Holiday Travel Tips for People who Wear Hearing Aids

The holidays are typically one of the busiest travel seasons as millions of people hop in planes, trains and automobiles to visit family and friends.It can also be one of the more stressful times of the year. According to Prevention magazine, 90 percent of Americans report stressing over at least one aspect of the holidays — with traveling high on the list.People who wear hearing aids can help alleviate some of the stress by remembering these five tips as they travel over the river and through the woods this holiday season.*Bring extra batteries! Especially when traveling abroad! The batteries that you use for your hearing aids, while globally available, may not have the same guarantee of quality when traveling. A battery caddy or blister pack of batteries is a great way to travel with them, and Zinc Air batteries are permissible in your carry-on luggage!*You can leave your hearing aids turned on while flying, even if they have wireless capabilities. All domestic airlines allow the in-flight use of hearing aids. If you have any questions, make sure you contact your airline ahead of time!*If you’re visiting someplace tropical, (a) you’re lucky, but (b) don’t forget to bring your dry aid kit! A dry aid kit is a small jar that has a desiccant in it to pull out all of the moisture! If you don’t have one, ask your hearing healthcare professional. Moisture in hearing aids can cause dirt and debris to build up on microphones and other parts and make cleaning difficult.*Speaking of cleaning, don’t forget your cleaning tools! Just like at home, you’ll want to properly maintain your hearing aids while on vacation or traveling away from home! Many people are more active on trips than when at home and tend to need extra TLC when traveling!*You can keep your hearing aids on as you pass through security! The electronic components of a typical hearing aid are so small that they don’t frequently get picked up by a metal detector. Just make sure that if you go through a body scanner you let the TSA agent know! They may ask you to take them out if they are detected!Please don't hesitate to contact Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers with ANY questions you may have about traveling with your hearing aids. We are hear to help! Contact us today, here.

Hearing Loss Affects 5 Percent of the Population!

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 5 percent of the world’s population — or 360 million people — has disabling hearing loss. Key to this statistic is the word “disabling”. Take it out, and the number of people with hearing loss soars to approximately 750 million adults — or 10 percent of the adult population.Of course, hearing loss doesn’t need to be disabling to have a big impact on a person’s quality of life. Little things like missing a grandchild’s silly jokes, or not hearing music as clearly as you once did can affect happiness.Treating hearing loss can help negate or minimize its many negative consequences and offers dozens of benefits that people with hearing loss may not have even thought of.To receive help, contact us now!

Welcome to the Team Rich!

We’re growing!!

Chicagoland Hearing is proud to announce our newest Hearing Instrument Practitioner, Rich Herstowski. Rich joined Chicagoland Hearing in August 2017. Rich brings years of expertise to the practice, and has helped thousands of patients on their hearing journey. Passionate about helping others with their hearing health, Rich finds it very rewarding helping people improve their quality of life.

Rich has been happily married for 22 years and has two sons.  When he is not working with patients, Rich enjoys spending time with family and friends.  Activities include playing golf and tennis.  Rich received his degree from the University of Iowa.

Book an appointment to meet Rich today! We can't wait to hear from you!

Fido can hear you, but is he really listening?

We love our pets. According to the American Pet Products Association, Americans spent $55.7 billion in 2013 on grooming, toys, vet visits and food for furry family members. The number is roughly $500 a year for every American household with a single pet. Homes with more than one pet spent even more. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that we spend more on our pet annually than we spend on men’s clothing ($404) and alcohol consumption ($456).Most dog owners treat the family dog like, well, family. Our dogs travel with us, we buy gifts for them, we talk to them. Many dog owners would argue that the family dog listens better than some of the humans living in their homes.

If dogs had a super power, it would be hearing

If you’re a dog owner who enjoys talking to your dog, have you ever wondered how much he really understands? We all know that dogs have a keen sense of hearing and hear better than we do. Dogs hear nearly twice as many frequencies as humans. They can also hear sounds four times further away — so what human ears can hear from 20 feet away; our dogs can hear from 80 feet away.Even though our dogs can hear better than we can, do they understand what they’re hearing?Two studies, one published in the journal Current Biology and the other in Science, conclude that the answer is yes! Your dog might not understand everything you say, but he listens and pays attention similar to the way humans do. The researchers discovered that dogs — like humans — respond not only to the words we say to them, but also to the emotional tone of our voices.

