Hearing aids and music can help make tinnitus bette

It is an unfortunate fact of the world that tinnitus — which affects nearly one in six Americans — has no known cure. You cannot take something or do something to make the ringing in your ears go away for good.

Fortunately, for most tinnitus sufferers, there are things you can do to manage it and experience relief from tinnitus.

The American Tinnitus Association — the nation’s foremost and trusted organization committed to finding cures for tinnitus — notes that in the absence of a cure, “the primary objective for all currently available tinnitus treatment options is to lower the perceived burden of tinnitus.”

One treatment option they list is hearing aids. And the American Academy of Audiology agrees, writing that, along with music, “the provision of hearing aids offers substantial benefit to a significant number of people suffering with tinnitus.”

To try our hearing aids with tinnitus technology, connect with us here!

Wearing hearing aids can help limit hospital visits

Researchers from the University of Michigan recently examined data from adults 65-85 years old who had reported severe hearing loss. Of the nearly 1,500 participants in the study, just under half wore hearing aids.

More importantly, they found that out of all the participants, those who had hearing aids were “less likely to have gone to the hospital or emergency room­ in the last year.” And of everyone who had been hospitalized during the year, the ones who didn’t wear hearing aids had longer hospital stays.

The research was part of a larger study to determine if hearing aids could lower healthcare costs overall, thus making them worth coverage through Medicare. While this was just one data point, it does confirm another benefit of treating hearing loss with hearing aids.

Want to experience the benefits of treating hearing loss for yourself? Call Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers today!

5 Signs that a Hearing Test is a Good Idea

A hearing test is an important tool for measuring hearing. Hearing tests are used to look for signs of ear infections, check the health of the hearing nerve, and look for signs of noise damage.

Here are five signs why you should complete a hearing test as soon as possible:

1. Ringing in the ears ” Also called tinnitus, ringing in the ears can be an early sign of damage to the ear or hearing nerve. A hearing test can help catch signs of damage early.

2. People are mumbling ” You can hear that someone is talking to you, but the words aren’t clear. Just like keys on a piano, your hearing is made up of different pitches. If you can hear at some pitches and not others, it can become difficult to understand speech.

3. Difficulty hearing in noisy places ” Many people can hear well in quiet places but have more trouble hearing in noisy places or in groups. This can be due to hearing loss, but can also be related to auditory processing, or how your brain understands sound.

4. History of loud noise exposure ” Do you work around noisy machinery? Do you go hunting or to the shooting range? Do you listen to loud music? We live in a noisy world, and those sounds can cause damage to the ear over time. A hearing test can let you know if your ears are showing signs of noise damage.

5. Concern from family or friends ” Family members and close friends are often the first people to notice changes in hearing. They may notice that a loved one asks for repetition frequently, seems unusually quiet or withdrawn in social situations, or has the TV volume turned up. Have you noticed these signs in anyone that you care about?

What happens during the hearing test?

At Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers, all of our hearing tests are performed by Hearing Aid Providers who specialize in testing and treatment of hearing problems. During the hearing test, the specialist will:

• Check for excess earwax

• Check for signs of an ear infection or fluid in the ears

• Measure hearing at different pitches

• Measure speech understanding

What happens after the hearing test?

Recommendations depend on what the results of the hearing test show. Not all options will be right for everyone. Your audiologist can help find the best choice for you.

Recommendations may include:

• Hearing protection ” Everyone should use hearing protection when exposed to loud sounds. Your audiologist can talk with you about different types of hearing protection, including custom earplugs.

• Hearing aids ” If the test shows hearing loss, your audiologist may recommend hearing aids. Your audiologist can answer any questions you may have about hearing aids and can let you know what type may be right for you.

• Medical referral ” Sometimes the hearing test may suggest a medical problem with the ear that should be evaluated by a physician. The audiologist may recommend seeing your primary doctor or an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor (ENT).

• Tips for reducing tinnitus and improving communication ” The audiologist can provide suggestions to try at home to help you hear your best and to help turn down ringing in the ears.

How do I schedule a hearing test?

Hearing tests are available at any of our 23 locations around Chicagoland! Give us a a call today to schedule your first hearing test!

The post 5 Signs that a Hearing Test is a Good Idea appeared first on Altru Blog.

5 reasons to treat hearing loss

So you’ve got a little hearing loss. What’s the big deal, right? It happens to almost all of us as we age.

FACT: 37.5 million Americans 18 and older have hearing loss, including one out of every three, 60 and older. 

You can cope, you’ve decided. You’ll just turn the TV up a little louder. Ask people to speak up or repeat what they said. And hey, the quiet can be kind of nice, to be honest. “Why should I treat it,” you wonder? 

Should you treat or ignore your hearing loss?

The decision to treat or ignore hearing loss should not be taken lightly. Why? Because hearing loss plays a significant role in many important issues that impact our quality of life, including five important ones:

1. Mental health
2. Physical health
3. Income and career
4. Personal safety
5. Relationships and social interactions

Before you decide whether to ignore or treat your hearing loss, read what studies, health care experts, and hearing aid wearers themselves have to say about each choice.

Ignore or treat hearing loss — a side-by-side comparison

(1) Mental Health

Ignore hearing loss

Numerous studies link hearing loss to issues of mental decline, including increased anxiety and depression, accelerated brain shrinkage, and even dementia. One such study, by Johns Hopkins Medicine, tested volunteers with hearing loss over six years and found their cognitive abilities declined 30-40% faster than peers with normal hearing.

