Better Hearing Blog

“Tinnitus” (ringing or buzzing in the ears) typically occurs as a result of overexposure to loud noises that damage the hair cells of the inner ear. Consequently, musicians, landscapers, factory workers, police/fire/ambulance workers, military personnel, and power tool users are afflicted with chronic buzzing in their ears. Although tinnitus’ exact cause remains elusive, the problem probably rests with noise-related damage in the inner ear that disrupts how sound is processed by the brain. With this in mind, it is interesting to point out that clinical trials involving “transcranial magnetic stimulation” (TMS) significantly improved symptoms in more than half of study participants. TMS, which generates a magnetic field that affects the activity of brain neurons, needs more study.

Our noisy world offers no guarantees that we’ll have perfect hearing throughout our lives. We must accept the responsibility of protecting our hearing, in our recreational pursuits and our home and work environments, and do all we can to correct impairments. If you don’t hear as well as you feel you should, don’t wait until you feel left out. Have your hearing checked by a clinical audiologist. Here at BETTER HEARING CENTER, helping you achieve your optimum hearing potential is our only business. Call us to arrange a hearing test. Most insurances accepted for hearing evaluations. We are New Hampshire’s premier hearing care provider.

P.S. If hearing loss accompanies tinnitus, a hearing instrument may prove beneficial. Masking devices, which emit sounds that mask tinnitus, may also be effective.

Recent interest in over-the-counter hearing instruments called “personal sound amplification products” (PSAPs) has been piqued by studies showing they may prove to be beneficial for certain cases of hearing loss. The primary benefit of these devices is that they are relatively inexpensive. Unlike traditional hearing instruments that are prescribed on the basis of a medical evaluation and a hearing test, PSAPs are unregulated, non-prescription devices that merely amplify environmental sounds. They are, in effect, reading glasses for the ears in that they magnify all sounds and do not target specific frequencies in ways that prescribed hearing instruments do. While PSAPs may have a place in the widening spectrum of hearing instruments, most are quite rudimentary and of limited value.

We take the responsibility very seriously of matching every patient with the hearing instruments best suited to his or her special circumstances. We then use sophisticated technology to achieve the most accurate, comfortable, custom fit. The extensive training required of certified clinical audiologists and our experience in the field make us well-suited to both tasks. Is your hearing in need of a boost? Call us at BETTER HEARING CENTER to arrange a hearing evaluation and to see the astonishing hearing instruments available today. Most insurances accepted for hearing evaluations. We are New Hampshire’s premier hearing care provider.

P.S. A personal sound amplification product without volume/power-limiting capabilities might over-amplify loud noises and further damage the wearer’s hearing.

In order to effectively treat hearing loss, it is important to pinpoint its cause. Reasons for diminished hearing ability can range from excessive noise to earwax (cerumen) blockage to the ingestion of certain medications. Another potential cause of hearing loss that recently came to researchers’ attention is “iron deficiency anemia” (IDA). After examining the medical records of 305,339 adults between the ages of 21 and 90, it was found that IDA increased the odds of several different kinds of hearing loss, including those involving problems with the bones of the middle ear, sensorineural hearing loss (in which there is damage to the cochlea or to the nerve pathways from the inner ear to the brain), deafness, and unspecified hearing loss.

Although hearing loss often goes undetected, it is actually one of the most common health problems in North America (only high blood pressure and arthritis are more common). And when we realize how many causes there are for hearing impairment, including disease, today’s high-tech phones and music players, aging, noise pollution, heredity, trauma, and smoking, it’s no wonder the numbers are so high. If your hearing is not what it once was or what it should be, find out how good it could be at BETTER HEARING CENTER. Call us to arrange a painless hearing test. We are New Hampshire’s premier hearing care provider.

P.S. A better understanding of the association between hearing loss and iron deficiency anemia may yield new treatments and/or prevention measures for hearing loss.

One of the things about aging that seniors fear most is cognitive decline that robs them of their memory and reasoning power. Fortunately, it is possible to help stave off dementia by keeping physically and intellectually active. In addition, while previous research has linked hearing loss with cognitive problems, a more recent study shows that hearing instruments protect against cognitive decline. According to a study involving 100 individuals between the ages of 80 and 99, despite having varying degrees of hearing loss, those wearing hearing instruments scored better on cognitive-function tests than those not wearing hearing instruments. Because hearing loss is nearly universal among the over-80 set, their use of hearing instruments is highly recommended.

Even though we hear with our ears, the ability to understand what people are saying occurs in the hearing center of the brain. So when an uncorrected hearing loss causes diminished communication, it’s time to rediscover the benefits of healthy hearing and the wondrous hearing instruments available today. Begin with a hearing test at BETTER HEARING CENTER and a consultation with a certified clinical audiologist. We are the only hearing center that has served the Concord, New Hampshire, area for more than 55 years. We are New Hampshire’s premier hearing care provider.

P.S. The use of hearing instruments by hearing-impaired seniors helps them overcome their sense of isolation and promotes socializing that keeps them connected to others.

If you find yourself constantly asking people to repeat what they have said to you, it is a good indication that you have a hearing problem that should be diagnosed and treated. Unfortunately, all too many people who could benefit from wearing a hearing instrument shy away from getting one. Most of these individuals fear that they will draw attention to themselves and their hearing deficiency if they wear a hearing instrument. However, the fact is that those who ask people to constantly repeat themselves are drawing more undue attention to themselves than they would with a hearing instrument. In fact, most hearing instruments are so small that they do not attract the attention of others at all.

Hearing is a vital part of communication with those around us. If your hearing is suffering from age-related loss, noise and noise pollution, disease, or trauma, seek the professional attention of a certified clinical audiologist. Hearing loss varies by type and degree, so we offer comprehensive evaluations and a complete line of hearing instruments to suit each person’s particular needs. Come see us at BETTER HEARING CENTER and have your hearing tested. It’s painless, doesn’t take very long, and can help you more than you know. We are New Hampshire’s premier hearing care provider.

P.S. Many hearing instruments fit entirely in the ear canal where they are virtually invisible.

To understand “pulsatile tinnitus,” it is helpful to know the difference between the two main types of hearing loss: “conductive” and “sensorineural.” Conductive loss is due to problems involving the ear canal, ear drum, or middle ear; sensorineural loss involves problems of the inner ear. With this in mind, people suffering from a condition causing conductive hearing loss (such as a perforated eardrum) might become more aware of sounds from inside their bodies. Pulsatile tinnitus occurs when the ear becomes aware of a change in blood flow in nearby blood vessels, including the arteries and veins in the neck, base of the skull, and in the ear itself. The rhythmic noise beats in time with the pulse.

Whether you are hearing the sounds of tinnitus or not hearing the sounds of life around you, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with a clinical audiologist at BETTER HEARING CENTER. With the many options available today thanks to innovative, advanced technology, your ability to hear can be enhanced and so will your quality of life. Stop by New Hampshire’s premier hearing care provider, or call us at to fi
nd out about having a hearing evaluation.

P.S. Ringing in the ears (“tinnitus”) is most often related to sensorineural hearing loss.