Better Hearing Blog
Doing a Disservice
About one-third of people between the ages of 65 and 74 and nearly half of individuals age 75 and older have hearing loss; however, only about 20 percent of those who could benefit from a hearing instrument actually use one. Instead, many people either ignore their hearing loss or decide to “live with it.” In the process of neglecting treatment, these individuals may be doing themselves more of a disservice than they might realize. By the time they do decide to get a hearing test, they often have a significant hearing loss that has led to the loss of cognitive function and diminished quality of life. Using a hearing instrument makes the mind sharper and averts feelings of isolation and depression.
The reason hearing loss seems to sneak up on someone is because the changes in their hearing are so gradual. For most people, hearing loss develops over a period of 25 to 30 years, so that by the time they reach the age of 50 or 60, they notice their hearing has deteriorated enough to interfere with conversations. For more information, please call BETTER HEARING CENTER. We are the only hearing center that has served the Concord, New Hampshire, area for more than 55 years. New Hampshire’s premier hearing care provider.
P.S. Hearing loss not only affects the person with the loss, but it also has an impact on friends, family, and business associates who feel that their relationships are restricted.
Use It or Lose It!
We are all familiar with the “use it or lose it” dictum that says if you do not exercise, you will lose muscle mass. As it turns out, this warning applies to areas of the body other than musculature. A study involving mostly seniors found that those living with hearing loss actually experienced brain shrinkage. That is, when deprived of auditory stimulation, gray matter volume in the auditory cortex was seen to decline. This conclusion was reached by comparing MRIs of individuals with hearing loss to others without hearing loss. Overall, the scientists reported that those with impaired hearing lost more than an additional cubic centimeter of brain tissue each year compared to those with normal hearing.
Hearing loss is an invisible condition; we cannot see hearing loss, only its effects. Because the presence of a hearing loss is not visible, these effects may be attributed to aloofness, confusion, or personality changes. To schedule a hearing exam, please call BETTER HEARING CENTER. We offer a variety of affordable hearing aid options to meet every budget and hearing loss need. Let us help you get back to the world of hearing at New Hampshire’s premier hearing care provider.
P.S. The study mentioned above gives another very good reason to address hearing loss sooner rather than later.
Airport Noise and Health Problems
With airports multiplying and expanding, the International Civil Aviation Organization estimates that the number of take-offs and landings will double over the next 20 years. While previous research has demonstrated that exposure to aircraft noise on a regular basis is linked with sleep disturbances, breathing problems during the night, and nervousness, a new study has uncovered an association between long-term aircraft noise and hypertension. Researchers found that those living closest to airports, where they regularly experienced aircraft sounds of 60 decibels or more, had almost twice the incidence of hypertension as those living in quieter areas (40% versus 24%). Airport noise was also linked to heart changes (aortic stiffness and higher ventricular mass) that can lead to heart attack and stroke.
Studies have also linked exposure to aircraft noise with learning deficits. They have found that young school-age children who are chronically exposed to aircraft noise had poorer reading skills than children attending school in quieter neighborhoods. To schedule a hearing assessment, please call BETTER HEARING CENTER. Our goal is to provide you with everything you need to know to make the right decisions for your hearing health. We are New Hampshire’s premier hearing care provider.
P.S. Airport noise may lead to higher blood pressure due to the release of stress hormones that naturally raise blood pressure
The Military’s Smart Earplugs
If there is an institution that recognizes the importance of earplugs, it is the U.S. Army. Over the past couple of years, Army soldiers have been introduced to the military’s newest ear protection system, the Tactical Communication and Protective System (TCAPS). In recognition of the fact that more than half of all troops returning from Iraq or Afghanistan suffer from some degree of hearing damage, the Army needed to find a way to protect soldiers’ ears from loud noises while simultaneously maintaining their ability to hear soft sounds. “Smart earplugs” suppress the sound of loud explosions and still allow soldiers to hear the words of people close by. Thus, TCAPS protects wearers from noise-induced damage while preserving their “situational awareness.”
Repeat exposure to noise at a level higher than 85 decibels can result in permanent hearing problems. Custom earplugs and other hearing protection can make all the difference for anyone regularly exposed to noise, including subway riders, construction workers, concert goers, and airplane travelers. To schedule an exam, please call BETTER HEARING CENTER. We offer a variety of affordable hearing aid options to meet every budget and hearing loss need. Let us help you get back to the world of hearing at New Hampshire’s premier hearing care provider.
P.S. Digital technology makes it possible for today’s hearing instruments to differentiate between sounds (loud and soft, high and low frequency) and lessen or block out those that are unwanted.
Dizzying Ménière’s disease
Ménière’s disease, which is named after the 19th-century French physician who discovered the condition, is characterized by intermittent and abrupt attacks of vertigo (a spinning sensation) and sometimes tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Ménière’s sufferers may also experience hearing loss that can become permanent over time, as well as hypersensitivity to sounds and sound distortion. The condition typically develops in people in their 40s and 50s and usually occurs in one ear. However, some of those afflicted with Ménière’s disease experience involvement of the second ear, which can lead to bilateral hearing loss. While the cause of the disease largely remains a mystery, and diagnosis may be challenging, treatment with a hearing instrument often proves to be of benefit.
Before being fitted for a hearing aid, it’s important to tell your doctor that your hearing loss is due to Meniere’s disease and the extent to which your hearing fluctuates. Hearing aids help some, but not all, Meniere’s disease patients. To schedule an appointment, please call BETTER HEARING CENTER. Don’t delay the enjoyment of the sounds in your life any longer. Come in and let us help you get back to the world of hearing. New Hampshire’s premier hearing care provider.
P.S. While there may be a decrease over time in the number and severity of episodes of vertigo associated with Ménière’s disease, tinnitus and hearing loss usually increase.
Get With the Program
As we go through our days at home, at work, and at play, we subject our ears to a number of different listening environments. We might have a quiet conversation over coffee in the morning, while work may be conducted in offices with multiple distractions and steady background noise. Because one program on a hearing instrument cannot be expected to perform equally well in different listening environments, many hearing instruments are outfitted with multiple programs. Each program may be accessed with the push of a button on the instrument or with the use of a remote control. More sophisticated hearing instruments are capable of analyzing the listening environment and adjusting automatically, without touching the hearing instrument or a remote control.
For more information, please call BETTER HEARING CENTER. Our staff of two audiologists and a licensed hearing aid dispenser offers comprehensive services, including diagnostic testing, hearing aid evaluation, and dispensing. We are the only hearing center that has served the Concord, New Hampshire, area for more than 55 years. New Hampshire’s premier hearing care provider.
P.S. Some of the remote controls used to access programs on a hearing instrument can act as Bluetooth streaming devices.