Treat hearing loss
Johns Hopkins’ researcher, Dr. Frank Lin, thinks that “if you want to address hearing loss well, do it sooner rather than later.” He recommends treating hearing loss before “brain structural changes take place.”

A separate study released in 2015 backs him up. In the study, scientists concluded that treating hearing loss by wearing hearing aids reduces the risk of cognitive decline associated with hearing loss.

FACT: Untreated hearing loss may result in serious long-term consequences to healthy brain functioning.

(2) Physical Health

Ignore hearing loss
The National Council on Aging notes that “falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for older Americans.” While no one knows how many falls are linked to hearing loss each year, researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have found that people with hearing loss are three times more likely to fall than those without hearing loss.

It’s thought that hearing loss may detract from environmental awareness, which increases the likelihood of tripping and falling.

Treat hearing loss
Recently, a study by the Washington University School of Medicine found that improving hearing through hearing aids appears to “improve balance in older adults with hearing loss” and helps reduce the risk of falls. Researchers credited the results to both increased alertness and improved balance.

(3) Income and Career 

Ignore hearing loss

A study by the Better Hearing Institute quantified the impact of untreated hearing loss on the job. The study found that people with untreated hearing loss can see an income hit of up to $30,000 annually, and were nearly twice as likely to be unemployed as peers who wore hearing aids.

QUOTE: “Hearing loss was affecting my presentations and ability to service clients.” Chris T., Pennsylvania  

Treat hearing loss

That same study found that people who use hearing aids reduced the risk of income loss by 90 to 100 percent. It also reported that most hearing aid users in the workforce said wearing hearing aids has helped their performance on the job. 

QUOTE: “Listening is SO important in my work, and I can now work better, more efficiently and more effectively because of my hearing aids.” Marty C., New York  

(4) Personal Safety

Ignore hearing loss

Studies aren’t needed to know that missed or misheard signals like car horns, alarms and other warning alerts can jeopardize a person’s safety. And it doesn’t always have to be one’s own. Adults caring for infants and young children need to know when their charge is crying or in distress.

Treat hearing loss

Treating hearing loss with hearing aids enhances your awareness of your surroundings and can help ensure you hear every smoke detector, bike bell, emergency alert or distress call.

(5) Relationships and social interactions

Ignore hearing loss

More than anything, untreated hearing loss can lead to social isolation, as the challenges of listening and feelings of “missing out” often cause people to withdraw from the friends, family and activities that bring them joy.

This, alone, is significant, as social isolation is closely linked to numerous quality-of-life issues, including depression, illness, exhaustion and even shorter life spans.⁹  

Treat hearing loss

Treating hearing loss with hearing aids enables you to hear, participate, and ensure you don’t miss out on the people and activities that make you happy. It’s as simple as that. 

QUOTE: “I’m so glad I got hearing aids. It has truly been life changing!” Lesley P., California

The secret to staying happy and healthy

Open any magazine and you’re bound to find an article on how to turn back the hands of time. Posts on health and wellness are among the most popular on social media. Many of us hope to age gracefully and happily by looking and feeling our best.

But is worrying about looking older delaying our decision to get hearing aids?

If so, The Harvard Study of Adult Development should change our minds.

For 75 years, the study tracked the lives of its subjects and found that the key to being happy and healthy as we age is the strength of our relationships. It’s not professional accomplishments, financial stability or looking like we did when we were 30. It’s having good relationships. 

“The clearest message that we get from this study is this: Good relationships keep us happier and healthier,” said psychiatrist Robert Waldinger, current director of the study. Dr. Waldinger and three generations of fellow researchers examined the medical records, brain scans and interviews of 724 participants over a 75-year period. They also interviewed family and friends, and what they discovered is fascinating.

The study found that the number of friends a person has isn’t important, but the quality of those friendships is.

The quality of our relationships is key

Happiness and health late in life is tied to the health of our relationships. Connectivity to our family, friends and communities are vital for our health. In fact, researchers found that 50-year olds with the highest level of satisfaction in relationships turned out to be the healthiest in their 80s.

Researchers believe secure relationships even help preserve brain function. Good relationships extend healthy life expectancy and quality of life as we age. We are happier and healthier when close friendships are maintained.

Sadly, many of us are not that lucky. An alarming one in five Americans report feelings of loneliness. According to the study, participants who reported feelings of loneliness experienced earlier physical decline and an earlier death than participants with strong social connections. 

So what do hearing aids have to do with all this?

Hearing is one of the most basic ways we connect with others. Listening, laughing, and engaging verbally and aurally with loved ones helps form and strengthen the connections that bind relationships.

Hearing loss, on the other hand, can make talking, listening and engaging more difficult. Hearing loss is a well-known precursor to social isolation — which the Harvard study proves it negatively impacts the quality of a person’s relationships and, subsequently, their health and happiness as they age. 

Can treating hearing loss help improve relationships?

Conversely, a study by the American Academy of Audiology found that using hearing aids to treat hearing loss improves the health of our relationships at home and work. Treating hearing loss with hearing aids can positively impact overall health. Hearing aid wearers report increased self-confidence and socialization.

Hearing our best improves communication with the important people in our lives, and good communication is one key to maintaining quality relationships over the course of our lifetime. 

So, if you want to increase your chances of being happy and healthy as you age, put aside your worries about how hearing aids might look, and invest in yourself by treating your hearing loss and maintain the quality of your relationships.

What better time to treat your hearing loss than Better Hearing and Speech Month?

When the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) designated May as Better Hearing and Speech Month back in 1927, their goal 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 important today as it was 92 years ago. Maybe more so. Because today we know more about hearing loss — and how important hearing is to our quality of life — than ever before.

