Celebrate hearing health with us in May!

Dr. Battani with a patient at Associated Audiologists in Shawnee Mission, KS

The month of May is full of special observances: Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, graduations, and end-of-school celebrations. For Associated Audiologists, Inc., it’s also the month that we’re recognizing the 40th anniversary of our practice! We’ll have more news and updates for you on the anniversary celebrations throughout the month, but in the meantime, here’s one more special recognition to add … Read More

Why Noise is Good and Bad, and How You Can Protect Your Hearing

protect your hearing Associated Audiologists Kansas City

Protect Your Hearing When Possible It’s a noisy world. Probably noisier now than at almost any time in human history. But noise has its place, for better or worse, in life and in hearing loss. From an evolutionary standpoint, noise has played an important part in the survival of the fittest. After all, it’s noise that told our ancestors a … Read More

Video Gaming May be Putting Players at Risk for Hearing Loss

A man browsing at a gaming PC desk with a headset and purple lighting.

Video gaming is popular the world over, but a recent study shows that gamers may be putting their hearing at risk. Here are some tips to help gamers reduce the risk of hearing loss while enjoying the game. If you play video games, or you have kids or grandkids who do, you may want to listen up! According to a … Read More

Preventing Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Manufacturing worker operating a drilling machine while wearing protective hearing earmuffs.

We’re exposed to loud noises every day, but when those noises are extremely loud, or we’re exposed to them over and over, they can cause what’s called noise-induced hearing loss. Now a new study sheds light on the role of zinc in NIHL, and possible ways to prevent it. It’s one of the most common causes of hearing loss—exposure to … Read More

Rural Populations at Greater Risk for Hearing Loss

Two manufacturing workers giving a thumbs-up while wearing hearing protection earmuffs.

A new study has identified those who live in rural America at higher risk for hearing loss. Why? Probably because many in these areas work in industries that consistently expose them to loud noises, like agriculture, making prevention the best course of action. A study recently published in the journal Lancet Regional Health-Americas, is one of the first to estimate … Read More

Hearing Loss in the Workplace

Manufacturing worker operating a drilling machine while wearing protective hearing earmuffs.

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

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

How Loud is that Sound?

Understanding Safe and Unsafe Sound Levels According to the World Health Organization, environmental noise is now being acknowledged as an important public health issue and a top environmental risk faced by the world today. One of the casualties of the noisy world we live in is noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). NIHL can be caused by a one-time exposure to an … Read More

Are you wearing hearing protection at work?

An industrial plant worker adjusting protective hearing earmuffs with a gloved hand.

The Importance of Hearing Protection in the Workplace According to a new study from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), over half of noise-exposed workers didn’t use hearing protection “always” or “usually” when exposed to hazardous occupational noise. Hearing protection device (HPD) non-use was only measured in workers who reported exposure to noise on the job. This … Read More

How to Prevent Hearing Loss

Male Indoor worker with gloved hand on hearing protectors

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