How to know if you should get your hearing tested

Do you ever feel like people around you are mumbling or speaking too quickly? Are you having to ask others to repeat themselves frequently or struggling to follow a conversation when there is background noise? If so, these could be indicators that you have a hearing loss.

Often, our friends and family members may notice we have hearing loss before we do. We may even use them as a crutch to help fill in the blanks when we are missing parts of a conversation. Or perhaps they recognize you are having a hard time on the telephone or the volume of the TV continues to go up. If any of this sounds familiar to you, it’s time to get your hearing checked.

The best way to find out if you have a hearing loss is to get a simple hearing evaluation by a licensed hearing healthcare professional. They will be able to determine not only if you have a hearing loss, but what type and how severe the loss may be. Even if no loss is detected, it’s still a great idea to have a baseline audiogram to compare to any future tests.

 To get started, you may want to ask yourself a few simple questions:

• Do you often have trouble following conversations in groups?

• Are you having difficulty on the phone?

• Do you think others are mumbling?

• Do you say “I can hear, but I can’t understand”

• Are you avoiding noisy events or restaurants?

• Have you noticed the volume of the TV or radio needs to be turned up?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you know it’s time to get a hearing evaluation. There are also free hearing screenings you can take online that will let you know if you have a loss or not. Just click on this link, and in a matter of minutes you’ll not only find out if you have a hearing loss, but also what you can do about it.

Remember, hearing health is important and you don’t have to struggle. It’s important to get regular hearing evaluations, even if it’s just to get a baseline. Don’t wait! Early detection is the key to your success.

Call Land of Lincoln Hearing to schedule your first hearing evaluation today!

11 reasons why you should test your hearing

Hearing loss happens. It’s the third most common health problem for older adults in the U.S., after arthritis and heart disease. Hearing loss is also very treatable — and more beneficial when treatment is started early. If you suspect you have hearing loss, here are 11 reasons why you should schedule a hearing test and find out for sure.

1. A hearing test is painless, usually free, and should take less than an hour of your day.

2. Untreated hearing loss increases your chance of developing dementia.

3. Treating hearing loss early — on the other hand — is one of nine things you can do to
   help reduce your risk of dementia.

4. Hearing loss may be an early warning sign or red flag for other health conditions including cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

5. If your hearing test shows your hearing is normal, you can say “I told you so” to all the people who said you should get your hearing checked.

6. The Mayo Clinic recommends regular, baseline hearing tests for adults.

7. Untreated hearing loss increases your chance of falling.

8. Treating hearing loss with hearing aids has been proven to reduce the risk of cognitive decline associated with hearing loss.

9. Untreated hearing loss is known to contribute to depression and social isolation.

10. Hearing loss treatment is associated with delayed diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, anxiety and injurious falls.

11. Being proactive about your hearing health today will reap immeasurable benefits tomorrow!

Photo by Alex Blăjan on Unsplash

What is mild hearing loss?

Mild hearing loss may sound, umm, mild, but it’s quite the misnomer. Professionals classify any hearing thresholds between 25-40 dB to be a mild hearing loss. 

But short of measuring your hearing loss precisely, how can you tell if you have mild hearing loss?

People with a mild hearing loss tend to be able to hear speech when someone is speaking close to them or if the room is quiet. They can hear when people are talking loudly, too. However, they probably feel that people are mumbling and/or that their ears are constantly plugged up. They also struggle when there are competing sound signals (for example speech and noise together). Also, quite a few people with mild hearing loss feel like they have an abundance of wax in their ear and that they would hear fine if it was just cleaned out.

Certain consonants are tough to understand

Some consonants (/f/k/s/sh/) are very soft, and people with mild hearing loss will struggle to hear those sounds. This could lead them to think people are not speaking clearly or mumbling. However, it is the hearing system struggling to hear those softer sounds that is causing their issues.

The good news is that mild hearing loss is correctable with hearing aids. With hearing aids, people with mild hearing loss will be able to hear those soft sounds. The hearing aids will also help them understand speech better when there are competing signals.

In the past, many people did not treat mild hearing loss because it wasn’t considered a big deal. But things are changing. Research is currently being conducted to show that treating mild hearing loss can prevent further atrophy of the hearing system. Other studies are showing the use of hearing aids can slow cognitive decline in older patients.

If you think you may have hearing loss or are experiencing any symptoms of hearing loss, mild or otherwise, it is best to schedule a visit with a hearing professional to have it assessed.

Is hearing loss avoidable?

That’s a great question, and a complicated one to answer! Hearing loss can be caused by a multitude of things: some are preventable and some are not. For me to write about everything that can cause hearing loss — and then all the ways to avoid each cause — would make for a very long blog post. We will save that for another day.

Instead, I am going to write about what you can do to avoid the second-leading cause of hearing loss — noise-induced hearing loss.

Did you know that one in four U.S. adults have noise-induced hearing loss? That’s a lot of people (at least 40 million)! The good news is that you can protect your hearing in most situations. And if you practice good hearing protection, not only do you increase your chances of avoiding noise-induced hearing loss, it will  go a long way towards helping you avoid age-related hearing loss, which is the number one cause of hearing loss.

Here are a few ways to protect your hearing (and help avoid hearing loss):

Minimize your exposure to loud noises

This is the best way to avoid hearing loss. How do you know what’s too loud? Environments where you have to raise your voice to talk to other people, where you can’t hear what people nearby are saying, where the noise hurts your ears or, really, where any noise exceeds 85 decibels are too loud.