For instance, we know that untreated hearing loss is linked to cognitive decline and dementia. We know that hearing loss is linked to increased risk of falls and social isolation. And we know it can cause higher medical costs, mental fatigue and more.

But most importantly, we know that people who treat their hearing loss are more likely to be optimistic, engaged, socially active, and happy that they did something about this easily treatable issue.

Start your better hearing journey today

This Better Hearing Month, Starkey Hearing Technologies put togethera Better Hearing web page that lives up to the spirit of ASHA’s mission and we love it! It raises awareness by answering some of the most common questions people have about hearing loss, and provides easy ways for you to take action — all in one informative and interactive page.

Click here to check it out on your computer, tablet or smartphone, and use this dedicated month to hear better so you can live better!

Contact Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers, here, today to schedule your first, second or 100th hearing evaluation! We are hear to help and look to forward to helping you during Better Hearing Month.

Separating hearing aid fact from fiction

Hearing and sight are arguably our two most important senses. Yet, if and when either starts to fail us (and both usually do as we age), we react to each quite differently.

Look around at all the people with glasses, contacts, Lasik surgery or just cheaters, and it’s obvious that we have no problem or hesitation with treating vision issues. 

But when it comes to treating hearing loss, we don’t seem to be in nearly such a hurry, if we even bother to treat it at all. If we did, nearly one in six adults you see would be wearing hearing aids — as that’s the number of U.S. adults with hearing loss.

What’s stopping us from treating hearing loss?

Why is there such discrepancy when it comes to “fixing” these two vital senses? Certainly a key factor is the immediate and tangible impact of each impairment. You can’t easily drive, read, watch TV or work at a computer when your vision is compromised. But you can cope with or work around hearing issues — at least temporarily.

It’s important to know, though, that while the immediate impact of compromised hearing may seem negligible, the long-term and overall quality-of-life impact is real and potentially severe.

Is our perception of hearing aids to blame?

Another reason for inaction comes from people’s perception of hearing loss and hearing aids. Unfortunately, some old myths linger. But advancements in science and technology mean many are no longer true. Let’s debunk five common ones now.

1. Fiction: There’s no treatment for hearing loss.

Fact: Hearing loss might be irreversible — but it can definitely be helped. Amplification with hearing aids is by far the most recommended and effective treatment for hearing loss. In fact, 90-95% of people with hearing loss can be treated with hearing aids. Custom programmed by a trained professional, today’s digital hearing aids can help people with even severe hearing loss hear sounds they might not otherwise hear, and be a part of things they might otherwise miss. 

2. Fiction: If I needed hearing aids, my doctor would have told me.

Fact: Actually, most busy general practitioners don’t have time to test for hearing loss. In a recent survey, only 23% of adults reported having their hearing screened during a physical exam. Even the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlighted the issue this past February, reinforcing to physicians the importance of catching hearing loss in the early stages, and reminding primary care providers to “make referrals to hearing specialists” when “patients show or report hearing problems.”

3. Fiction: Hearing aids are hard to use.

Fact: Today’s hearing aids have come a long way from the hearing aids of just a few years ago. Advancements in processing speeds and hearing science enable hearing aids to distinguish speech from noise, detect sound direction, and adjust to environments and specific sounds — all automatically. If fit and programmed by a hearing professional to your unique hearing needs, your hearing aids can be worn all day with little fuss, attention or adjustments required.

4. Fiction: Hearing aids will make me stand out or seem old.

Fact: Several things conflict with this perception, so take your pick.

• Today’s hearing aids are significantly smaller and more discreet than hearing aids from just a few years ago, and include options that fit deep in your ear canal, “invisible” to others.

• Wearable communication and health-monitoring devices like FitBits and Bragi — along with the pervasiveness of headphones — have made body-worn accessories commonplace and even trendy.

• Old is a perception, and adults who hear confidently and engage readily convey “old” much less than those who ask “what” all the time, don’t acknowledge when someone is talking to them, or disengage from the action.

5. Fiction: Hearing aids aren’t worth it.

Fact: It’s one thing for us to tout the impact that hearing your best can have on quality of life, and quite another to hear it from people who’ve treated their hearing loss. 

Contact Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers with any concerns or questions! Schedule your hearing evaluation today.

Do’s and don’ts of getting rid of earwax

Earwax, also known as cerumen, is a gray, orange or yellow material made in the ear canal. It cleans and protects the ears from bacteria, dust, foreign particles, and microorganisms. In normal conditions, wax works its way out of the canal and into the ear opening naturally. However, when there is a build-up of wax, there are many ways to remove it. Some are safe, and some are not. Let’s review best practices for dealing with earwax.

Do’s

1. Do understand that earwax is normal. If it does not block the ear canal or impede your hearing, it can be left as is.

2. Do know the symptoms of earwax build-up. These include decreased hearing, ear fullness, ringing in the ears, and changes to hearing aid functionality (distortion, etc.).

3. Do seek medical help if you experience a change in hearing, ringing, or fullness in your ears, and/or ear pain. Other conditions may exhibit symptoms like earwax build-up, such as ear infections. See a medical professional to rule these out if you experience any of the previously mentioned signs.

4. Do ask a medical professional prior to using at-home remedies to remove earwax. Certain medical conditions can make some at-home remedies unsafe.

Don’ts

1. Don’t clean your ears too much. Overcleaning can cause irritation or infection of the ear canal and can even cause the wax to build up.