Humans and dogs listen to speech similarly

The studies suggest that humans and canines listen to speech similarly: both respond to vocalizations — what is being said — along with the emotional tone conveyed during speech, or how it’s being said.As one of the study’s supervisors, David Reby, noted, "This is particularly interesting because our results suggest that the processing of speech components in the dog's brain is divided between the two hemispheres in a way that is actually very similar to the way it is separated in the human brain.”

We are all “lefties” when it comes to language

In humans, the left hemisphere of the brain tackles most verbal processing — the what we say part. Speech using exaggerated, positive vocal inflection — the how we say it part — is processed in the right hemisphere.The dogs in the study demonstrated that they listen the same way — an ability that was once believed to be unique to humans. When unfamiliar language was presented to them, their focus shifted from linguistic content to emotional content.If you’ve ever traveled to a country and been unfamiliar with the language, you know how this works. When you’re listening to language you don’t know, you shift your focus to nonverbal cues like intonation and inflection to try to figure out clues about what you are hearing. Turns out our pups do the same thing when they hear unfamiliar speech.

You can’t fool Fido

Researchers in the second study tried tricking dogs by saying out-of-context words using positive, praising intonations (for instance, they replaced a praise-worthy “good boy!” with the word “however”). Brain scans taken during the study showed the dogs were not fooled. Researchers could tell because the left hemisphere of the brain was not activated. The findings contradict the assumption that dogs only understand the tone of our voices and have no idea what our words mean.

Good listeners make for great companions

The research is good news for animal lovers who enjoy talking to their four-legged friends. Your dog may not understand everything you say, but he is focused on both the content of conversation and the underlying emotional tone.So, go ahead and keep talking to your dog. Just make sure you say nice things, using a nice tone of voice. Keen hearing acuity and the ability to process language similar to humans makes your dog an ideal listener and points to one reason why dogs are, indeed, our best friends!

Millie Bobby Brown Opens Up About Being Deaf in One Ear

"It was like a bug," Brown told Variety of her desire to act. "I know this sounds crazy, but once I find something I want to do, nobody’s stopping me. If I don’t know how to sew, and I really had that passion to sew, that’s it, I’m going to sew. That’s also with acting. So here I am."

But things haven't always been easy for the actress. She also revealed to Variety she has never taken an acting class in her life or trained to be a singer. But she does both—while also being completely deaf in one of her ears.

She was born with partial loss of hearing in one of her ears, but eventually after years of tubes, her hearing completely faded away on that side. When she’s performing—either acting or singing—she can’t fully hear herself. In the first season of Stranger Things, Brown made use of her other senses when playing Eleven, who didn't talk much: “You can talk with your face,” she says matter-of-factly. “It’s very easy for someone to say, ‘I’m mad. I’m sad. I’m angry.’ I have to just do it with my face.”

Acting and singing with partial hearing loss could shake a young actress's confidence, but Brown has never let it affect her. "I just started to sing, and if I sound bad, I don’t care, because I’m just doing what I love," she said. "You don’t have to be good at singing. You don’t have to be good at dancing or acting. If you like to do it, if you genuinely enjoy doing it, then do it. No one should stop you."

The girl has talent. And, she’s pretty brave to open up about health struggles like this at such a young age. It’s inspiring to anyone who has gone through the same situation or, even, a similar one. According to statistics, two or three out of every 1,000 children born in the U.S. suffer from partial hearing loss – so, it’s not all that rare. It’s inspiring to have someone in the spotlight to look up to who understands the struggle some kids do face on a day-to-day basis. And, it pushes them to keep reaching for their dreams. We love you Millie! Keep doing your thing :)

Contact Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers for more information if you feel like your hearing isn't where it should be!

Shared from www.glamour.com

Glasses are cool. But why aren't hearing aids?

If I do my job right, this column might actually change your life. More important, it might change the lives of the people you love.

But first, I need to talk about Elton John’s glasses. It was my first concert. Philadelphia Spectrum, 1972. Elton opened up with “Tiny Dancer” on solo piano. Later, during “I Think I’m Going to Kill Myself,” a character named Legs Larry Smith came out and tap danced.

But none of that is what I remember best. What has stayed with me all these years has been those stylish glasses. Spotlights flooding the stage twinkled off his rims.