Wear hearing protection

There are times when you are put into loud situations or environments and you simply can’t avoid them. These include certain work environments, sporting events, concerts, bars/clubs, mowing your lawn, etc. In those situations, you should use hearing protection.

Hearing protection comes in a variety of different styles including ear plugs, custom plugs, “earmuffs” and more. 

Watch the volume

With the way technology is advancing these days, almost everyone has something in their ears. Consider investing in higher quality earphones that block out background noise, to help you moderate your listening levels in noisier places. Also, the general rule of thumb to use when setting your volume is: You should be able to hear and converse with a person arm’s length away from you easily. If you cannot, then it is too loud.

Buy quieter products

You probably never think about how loud some of your household products are. Some products such as children’s toys, blenders and hair dryers. can get louder than 100 decibels! That means that it would take less than 15 minutes of use for you to damage your hearing. I justified buying a fancy new hair dryer because of how loud my old hair dryer was. 

There are other decisions or changes you can make in your life to help avoid hearing loss, including:

Don’t put anything in your ear

Your ears naturally clean themselves. By putting products in your ears, you can cause infections and or actually puncture your ear drum, which can lead to permanent hearing loss.

Don’t smoke

Research studies have shown a positive correlation between smoking and hearing loss. It’s better just to say no.

Keep a healthy diet

Other research studies show that women who maintain a healthy diet have reduced risk/rates of moderate to severe hearing loss compared to women who do not eat healthy.

Get your hearing tested

Having your hearing tested regularly is a great way to know how your auditory system is working. By getting your hearing tested regularly, you will be able to monitor your hearing easily, know if any changes are occurring, and treat any hearing loss early, before it gets to be a problem.

Nothing is guaranteed to prevent hearing loss. But the advice above should help you avoid it, or at least put it off for as long as possible.

Call Land of Lincoln Hearing, today! We are hear to help :)

Photo by Bahram Bayat on Unsplash

Not enough people take hearing loss seriously

It’s well known that hearing loss is very common, and that your odds of losing your hearing increase significantly as you age.

What’s not as well known, is how rare it is that those with hearing loss do anything to treat it — though one big clue is that you don’t see nearly as many people wearing hearing aids as you do glasses.

So why do so many people just ignore their hearing loss — particularly when the negative effects of hearing loss are also well known, and the benefits of treating hearing loss are so many?

If you’ve got hearing loss, don’t let it constrain your life. Treat it, and live life to the fullest. You deserve it.

Start by calling Land of Lincoln Hearing today! We can’t wait to hear from you. Click here.

Credit: Starkey Hearing Technologies

How wearing hearing aids can help enhance your safety

You already know that hearing aids can improve hearing and communication. But did you know they can also enhance safety? Several studies have confirmed what many hearing healthcare experts and their patients already knew — that using hearing aids improves quality of life, and can provide the wearer with an increased sense of safety and independence. Here are a few reasons why:

Improved balance. Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine found that adults performed better on balance tests when wearing hearing aids. This study supports the idea that treating hearing loss (with properly fit amplification) might help reduce the risk of falling.

Increased awareness. Hearing is an important sense for environmental awareness and preventing accidents. Hearing aids can help an individual detect hazards in their surroundings, such as automobiles, sirens, and pets. Hearing well can also help you recognize where a potential danger may be coming from. Addressing changes in hearing will help you be alert and hopefully stay safe during your daily activities.

Enhanced safety. Numerous studies have linked untreated hearing loss to an increased risk of safety issues including accidental injuries, injuries at work and more frequent and longer hospitalizations. Using hearing aids can provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones by decreasing safety risks and delivering an enhanced sense of security.

We want you to feel safe everyday! Call Land of Lincoln Hearing today to learn more about why hearing aids are important.

Why it’s important to check your hearing regularly

We are all concerned about our health and well-being! Benjamin Franklin once said “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Whether it is diabetes, cancer, heart disease or hearing loss, we have become increasingly more focused on stopping illness through preventative healthcare. It’s one reason why we’re living longer and why, if Mr. Franklin were alive today, he’d agree that “60 is the new 40.”

We get yearly physicals to monitor blood pressure, cholesterol and evaluate risks for cancer, diabetes and heart disease. We should approach our hearing the same way.

Early treatment can help prevent future issues

In recent years, research has shown that hearing is not just about our ears! Our hearing impacts many aspects of our health and life. Untreated hearing loss has been linked to increased likelihood of dementia, decreases in cognitive function, increased isolation and higher incidences of depression. Discovering and treating hearing loss sooner rather than later can ultimately improve our overall health and well-being.

Many people will wait until they are having difficulty before getting their hearing tested. The reality is that they have most likely been living with hearing loss anywhere from 5 to 15 years before they take action. Could you imagine living with high cholesterol or high blood pressure or diabetes for a dozen years before taking action?

Start with a baseline hearing test

For many of us, the last time we had our hearing checked was when we were in grade school. According to healthcare professionals, we should get a “baseline” hearing test early in our adulthood. The recommendation is around 18 or 21. If you are past 21 and have not had a baseline test, the sooner the better.

A “baseline” hearing test will provide a frame of reference for tests later in life. It is important to remember that hearing is more than just detecting beeps! A baseline hearing test will measure your sensitivity to sounds (the beeps), but it will also measure your ability to understand speech, both at soft levels and when the volume is comfortable. In addition, the overall health of the ear will be evaluated via a visual exam.