2. Don’t put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear. Avoid using cotton swabs, bobby pins, keys, paper clips, etc. to clean or scratch your ears. These can cause damage to your ear canal — such as a cut, or even puncture of the eardrum — which can lead to many other issues.

3. Don’t use ear candles. Studies have shown ear candling does not reduce the amount of wax in individuals’ ear canals. Additionally, ear candling can damage the ear canal and eardrum.

4. Don’t forget to clean your hearing aids as recommended by your hearing healthcare professional. Click here for more information on how to clean your hearing aids.

If you think you may have earwax build-up, are concerned about your hearing, or want a baseline hearing test, we can help. Call us today!

Through my eyes: My first 48 hours with hearing aids

Article from an editor and writer for Medical News Today. We loved his story that is below and had to share with you all!

As an editor and writer for Medical News Today, I am constantly exploring the causes and effects of a range of different diseases and conditions.

At the time of writing, I have been wearing my hearing aids for 2 days, yet their impact is already astounding.

From time to time, I find that a particular article will pop up and alert me to my own health issues. And that is exactly what happened when I looked into deafness and hearing loss around a year ago.

I was going through the questions a doctor might ask during diagnosis, and I was staggered to find that as few as 5 percent of them did not apply to my own ears.

Sure enough, I took these issues to a doctor, and entered the referral process for treatment by an ear, nose, and throat specialist.

After 8 months of waiting, I now have two hearing aids. At the time of writing, I have only been wearing them for 2 days, yet their impact is already significantly greater than I could ever have imagined.

A gradual, creeping impact on your life

To recap, I'm lucky enough to have retained at least half of my hearing in each ear. At present, I can lead a mostly active, healthy life, I don't need to communicate with sign language, and my work is unaffected.

However, it's all too easy to dismiss the impact of a gradual, creeping condition such as hearing loss. It can develop suddenly, or, as in my case, take 20 years to reach a diagnosable level.

I will be 30 years old this year, and those 20 years mark a hugely important period in anyone's life.

Whether you are trying to make an impact as a young professional starting out, rounding off your formal education, building a family, or all of the above, you will undoubtedly be taking account of parts of your life that are becoming increasingly important and complex.

Communication is a huge part of navigating this formative stage. If any element of communication is lacking, it can have a significant impact on the way your personality develops, and the methods you use to connect with the outside world.

The big kicker with gradual-onset hearing loss is that you are not aware of how it's changing you until the physical symptoms have become moderate to severe.

Socializing becomes too much of a risk

Every pang of guilt or embarrassment after saying "what?" or "huh?" might lead to another night when you don't risk going out to socialize. You end up distancing softly-spoken colleagues, friends, and even family members, simply because the effort it takes to process their speech can become draining.ADVERTISEMENTNarcolepsy Test - Identify the SymptomsThis online test can help identify the signs of cataplexy in narcolepsy.MoreThanTired.com

I've forgotten what it's like to chat with a friend at a concert or even a bar. Very often, I will have great difficulty separating conversational frequencies from noises in the environment, making it almost impossible to fully focus on what people are saying.

Something as trivial as needing subtitles when watching television programs and movies with other people can create an isolating feeling of being stigmatized.

Even though your friends are probably understanding, and although subtitles exist to significantly improve the viewing experience for people who cannot hear as well as others, it can still be hard to ignore the underlying feeling of being 'different.'

As a result of these fleeting moments and hang-ups, I developed subtle, invisible coping mechanisms to anchor my social interactions.

For example, I cycle between a set of 10–15 stock phrases that I wheel out based on tone of voice and general context.

"Absolutely!"

"100 percent!"

"I can fully understand that."

"Tell me about it!"

None of these seem out of place in a conversation. However, once they become a substitute for genuine responses and coherent conversational flow, they develop into a cornerstone of shame and awkwardness in daily encounters.

Until you start looking at hearing loss as a condition, it simply feels like part of your worldview. Even if it hasn't yet reached the stage of impairing daily function, it can still strip at least 30–50 percent of the human experience from your day.

After writing the MNT article on hearing loss, I followed this journey to hearing aids on my doctor's recommendation.

Even though I'm missing only one layer of frequencies, the difference is remarkable.

Even food comes alive with hearing aids

My new hearing aids are discreet yet powerful — sometimes, to my underused ears, excessively so.

The hearing aids are discreet yet powerful, sometimes amplifying sounds too much.

A packet of chips opening 20 feet away sounds like it's crinkling next to my head; I can hear the wheels of a stroller from a balcony five floors up; even the cacophony during bathroom breaks sounds like a National Geographic documentary.

There are unexpected changes, too. My experience of food has completely altered — the additional frequencies adding a lightness of bite and extra crunch that I was previously unaware of.

Using a hearing loop system for the first time at a concert was emotionally overwhelming. My balance and spatial awareness have also greatly improved in these first few days of wearing my hearing aids.

My hearing no longer feels impaired — that is, until I remove the hearing aids. Those few moments in the day without them, such as going to the gym or grabbing a shower, are now pretty draining by comparison.

However, I have heard about 20 birdsongs for the first time in the last 48 hours, and I've listened to the phasing hiss of the sea as I've never listened before.

And, I was hit by a hailstorm that might genuinely be the single most impressive thing I've ever heard, although until 2 days ago, the bar was not all that high.

I have a lot to learn about life with hearing aids, but my first lesson was that no one close to me sees it as a negative life event. Everyone has been congratulating me as if I've just become a parent for the first time.

I've realized that however self-conscious you might feel about wearing hearing aids, people only see it as a connection with the world, and this is a huge deal. I see my hearing aids as an opportunity, rather than as debilitating or cumbersome devices.