Back then, I wore glasses, too. Until that moment, I had never thought of them as a fashion statement. I just thought of them as a way of existing in the world.

But of course glasses were, and are, a fashion statement. Eyewear practically defines certain people’s style. Teddy Roosevelt and his pince-nez. Iris Apfel and her signature circular specs. Mr. Peanut, rocking a monocle. In my 20s I knew a girl with perfect eyesight who even had a pair of clear glasses designed for her. “So that I look hot,” she explained, “when I take them off.

Why, I wonder, is it that devices to keep you from being blind are celebrated as fashion, but devices to keep you from being deaf are embarrassing and uncool? Why is it that the biggest compliment someone can give you about your hearing aids is “I can hardly see them”?

Hearing loss is endemic, and not just for older people. Almost one in four Americans between the ages of 20 and 69 who think they have good hearing actually have some hearing impairment. Among those in their 50s, 4.5 million people have some hearing loss. How many wear devices that would enable them to better hear the world? Less than 5 percent.

Wearing hearing aids can change your life in an instant — not to mention that of the people you love, whose actual voices you may have been unable to hear. But we don’t get help. Because coverage by insurance carriers is inconsistent. Because we don’t know where or how to get our hearing tested. Because we’re afraid of what others might think. Because hearing loss is uncool.

This needs to change. Start with insurance: Hearing aids can be expensive, but employers need to know that people who can’t hear can’t do their jobs well. Education matters, too: People who thought it was dumb for Donald Trump to look directly at the sun during the solar eclipse might think nothing of slapping on a pair of headphones and cranking their music to 11.

The first thing you can do is to get your hearing tested; this is helpful even if you don’t think you have hearing loss, so that you have a baseline reference. You can contact Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers to set up a hearing consultation today.

About 90 percent of hearing loss is “sensorineural,” usually caused by damage to hair cells in the inner ear. Sometimes it’s the result of exposure to loud sounds (like concerts at the Spectrum). That’s the kind of hearing loss I have; my inability to hear high-pitched sounds means that understanding a conversation in a crowded restaurant can be a challenge.

New technology enables wearers to focus their hearing on the person in front of them while canceling out all sound behind. You can control just how much of the world you want to amplify or cancel out by using a free app on your mobile device. And it looks good — I recently wore such a device at a party where, for the first time in years, I heard everything that everyone was saying. It completely changed the way I experienced the world.

When I first learned that I had serious hearing loss (after a lifetime of playing in super-loud bands), I called my wife on the phone, and as I told her of my diagnosis I started to cry. “I’m so sorry you have to be married to someone like me,” I sobbed.

My wife, a tolerant woman by any measure, laughed. “You really think I’d leave you because you have hearing aids?” she said.

Well, yeah, I sort of did. Because I thought it would make me seem old and undesirable. Because somehow I’d forgotten that the world has long been full of people just like me.

I always loved that song that Elton opened with at the Spectrum. I have a friend who loves it, too, although once, when we heard it come on the radio, she asked me: “Hey wait. Why is he singing, ‘Hold me closer, Tony Danza?’ ”

“It’s ‘Tiny Dancer,’ ” I explained. “Not Tony Danza. Tiny Dancer.”

“Duh, Jenny, like — I know, ” she said. “Did you really think I was deaf?”

It was a joke, of course, and she laughed. As if the whole idea was funny, as if our hearing was a gift we could never lose.

Article from the New York Times.

NEW iQ Technology!

Starkey Hearing Technologies is excited to announce a new line of hearing aids based on cutting-edge research in virtual reality, advanced neuroscience, and signal processing. This new line — called iQ — is designed to create a truly immersive hearing experience for wearers, one that delivers the presence, clarity and personalization wearers may have previously missed during the moments that matter most.Our new iQ lineup includes Muse™ iQ, our 900sync™ technology wireless hearing aids; Halo® iQ, our smartphone-compatible hearing aid; and SoundLens Synergy iQ, our newest invisible-in-the-canal hearing aid.

Inspired by virtual reality research

Being truly present in the moment involves a sense of immersion — knowing where sounds are coming from to help you feel a part of your surroundings. iQ hearing aids help you do that with proprietary Acuity Immersion technology designed to:

• Restore the natural benefits provided by the ear to improve speech audibility and spatial awareness.
• Improve hearing directionality for a more natural, safer listening experience.