Follow-up hearing tests may be recommended 

How often you have your hearing checked after the baseline depends on a few different variables: the results of your baseline test, your risk for hearing loss, and your age are just a few. If hearing loss exists at the baseline, yearly testing is recommended.

If your risk for hearing loss is high, yearly hearing tests are also recommended. Things that increase your risk of hearing loss include noise exposure, both at work and recreational (motorcycles, guns, loud music), as well as your age. As hearing loss is found more often with increasing age, individuals 60 years of age and older are recommended to have their hearing tested every two years, if no hearing loss was apparent in their most recent test.

Five tips for maintaining hearing aids in hot weather

With summer here, it’s a good time to remember that hearing aids, like most high-tech devices, are susceptible to excess heat and moisture. And while Audibel hearing aids are more durable than most — thanks to our proprietary Surface™ NanoShield moisture-repellent system — keeping these five tips in mind will help ensure long-lasting performance even as the temperatures rise.

• Keep hearing aids stored in a cool, dry place.

Excess heat can harm the hearing aid circuit (the tiny computer chip that serves as the “brain” of the hearing aid). Excessive moisture can gather on the diaphragm of the microphone and/or receiver, resulting in the perception of a “dead” hearing aid.

• Use a desiccant, hearing aid dehumidifier or “dry-aid” kit to keep moisture out of the hearing aids.

A desiccant is a moisture absorbing substance that is commonly found in dry goods such as shoes, clothes and electronics. There are inexpensive desiccant and dry-aid kits available from your hearing healthcare provider that are designed specifically for hearing instruments, including the hearing aid.

Store the desiccant in a sealed, dry place.

If the desiccant is exposed to the environment, it will pull moisture from the environment. Keeping the desiccant in a controlled environment will ensure the longest life possible of the desiccant.

• If possible, keep the hearing instruments away from excessive perspiration.

As mentioned, excess moisture – including sweat – can damage hearing instruments. Audibel hearing aids can handle normal perspiration. However, if the hearing aids are exposed to excessive perspiration, it is best to remove them immediately and open the battery doors so that air can circulate through the hearing aids. Even better, place the hearing instruments in the desiccant kit you bought after reading tips 2 and 3!

• Do not use any type of liquid to “clean” the hearing instruments – even alcohol.

Liquids are simply many moisture molecules clustered together. Therefore, liquids can damage parts of the hearing aids. To clean the instruments, wipe them down with a clean, soft cloth and store them in a place that has access to air flow.

How to Properly Clean and Care for Your Hearing Aids

With any investment, there is a certain degree of maintenance required to be sure that money is being well spent and the purchase is well kept. A hearing aid is no different. Certain maintenance items should be used only by the manufacturer or your hearing care professional, but there are many other preventative measures that you can complete regularly to ensure that your hearing aid is at full-functioning capacity!

Below we examine three main causes or hearing aid problems and offer cleaning and care tips to help!

Battling Ear Wax

Ear wax is often described as the hearing aid’s worst enemy, and rightfully so as the most common cause for hearing aid repairs across the industry. While ear wax is a healthy, normal occurrence in the ear canal, it can create a number of problems for a hearing aid. The ear canal contains not only the solid or soft components of ear wax but also vapor that can migrate deep into the hearing aid where it can become solid and settle on critical mechanical components.

What you can do:

• Clean your hearing aids every morning: In order to prevent wax from clogging critical components of your hearing aids, such as the microphones or receivers, it is important to wipe off the hearing aid each morning. Tissues should not be used if they contain aloe or lotions, and cleaning cloths should be cleaned regularly to avoid re-depositing of wax or other debris. It is best to wipe hearing aids in the morning when the wax has had the opportunity to dry and will be easier to remove.

• Don’t wipe onto the microphone ports: Be careful to not wipe debris onto the microphone ports from another part of the aid.

• Take care of your hearing aid tubing: When hearing aids are fit with either a thin tube or standard-sized earmold tubing, often times you will receive a tool used to clean the tubing when it is removed from the hearing aid itself. This cleaning should be performed regularly in order to prevent wax buildup within the tubing. 

Beating Water

Any exposure to water, humidity, condensation or perspiration can cause serious damage to a hearing aid. Some hearing aids use a moisture and wax repellant to help repel water, oils and debris. But as with any technology, nothing is 100 percent safe. If your hearing aids are accidentally exposed to large amounts of moisture, contact your hearing professional right away.

While accidental immersion in a bath or swimming pool can happen, preventative measures can help guard from moisture buildup within the device during normal usage.

• Avoid accidental exposure to water: Remove hearing aids when planning to swim or when planning to interact with large bodies of water. Store hearing aids in their storage case and keep somewhere cool and shady to avoid condensation and overheating.

• Keep a routine: Try to adhere to a routine when it comes to your hearing aids to help avoid accidents. For example, if you typically shower first thing in the morning, always leave your hearing aids in their storage case in the same place every time (not in the bathroom) in order to avoid forgetting to take them out before bathing or accidentally knocking them into the sink or toilet.

• Remove condensation in tubing: Moisture can collect on the inside of earmold tubing through condensation as warm moist air from the ear canal migrates out to the cooler tubing walls exposed to the environment. If moisture is noted in the tubing of a standard BTE hearing aid, a tube blower may be used to force the moisture out of the tubing after removing the tubing from the earhook.