My hearing aids are a game-changer

There'll be occasional squeals of feedback, and keeping them wedged in my ears can be a challenge, especially while moving around. However, I'm in the early stages of treatment and already connecting with the world more closely.

While my hearing aids are not perfect yet, they remain a genuine game-changer.

If conversations have started to become a struggle for you, or if you've passed on getting a hearing aid because of the visual aspect, then I urge you to look into your options. Visit your doctor, speak to your insurer about coverage, and weigh up hearing assistance as a real option.

Sound is 20 percent of your experience as a human. Conversation, music, and background noise are all part of keeping a steady headspace and progressing with your day. Protecting and enhancing that is a life-changing step to take for people who can't process sound as well as others do.

I cannot wait to stick these bad boys in upon waking up tomorrow and seeing what else I can discover for the first time.

How hearing loss can lead to social isolation

Helen Keller once said, “Blindness cuts us off from things, but deafness cuts us off from people.” While it can seem like a bit of jump from “I can’t hear” to “I am all alone”, the path is more straightforward than you’d think, particularly when you realize most people wait ten years, on average, to do anything about their hearing loss.

Let’s follow the path with a fictional but very representative “Betty Jones.”

Things are “great” at 50

Betty is 50 when her daughter goes off to college. She is at a highpoint. She just got a promotion at work, and is in a book club and card club with her lifelong friends. She has season tickets to the theater and regularly goes out for lunch and dinner with colleagues and acquaintances. Life is going great!

Betty is 52 years old when she first notices that she is missing things. At work, the people on the other end of the conference table seem to mumble. And when her daughter isn’t facing her, she misunderstands her more easily. But Betty can effortlessly explain all this away: people should speak up in meetings, and her daughter has always mumbled.

At 56, things are just “fine”

When Betty is 56, some listening situations have gotten worse. But in her opinion, it isn’t anything she can’t handle. Sure, she stopped going to her book club because everyone talks all at once and it gets so loud. And OK, she let her season tickets for the theater go because it’s too much like work to try and follow the plays and musicals. And yes, at work, the phones got harder and harder to hear ever since they installed the new phone system. But that has nothing to do with hearing loss, if you ask Betty.

Anyway, her daughter is getting married, so there’s no time to think about hearing loss.

Changes become noticeable at 60

At 60, Betty is running into challenges at work. The conference calls and meetings make her tired as she tries to follow all the overlapping conversations. So she reduced the number of meetings she attends, and chooses to focus on paperwork and solo projects instead. Most of her contact with customers is via email now.

Betty doesn’t see her friends as often either. She stopped card club because it’s too hard hearing the bids at the table. Her lunch group is still going, but Betty will only go if they pick a restaurant that isn’t too busy or loud.

For her 60th birthday, Betty’s daughter, son-in-law and three-year-old grandson came to visit. While at Betty’s house, her daughter noticed that she isn’t as outgoing as she used to be, and prefers to stay home rather than go out to eat or shop. She also noticed that her mom was turning the TV up and asking them all to repeat themselves more often — and that she doesn’t hear much of what her young grandson says, which is frustrating and sad for all involved. Betty’s daughter asks her about getting her hearing checked.

Hearing loss and social isolation don't happen overnight

In the last 10 years, what happened to Betty? Her work and social life declined. Her relationships grew distant. She became isolated.

With hearing loss — because it progresses slowly — we adapt and don’t even notice that we have cut ourselves off. Sometimes it takes our family to first realize it. Sometimes, we wake up and realize what we have lost on our own. Too often, we don’t realize what’s happening until it’s too late.

Don’t be a Betty and ignore your hearing loss. There’s too much you could miss…too many ties that could unbind. Treat it before it’s too late.

Call us today!

Do’s and don’ts of living with tinnitus

Over 50 million Americans experience tinnitus — or ringing in the ears. When you first realize you have tinnitus, it can be difficult to know what to do. Here is a starter list of dos and don’ts for people dealing with tinnitus.

Do’s

1. Do talk to a hearing health professional if tinnitus is affecting your ability to sleep, read, concentrate or take part in normal activities.

2. Do realize that every person responds to tinnitus differently. There is no right or wrong way.

3. Do avoid anxiety and/or stress as it can aggravate tinnitus.

4. Do look at apps and equipment that can help at bedtime to make falling asleep easier.

5. Do know that tinnitus can be managed even if it cannot be cured.

Don’ts

1. Don’t believe everything you read about tinnitus being cured by herbs or supplements. Management via sound therapy or personal devices is the most successful way to treat tinnitus.

2. Don’t forget that tinnitus can be a symptom of something else, so it is important to have it checked out by a professional.

3. Don’t forget about things that can aggravate tinnitus like caffeine, lack of sleep, stress, and even aspirin.

4. Don’t think you are alone! One in six people deal with tinnitus.

5. Don’t forget about hearing protection!Loud sounds and environments can trigger and/or aggravate tinnitus.

For more tips, reach out to Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers! We are hear to help <3

Are rechargeable hearing aids right for me?

Rechargeable hearing aids are a fairly recent addition to the hearing healthcare landscape. In the past, rechargeable batteries couldn’t provide enough power in a small enough battery to be feasible for use in hearing aids. Recently, though, thanks to lithium-ion technology, rechargeable batteries are not only available, they are also long-lasting and reliable for use in hearing aids!

So the answer to whether rechargeable hearing aids are right for you is YES…probably. Let me explain.

