The Link Between Hearing Loss & an Overwhelmed Brain
The new year will bring a lot of gatherings, and if you have trouble hearing during these events, it could mean your brain is overwhelmed with sounds. A very recent study, published in December 2022, uncovered this link among mice, and the findings could be translated to humans. About the Study The study, entitled “Decreased…
What is Unilateral Hearing Loss?
What is Single Sided Deafness? Sometimes referred to as unilateral hearing loss, single sided deafness is a condition in which an individual experiences hearing loss in only one ear but can hear normally out of the other ear. While the majority of patients with a hearing impairment suffer from bilateral (two-sided) hearing loss, SSD is…
What is Sudden Hearing Loss?
For most people who experience hearing loss, the condition comes on gradually over a period of years. In rare cases, an abrupt loss of hearing occurs with little or no warning. This condition is known as sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL). What is Sudden Deafness? Sudden deafness is defined as a hearing reduction of 30…
What is Noise Induced Hearing Loss?
Noise induced hearing loss is the second most common form of hearing loss (ranking behind presbycusis, hearing loss related to normal aging), and is the most preventable type. How Can Sounds Hurt Your Ears? Background sound is a constant in our busy lives. Normally, background noises are at safe levels that won’t impact our hearing….
Treating Hearing Loss with Surgery
There are two main types of hearing loss: conductive and sensorineural. Conductive hearing loss is caused by problems in the middle ear and outer ear, while sensorineural hearing loss is the result of inner ear problems. Sensorineural hearing loss is often referred to as nerve deafness and is usually treatable only with hearing aids. Conductive…
Communication Disorders in Older Adults
During May Is Better Hearing & Speech Month, Midwest ENT Centre is spotlighting the importance of early detection and treatment for communication disorders in older Americans. Roughly 40 million Americans experience these disorders. Speech/language or swallowing disorders may result from medical conditions, such as oral cancer, stroke, Parkinson’s, or traumatic brain injury. Adults may also…
How Do I Clean My Ears?
Help! My ears feel full and I want to clean them myself, but …… DO NOT PUT ANYTHING SMALLER THAN YOUR ELBOW IN YOUR EARS! Many people want to use q-tips or bobby pins to clean their ears when they feel full. Using a q-tip or anything like that can actually make the fullness worse,…
Communication Strategies For Telephone Use
Whether you are a hearing aid user or not, hearing on the telephone when you have a hearing loss can be very challenging. This often leads to misunderstanding and frustration with the caller or the inability to have a conversation on the telephone at all. Below are some strategies you can use that may help…
What Happens After a Failed Newborn Hearing Screening?
A diagnostic Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) evaluation should be scheduled, immediately. An ABR is used to assess the auditory (hearing) nerve function and to estimate hearing levels. It is a physiological test that measures electrical impulses that are transmitted through nerves from our ears to the brainstem. What does the test involve? Electrodes are placed…
Could Your Medication Be Damaging Your Hearing?
Could your medication be damaging your hearing? Ever wonder if medication could be causing hearing loss? The answer is yes- depending on what type of medication it is and the dosage. Medications, prescription and over-the-counter, can be ototoxic (damaging to the ear). This can cause hearing loss, ringing in the ears or balance disorders. Certain…