• Open battery doors at night: At night, hearing aid battery doors should be left open to allow air to flow through the device; this has the added benefit of preserving battery life. Ideally, hearing aids should be stored in a dehumidifying container. These serve not only as a safe nighttime storage container but also act as a moisture absorbing environment to help draw moisture from the devices into moisture absorbing crystals or packs. NOTE: follow proper use and maintenance instructions of dehumidifying devices as some may require reactivation or replacement parts after a certain amount of usage.

Avoiding Physical Damage

To prevent damage, hearing aids should be stored in a consistent, safe manner whenever they’re not in use. They should be placed out of the reach of small children and pets, as animals tend to be drawn to the devices due to the lingering human scent.

When damage occurs, gather all components of the hearing device and schedule an appointment with your professional as soon as possible.

If there is damage to the casing, the devices should not be worn as sharp edges may cause irritation or abrasion to the ear and surrounding areas.

Damage to the tubing, either tears or pinches, should be addressed as soon as possible as such damages can have severe effects on the sound quality of the hearing device.

And don’t forget that your ears need proper cleaning too!

Contact Land of Lincoln Hearing to learn more!

The dog ate my hearing aid! Surprising ways people lose their hearing aids

Americans spend an average total of 2.5 days every year looking for lost belongings such as remote controls, cellphones, car keys and eyeglasses, one survey indicates. 

And while two-thirds of us annually spend as much as $50 to replace these items, the cost can be much higher for those who lose their hearing aids.

“It’s not as uncommon as you might think,” says Dr. Melissa Danchak, AuD, of Kos/Danchak Audiology and Hearing Aids in Arlington, Texas. “We usually see three or more people per month who lose their hearing aids. In January, I counted eight people who lost them.”

Her clinic dispenses as many as 50 hearing aid units each month. With each prescription, Dr. Danchak includes suggestions for keeping track of their new devices.

Good hearing aid habits is key

“Generally, people lose their hearing aids because they don’t develop a routine,” she said. “When I’m dispensing the hearing aids, I first tell them to wear their hearing aids all their waking hours. If they’re in their ears, they’re less likely to lose them. If the hearing aids are placed in their box/charger when they are removed, they won’t get lost. Developing good habits is important to prevent loss.”

That means taking a few extra steps, even if you’re tired and want to take a nap. It’s easy to knock the aids off a side table or counter and into the sink. Women should consider keeping a designated hearing aid container in their purses so they have a recognizable container to put them in when they take them out when not at home.

Those who don’t follow Dr. Danchak’s advice often lose their hearing aids—or find them in the most unlikely places.

“I had one man who stuck his hearing aids in his pocket along with his keys. When he pulled his keys out of his pocket, guess what happened?,” she said. “I had another patient who took out her hearing aid while she was reading and set it next to the peanuts she was eating. All of the sudden, she took a bite that crunched a bit differently. Fortunately, she didn’t swallow anything.”

Hearing aids end up in the strangest places

Hearing aids have been known to accidentally fall out of the ears, too. One patient told Dr. Danchak he found his hearing aid several months later in the bottom of his dishwasher while another said she retraced her steps and found her hearing aid in a parking lot. Remarkably, both units were unharmed and continued to work properly.

"The biggest thing I stress is to put the hearing aids in a safe place when they’re not in your ears — especially if you have a dog." 

But the biggest reason for hearing aid loss? Dr. Danchak said it’s because the family dog uses it as a chew toy. “That’s what we see the most often,” she said. "The biggest thing I stress is to put the hearing aids in a safe place when they’re not in your ears— especially if you have a dog. You may not have a dog, but if you visit a family member and they have a dog, remember that and be conscientious. And make sure the container closes really well. You don’t want your pet swallowing any part of a hearing aid.”

Watch your batteries, too

The tiny button batteries found in hearing aids and plenty of other devices can be tempting to pets and little children. If you suspect a child has swallowed a battery, immediately call the battery National Battery Ingestion Hotline at 800-498-8666. As a Kentucky news station reported, these kind of incidences are on the rise, with more and more kids needing medical care after swallowing small objects. 

What to do if you lose your hearing aids

Of course, even the most diligent people can lose a hearing aid. If it happens to you, Dr. Danchak recommends checking with your provider to see if you can have a loaner while you look for your lost unit. But don’t look forever, she cautions. Although most homeowners’ insurance does not cover hearing aids, your devices are covered if they're under warranty for loss. And while replacement costs can be inconvenient, restoring your prescription sooner rather than later is important to your hearing health.

“How long they look for it depends on the circumstances,” Dr. Danchak said. “If they lost it at home, I tell them to give it a week before they replace it. If they lost it out and about, they should probably replace it immediately.”

So develop good habits about storing your hearing aids when they’re not in your ears, make sure they fit securely, and talk to your hearing health professional about any issues you may be having. Good hearing health habits begin by finding a hearing health practitioner you can trust and contacting Land of Lincoln Hearing today!

(Shared from Healthy Hearing)

If I have tinnitus, does it mean I also have hearing loss?

Tinnitus is defined as “the hearing of sound when no external sound is present.” It is one of the most common complaints reported to hearing healthcare professionals. Certainly, tinnitus is associated with hearing loss. That doesn’t mean, though, that if one has tinnitus, hearing loss is also present.

Why tinnitus and hearing loss typically come as a matched set

To hear, sound is funneled through the outer and middle ear to the inner ear. Microscopic hair cells inside the inner ear are responsible for carrying sound through auditory nerves to the brain. Hearing loss can occur at any stage of this process: the outer ear, the middle ear, the hair cells, the auditory nerve or the brain.

