Hearing Loss Isn’t an All or Nothing Condition
When discussing hearing loss, it’s important to remember the complexity of each individual’s experience. Limits of Classification Hearing loss can be classified as mild, moderate, severe or profound. These distinctions can be helpful from a medical standpoint. However, they don’t fully encapsulate a person’s experience. People with mild to moderate hearing loss may view themselves…
Anemia & Hearing Health: Is There a Connection?
Hearing loss has been linked to a number of health conditions, including anxiety, depression, balance problems, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and dementia. A growing body of evidence indicates that hearing loss may be connected to iron-deficiency anemia as well. We explore this link below. What the Research Shows Researchers at the Pennsylvania State University College of…
Slipping Up: How Hearing Loss Affects Safety
When you think of the consequences of untreated hearing loss, you probably think of the social aspects like trouble following conversations and frequently mishearing people. But did you know that untreated hearing loss can also impact your safety? One study uncovered the extent of this risk. About the Study The study was published in JAMA…
How Nighttime Noise Can Affect Your Health
It can be frustrating when you’re woken up by your neighbors’ barking dog or an ambulance rushing to Sentara Hampton Roads CarePlex. But did you know that even sounds that don’t wake you up can impact your sleep, and therefore your health? Noise & the Sleep Cycle When you fall asleep at night, you cycle…
Is Technology Harming Your Hearing?
While today’s state-of-the-art technology has amazing benefits, it’s still worth taking the time to consider whether it can be dangerous. Unfortunately, experts believe technology can be harmful to our hearing – specifically, continuous use of headphones while listening to music, stream movies and play video games. How Loud Is Too Loud? Sounds are measured in…
How Does Hearing Loss Impact Relationships?
The 48 million Americans with hearing loss know that the condition affects many areas of one’s life, not just hearing. Research shows that hearing loss can be a major source of stress for couples, especially those where one person is hard of hearing and one isn’t. This is likely due to a combination of factors…
New Research Shows Promise for Developing New Cells in Inner Ear
Good news! Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) conducted a recent study to uncover how an essential protein plays a role in the development of hair cells in the inner ear. This study is promising for people suffering with sensorineural hearing loss, a type of hearing loss currently considered irreversible. How…
How Serious Is a Ruptured Eardrum?
A ruptured eardrum, also known as a tympanic membrane perforation, is a tear or hole in the tissue that separates your ear canal from your middle ear. While ruptured eardrums can usually heal on their own within a few weeks, they sometimes require a patch or surgery to repair. Risks include hearing loss (either temporary…
Coming to Terms with Hearing Loss
Grief is a normal emotion experienced by all of us sometime in our lives. Working through this feeling in five distinct stages was popularized by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, a Swedish-American psychologist who published On Death and Dying in 1969. Experts suggest that this method can be beneficial for dealing with other losses, not just those of…
October is Audiology Awareness Month
Hearing loss can be a confusing experience that leaves you feeling discouraged, frustrated and isolated. October is Audiology Awareness Month, which means now is a great time to learn about life changes that can help make for a better tomorrow. Audiologists, including the experts at Hampton Roads ENT, can help identify hearing problems and recommend…