What Is a Balance Disorder?
Do you often feel dizzy, lightheaded, faint, as if you’re spinning or like you might fall over? If so, you may have a balance disorder. Balance disorders are caused by a disturbance in your vestibular system, which consists of your eyes, ears, muscles, joints and nerves, all of which send signals to your brain about…
How Helpful Are Hearing Aid Apps?
Whether you’re trying to shop online, record the distance of a run or find a new recipe to try out, there’s an app for that. You may be surprised to learn that there are even apps for hearing aids. Below is an overview of what types of hearing apps are available and what helpful features…
How Many Hearing Aids Are Needed to Treat Hearing Loss?
Nobody is pleased to hear the news that they have hearing loss and will need to begin wearing a hearing aid. It is especially upsetting for some to learn that they actually need to invest in two hearing aids. Rest assured that if your audiologist recommended two hearing devices, they’re not trying to pull one…
The Pros and Cons of Common Hearing Aid Styles
If your audiologist has determined that you would benefit from the use of hearing aids, the next step is to select the right hearing aid for you. There are many styles available, which can be overwhelming for some. Fortunately, your audiologist will guide you every step of the way. To help you prepare for this…
How Hearing Aids Help Tinnitus
Tinnitus is a condition that describes a ringing, roaring, hissing, clicking, whistling or whooshing sound in the ears that has no external sound source. Approximately 50 million Americans – about 15% of the population – experience some degree of tinnitus. There is no cure for tinnitus, but there are many management options available; the most…
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…
The Difference Between Hearing Aids and Implants
The majority of people with hearing loss are able to utilize hearing aids as a suitable treatment solution. But for those with severe hearing loss caused by damage to the inner ear, hearing aids won’t help. These are the individuals who can benefit from cochlear implants. In order to determine which form of treatment is…