Starkey makes two rechargeable hearing aid systems

A rechargeable hearing aid system consists of hearing aids with rechargeable batteries, a charging station for the hearing aids, and a power cord. When the hearing aids are not in use, they should rest in their charger, which also doubles as case.

It is as simple as that — if the hearing aids aren’t on your ears, they should be charging in their case! The chance of losing the hearing aids is lessened. And charging time is typically short, so the hearing aids are always ready to be used. Starkey’s Livio AI and Muse iQR charging stations can even charge the hearing aids up to three times without being plugged into an outlet.

There are many benefits to rechargeable hearing aids

The benefits of rechargeable hearing aids are many. You no longer need to buy hearing aid batteries. You don’t have to worry about keeping spare batteries on hand. If you keep them charged, you shouldn’t run out of power at inconvenient times. Rechargeable hearing aids are better for the environment because you aren’t buying and disposing of regular, zinc batteries. There is no need to fumble with inserting or removing tiny batteries from the hearing instruments. In fact, there is no battery door on the newest rechargeable hearing aids.

Not all styles come in a rechargeable option

The only downside to rechargeable systems is that they aren’t available in all styles of hearing aids yet. If you want custom hearing aids, you’ll have to use regular hearing aid batteries.

Otherwise, rechargeable hearing aids are a great solution for someone who wants a low-fuss and reliable battery system for their hearing healthcare needs!

Contact us to learn more!

At the gym, turn up the beat, not the dB!

Have you set a goal to get healthier this year? Are you going to the gym or perhaps a workout class a few times a week? Congratulations on setting your goal and taking steps to reach it!

With the rising popularity of fitness classes and niche workout gyms, loud music goes in parallel with the workout, sweat, and pounding heart rates. However, instructors and participants of these classes may be at risk of damaging their hearing.

As we set goals to improve our physical health, it’s important we’re mindful of our overall health, including our hearing, as well.

Know safe listening levels

The unit of measurement used to express the intensity of sound is the decibel (dB). According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s standards, safe levels of noise exposure are as follows:

• 85 dB for eight hours

• 88 dB for four hours

• 91 dB for two hours

• 94 dB for one hour

• 97 dB for half an hour

• 100 dB for 15 minutes

Average loudness levels of workout classes reach unsafe listening levels quickly. Research from George Mason University in Virginia has shown that many classes average noise levels well over 90 dB, with some between 100 to 110 decibels — around the level of a rock concert or chainsaw!

You can prevent noise-induced hearing loss

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is the only preventable cause of hearing loss. Although you may adjust to the loud music in a workout class, unfortunately, your ears and brain will not. Once you lose your hearing from noise exposure, known as a NIHL, your hearing will not regenerate. A NIHL is typically gradual; by the time you notice it, it is often too late to prevent damage. However, it’s never too late to take action and prevent further harm.

The majority of gym instructors/owners believe loud music is motivating and helps retain clients, however, not all members agree. Most importantly, research suggests increasing the tempo/beat (instead of the volume) is the best way motivate fitness classes.

Red flags the gym music is too loud

1. Trust your gut. If you think it’s too loud, it probably is.

2. You have to shout for your neighbor to hear you.

3. Your ear(s) are ringing during and/or after class.

Download the mobile application SoundCheck by Starkey, which lets your phone measure environmental noise levels in real time. This will help you know if the music is played at a safe volume. SoundCheck can be used in situations outside of the gym, too — like at restaurants and concerts, etc.

Five tips to avoid NIHL in fitness classes

1. When considering joining a gym, try it out a few times to evaluate the noise level, and make sure it is an acceptable volume by using the SoundCheck app.

2. Be an advocate for healthy hearing. Talk to the teachers and/or the gym manager/owner about the loudness level. If it’s too loud for you, you are likely not the only one.

3. Get your hearing tested, especially if you experience a change in your hearing, or ringing or fullness in your ears over 24 hours.

4. Wear hearing protection during classes and find a place in the class that’s as far away from the speakers as possible. Foam earplugs are an economical solution, or consider purchasing custom earplugs to best reduce the sound levels.

5. Take a break during class. When you need a sip of water or to towel off, step out of class for 30-60 seconds to give your ears a rest.

Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers advocates living a healthy lifestyle, and we’re here to remind you to take care of your hearing in addition to the rest of you. Hear better. Live better!

Contact us here.

The first and only hearing aid with fall detection and alerts

If you’re an older adult — or care for someone who is — falling is likely to be high on your list of worries. And rightfully so, according to the National Council on Aging1:

• Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in an emergency room for a fall-related injury.

• Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for older Americans. 

That’s why we’re excited to introduce the latest feature of our Via® AI hearing aids, the world’s first hearing aid with artificial intelligence and integrated sensors.

Using their built-in 3D sensors, Via AI hearing aids can detect when a wearer falls, and send alert messages to selected friends or family members. Now, in addition to wearers enjoying our best sounding hearing aid ever, they and their loved ones can enjoy increased peace of mind, too.

Hearing loss and falling are common side effects of aging

Nearly 40 percent of people who live at home after reaching the age of 65 will fall at least once a year.2Accidental falls pose a significant health risk to older adults. They often lead to a loss of independence, and can abruptly alter the course of one’s life.

And people with mild hearing loss are three times more likely to have a history of falling than peers with normal hearing.3

This correlation between hearing loss, aging and falling is one reason why Starkey designed the world’s first hearing aid with a fall detection feature. The odds of having hearing loss and falling increase as we age, so having a single device that can help with multiple aging issues — as opposed to a different device for each — is significantly more convenient and beneficial for users.