Spatial hearing is the brain’s early warning system, simultaneously sensing all the space around us and providing the feeling of connectedness. With Acuity Immersion, iQ wearers have the ability to localize sounds and reassert spatial perception.

iQ might be the most natural sounding hearing aids ever

The immersive quality of iQ hearing aids — combined with Starkey’s renowned industry-leading benefits like no whistling or feedback, superior speech detection, and automatic noise reduction — help people with hearing loss connect, hear and interact with everyday experiences as naturally and effortlessly as possible.We’ve also added two new features that we know repeat hearing aid wearers will love:

• Speech Indicators for memory – Instead of numbers or beeps telling you what memory you’re in, you hear descriptive names, like “Car”, “Home”, or “Outdoors."
• Smart VC – Allows for an increase in gain in all channels not already at maximum, to give wearers a desired increase in loudness when needed.

There’s an iQ hearing aid for every need and taste

Muse iQ and SoundLens Synergy iQ

Designed to provide high-quality, natural sound in even the most challenging environments, Muse iQ and SoundLens Synergy iQ hearing aids work with SurfLink wireless accessories to provide ear-to-ear streaming of calls, music and media, remote hearing aid control and a personalized hearing experience.Muse iQ hearing aids are available in both custom and standard styles, and the Muse iQ micro RIC 312t is also available in a rechargeable option.SoundLens Synergy iQ hearing aids offer wearers an invisible, custom fit hearing solution featuring Starkey Hearing Technologies most advanced technology and supreme sound quality.

Halo iQ and the NEW TruLink Remote

Halo iQ smartphone compatible hearing aids enable connectivity with iPhone, iPad®, iPod touch®, Apple Watch®, and select Android™ devices, providing the most natural audio experience yet, immersing you in the sounds of the things and places you love most.A brand-new wireless accessory, the TruLink Remote, lets you control your Halo iQ hearing aids without needing to go through your smartphone.To try our new iQ hearing aids, contact Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers today! We are SO excited about the new technology and you should be too!

Hurricane Harvey: Starkey Hearing Technologies is Here is To Help!

Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers is beyond thankful for working with such a generous company - Starkey Hearing Technologies! A company that gives back when necessary. Please read the below letter we've personally received from this amazing company!"Over the last few days, our hearts have been saddened by the damage Hurricane Harvey has inflicted on so many people’s lives. We know many of you, your families, your patients and your businesses have been impacted by the storm. At Starkey Hearing Technologies, we strongly believe that together we can make the world a better place, and in times of hardship, it is our human duty to come together to help those in need. We want you to know that we are here to support you.Leading with our heart, Starkey Hearing Technologies would like to help anyone who has lost their hearing aids in recent flooding. We understand how important better hearing is, and how precious the sounds of friends and loved ones are during trying times.If you have lost hearing aids or know of someone who has due to the storm, please connect Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers directly."Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been affected.Please contact Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers to get your hearing aids replaced via Starkey Hearing Technologies!

There are Drawbacks of Letting Hearing Loss Go Untreated!

The importance of hearing to our quality of life and the sheer volume of people who have hearing loss (it’s the third most chronic condition affecting adults) have made hearing loss a topic of regular research and scientific studies.We've compiled the findings of several different studies conducted over the years. Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine — writing about a study comparing brain changes in adults with impaired hearing — noted their findings “add to a growing list of health consequences associated with hearing loss, including increased risk of dementia, falls, hospitalizations, and diminished physical and mental health overall.”But simply treating hearing loss can go a long way towards minimizing these increased risks! Hearing aids may improve balance, and more.To minimize health consequences and enjoy the benefits that come with treating hearing loss, consult with Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers. Contact us here.

The Other Brain Food

Have you ever heard the phrase “brain food”, or run across lists like the “12 best foods to boost brain power”? They usually discuss edibles like fish and spinach and berries — foods that scientists say can improve our memory and focus.But the nourishment your mind gets from these literal foods is nothing compared to the mental health benefits of the “brain food” in the video below.Humans are social animals, and we thrive when we’re engaged with the world around us. Subsequently, we can get weaker socially — and then cognitively — when we are deprived of auditory sustenance. Treating hearing loss helps ensure your brain never goes hungry.Fuel for your brain is just one benefit of better hearing! Get on the right track to a better overall life by calling us to schedule a hearing consultation! We just can't wait to hear from you :)

How Common is Hearing Loss?

