Yearly Archives: 2023

Where is the best place to get hearing aids?

Until recently, if you wanted to be treated for hearing loss or get hearing aids, you had one choice — see an audiologist or other licensed hearing care professional. Today, your options have gotten more complicated, with online-only retailers, big-box stores and, starting soon, over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids you can buy at places like Walgreens…

Hearing loss is associated with a higher risk of developing dementia

Did you know…that hearing loss is associated with a higher risk of developing dementia? The evidence linking hearing loss to an increased risk of developing dementia keeps piling up. One Johns Hopkins study found that people with severe hearing loss are five times more at risk for developing dementia than people without hearing loss. Another one found…

Hearing loss is linked to an increased risk of depression

Everyone has their reasons for why they do certain things. Big things, like why they follow a particular career path or live in a specific city. And small, like what they’re going to have for dinner or wear to work today. Most times, the reasons are numerous and nuanced. Other times, it’s a single, simple…

Better Hearing Month is the best time to treat hearing loss

In 1927, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) designated the month of May as Better Hearing and Speech Month. Their goal at the time was to raise awareness about speech and hearing challenges and — more importantly — encourage people to take action and treat their own hearing and speech problems. That mission is just as…

Tips for traveling with your hearing aids

Hearing aids are designed to be a large part of our daily lives and should be one of the first things on your packing list when it is time for a trip. Whether you are traveling for work or for fun, it is important to have a few tricks in mind when you travel with…

Over the counter hearing aids vs. prescription hearing aids: What’s the difference?

Recently, the FDA released its final regulations on over the counter hearing aids. This regulation introduced an entirely new category of hearing aids called “over the counter” or “OTC.” OTC hearing aids officially became available Monday, October 17th, and will be an additional option to the existing category of hearing aids that the FDA now refers to…

Loneliness is not good for your health

Maybe it’s been this way for a while and we just didn’t notice, but loneliness is getting a lot of attention from healthcare professionals lately. One obvious reason is COVID-19, which has forced people to socially distance or isolate themselves, and has severely limited in-person interactions, especially for older adults. Another reason is the increasing…

Your hearing and your heart, sitting in a tree…

It’s February, which, thanks to Valentine’s Day, is a good month to discuss matters of the heart. Plenty will be written and said about the heart’s connection to love. We’ll leave that topic to the relationship experts. Instead, we want to discuss the heart’s connection to hearing and hearing loss — a subject much more…

Hearing Loss Affects Your Doctor Visits

Todays hearing fact probably isn’t something that comes to mind when you think about hearing loss. But — if you do think about it — makes a lot of sense. It’s also potentially much more consequential than, say, missing a punchline in your favorite sitcom or your name being called when your Starbuck’s mocha is…

Do You Need A Hearing Test?

Do you ever feel like the people you’re talking to are mumbling or speaking too quickly?Are you having to ask others to repeat themselves frequently? Or maybe you’restruggling to follow a conversation when there is background noise? If so, these could be indicators that you have a hearing loss. It’s not uncommon for friends and…