Hearing aids are ideal for detecting falls

Plus, unlike other fall-detection devices, which hang around the neck or are worn on the wrist, Via Ai benefits from the anatomy and physiology of the human body. During typical, daily activities and instances of falls, muscles in the neck work with the balance system of the inner ear to protect and stabilize the head. Since hearing aids are worn on the head, they are naturally less prone to mistake daily activities for falls than the devices worn on other parts of the body.4

How fall detection and alerts work

• The hearing aid wearer selects up to three contacts to be notified if they fall.

• They (or their hearing professional) can enter contacts easily into the Thrive Hearing app.

• The auto alert feature automatically sends an alert to the contact(s) if the hearing aid wearer falls.

• The alert contains the GPS location of the wearer.

• The contact can then immediately call the wearer back to check on them or otherwise get them help.

• The manual alert feature allows the wearer to simply tap their hearing aid to send an alert for a fall or non-fall related event.

Want to try Via AI for yourself and learn more about its one-of-a-kind features? We can help! Contact Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers today to schedule your first consultation!

Sources:1 National Council on Aging2 Rubenstein, L. Z. (2006). Falls in older people: epidemiology, risk factors and strategies for prevention. Age Ageing 35, ii37–ii413 National Council on Aging. (n.d.). Fall prevention facts. Retrieved from: https://www.ncoa.org/news/ resources-for-reporters/get-the-facts/falls-prevention-facts/4 Cola, G., Avvenuti, M., Piazza, P. & Vecchio, A. Fall Detection Using a Head-Worn Barometer. International Conference on Wireless Mobile Communication and Healthcare 217-224 (Springer, Cham, 2016)

You’d be surprised by which musicians are more likely to have hearing issues

This hearing fact is interesting, as it is definitely counterintuitive! Classical music is not usually played at the volume or intensity of rock music, nor amplified on stage with jumbo speakers.

But in a National Public Radio story titled, “For Musicians, Hearing Loss is More Common Than One Would Think,” audiologist Marshall Chasin — who works with musicians who have hearing loss issues — makes the case.

As Dr. Chasin notes, “It turns out that classical music is actually more damaging than rock ‘n’ roll. A rock ‘n’ roller might pick up their guitar on a Friday night gig, and may not even practice or touch their music for another week or two until the next gig. In contrast, a classical musician plays four, five hours a day practicing, they may teach one or two hours a day, and then they have four or five, or maybe seven or eight, different performances every week. So even though the spot intensity might be greater for a rock ‘n’ roll set, if you take the dose that they get — the number of hours per week you’re playing — for a classical musician, it’s much, much greater.”

If you are a musician — or one of the other 40+ million Americans with noise-induced hearing loss — do what the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recommends and get a hearing evaluation right away. 

Contact us here to set up your first appointment :)

Your hearing bone is connected to your brain bone

In a Johns Hopkins news release from 2013 summarizing their study on hearing loss’s effects on the human brain, Dr. Frank Lin — director of the study, and one of the world’s foremost experts on the subject — had an interesting quote:

"Our results show that hearing loss should not be considered an inconsequential part of aging, because it may come with some serious long-term consequences to healthy brain functioning."

He went on to offer this advice, “Our findings emphasize just how important it is for physicians to discuss hearing with their patients and to be proactive in addressing any hearing declines over time."

The body of research linking hearing loss to cognitive decline and even dementia is one reason why we engineered our new Livio AI, the world’s first hearing aid embedded with 3D sensors and artificial intelligence. In addition to it being our best sounding and best performing hearing aid ever, it enable the wearer to help monitor their brain health and stay active and engaged.

Listen to Dr. Lin, and be proactive in addressing your hearing decline

Not sure where to start? We can help. Call us today to set up your first hearing consultation! We are hear to help!

“I can hear but I can’t understand”

One of the first things people with hearing loss observe is “I hear people fine, but I don’t understand what they are saying.”

This is a consistent complaint of individuals who are experiencing the effects of a “sloping high frequency hearing loss.“

Let’s talk about what’s happening and why so many have this complaint

Hearing loss involves not only our ears, but also our brain: where sound waves are coded by the ears and then translated into meaningful words. While hearing loss can present itself in varying degrees of severity in different frequencies, a very common progression of inner ear hearing loss is sloping high frequency hearing loss.

We commonly measure hearing from 250 to 8000 Hz. Individuals with “high frequency” hearing loss have no loss at frequencies below 1000 Hz (lower pitched frequencies), but have abnormal results in the range of 1000 to 8000 Hz (higher pitched frequencies). High frequency hearing loss is one of the most common variances of hearing loss there is.

An audiogram of what sloping, high-frequency hearing loss looks like

Different speech signals produce different frequencies

When examining human speech signals, we see that there are lower pitched sounds or vowels (A, E, I, O and U) and higher pitched sounds or consonants (S,F , Th, Sh, Ch, K, P and H). Being able to hear vowels in the lower pitched frequencies gives us a sensation of hearing speech, but not being able to hear higher pitched sound or “consonants” is what compromises our ability to understand full words. (So we hear, but we don’t understand.)

The high-pitched frequencies where consonants occur is where the discrimination of different words happen. When we have high-frequency hearing loss, we lose the ability to hear the “consonant” sounds efficiently and, thus, our ability to tell the difference between words such as ‘Cat” or “Hat”.

Key sounds and letters aren’t heard clearly

Imagine having a book with every S, F, Th, Sh, Ch, K, P and H erased. You could read part of the book and understand some of it, but you would not be able to understand many key words and phrases and, as a result, be challenged to understand it. This is what is happening with a high frequency hearing loss. You can hear part of the message, however your high frequency loss has “erased” the key sounds or letters needed for discrimination and understanding.