Interestingly, tinnitus, too, can be caused at any point in the process! For example, tinnitus can be caused by a wax impaction in the ear canal; it can be caused by middle ear disease such as fluid or Meniere’s Syndrome; it can be caused by damage to the hair cells in the inner ear; and it can be caused by inappropriate firing of nerve cells within the brain.

It's likely that what’s causing your tinnitus is also causing hearing loss

Because both hearing loss and, likely, tinnitus are caused or triggered by the same “malfunction” in our hearing system, there’s a good chance that if you have tinnitus, you’ll also experience hearing loss. We see that often. But not always.

Why? Because there are other triggers for tinnitus that aren’t caused by problems with the ear. For instance, medications (particularly high doses of aspirin), stress, high blood pressure, heart disease and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disfunction can cause tinnitus.

Get it checked out

If you are experiencing tinnitus, a visit with qualified hearing healthcare professional should be the first stop in finding a cause for your tinnitus. Because hearing loss is often associated with tinnitus, ruling out hearing loss makes sense. If hearing loss is detected, it is likely that the tinnitus is related to the hearing loss. If no hearing loss is detected, it’s time for a visit with your primary care physician to explore other possibilities. 

Contact Land of Lincoln hearing today to set up your first hearing consultation with a professional, here! Happy Hearing :)

Noise-induced hearing loss is becoming epidemic

Between 2000-2015, the number of Americans with hearing loss doubled, approaching 50 million people.

How many times have you heard someone say (or maybe you’ve said it yourself), “I’m looking forward to some peace and quiet”? We’re guessing plenty.

Between the noise at work (thank you, open office spaces), the noise outside (traffic, we blame you), noise inside (good luck finding a quiet restaurant…or gym…or sporting event) and the noise we subject ourselves to voluntarily (we’re looking at you, earbuds), finding peace and quiet can feel a bit like a treasure hunt.

All that noise is a big reason why hearing loss has nearly doubled so far this century, according to the American Academy of Audiology.

And though peace and quiet might sound dreamy at times, it isn’t when it’s all the time, as anyone with severe hearing loss will tell you.

The good news is that noise-induced hearing loss is preventable. To learn ways to protect your hearing, help avoid noise-induced hearing loss, and remain in control of when those moments of peace and quiet get scheduled, consult with a Land of Lincoln Hearing healthcare professional today. Click here and we can help!

Photo by Nabeel Syed on Unsplash

Do’s and Don’ts of Getting Hearing Aids

Getting hearing aids is a big decision and a smart investment towards your future quality of life. Before you make the decision, consider these tips to help ensure you get the best hearing aids for your needs.

Do’s

1. Do speak with a hearing professional about situations you want to hear and communicate in better.

2. Do bring a third party or significant other with you to the appointment.

3. Do ask about follow-up care plans and what to expect from your new hearing aids.

4. Do be honest with your hearing professional about where and when you struggle to hear and understand.

5. Do ask about payment plans if cost is a concern.

 

Don’ts

1. Don’t make your choice based just on the cost of the hearing aid.

2. Don’t assume your hearing loss is “normal” for your age. Hearing loss is never normal.

3. Don’t skip the service plan. Your hearing needs change over time and a service plan will make sure your hearing professional will be able to have your aids adapt with you.

4. Don’t buy hearing aids from anyone who doesn’t test your hearing.

5. Don’t pick a hearing aid based on buzz words. Choose hearing aids that will help you when and where you want help.

For more tips, reach out to Land of Lincoln Hearing, here. We are hear to help you!

Hearing loss is America’s silent epidemic

Hearing loss can have a more negative impact on the quality of life than obesity, diabetes, strokes or even cancer, according to AARP, the senior advocacy organization which recently completed a survey that revealed more people report having undergone colonoscopy exams than hearing tests.

However, there is more to just losing hearing, said Conrad Hochreiter, a hearing instrument specialist at HearUSA in East Stroudsburg, a center that’s committed to providing patients with the highest-quality hearing care.

Hearing loss is also associated with an increased risk of dementia, falls and depression.

“Research shows we can help keep that cognitive decline (hearing loss) at a normal rate with a good hearing aid,” Hochreiter said.

However, officials at AARP and other experts say that many remain reluctant to get their hearing checked or to treat any hearing disorder because, unlike other serious and potential fatal ailments, hearing loss carries the stigma of being old.

“Hearing loss usually occurs in a gradual, subtle progression,” said Dr. Susan Dillmuth-Miller, a clinical audiologist and assistant professor in the department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at East Stroudsburg University.

Often persons with hearing loss do not realize the impact of their hearing loss on their communication partners; however, acceptance can be difficult and persons with hearing loss will often blame others for not speaking clearly or will delay treatment for an average of seven years, Dillmuth-Miller said.

Also, it’s important to express to persons with hearing loss how much they mean to you and how communication has become difficult and how it affects your relationship with each other, she said.

“Hearing loss affects both parties, the listener and the speaker. Questionnaires like the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults can start a dialogue and help persons with hearing loss realize how much the hearing loss is impacting their life,” Dillmuth-Miller said.

“Persons with hearing loss often don’t realize their deficits if speakers always raise their voice to communicate and those with hearing loss will not accept treatment unless they realize that they have a problem,” she said.

By the numbers

According to figures published by AARP, nearly 30 percent of people in their 50s suffer from hearing loss.

For people in their 60s, it’s 45 percent. And for those in their 70s, more than two-thirds have significant hearing loss.

