How Does Hypertension Affect Hearing Loss?

Comorbidity is the simultaneous presence of two or more diseases or illnesses in one person. Comorbidity does not always equal causation but may help to explain why two conditions often present together. Hearing loss has many comorbidities, but one common example is hypertension or high blood pressure. What Is Hypertension? A patient is considered hypertensive…
Tips for Train Travel With Hearing Aids

Train travel can be a great way to get to your destination while seeing the country. Whether you’re going from King Street Station to Woodinville or riding off on a seven-day cross-country trip, knowing how to accommodate for your hearing loss and keep your hearing aids safe and sound can help you enjoy your ride…
Understanding the Different Types of Hearing Aids

Approximately 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from the use of hearing aids. If you’ve decided to begin your hearing treatment journey, you’ll likely have questions about choosing the right device. We’ve broken down the different types of hearing aid styles and features below to help provide guidance as you make your choice. Hearing Aid…
How to Help Your Grandchildren Understand Your Hearing Aids

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports, “Among adults aged 45 and over, hearing difficulties increased with age among men and women.” If you’re among this age group and wear hearing aids, you may be wondering how to help your grandchildren understand why you’re wearing them. We review how to do this below….
What To Do If You’re Worried You Have Hearing Loss?

Some people are born with hearing loss, but in most cases, it gradually happens to people over time due to factors like aging or prolonged exposure to loud noises. Whether you’ve noticed that you’re asking people to repeat themselves more often or that you’re having a harder time following conversation at the family dinner table,…
How to Make the Most of Phone Calls When You Use Hearing Aids

One of the most notoriously challenging listening situations for people with hearing loss is talking on the phone. Fortunately, there are many strategies you can try to improve speech clarity and boost communication. We review some of these below. Stream with Bluetooth If your hearing aids and phone both have Bluetooth capabilities, the best way…
Facts About Seniors & Hearing Loss for Audiology Awareness Month

Even more common than hearing loss caused by exposure to loud noises is hearing loss caused by advancing age. This type of hearing loss is known by audiologists as presbycusis. One article published by the National Library of Medicine reports, “[Hearing loss] is estimated to affect approximately two-thirds of Americans aged 70 or older.” In…
How is Machine Learning Helping with Speech and Background Noise Differentiation?

Machine learning is a branch of artificial intelligence and computer science that focuses on using data and algorithms to imitate the way that humans learn. Recently, researchers have utilized this technology to help improve hearing aids. Improving Hearing Aid Algorithms Hearing aid algorithms have been used to improve hearing in different environments. But even with…
The Link Between Smoking & Hearing Loss

Two of the biggest risk factors for hearing loss are old age and noise exposure. Another lesser-known risk factor is smoking cigarettes. We review the link between smoking, secondhand smoke and hearing loss below. What Does the Research Show? There is a plethora of research on the link between smoking, secondhand smoke and hearing loss:…
Hearing Aid Stigma Is a Thing of the Past

Not being able to hear is a common problem; in fact, as many as 50% of all American adults over the age of 60 have hearing loss. But because of the stigma associated with hearing aids, the most common solution for hearing loss, many elect not to seek help. Experts hope to overcome this barrier…