Luckily, high frequency hearing loss can usually be helped with proper diagnosis and appropriate amplification. Plus, now with the transcribe feature on our new Via® AI hearing aids, you can transcribe a conversation into text, to help ensure you never miss a word or phrase again.

Contact us today, here!

If I have tinnitus, does it mean I also have hearing loss?

Tinnitus is defined as “the hearing of sound when no external sound is present.” It is one of the most common complaints reported to hearing healthcare professionals. Certainly, tinnitus is associated with hearing loss. That doesn’t mean, though, that if one has tinnitus, hearing loss is also present.

Why tinnitus and hearing loss typically come as a matched set

To hear, sound is funneled through the outer and middle ear to the inner ear. Microscopic hair cells inside the inner ear are responsible for carrying sound through auditory nerves to the brain. Hearing loss can occur at any stage of this process: the outer ear, the middle ear, the hair cells, the auditory nerve or the brain.

Interestingly, tinnitus, too, can be caused at any point in the process! For example, tinnitus can be caused by a wax impaction in the ear canal; it can be caused by middle ear disease such as fluid or Meniere’s Syndrome; it can be caused by damage to the hair cells in the inner ear; and it can be caused by inappropriate firing of nerve cells within the brain.

It's likely that what’s causing your tinnitus is also causing hearing loss

Because both hearing loss and, likely, tinnitus are caused or triggered by the same “malfunction” in our hearing system, there’s a good chance that if you have tinnitus, you’ll also experience hearing loss. We see that often. But not always.

Why? Because there are other triggers for tinnitus that aren’t caused by problems with the ear. For instance, medications (particularly high doses of aspirin), stress, high blood pressure, heart disease and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disfunction can cause tinnitus.

Get it checked out

If you are experiencing tinnitus, a visit with qualified hearing healthcare professional should be the first stop in finding a cause for your tinnitus. Because hearing loss is often associated with tinnitus, ruling out hearing loss makes sense. If hearing loss is detected, it is likely that the tinnitus is related to the hearing loss. If no hearing loss is detected, it’s time for a visit with your primary care physician to explore other possibilities. 

Contact us today to set up your first hearing consultation with a professional, here! Happy Hearing :)

What’s good for your heart isn’t necessarily good for your ears!

It’s mid-February. How are your New Year’s resolutions going? Was one of them to exercise more? That’s still a fantastic resolution — so long as you’re mindful of the exercise you choose. 

Indoor cycling — also known as spinning — has been growing in popularity. And while it’s great for your cardiovascular and respiratory systems, turns out it’s not so good for your auditory system.

Why? Because the music played in class — which is used to motivate and energize you — is typically played at volumes that far exceed safe levels. This recent vox.com article goes into more details.

We aren’t suggesting you should stop exercising. But we are recommending that if spinning is one of your workouts, wear earplugs! 

Not sure if exposure to loud music has harmed your ears over the years? Call Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers today to schedule a hearing consultation!

February: A time for healthy relationships, a healthy heart — and healthy hearing

February is American Heart Month, and we want to take a moment to talk about how our hearts and overall cardiovascular system are tied to our hearing, and how keeping both systems healthy can lead to a healthier and better life.

Heart disease is a big issue in the United States. In fact, it’s the leading cause of death for both men and women. According to the American Heart Association, almost 787,000 deaths in 2011 were linked to heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the cause of almost 610,000 deaths per year. 

Cardiovascular disease affects mostly the heart and the blood vessels. Plaque will build up around the arteries, restricting blood flow and resulting in a condition called atherosclerosis, which leads directly to heart disease. What you may not realize, is that there is not only a cardiovascular health link to heart health — it’s also connected to hearing health.

Our ears need proper blood flow to function their best

Blood flow is extremely important to all organs of the body, and the inner ear is particularly sensitive. When there isn’t enough blood flow to the inner ears, it can cause nerve damage, impacting a person’s ability to hear. According to ENT Today, the nerves residing inside the inner ear are so sensitive that they are often the first parts of the body to be affected by cardiovascular disease.

With that being said, healthy hearing can be indicative of a healthy cardiovascular system, and a healthy cardiovascular system can help ensure our hearing remains healthy.

Hearing well can reduce stress, which is good for the heart

When it comes to taking care of your cardiovascular health, reducing stress is one of the best ways to ensure your heart is healthy. Something that can cause a lot of stress is miscommunication, especially among loved ones.

A harmful side effect of hearing loss is the breakdown of communication between you and your loved ones. Research has shown, that people who do not treat their hearing loss often become isolated from loved ones. Even communicating the little things is important to strengthening your overall relationship and reducing everyday stress. Treating your hearing loss not only improves your hearing, but it can also improve your relationships and reduce your stress — which can lead to a lessened risk of cardiovascular disease.

Via AI hearing aids can help keep your hearing and heart healthy

One way to help keep your cardiovascular system healthy is by exercising regularly. A revolutionary new tool to hear your best and track your exercise is our Via AI® AI hearing aids. Thanks to built-in 3D sensors and artificial intelligence, these cutting-edge hearing aids let you track both your brain and body activity — based partly on the amount of time you spend exercising — which is an excellent way to reduce your risk of heart disease, according to the American Heart Association.

Healthy hearing, a healthy heart and healthy relationships are perfect focuses for American Heart Month and also the month of Valentine’s Day. We encourage you to take control of all three this month and all year long!

Contact Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers today!