Can Loud Toys Damage Hearing?
When thinking about the safety of a children’s toy, we often consider whether an object is too sharp or too heavy, but what about too loud? Some toys can reach volumes that may be harmful to your child’s hearing and cause problems down the road. The Risk Loud Noise Poses to Your Hearing Exposure to…
What to Know About Acoustic Neuromas
Acoustic neuromas are noncancerous, slow-growing tumors on the vestibular nerve, the main inner ear nerve responsible for sending balance information to the brain. Also called vestibular schwannomas, acoustic neuromas arise when Schwann cells wrap around or cover the vestibular nerve. Although acoustic neuromas are noncancerous, large or quickly growing neuromas can press against the brain…
Safety Tips for People with Hearing Loss
Living with hearing loss is an adjustment, and it can affect multiple aspects of your life, including your safety. The good news is that there are plenty of steps you can take to keep yourself and your home safe when you have hearing loss. Use Hearing Aids to Hear Important Sounds Did you know that…
How to Enjoy Music Without Risking Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can come from many sources, including aging, illness and physical trauma to the ear, but one of the most common causes is damage from excessive noise. The advent of smartphones, in-house speaker systems and car radios have left us more exposed to hazardous noise than ever. Approximately 50% of people aged 12-35 could…
What Is Auditory Processing Disorder?
Auditory processing disorder (APD) disrupts the way the brain understands sound input. The disorder causes the brain’s auditory system to miss or misinterpret speech sounds. Let’s examine the prevalence, symptoms and identification of auditory processing disorder. How Common Is Auditory Processing Disorder? A study on support systems for those with APD found that an estimated…
Tips For Protecting Your Hearing at Sporting Events
If you’re a sports fan, you know nothing beats the rush of seeing your favorite team play at their home stadium. All the cheers, music playing and the roar of the crowd can be exhilarating. Unfortunately, it can also pose a risk to your hearing health. Loud Environments Increase Hearing Loss Risk Exposure to loud…
Vacation Packing Tips for People With Hearing Loss
Taking a summer vacation can be a great way to relax, and traveling with hearing loss is not uncommon. A reported 15% of American adults report some degree of hearing loss. Whether jetting off to an island vacation from Newark Airport or camping near Lake Hopatcong, doing a little hearing loss packing preparation can help…
What Are the Differences Between Conductive and Sensorineural Hearing Loss?
According to a 2019 article published in American Family Physician, “Hearing loss is categorized as conductive, sensorineural, or mixed.” The purpose of this post is to focus on conductive and sensorineural hearing loss – specifically, how they differ. What Is Conductive Hearing Loss? Conductive hearing loss is caused by a problem with the outer or…
The Link Between Hearing Loss & an Overwhelmed Brain
If you have difficulty following along with what is said at dinner parties at Addams Tavern on Elm Street and tend to feel overwhelmed by conversations, you’re not alone. This phenomenon is called listening fatigue by audiologists. One study published last year uncovered that background noise could cause too many brain cells to fire in…
Music Lessons Can Benefit Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Not only does music bring a lot of joy to children, but it can be a valuable learning tool as well. After all, children first learn their ABCs by singing along. Music has also been proven to be a valuable tool in helping children who are deaf or have profound hearing loss improve their speech…