Hear Happy This Fourth

Dos and Don’ts for Taking Little Ones to See Fireworks

On June 15th, 2017 | by | in Hearing Protection, Holidays, Tips & Tricks

If you have a newborn in the family, here’s what you need to know about Little One’s ears and fireworks.

Every detail of your family’s Fourth has been planned to a “T,” from the neighborhood barbecue to staking out the perfect spot to watch fireworks. But there’s one more thing to do: Grab Baby’s hearing protection.

While the iconic booms and pops of fireworks come with a thrill, they also put hearing at risk — especially for little ones. From what’s too loud to where to sit and what to do, here’s what you need to know to help keep your family’s hearing healthy this Independence Day and those to come.

Most adults think that because it doesn’t bother their hearing, it won’t bother Baby’s. This isn’t necessarily true — babies hear differently than adults. Loud sounds could potentially damage infants’ hearing and hinder auditory development.

“Babies …

Hear Better, Live Longer

Tips to Help You Live Longer With Hearing Loss

On June 1st, 2017 | by | in Comorbidity, Hearing Health, Tips & Tricks

Hearing loss is linked to health conditions that can affect not only your well-being but also your life span. If you have a hearing loss, here is what you should know so you can be the happiest, healthiest you.

Your Balance

In a study published in JAMA, individuals with at least a mild hearing loss (25 decibels) lost their balance and fell more often than those with healthy hearing. There was an additional increase in the odds of a fall as hearing loss worsened; falls were about 1.4 times as likely for each 10-decibel increase in hearing loss.

The effects of hearing loss may mean that more brainpower is devoted to hearing than to balance. Posture and body control require brain activity that may be impaired due to hearing loss, throwing off a person’s balance. These distractions may increase the risk of falling.

According to the National Council …

Healthy Hearing Can Help You Live Longer

4 Surprising Ways Better Hearing Can Help You Live Longer

On May 15th, 2017 | by | in Comorbidity, Hearing Aids, Hearing Health

In the office the other day, we were talking about segment “Today” did back in January on the benefits of working into retirement.

They cited advantages like living longer, keeping your brain fit, reducing isolation and depression, and reinforcing identity.

The more we talked about it, the more we saw parallels between working into retirement and better hearing. It’s probably no surprise to you, but healthy hearing goes hand in hand with being able to do your best at work, too!

Fun fact:

A 2007 study by the Better Hearing Institute found that workers are most affected by hearing loss during phone calls and conversations with co-workers. Conversely, nearly 7 in 10 participants reported improvements in their ability to communicate effectively when they used hearing aids. For jobs where communication is critical, treating hearing loss can pay dividends.

Living Longer

Researchers at …

Easy Ways to Help Your Hearing

5 Tips to Improve Your Hearing Now

On May 1st, 2017 | by | in Hearing Aids, Hearing Loss

Did you know? About 360 million children and adults — more than 5 percent of the global population — have disabling hearing loss, according to the World Health Organization.

During Better Hearing Month, celebrated in May, we have the exciting opportunity to raise awareness of not only the prevalence of hearing loss, but what you can do about it. While most hearing loss can be treated with state-of-the-art hearing technology, there are simple steps you and your loved ones can take to help prevent some types of hearing impairment altogether. To celebrate 90 years of Better Hearing Month, here are five tips to help you and your loved ones take charge for better hearing every day.

1. Know the Signs

Frequently asking people to repeat themselves, turning up the TV, having difficulty understanding phone conversations, complaining about noise or earaches — these and other signs point to potential …

Does a cup a day keep the tinnitus away?

Your Partner in Hearing Health

On April 27th, 2017 | by | in Caffeine, Hearing Health, Tips & Tricks

If you can’t start your day without coffee or tea, you’re not alone: According to the FDA, 80 percent of U.S. adults consume caffeine every day. Studies have linked moderate caffeine consumption with a lowered risk of stroke and some cancers, and it has long been touted as an aid to memory and concentration. But what do the experts say about caffeine and hearing health?

Tinnitus

It was long considered a given that caffeine plays a role in the development of tinnitus, but an August 2014 article in The American Journal of Medicine reports otherwise. Results from an 18-year study involving 65,085 women indicated that caffeine intake actually lowered the risk of developing tinnitus, and a greater consumption of caffeine translated to an even lower risk of tinnitus. Though the reason behind the connection is unclear, they did offer that caffeine both stimulates the central nervous system and directly …

Even dad jokes will sound better.

