Navigating the Emotional Side of Hearing Loss Diagnosis and Treatment
Hearing loss affects more than 10% of people in the United States. Though it’s a common condition, many struggle to deal with the diagnosis of hearing loss, and even experience reactions similar to the stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Understanding these emotional responses can help you prepare for living with and…
Why Hearing Aids Deserve a Spot on Your Gratitude List This Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving has a way of bringing people closer, whether it’s through an early morning cheering on your loved ones at the Cleburne Turkey Trot, or simply gathering around a table filled with familiar faces. As we move into a season centered on gratitude, connection and reflection, there’s one thing that often goes unrecognized but has…
What Is a Threshold Shift?
If you’ve ever left a concert or a shooting range and noticed that everything sounds a little bit quieter, you’re experiencing what’s known as a threshold shift. Threshold shifts are typically temporary and mild, occurring after exposure to loud noise. What Does a Threshold Shift Feel Like? Threshold shifts are so named because the “threshold”…
How Do I Know When It’s Time for a Hearing Test?
When you’re struggling to understand the people in your life, your first instinct might be to brush it off or attribute it to tiredness or a noisy environment. While both those factors can make it harder to hear, they might not be the only reason you’re having trouble communicating. Often, hearing loss is at play….
Why Hearing Tests Are Essential for Your Health
Most people schedule a dentist appointment every six months and an annual eye exam. What many miss when tallying their necessary doctors’ visits are hearing tests. Let’s take a look at why hearing tests are so essential and what you can expect from your next audiology visit. Why Schedule a Hearing Test? Hearing loss affects…
Five Fall Sounds Your Hearing Aids Bring Back to Life
September 22 is the first day of autumn. In addition to the freshly fallen leaves and chilly air, autumn brings a swarm of comforting sounds. Unfortunately, for the 15% of U.S. adults with hearing loss, these sounds might not be as accessible as they were in the past. Let’s look at five sounds that you…
Heading Off to College With Hearing Loss: How to Prepare for Success
Approximately one in eight people aged 12 and over has hearing loss. With the start of the school year just around the corner, you might wonder how your hearing loss will impact your college experience. Hearing loss doesn’t have to hold you back from anything college offers. You can set yourself up for academic and…
What is Unilateral Hearing Loss?
What is Single Sided Deafness? Sometimes referred to as unilateral hearing loss, single sided deafness is a condition in which an individual experiences hearing loss in only one ear but can hear normally out of the other ear. While most patients with a hearing impairment suffer from bilateral (two-sided) hearing loss, SSD affects approximately 60,000…
What is Sudden Hearing Loss?
For most people who experience hearing loss, the condition comes on gradually over a period of years. In rare cases, an abrupt loss of hearing occurs with little or no warning. This condition is known as sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL). What is Sudden Deafness? Sudden deafness is an unexplained and rapid hearing loss that…
What is Noise Induced Hearing Loss?
How Can Sounds Hurt Your Ears? Background sound is a constant in our busy lives. Normally, background noises are at safe levels that do not negatively impact our hearing. But repeated exposure to noise above 85 decibels (dB) can cause noise induced hearing loss. The louder the sound, the less amount of time it takes…