While getting someone to accept wearing a hearing aid remains difficult, Hochreiter said popular culture has changed much over the years and those needing such devices might be more comfortable because younger individuals are regularly wearing something in their ear.

″[Hearing aids] are very discreet and comfortable now compared to many years ago,” Hochreiter said. “Today’s society, all ages are walking around with something in their ears like earbuds and Bluetooths,” he said. “If you’re going to put something in your ear, wouldn’t it make sense to put something in there that makes you hear better?”

Also, hearing loss doesn’t only affect older people.

The World Health Organization estimates that 1.1 billion teenagers and young adults are at risk of hearing loss. And that number is increasing, according to AARP which noted that boomers had their rock concerts, and millennials have their earbuds so, the impact of hearing damage will likely grow.

Cost issues

As far as the costs, Consumer Reports performed a nationwide survey of more than 1,100 people with hearing loss. They purchased 48 hearing aids and had their fitting checked by audiologists.

The survey found that two-thirds were incorrectly fitted, which led survey authors to conclude that the cost isn’t the real issue, but shoppers must become consumer savvy customers.

“Most people have the reluctancy as to how they can pay for them or do they even really need them,” Hochreiter said. “Most are going to tell you that they can’t afford something that they really don’t want and use that as a crutch.”

Hochreiter warned that internet price shopping could yield rates that are not realistic. He said there are budget plans, and, at HearUSA, free trials are offered to allow individuals the option of a sort of test drive.

The center offers access to a wide-range of the latest hearing aid styles and technologies and have a policy in which it offers a 60-day, risk-free, money-back guarantee on hearing aid purchases.

Still, some must be convinced.

Dillmuth-Miller recalled an elderly woman with a moderate permanent hearing loss who reported being left out.

The woman’s grown children grew frustrated with the difficulties encountered over the phone and during their visits and they grew worried for their mother since she’s a very social person, but she’d gradually became withdrawn, Dillmuth-Miller said.

“The woman could not afford the hearing aids on her own, but her children got together and gave them as a gift to her. She was grateful and wears them every day and her children feel she was herself again which was a social and engaged person,” she said.

Dillmuth-Miller quoted a 2016 AARP report that noted the average cost of a digital hearing aid is $2,300 a piece.

If a person has hearing loss in both ears, two hearing aids are typically recommended for the best results, she said.

“You can see that buying hearing aids can be pricey especially since Medicare and most insurance companies do not cover them. Some practices offer payment plans which helps manage the costs and, for children under 21, the Medical Assistance program covers hearing aids, and for qualified working adults, the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation can offer help,” Dillmuth-Miller said.

She said some veterans qualify for a hearing aid benefit which provides hearing aids and services and, for others who have difficulties affording hearing aids, there are charities which help with costs like Hear Now, Sertoma, and the Lion’s Club.

“Hearing aids are fit specifically to one’s hearing loss like glasses, requires counseling to become adjusted to the changes in sound, and some require special molding and fitting,” Dillmuth-Miller said. “Buying online often does not result in helping the person hear better.”

Contact Land of Lincoln Hearing today to schedule a consultation! 

Photo by Wenni Zhou on Unsplash

Veterans, tinnitus and hearing loss

Here at Land of Lincoln Hearing, we wanted to share the two most common health conditions our military veterans face, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers: tinnitus and hearing loss.

Tinnitus has been described as ringing, buzzing, clicking or hissing in your ears. Tinnitus can develop in people of all ages and backgrounds. However, people who are older or who’ve had a lot of exposure to noise are especially at risk. Veterans, due to their exposure to loud noise levels during their service, are more susceptible to developing tinnitus. According to www.military.com, nearly 1.5 million veterans are receiving disability benefits for tinnitus.

Hearing loss among veterans is also prevalent. The Hearing Health Foundation estimates that 60% of American Veterans have suffered hearing loss, with nearly 1 million Veteransreceiving disability benefits for hearing loss in 2014. According to the CDC, hearing loss occurrences among veterans may also be attributed to exposure to loud noise during service.

Hearing loss and tinnitus can affect your relationships, making it difficult to interact with others in various listening environments. This can lead to feelings of isolation or depression. It’s important to remember you are not alone in this. If you think you or a loved one may have tinnitus or hearing loss, resources are available to help, such as information on the early signs of hearing loss, information on hearing loss and information on tinnitus.

A professional hearing test is highly encouraged to verify any results that you may get. Please contact Land of Lincoln Hearing here to schedule your first hearing test today! 

These iPhone-connected hearing aids let doctors make adjustments remotely

Connected hearing aids are nothing new, but today a company called ReSound has the iPhone-compatible LiNX 3D, which can be adjusted remotely. This means doctors can access their patients’ hearing aids and make minor adjustments without the person having to revisit their office. The hearing aids also pair with an app for iOS, watchOS, and Android. Through the app, patients can talk to their doctors or learn more about the hearing aid they’re wearing.

Similarly to its predecessor, the LiNX 2, the LiNX 3D prioritizes voices over ambient sounds in a noisy environment. 

Isn't technology amazing?! Call us today to schedule an appointment to learn more about what heraing aids can do for you!

Land of Lincoln Hearing in Lake Forest!

LAND OF LINCOLN HEARING IS THE AREA'S MOST TRUSTED AUDIOLOGY & HEARING AID CENTER!

We are excited to announce our newest Land of Lincoln location in Lake Forest, IL! The Land of Lincoln location in Lake Forest is conveniently located off Highway 94 and Townline Road in the suburbs of Chicago. 