Get Dad Something Different This Year

On April 27th, 2017 | by | in Hearing Aids, Hearing Loss, Holidays

“It’s ‘Dad,’ not ‘DAAAD!’”

You might wonder from time to time, “Can he hear me? Or does he pretend he can’t hear me?”

It might be time to give him the benefit of the doubt: According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, men between the ages of 20 and 69 are twice as likely to have a hearing loss as women are.   If a loved one is struggling with a hearing problem, you know how tough it can be just to get the conversation past “How are you?” But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Hearing technology has come a long way in recent years. Modern hearing aids are small and comfortable, and they can integrate seamlessly with his smartphone. They can easily mean the difference between his straining to hear basics (“Would you like some pie, Dad?”) and his active participation in dinner-table …

May is Better Hearing and Speech Month, a nice reminder to take care of your hearing health and celebrate your better hearing!

Let’s Celebrate!

On April 26th, 2017 | by | in Hearing Aids, Hearing Loss, Hearing Protection

May is Better Hearing and Speech Month, a nice reminder to take care of your hearing health and celebrate your better hearing! Here’s a reflection on all things hearing: Better Hearing Month, hearing loss, protection and prevention, plus hearing technology!  

What Is Better Hearing Month?

For over 75 years, May has been designated Better Hearing Month. This monthlong campaign creates an opportunity to publicly highlight the difficulties those with hearing loss face on a daily basis as well as the variety of support solutions available to prevent hearing loss and preserve healthy hearing.

Hearing loss is often misconstrued as only affecting older generations, but people of all age populations — from infancy to the elderly — can be affected by hearing difficulties.  

What Causes Hearing Loss?

Physicians and researchers are convinced that several factors contribute to hearing loss. Heredity, chronic exposure to loud noise, certain medications, and earwax …

Enjoy music the way the musician intended

How to Listen to Music With Hearing Aids

On April 15th, 2017 | by | in Hearing Accessories, Hearing Aids, Hearing Loop, Tips & Tricks

Traditional hearing aids are designed to help those with hearing loss better hear and understand the acoustic characteristics of speech — but not so much music. In honor of Jazz Appreciation Month, celebrated during April, here are some hearing tips, tricks, and accessories for enjoying music the way the musician intended.

Speech Versus Song

The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Hearing Enhancement of Gallaudet University explains the difference between speech and music: “The acoustic characteristics of music are quite different from speech, and a hearing aid that works well for speech perception may not be appropriate when listening to music. For example, the range between the softest sounds of speech (the voiceless th) and the loudest (the vowel aw) is about 30 to 35 decibels, while even the loudest speech signal rarely exceeds 85 to 90.

“In music, the range between the softest and loudest sounds is …

Gardening & Hearing Loss

Gardening for Bird-Watchers: What to Plant

On April 1st, 2017 | by | in Hearing Health, Tips & Tricks

Our Favorite Plants for Bringing Sounds to the Yard!

From chirping, tweeting, and trilling to whistling, hooting, and cooing, birds can turn the quietest garden into a symphony of sounds that brighten any morning and enliven the day. We’ve put together a list of our eight favorite plants for beckoning birds or, in some cases, butterflies, which together not only bring beauty and pollinating power to the garden, but provide a wondrous treat for the ears.  

1. Purple Coneflower

This reliable, full-sun, purple or pink perennial not only blooms long in summertime but also offers up seeds that birds love. The plant reaches up to about 3 feet high and comes back year after year with minimal care.  

2. Fuchsia

A hummingbird favorite, this flowering plant comes in shrubs and small trees and sports intricately artful blooms. As if the gorgeous petals ranging from pink, blue, or …

Foods that support your hearing health

3 Nutritious Recipes That Support Healthy Hearing

On March 15th, 2017 | by | in Comorbidity, Hearing Health, Nutrition

National Nutrition Month is the perfect time to try out these nutritious, hearing-healthy recipes.

March is National Nutrition Month — ready to decorate your plate with something festive and fresh? We’ve brought together some nutrient-rich recipes packed with foods that provide a solid foundation for hearing health.   Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Research shows those with diabetes are more likely to have a hearing loss. This recipe with sweet potatoes, leafy greens, and beans is perfect for those with diabetes or those concerned about hearing health.   Ingredients (serves 4)

4 medium sweet potatoes 2 tbsp olive oil 1 shallot, diced 1 garlic clove, minced 1 (four-inch) sprig fresh rosemary 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes 1 1/2 cups cooked and drained white beans 6 cups spinach, trimmed and cut into ribbons Juice …