let’s address a few here based on answers from the Better Hearing Institute at betterhearing.org. Myth: Hearing loss affects only older adults. FALSE: Hearing loss does not discriminate. About two-thirds of all hearing loss is in people … Read More
Who Has Tinnitus?
With more than 45 million Americans struggling with tinnitus, it’s one of the most common health conditions in the United States, according to the American Tinnitus Association (ATA). In fact, when the U.S. Centers for Disease Control conducted its last National Health and Nutritional Examinations Survey, the CDC included several questions on tinnitus to determine the full scope and severity … Read More
Audiology Awareness Month
If you think you might have a hearing loss, there are lots of ways to find out—from online hearing screenings to free in-person screenings to hearing checks at work. All of these screenings can give you an indication of whether you have a hearing loss, but their limitation is that they are only screenings. They aren’t comprehensive hearing evaluations, and … Read More
How to Prevent Hearing Loss
Return to Normal Means Return to Noise There just might be one thing you haven’t missed that much since the pandemic began—noise. Before the nationwide shutdown in March 2020, America was one noisy place, emersed in the constant hum of traffic and machinery 24/7. But when the pandemic hit and everyone was sent home to quarantine, it was surprising how … Read More
Are Hearing Loss and Physical Functioning Connected?
An article published recently in JAMA Network Open asked an intriguing question that many of us may not have considered when it comes to our hearing: Is hearing impairment associated with poorer physical function, reduced walking endurance, and faster decline in physical function? Most of us wouldn’t think that our ability to hear and our ability to remain physically active … Read More