Address:
100 S Saunders Rd. 
Suite 150
Lake Forest, IL 60045

At Land of Lincoln Hearing, we are changing the way you hear. We don't only fit you with a hearing aid - we walk with each patient step by step throughout their hearing journey. We would love to help you get started on your hearing journey. Please make an appointment with one of Hearing Practitioners to schedule your first hearing evaluation. 

We truly can't wait to hear from you!   

Which hearing aids are best for me?

You’ve been diagnosed with hearing loss and the hearing healthcare professional says you’ll benefit from wearing hearing aids, but which devices are best for you? The decision you make will depend greatly on the severity of your hearing loss as well as your health and the lifestyle you lead. Before you sit down to discuss options with Land of Lincoln Hearing, here are a few things to consider.

Are you a technology buff?

Hearing aids have changed a lot in the last ten years. Today’s devices are nothing like those your parents or grandparents may have worn, mainly because of advances in technology. While your parents’ hearing aids had to be adjusted with a tiny screwdriver by a hearing care provider, today's digital devices are programmed via computer. Gone are the days of fiddling around with bulky volume control wheels and buttons. Most of today’s devices can be controlled discreetly by the wearer with smartphone apps as listening environments change. Bluetooth technology allows hearing aids to connect wirelessly to that smartphone you bought the moment it became available, tablets, televisions or car audio.

How much of a techie are you? Chances are, there’s a hearing aid that can keep up with your fascination for cutting edge gadgets. If you're not a technology lover, don't despair - the technology in your new hearing aids can also work behind the scenes automatically so you can just focus on hearing your best.

Is your world noisy?

Let’s face it -- life can be loud! Depending upon what you do for a living and how often you’re socially engaged with people you love spending time with, directional microphone technology can help you make sense of that noise. Dual microphones in the hearing aid work to help you understand speech in challenging listening environments such as noisy conventions, crowded restaurants and bars or a family room filled with chattering children by focusing on the sound directly in front of you and minimizing sound to the sides and back. 

Nearly all hearing aids today have some form of noise reduction built in. This technology is best for increasing your comfort in noisy situations, but it's the directional microphones that have a noticeable impact on your ability to understand conversation in these same situations. Be honest about your lifestyle and talk with your hearing care provider about which features you need.

Are you self-conscious about your hearing loss?

Let’s be clear: there’s absolutely nothing wrong with wearing hearing aids -- no matter whether they’re visible to others standing close to you or fit snugly out of sight inside your ear canal. These miracle devices not only help you hear your favorite sounds, they also alert you to emergency warning signals and decrease your risk of falling, developing dementia and feeling depressed. What’s not to love?

Unfortunately, some prefer to be more discreet about their hearing loss. For those individuals, tiny receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) or receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) styles with ultra-thin tubing and an availability of colors which blend with skin or hair may be desirable. For even more invisibility, invisible-in-the-canal (IIC) or completely-in-the-canal (CIC) styles may be an option.

The discretion of small hearing aids can come with some tradeoffs. Land of Lincoln Hearing can help you decide, given the severity of your hearing loss and your personal preferences, which style is best for you.

Do you have dexterity issues?

Diabetes, Parkinson's disease and other health conditions can cause numbness in the fingers or a decline in fine motor skills. The smaller the hearing aid, the smaller the features -- such as the battery door or volume control. If you struggle with putting on jewelry or activities which require fine motor skills, you will likely benefit from wearing hearing aids that fit behind-the-ear (BTE) or a larger custom style. It’s much better to own devices you can operate confidently and effectively than one which frustrates you so much it spends more time in your nightstand than in your ear.

Summary

It’s important to remember that no two people or their hearing losses are alike, but there are hearing aids to suit most every need. The best hearing aids are the ones that work for you. Instead of waiting to make a decision because you’re afraid you’ll make the wrong one, find a hearing healthcare professional to guide you. Working as a team, the two of you can determine which devices will work for your unique hearing situation. Contact Land of Lincoln Hearing today to set up your first hearing evaluation to discuss all of your options!

**Original article from Healthy Hearing 

The world... with a hearing aid.

What it feels like to wear tech that actually solves a health problem

I walked out onto the road, nervously, self-consciously, as one who has newly been given a hearing aid usually does. I have lived half my life, 20 years or so, without anyone really knowing that I didn’t hear very well in one ear. In fact, audiometric tests revealed that while my right ear had normal hearing, the left one had moderate-to-severe hearing loss. (An audiometry test entails a series of blips going from loud to soft, across different frequencies, testing one ear at a time, using headphones). Part of the reason I hadn’t explored getting fitted with a hearing aid was that it seemed uncool and sabataged my youth. Also, I got on with life just fine, except when someone whispered something into my left ear. I made sure I kept people on my right.

A month ago, I read about personal-health technology advancing so much that ReSound had showcased their newest product, a hearing aid, LiNX 3D, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), in Las Vegas (this was their fifth year there). ReSound is a 75-year-old Danish company that has been in India from 1995, and the reason they were at CES was to show that hearing aids could be cool! In fact, this particular model was named an Honoree in both the Accessible Tech and Wearable Tech categories.

The device consists of an almost invisible receiver fitted into the ear canal, a microphone and amplifier on the ear. There’s a tiny visible transparent tube that looks like you could be contacting aliens and not just trying to hear the world around. The company’s new LiNX 3D technology does three things, according to M Dattatreya, who heads the Audiology Department, GN ReSound India: it enhances sound quality, can be personalized and reprogrammed by both the user and clinician.

