Physical Therapy for your Ears!

Hearing aids are not the end all to hearing better. There are many factors that will lead you to successful listening and communication.

Better Hearing Institute has done an excellent job of laying out the facts, so I will simply link to their great article on training your brain to listen.

In regards to LACE, which is the program they refer to when talking about aural education, you do not have to have a hearing loss to benefit from it. If you are wanting to enhance your communication skills, you can use the disc for better understanding in noise, multiple talkers and rapid speech.

Happy listening,
Dr. Rebecca

Preventing hearing loss

On any given day, more than a few patients ask, "what caused my hearing loss?" Well, the answer can vary depending on the case history and the type of loss the person has. Also, there could be that answer no one wants to hear: "I don't know."

Today's article provides 10 ways to prevent hearing loss. There are the usual culprits of hearing loss: noise, smoking and poor circulation. But there are a few that you might not have heard of: COTTON SWABS, some medications and diabetes.

If you think you are having hearing problems, today is as good as any day to get it checked out. So, call your audiologist and set up an appointment for a hearing evaluation and use the tips listed in the article to prevent hearing loss.

--Dr. Rebecca

The cicadas are here...where are you earplugs?

People are all a buzz about the cicadas that have come to mate in our trees this summer. The noise they produce has been loud and sometimes obnoxious! The sound levels have been measured and it appears that the cicadas are producing upwards of 85-88 decibels!

This is a great time to talk about ear protection!

If you are around noise/music loud enough that you are having to raise your voice when speaking to someone less than 3 feet away, it is too loud. You need to move away from the sound and use ear plugs.

Also, you need to be aware of how loud you are playing your music. Turn the volume control to the left and not only will you be protecting your ears, you are being courteous to your friends and family...they might not want to hear what you are listening to.

And just in case you are seeking more information about the cicadas, here you go!

Happy responsible listening,

Dr. Rebecca

When was the last time you had a hearing test?

If you don't know the answer to this question or it has been more than 2 years, than you should get your hearing tested!

I know that for a lot of people, the hearing test seems unimportant. However, there are many links between hearing loss and many diseases and disorders, including kidney disease, diabetes and heart problems.

It is also a good idea to have a baseline test so that you can refer to it should your hearing change in the future.

Since I know not everyone will be jumping in their car to get that test done today, there is an online test that you can use as the first step. So today, take the online test, and if it recommends that a professional test be obtained, please follow that recommendation.

--- Dr. Rebecca

What does tinnitus sound like?

Well, it sounds different to different people! There are some people who hear crickets, some who hear tones, some who hear static or roaring and some who hear music. Other people have a hard time describing what their tinnitus sounds like. Well, for this addition of the tinnitus awareness week blog, you will be able to listen to some samples of what tinnitus sounds like. If you have tinnitus, this would be an opportunity to match up your tinnitus so that you can better describe it to your healthcare provider, family and friends. If you don't have tinnitus but would like to know what it sounds like, here is your opportunity as well.

--Dr. Rebecca

Are you at risk for tinnitus?

If you are a musician, in the military, a veteran or a music lover who likes to listen to their music loudly, you might be at risk for tinnitus.

Today you can learn about how loud is too loud, information for military personnel and veterans and musicians and the people who love music.

Enjoy!

--Dr. Rebecca

Music therapy for tinnitus

There are many treatment options for tinnitus that range from supplements to cognitive therapy. Today we will focus on sound therapy. This therapy can be as simple as a CD that plays different environmental sounds to a music generator that matches the hearing and tinnitus level of the patient.

Sound therapy acts like a masker, producing a sound that masks over the tinnitus, giving your brain a different sound (hopefully more pleasing) to focus on. It can be used with headphones, hearing aid like devices or a stereo. While not for everyone, sound therapy can be a viable option in treating tinnitus. I hope you enjoy this article that outlines how and why sound therapy works.

---Dr. Rebecca