Do you have hearing loss? Then welcome to the growing-larger-by-the-day club. According to the latest figures, there are enough Americans with hearing loss to replace the entire population of California and still overflow into parts of Texas.In other words, if you have hearing loss you are definitely not alone. To illustrate just how common hearing loss is, we’ve compiled many of these latest figures into our “Hearing loss by the numbers” infographic below.If you are one of the many struggling with hearing loss, don't hesitate to contact Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers with your concerns. We are available Monday through Friday from 9:00am-4:30pm! We can't wait to hear from you :)

What is Causing the Ringing in my Ears?

If you have ringing or hissing or buzzing in your ears, you have what medical experts refer to as “tinnitus."Experts have tried to pinpoint an exact physiological cause of tinnitus, but the mystery remains unsolved. Exposure to loud noise, head injuries, medication, and even earwax are thought to trigger the onset or worsen existing tinnitus. The sad fact is, science and medical professionals have yet to figure out what causes ringing in the ears.Some people, like Terry, experience tinnitus after a single exposure to loud noise. Others, like Ron, attribute their tinnitus to a lifetime of not wearing hearing protection. Still others, like, Kevin, say their tinnitus started while battling a cold and flying.

50 million Americans deal with tinnitus

What we do know is that tinnitus is too common, affecting 1 in 6 Americans. Tinnitus usually accompanies hearing loss, although hearing loss is not believed to be caused by tinnitus. The reverse is also true: Tinnitus is not caused by hearing loss, even when the two are present together.We also know that however it started, whatever it sounds like, and regardless of whether the tinnitus is mild or severe, each and every tinnitus sufferer wants the same thing — relief.

Is there a way to stop the ringing in your ears?

Unfortunately, a tinnitus cure is something else science and medical professionals have yet to figure out. But while there is no cure for tinnitus, there are effective treatment options available at Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers!Specially designed hearing aids with tinnitus technology are becoming more popular, as they are proven to help. They deliver a customizable sound stimulus that can soothe the annoying sounds associated with tinnitus and provide relief.You don’t have to continue to suffer from tinnitus. Call us today to discuss coping and treatment methods that can work best for you. We want to help you feel relief!

Aren't All Hearing Aids the Same? A Closer Look at Our Starkey Hearing Aids!

This is actually a multi-faceted question! At its most basic, the answer could be “yes,” because — from a manufacturing standpoint — hearing aids all require the same parts: a microphone, an amplifier, a receiver (or speaker) and a battery source. And, from a functional standpoint, all hearing aids should amplify sounds, just as all cars should get you from Point A to Point B.However, if we take a closer look at the hearing aid technology that is available to us today, the answer isn’t quite so simple.

Hearing aids have different features and technologies

First, there are many different technologies and features that are available within today’s hearing instruments. There are memories, channels, bands, wireless, wired, remotes, accessories, and more. Because these options are intricate and confusing to many, it is strongly recommended that one seeks out a reputable hearing healthcare professional to guide them through the process.

Hearing aids come in different styles

Second, there are several styles of hearing instruments available. They range from behind-the-ear hearing instruments to the very smallest invisible-in-the-canal hearing instruments. Again, a hearing healthcare professional will make a recommendation of which style of hearing instrument is the best option for one’s type and severity of hearing loss.  

The company that makes the hearing aid also makes a difference

Finally, there are several manufacturers of hearing instruments. Each of these manufacturers make reliable, quality products. And they all offer (mostly) the same styles. But each manufacturer also specializes in, excels at or is known for certain things.To go back to the automobile analogy: sure, companies like Ford, Toyota and Volkswagen all make sedans, minivans and SUVs that get you from A to B — but think why you ultimately choose one over the other?

Starkey Hearing Technologies is known for quality, simplicity and reliability

Starkey Hearing Technologies has differentiated our hearing aids from the others with features like exceptional sound quality, industry-best feedback cancellation, easy and robust wireless connectivity, a proprietary music setting, custom hearing aid expertise, and the industry’s best network of hearing healthcare professionals, just to name a few.So, as you can see, there is not one single answer to the question of “Aren’t all hearing instruments the same?” The best hearing aids will be the hearing aids that are appropriate for the user’s hearing loss and have the features and technology that will best benefit the user’s lifestyle.If you want to learn more about the Starkey products or you have any questions at all please contact us!