Now, in layperson’s terms

Most hearing aids today are automated, which means that they detect the kind of environment you’re in and take decisions for you. In audiologist-speak, “The signal processing is done by the device. We found the efficiency of the classifier (the technology that decides the environment) could be improved,” says Dattatreya. So their engineers worked on tech that they now claim has a 98% efficiency. Which means if you’re at a noisy restaurant, it will identify that it is a restaurant (because of the acoustic characteristics), not confusing it with a home environment or a theatre, for instance.

That brings us to directionality, or the ability of the device to pick up sounds from specific directions. Again, in the restaurant example, the hearing aid will intuitively know that it’s supposed to ‘listen’ to the person in front and not to the people having a loud conversation behind.

Then there’s the matter of speech understanding, or the ability of the aid to decipher what a person is saying, so that it’s not just the feeling of sound or noise, but you hear actual words.

So does it work?

I found that the world seemed an incredibly noisy place! For starters, when the aid came on, I heard EVERYTHING, from the guy at the far corner tap-tapping away at the computer to someone’s footsteps as they walked into the room. It was almost as if everything was magnified. This could be for two reasons, says Dattatreya. One, there is a "hearing-aid adaptation period", where the brain that has not been getting signals from a ear takes time to adjust, and will slowly begin to filter out sounds that aren’t important to the body. This could take anywhere from 2-3 weeks. Also, each person has their own preference, in terms of setting, and this can take a few sessions to sort out with the audiologist.

The aid can be adjusted in two ways through an app: you can yourself tweak elements like wind control, noise cancellation, volume and focus; or you can put in a word to your clinician via the app for it to be done remotely. Once the adjustment is made, you can either accept or reject it. I didn’t get the device for long enough to test all of these, and I’m sure it takes a couple of months to find a sweet spot.

What also takes getting used to is speaking on the phone. You need to angle it to ‘catch’ the microphone, but after so many years I could finally use the idle ear. The main thing about the aid was the sense of balance. I hadn’t realized it, but I have been inadvertently straining to concentrate, in order to listen.

The earpiece fits into the canal with ease. It's location can be picked up, of course, since it has a near-field communication system, which means you can track its location via GPS. And this one doesn’t even have to be charged (there are chargeable ones too). Whether you buy it or not depends on affordability, comfort and your clinician’s recommendation. But should you get a hearing aid at all if you have hearing loss? Doctors unanimously say yes.

Contact Land of Lincoln Hearing today to set up your own personal consultation!

ReSound Smart Hearing Aids: A Tale of Lost and Found

Bandera County, Texas is home to the “Cowboy Capital of the World” and ReSound LiNX² wearer Lee W. Bailey. Lee, 65, retired from his career in surgical sales three years ago and is an avid outdoorsman and volunteer EMS first responder with his local fire department.

Lee first became aware of his hearing loss 30 years ago during a routine appointment. “I love spending time outdoors,” said Lee, “I’ve enjoyed shooting sports for a long time, since before there was the increased awareness around hearing protection while shooting.” He feels that this greatly contributed to his hearing loss.

It wasn’t until 15 years ago that Lee got his first pair of hearing aids. However, he wasn’t very happy with them. “They didn’t have any vents and were just amplifiers.” When he would go into noisy environments, such as restaurants, he would just remove them. The second pair of hearing aids Lee owned had vents, but were still uncomfortable. When he wasn’t wearing them, Lee often found himself missing out on conversations with friends and family.

Lee dealt with his uncomfortable hearing aids for over five years, until last fall when he was introduced to ReSound LiNX² by his audiologist.

Lee is now able to be more engaged with his family and friends. “They [his hearing aids] have such better sound quality, are easier to use and much more comfortable. I can carry on a conversation much easier than I could before.”

When he’s out on a call, his ReSound LiNX² are particularly helpful. “When I’m driving the ambulance, I can hear what’s going on in the back, or can talk to my partner much easier than I could before,” said Bailey.

The Made for iPhone® feature was also a game changer in Lee’s book. “I was able to get rid of the hands free accessories that I had to talk on the phone while driving. Now I can just stream everything directly into my hearing aids from my iPhone. It’s great.” Lee is also a fan of adjusting his Smart Hearing aids through the iPhone and ReSound Smart app. Recently, Lee was able to use the ReSound Smart app for more than adjustment.

“My hearing aids fell off the ranch cart as I drove though the pasture. I wasn’t supposed to forget they were sitting on the back seat! They’re so comfortable I didn’t notice I wasn’t wearing them and I got in a hurry. I drove into the pasture that was being planted.” He didn’t realize until afterwards that they had been planted over. Using the ReSound Smart app’s finder feature, Lee set out looking for his hearing aids.

“I retraced my route using the Finder and I soon got a hit on my left. After about 45 minutes I found it undamaged. It only need a good cleaning. Proceeding on I got a hit on the right hearing aid. I searched 30 more minutes until dark, came back after dinner for another 30 minutes and covered the area with a tarp. The next morning my wife and I searched another 45 minutes before getting another signal and found it!”

“I never thought I’d want a BTE hearing aid, but I’ve been amazed by the comfort and forget I’m wearing them. With ReSound LiNX2 my concerns were alleviated,” said Lee, “I’m thankful for my ReSound LiNX2. For over five years, I didn’t really wear my hearing aids. I recommend that others try them out – they’ve made a big difference.”

If this is something you'd be interested in, please contact Land of Lincoln Hearing today to schedule your first hearing evaluation!