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…
Better TV Listening With A Neckloop
Even with properly fitted hearing aids, it can be difficult to understand the TV due to poor room acoustics, distance from the TV, and background noises like the dishwasher running or other people talking. Using a neck loop with the t-coil function on your hearing aids may improve your listening experience while watching TV. From previous…
Hearing Loss in Babies
Did you know babies wear hearing aids at 6 weeks of age? You may ask, “How is it possible to know that a 6 week old baby has hearing loss?” Most babies will undergo a newborn hearing screening prior to discharge from the hospital. The newborn hearing screening can detect possible hearing loss in the…
Benefits of Using a Neck Loop
Using the T-coil and Neck Loops With Your Hearing Aid In the last blog, I talked about t-coils and how they can increase the functionality of your hearing aid or cochlear implant. T-coils are like wireless antennas. They pick up magnetic signals transmitted from a sound source and then deliver that sound directly to your…
Realistic Expectations for Family Members With Hearing Loss
“My mother still has a hard time hearing me even when she is wearing her hearing aids.” Many spouses and family members experience a lot of frustration when someone they love suffers from hearing loss. Typically, they have dealt with this invisible disability for several years. Once they finally convince that loved one to get…
Communicating With Hearing Impaired Family Members
COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES FOR FAMILY MEMBERS If you have a loved one who suffers from hearing loss, you understand the frustration that accompanies a conversation with them. Even with hearing aids, that loved one is still hearing impaired and could use a little help on your part to optimize the listening situation. Below are a few…
Did You Know…
That cotton swabs, commonly known as Q-Tips, typically cause more harm than good? That’s right – medical training and clinical experience aside, I’ve seen multiple warnings on a variety of boxes that confirm even the company’s concern for improper use of these cotton swabs. Here are just a few I have seen: “Warning – Do…
Communication Tips for Hearing Loss
It can be difficult for people with hearing loss to understand conversations, especially when other noises are present. In fact, even people with normal hearing rely on visual cues or “speechreading” to help them hear better – whether they think they do or not! Here are some things that, regardless of your hearing status, can…
Understanding What We Hear
Understanding Last week we learned about how to describe and categorize different type of hearing loss. Once the ear hears the sound, this sound is sent from the cochlea to the auditory nerve, up to the hearing centers in our brain. Once the sound is heard, it is up to the auditory nerve and the auditory center…