We Have The Best Patient Care Coordinator!

Customer satisfaction is our #1 priority at Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers!Our Patient Care Coordinators are vital members of our team. Their tireless dedication is crucial to our patients' successes. It's always nice to be reminded of the difference they are making in our patients' lives!  We love getting these little reminders in the mail from our patients and colleagues!    

Hearing Aids Help with Motivation!

Did you know that wearing hearing aids boosts optimism, is good for relationships, may improve balance, and can positively impact our quality of life in lots of different ways?! No? Now you do! Hearing aid benefits are endless!One way is by increasing the odds we exercise and socialize — both unquestionably good and positive things for our well-being.Want to learn more benefits of treating hearing loss with hearing aids? Contact us today to schedule your first hearing consultation.

What is Ear Infection Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss can be caused by a number of different factors including aging, injury, noise exposure, infection and heredity. Those factors affect the auditory nerve, causing a sensorineural hearing loss, the most common type of hearing loss. But did you know an ear infection can also cause hearing loss? Hearing loss caused by an ear infection is referred to as a conductive hearing loss. Infection in the middle ear can cause fluid to build up, obstructing the movement of the eardrum and the tiny bones attached to it.

Ear infection hearing loss is a type of conductive hearing loss

Conductive hearing loss affects the outer or middle ear rather than the auditory nerve, the way sensorineural hearing loss does. Conductive hearing loss is commonly caused by an obstruction in the middle ear. The middle ear moves to send sounds to your auditory nerve. Any obstruction can prevent sounds from passing through the middle ear and cause hearing loss. A buildup of wax, fluid in the middle ear, or a hole in the ear drum can each cause conductive hearing loss.“Otitis media” is the medical term for an ear infection affecting the middle ear. The infection can cause a buildup of fluid, making it difficult for the eardrum and the ossicular chain to work together to move sounds to the auditory nerve. The ossicular chain in the middle ear is made up of the three smallest bones in your body. Called the malleus, incus and stapes, each one is as small as a single grain of rice.

Ear infection hearing loss is often temporary

Hearing loss caused by an ear infection is usually temporary and subsides after treatment. Your physician may choose to treat your ear infection with antibiotics. If the antibiotics successfully treat the infection, your hearing should return to normal. If you have a history of recurrent ear infections, your physician may insert a tube in your ear drum to help the fluid drain.Eliminating the buildup of fluid relieves the pain and pressure that often accompanies an ear infection and can prevent the eardrum from rupturing. If fluid builds up without resolution, the pressure can cause your eardrum to rupture.A history of recurrent ear infections can also lead to tympanosclerosis, which is the thickening or scarring of the tympanic membrane. A perforated eardrum and tympanosclerosis adversely affect the mobility of the eardrum and reduce hearing acuity. If your hearing does not return to normal following treatment, your physician and hearing professional may recommend hearing aids to treat the unresolved hearing loss.

What to do if you think you have hearing loss

If you have trouble hearing, it is important to have your hearing tested by a hearing professional, so the degree and type of hearing loss can be identified. Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers will identify the type of hearing loss you have and discuss the best treatment option with you following your hearing evaluation. Click here to contact us today!

15 Consequences of Untreated Hearing Loss

Unlike vision, which people typically treat as soon as it starts failing them, treating hearing loss gets pushed off — some studies suggest up to a dozen years or so.We get it. You can’t do basic things like drive and read when your vision is compromised. Whereas with hearing impairment, it’s more gradual, can feel less detrimental, and is definitely easier to compensate for, either by turning up the volume on things, asking people to repeat themselves, or just avoiding situations where hearing is a challenge.But years of research studies and anecdotal data confirm that untreated hearing loss is linked to numerous physical, mental and other negative quality-of-life issues — but that treating hearing loss can help minimize or eliminate these potential consequences. It’s the question everyone with hearing loss eventually asks: is letting it go untreated worth it? We don't think so! Contact us today to set up a hearing evaluation. We can't wait to hear from you!

No wires, no boundaries.

Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers is thrilled to be able to offer the world’s first custom-made wireless hearable, The Dash Pro tailored by Starkey Hearing Technologies, to its customers.On Tuesday, Chicagoland Hearing partnered with Starkey Hearing Technologies and the Bragi team to unveil The Dash Pro. Powered by Starkey Hearing Technologies, the product release brought together technology pioneers from around the world, all eager to see the newest innovation in wearable technology.The Dash Pro tailored by Starkey isn’t just a set of headphones, but a truly wireless ear computer!The Dash Pro allows you to listen to music, podcasts and more via seamless streaming Bluetooth audio. You can leave your phone at home and store up to 1,000 songs or podcasts on 4GB of internal storage. The Dash Pro enables you to make or receive phone calls, and has up to five hours of battery life and 30 hours on-the-go.Another key feature is that you can go hands-free with the 4-D menu and access core features with just head gestures and audio commands. You can even enjoy a swim, run or bike ride with auto activity tracking. The device will recognize the activity and adjust measurements like heart rate, RPM’s and distance accordingly.Additionally, it allows you to hear what you want to hear with audio transparency that lets you block out sound, or let it all in. The Dash Pro tailored by Starkey is now compatible with iTranslate, allowing you to carry on conversations in multiple languages.Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers is excited to be at the forefront of this innovation.We look forward to fitting you for this state-of-the-art custom-made wireless hearable. Please contact our offices at (847) 213-9424 to set up your custom fitting today or to learn more about The Dash Pro tailored by Starkey.We are very excited about this new technology and we know you will be too! Can't wait to hear from you!

Hearing Aids May Improve Balance

A study conducted by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that enhancing hearing improved the balance of older adults with hearing loss. In the study, subjects who wore hearing aids performed better on balance tests when their hearing aids were turned on vs. when they were off.The study’s author attributed the results to more than just improved alertness. Professor of otolaryngology, Timothy Hullar, MD, posited that, just as we use our sight to tell where we are in space (and sway more when it’s dark or our eyes are closed), we use sound as “auditory reference points or landmarks to help maintain balance.” When that is compromised, balance can suffer.Coming shortly after a Johns Hopkins School of Medicine study linking hearing loss to a three-fold risk of falling, the results suggest that treating hearing loss with hearing aids can help reduce the risk of falls in older people.Help prevent one of the leading causes of injuries for older Americans by treating your hearing loss. Contact us Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers to schedule your first hearing exam today!

Wireless Hearing Aids and SurfLink Accessories Let You Live Life the Way You Want

Our newest wireless hearing aids — A4 and Invisibel [Synergy] — are our most advanced hearing aids ever. Thanks to an all-new operating system and updated technology, they’re designed to make music sound more natural than ever, and speech sound crisp and clear no matter how crowded or how loud the environment that you’re in is.But to really enjoy all the benefits of our wireless hearing aids, be sure to pair them to one, or all, of our SurfLink accessories.SurfLink accessories are small and compact. Designed to fit in your pocket or plug into your TV, they provide everything you need to enjoy TV, music, media, and more when paired to your A4 or Invisibel [Synergy] hearing aids.Here are some of the cool things you can do with our SurfLink accessories:1. Enjoy ear-to-ear phone streaming: Your hearing aids become the phone microphone and receiver when used with SurfLink Mobile 2. So once you answer the call, go ahead and talk to your spouse while lifting weights — you don’t need your hands after all.2. Watch your favorite show in surround sound: Missed out on the epic season six of Game of Thrones? No worries. Watch new episodes and old with SurfLink Media 2. It plugs into your TV or stereo and streams the audio directly to both your hearing aids so you can hear every sword fight, sound effect and line of dialogue as if you are wearing headphones.3. Listen to the football game while your wife naps on the couch next to you: Because SurfLink Media 2 streams TV audio directly to your hearing aids, you can decide the volume you want to listen to whatever you’re watching — while actually muting the sound for the rest of the room, or at least playing it at a volume they find comfortable.4. Let everyone choose their own settings: Have more than one person with wireless hearing aids? No problem! Multiple people can connect to a single SurfLink Media 2 device at the same time and choose the volume they each prefer!5. Quickly, easily change volume and hearing aid memories without touching your ears: The SurfLink Remote fits in the palm of your hand and lets you change memories, adjust volume and more without lifting a finger to your devices.6. Nail that dream job interview: You can use SurfLink Mobile 2 as a lightweight, discreet microphone that can be worn by your conversation partner to help one-on- one conversations be the best they can be.Call us today to learn more about the Surflink and to schedule a FREE hearing evaluation today!This blog originally appeared on www.starkey.com.