Have you ever sat down to a meal and started eating, only to feel completely overwhelmed by the sound of your family’s chewing? Or had an officemate whose typing felt so loud that you’re sure the astronauts could hear it from outer space? If so, you might be affected by misophonia: an extreme reaction to certain sounds – often related … Read More
Don’t Let Hearing Troubles Get You Down
As we head into the post-holiday season and coldest months of the year, lots of us experience the “winter blues” — feeling down or depressed. But there could be another cause contributing to depression and other health problems: Hearing loss. For many people with hearing loss, social situations can become frustrating and even embarrassing when it’s difficult to hear. You … Read More
Depression and Hearing Loss—What’s the Link?
Most people think of the holidays as a happy time, celebrating with family and friends at festive gatherings. But those same classic holiday images can be stressful for many, sometimes triggering the mood disorder, depression. According to the World Health Organization, depression affects more than 120 million people worldwide. Depression can have profound effects on quality of life, impairing cognitive … Read More
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
